Christmas 2022

15 years ago when I was on my mission; my companion and I decided to do a Christmas present for the members of the ward that we were serving in. We ended up making little beaded spiders and giving it with a little message called the Legend of the Christmas Spider; it was a hit. So for the past few years, I have wanted to do do this for my neighbors but I didn't know if I could recreate what I had done so many years ago. So in October I went ahead and bought some little black spiders on amazon; they came and I knew I wasn't going to use them. So in November I googled how to make a beaded spider and I found a website that gave step by step instructions on what to buy and how to make it. So I purchased some beads from Walmart. went to hobby lobby and grabbed the rest of the things. I was able to create some really pretty spiders. Macy and Sally even helped me. So we printed off the Legend and wrapped up the spider and gave it to our neighbors, they loved them... Below is the legend that we sent. 

Once upon a time, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year.... The day on which the Christ child came to bless the house. Not a speck of dust was left. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner in the ceiling to avoid the housewife's busy cleaning. They finally fled to the farthest corner of the attic.

T'was the Christmas eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting for the children to see it. But the poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the Christ child's visit. But the oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could peep through the crack in the door to see him. Silently they crept out of their attic, down the stairs, and across the floor to wait in the crack in the threshold. Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit and quickly the spiders scurried into the room. They must see the tree closely, since their eyes weren't accustomed to the brightness of the room... so the crept all over the tree, up and down, over every branch and twig and saw every one of the pretty things. At last they satisfied themselves completely of the Christmas tree beauty.

But alas!! Everywhere they went they had left their webs, and when the little Christ child came to bless the house he was dismayed. He loved the little spiders, for they were God's creatures too, but he knew the mother, who had trimmed the tree for the little children, wouldn't feel the same, so He touched the webs and they all turned to sparkling, shimmering, silver and gold!

Ever since that time, we have hung tinsel on our Christmas trees, and according to the legend, it has been a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the tree.

I had some ladies text me a picture of the spider on their tree. I am so glad it turned out and that I didn't use the plain black spiders that I had ordered. 

So our kids know that we are Santa's helpers...and the spirit of Santa is real. So in Christmas's past Sam has done the kids Christmas's list with the kids and they have put over 10 things on the list. This year we needed to be more frugal so we had the kids put 5 things down and let them know that they might not get everything they asked more. My parents and sister helped out with a few presents. I wrapped the presents during the week so I didnt have to do it all after the kids went to bed on Christmas eve. I went to bed a decent hour but the kids were up at 4:24 on Christmas morning. I was not a happy camper. I told them to do something for the next couple of hours because I was not waking up. The kept coming in saying they were board. I told them to go downstair and watch a movie but they wouldn't. Finally at 7, I told them we could open up present; they went and got their dad. So when I was getting up, I reached for my phone and it was dead and would not turn on. I had had it charging all night so I knew it was charged but it just wouldn't turn on. I was really sad and not in the best mood. Sam tried to get it on but no luck. He let me take a picture with his phone but it wasnt the same as having my phone to get the pictures that I wanted. Also, this year I wanted to do things my way. Growing up Sam and his brothers would wake up Christmas morning, go downstairs and open up all the presents in five minutes and then be done. My family growing up does it so differently. We come down and open up our stockings but then with the presents under the tree, we take turns opening them up. It takes longer and each person gets to see what the other person got. We talked about it in years past about doing it different every other year; well it normally just happens the way Sam wants it and I just say okay. Christmas morning goes fast and then I am left feeling a little defeated because it took me so long to get it all ready and then it was done just like that. Well this year, we got to do it my way, or semi my way. I knew Sam was tired and wanted to go back to bed, but he didn't say anything about it and just let me have my way, which doesn't happen very often; I was grateful because I was already not in the best mood and that would have pushed me over. The kids were happy with what they got and even though I was sad I did not get pictures, it was okay. 

Christmas fell on a Sunday this year; it only happens every once in a while. There was actually a facebook post going around how it will not fall on a Sunday for another 11 years, pretty crazy. So we were on time for church today, actually a little early and we had a nice program. We had a narration and musical presentation. The kids got to sing two songs with the primary. Teddy was happy because this is his last Sunday in the primary program. Next Sunday he will be moving up to the youth program. He will not have to sing as much, lol. So anyway, we had some people play the cello and flute and clarinet as well as the choir sang two songs. Macy and I sang with the choir and it turned out really nice. We got another picture with Sam's camera and I am glad how it turned out. 

We got home from church to a disaster of a house. I was sad because the night before I had had it so nice. but I tried to get it cleaned up. Since the kids have been home from school this past week, Sam made up a chore chart and they kids have done a pretty good job of keeping their rooms clean as well as the living room and downstairs. Its been pretty nice. I hope we can keep it up. So after we got home, I put in the turkey in the oven. I forgot to get a pan to put it in but I had a disposable deep 9x13 that I was able to use. It was close to spilling over when it was done but it worked. I also grabbed the potatoes from the garage and realized that they were frozen. I should have kept them inside but I forgot. I wasn't sure what to do but after texting a friend in Florida, she asked if I had any instant potatoes and sure enough I had a few packages downstairs, crisis avoided. The meal turned out nice. I was full though, I seem to be full all the time. I hope that I can do better at eating and exercising. So all day I kept saying a prayer that my phone would work. I didn't necessarily need it, I just had wanted pictures of this day and I wasnt able to get them. I was also not able to communicate with people all morning; I love wishing people Merry Christmas and talking to people that I usually do not. So after church I took our ipad and was able to text some people back. I also said a prayer again to ask if my phone could work. I went into the bedroom and googled on the ipad to see if I could find answers to why my phone wasn't working. I read something that it might be a bug that happened when the phone updated; I dont know but I followed the directions on the website and was able to get my phone turned on. It seemed like I had tried to do that earlier in the day but I couldn't be sure. I dont know, maybe I was being tested to see how I would react without the phone, that little device that made me not have the best attitude and now was working. I had let something so dumb almost ruin my day. I learned a lesson and that is probably what I needed. I said a thankful prayer as well. The true meaning of Christmas is not opening up presents but it is celebrating our Savior Jesus Christ. I am grateful for Jesus and all he has done for me. I do not know very much, I do not think of myself as a smart person but I try and I will keep trying, for that is all I can do.