Christmas!

Busy. It was weird for me to have Christmas Day be on a Sunday. I mean, last time that happened was 7 years ago, and I wasn't a member of the church so... I didn't really care to keep the Sabbath Day holy. I think just the fact that today didn't feel like "Christmas" and it was on a Sunday, which honestly it should feel the most Christmas-y ever, says a little something about my view on Christmas. I get stuck in the concept that things should be celebrated right when they happened, and that a couple should only have one "true" 'first Christmas' ornament, and I realize that I've completely missed the whole point! I missed the beauty of celebrating Christ's birth on Christmas because I was too busy thinking in the back of my mind that December 25th wasn't specifically His birthday; that it doesn't matter which 'first christmas' ornament is the "real" one because all that matters is that two people loved us dearly enough to get us one each! Bah I'm such a lamo!

I was fighting against myself the whole time. I was consistently trying to be aware of keeping Christ in Christmas, but in the end I let myself lose the point. Lesson learned.

My amazingly wonderful visiting teaching companion, Janessa Fronce, gave me this cuuute Christmas book, called Christmas Love. Its about a little boy's first "Winter Play" at school, and there was a song called Christmas Love, and the front row of kids each held a letter of the title, and as each letter was sung about that kid would hold it up. It got to the little girl holding the "m" in Christmas, but it was upside down! Everyone stared as they realized what that simple mixup spelled. C-H-R-I-S-T-W-A-S L-O-V-E. That's what Christmas is about.

So a play-by-play. I woke up first (shocker ;), threw some cinnemon rolls in the oven, took a shower, got ready and put on my awesomely sexy and modest Christmas dress , took cinnemon rolls out, ate some, went to church. The program was lovely! We had opening, intermediate and closing hymn, which I really appreciated, and the choir had a beautiful performance! They sang 4 songs with narrations in between where the story of Christ's birth was read, and the following song would have something to do with the previous narration. I was really impressed with our choir, especially our very own Mormon Tabernacle soloist! She used to be, until they came to our lovely ward! Kathy Visher is a very talented woman, and she definitely build the kingdom with her talents. When listening I could totally pick out her voice. It was that one singular soprano note that was perfectly on pitch (cuz sometimes that doesn't happen in a ward choir). She's like the cute little cherry on the ice cream sunday that is our choir.

After being "nourished" as our bishop loves to say, we went home to our humble apartment and opened the presents to each other. Chance did so good! I made sure to hint for the last few months, so it was team effort ;) But he did get me a few things I didn't even know I wanted! Like Jenga and Monopoly. I have been saying we needed games, and that's what I got! He also go me some beautiful sapphire and topaz earrings (for an awesome price during cyber Monday, he was very proud), Taylor Swift's new CD! And dark red microfiber sheets that matches our new bed spread. I'm sitting in them right now, and they're really soft! And he got them for 50% off! Which makes them all that much better! I got him a gift card for 4 or 5 car washes since he loves his car, his first red tool box, haha and his fave present Skyrim. Whiiiiiich he had been hinting forever that he wanted it! So obviously. I can't remeber the other things.

Next we went his parents, and guess who was on the phone! It was Seth! Elder Payne is so proudly serving his mission in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I'm not sure which area, but I know he's as far east as it gets, being on an island a few miles from inland! Called Isla Bella? And it's so pretty! He was able to skype, so we got to see him as well as the view out the window, and it trully looks like a paradise. He's doing really good. He had a hard to focusing on us cuz his companions were kinda "causing a ruckus" as he said, and he was getting his english mixed up. Like we'd ask something, and he'd have to remember what a word was either in the question or his response. I think he's been out 4 months now. He said the people there are really "tranquil", and don't mind listening to them, but don't think much of the church. It's the youth that are really teachable. He said they soak it all up. I really believe there's something special about the youth of this world. I see it in my Young Women, and seriously I was just in their place 2 years ago, and things have gotten way harder! Just in the past 2 years! Anyway, he also explained what a "gringle-berry" is! Haha so hilarious! A Brazilian elder asked Seth what a "dingle-berry" is (which is kinda funny cuz I asked Chance the same thing a few days ago!), and Seth explained, then I think they got a new Elder in and he was a total gringo, so it was the perfect oppurtunity to combine the two! I thought that was awesome!

So that ended, we went to my parents, opened presents, took family pictures, then went back to the Payne's for some food and a nap until dinner at my grandma's. Finally, we arrived home. We watched A Charlie Brown Christmas and... oooo played Jenga! Hahaha and I won! I'm getting better at winning games against Chance! Which reminds me, there's not many things I'm better at than Chance, so the few things there are I like to talk alot about. Like, ice skating.

Friday we went ice skating downtown with the Bianchini's, one of the few young couples in our ward, and it was sooo fun! At first we were all pretty bad, plus the ice was smooth. Anyways, Chance had never been before, so we spent most of the time holding hands, with him using my arm a support. It was cute. Gotta go! I'll continue later!

The Paynes