Peace

Three years ago (could it only be three years?!) December was a challenging month for me.  As much as I love Christmas and the feelings of Christmas and the joy of the season, a lot of what I felt was heartache.  Some joy.  Some peace.  Some happiness.  And a lot of heartache.  One night stands out in my mind as a night of bliss. It was the night of the annual Christmas Devotional.  What started that night as a sweet respite from the cares of the world, has become one of my most anticipated nights of the year.  This year did not disappoint.  We snuggled in together in our living room.  I made cups of yummy hot chocolate.  I brought up toasty blankets warm from the dryer and we turned on the Christmas Devotional to listen to messages of Hope, the Savior and and the Good News of the Gospel.  The Spirit filled our home tonight as we listened together.  The older kids understood more of the messages and made comments after their favorite talks, stories or songs.  The younger kids were a little squirmy at times.  After all, they are still little kids, even for the hour of the Christmas Devotional.  But once again, I felt the warmth of my home, the refuge that it is from the world and the peace of the Spirit as we sat together, as a family, and enjoyed the Spirit of Christ.  Most days the kids are a little rowdy.  Most days I'm a little too impatient.  Most days we are just a regular family.  But for at least one hour every Christmas, I feel like Heaven is in my Home.