The Good, The Better, And The Best!

 

First off, I have to apologize for my lack of posting. A lot has been happening, and we haven't been able to make it to a computer so that I can blog until today! I will try and be better about these things. =)

 

I can honestly say that Christmas day was my favorite day of the year!!! Part of the reason is because all of this holiday has been spent thinking of others; what do I need to do to help someone else be happy? There were so many hours of service that we were blessed to take part in, both facilitated by others and facilitated by my companion and I. To give and give and give, just like the Savior would...there is no better feeling. We also got to Skype with our families, and that is enough to make me float for days on end. My family is amazing...I had a really cute picture of my whole family, but I decided on this one instead. There is rarely a time where Savanna is actually looking at the camera, and it made me so happy to know that that hasn't changed =) I love you, Savanna!

 

 

So in our home, we live with two other Sisters. We decided that we wanted to combine all of our Christmas Eve traditions. In the end, we came up with the idea of doing a talent before you could open a present, opening one present early, and drinking some herbal tea while watching a movie. I tried to include a video of a talent that another Sister and I did together, but it wouldn't let me do the whole thing. So to make up for it, I've put up some bloopers, and a piece of the actual thing!

 

I love traditions, especially around this time of year. It brings families and friends close, and in the times when they are away, it brings them closer to your heart. It certainly helped me to feel near my family during my first Christmas without them actually with me. What kind of talents do you have that you do at any time during the year?

 

I listened to a talk recently, titled "Good, Better, Best". It was by an apostle named Dallin H. Oaks, and he spoke of what we do that is good, better, or best. I loved these words from him,

 

"Some of our most important choices concern family activities. Many breadwinners worry that their occupations leave too little time for their families. There is no easy formula for that contest of priorities. However, I have never known of a man who looked back on his working life and said, “I just didn’t spend enough time with my job."...Some uses of individual and family time are better, and others are best. We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families."

(http://www.lds.org/ensign/2007/11/good-better-best)

 

 

My most fond memories are of times we spend as a family that bring not only us closer together, but brought us together towards Christ. Reading the Christmas story of Christmas Eve, for instance. It always reminded me, as excited as I was to open the very enticing and very neatly wrapped gifts, that Christ is the true gift of Christmas. What did you do with your family this year that brought you closer to Christ? What are some traditions that you did before that you don't do now, that might help you with that?

 

May we live by a motto told to me in the MTC by my Branch President-

 

 

"There's good, better, best, but don't let it rest till your good becomes better, and your better becomes best!"

 

 

Remembering this has blessed me to think of what I am doing that is good, but could always be better, and what is better that can be pushed to become my best. As we think about what we do to spend time as a family, never forget that it is the little things that mean most. Read scriptures together, eat dinner as a family and talk about what miracles you saw that day, or spend some time with each individual just taking the time to truly talk with them. It meant the world to me when my family would do that. Let's all be a little better about strengthening our family relationships through traditions that strengthen our faith in each other and in our Savior!