JOY!!!!

My middle name is joy, I've always loved that word. We gave our daughter the middle name Joy,too. That word just makes me smile. It is a great description of this Christmas season. I collect Christmas things with Joy in it, and so does my mom. We are at her home for Christmas, and it's always fun to walk around and see Christmas decorations from my childhood as well as new ones. Joy everywhere:) Tyler and i walked around and counted her nativity scenes and found 32. She collects them from around there world, so there are some different ones. All 3 of my brothers, their wives, and my moms 5 grandchildren are here. Joy. She also collects Snow Village ceramic homes, etc. It all started with a ceramic church she painted 30 or so years ago and now she buys lots of them already made for her. I like the commercialized ones...McDonalds, Ford, Krispe Kreme...."The Village" takes a village to put up. In high school, my guy friends would help my mom pull them out of the attic and set them up. For some reason, I never got joy in that process, and it seemed to fall on my brothers and dad. The kids like it, though. Michael is putting a wager out there on how many items will be broken at weeks end. He said 12, my sis in law Alayna said 15-18, but I'm feeling optimistic and said just 2. When my mom dropped and broke a bowl in the kitchen this morning, Michael was anxious to count that as 1, but I veto-ed that. We shall see.....

Today is also the birthday of the beloved Prophet, Joseph Smith. I found this great talk given by our current Prophet, President Hinckley. Speaking of how everything that the church is founded upon comes from the revelations brought to us from Joseph Smith. He endured much so that we might have the knowledge that we do. We talked to our children about how we have a reverence on this day, as we think of his life and mission.

Joy.

All of the stockings are hung by the chimney with care....my mom made all of these...adults on the top row, her grandchildren on the bottom row. Have a Merry Christmas, everyone...whereever you are! May it be filled with Joy.