Christmas Cheer IS Contagious

Great Papa came home with a new Fiber-optic Angel for the top of the Revelation Tree in the Family Room. He was going to stand guard while I first stepped on a kitchen chair and then stepped up to stand on the bar stool to try place the Angel on top, when Wonder of Wonders! My partial-assistant exclaimed that I was going to fall, so just wait and let him do it! (Well, that's exactly what I wanted him to do!

And so momentarily, we were all excited to be together and working cohesively to spread the Spirit of Christmas throughout the house!

Great Papa also is very excited about the new LED lights and came home with a strand that he put on this little tree that stands in the window by the front door.

This is one of two HOLLY and IVY wreaths that we hang outside on the Front Door and in the Porch:                                                                                The HOLLY and the IVY,

When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Saviour
 the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir 

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly and the ivy
Now both are full well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir  

And of course, the fabulous fiber-optic Pointsettia bush that Carolyn gave to Great!  The picture doesn't do it justice. The fiber-optic lights are very intense and beautiful. We love sitting and watching the colors change because it's soooo beautiful and peaceful in one great, grand, glorious display of colored lights! Truly Heavenly!

Remember, I mentioned that we were only momentarily united in enjoying the Christmas cheer that envelops you as you decorate and ponder the different Christmas symbols.

Our Cheer was interrupted with, "Aren't you done getting stuff out, yet? How many more boxes do I have to put away in the garage?"

Well, what do you think? Do you honestly think I'm done finding things to decorate?

Our INSPIRATIONAL FAMILY focus is a quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in a BYU Devotional that he gave years ago, 'Maybe Christmas Doesn’t Come from a Store' :  "As happens so often if we are not careful, the symbols can cover that which is symbolized. In some of our lives the manger has already been torn down to allow for a discount store running three-for-a-dollar specials on gold, frankincense, and myrrh.....But for that very reason, I, like you, need to remember the very plain scene, even the poverty, of a night devoid of tinsel or wrapping or goods of this world. Only when we see that single, sacred, unadorned object of our devotion—the Babe of Bethlehem—will we know why “tis the season to be jolly” and why the giving of gifts is so appropriate."