Christmas Eve

I love Christmas Eve and the traditions that fill the night! This year Christmas Eve was a sweet and tender day for our family. It was also a day to add some new traditions to a special night.

The day before Christmas Eve some dear friends stopped by our home with a basket filled with treasures and treats. Their sweet daughter passed away right around the time Caleb was born and they have been so kind to keep a careful watch on our little family. Among the treasures they brought was a "wink" luminary. The told us about a tradition at our cemetary where people place luminaries at their loved ones graves on Christmas Eve.  They explained that going there had become one of their favorite Christmas Eve traditions. We were so touched and knew that this would become one of our favorite traditions as well.

We started our Christmas Eve by celebrating Dallan's birthday! A Christmas Eve birthday suits my Merry husband perfectly.

We enjoyed a wonderful holiday dinner at my parents house then acted out the nativity together.

Mitchell insisted he got to be the angel for Caleb this year. 

After we acted out the nativity we turned our the lights and lit candles around my mom's nativity stable that she got from Jerusalem.  We were each handed a piece of the nativity set and invited to share what our gift to the Savior would be this year.  After we shared our gift we put our piece into the stable.  This has been a tradition in my family for as long as I can remember, and the spirit felt filled our hearts.  We ended the evening by singing carols together then Dallan and I left to take the boys to the cemetery. 

When we arrived at the cemetery it was a tender sight to see luminaries lit for the loved ones of so many.  The boys each lit a candle and placed it on Caleb's grave along with our wink candle.  We wished Caleb a Merry Christmas and our hearts were filled with love for our Savior who made it possible for us to have him forever. 

When we got home I mixed up some magic hot chocolate with sleeping sprinkles, and the boys found pajamas that the elves had left while we were gone!

We left our Christmas jar by Caleb's stocking and the boys chose to sleep together in Caleb's room. 

They could hardly sleep as they anticipated the surprises that would be waiting for them in the morning.  

This was a tender holiday season for us.  My heart ached for Caleb to be with us.   Yet in those aching moments my heart was also filled with a deeper understanding of the gift that was given to each of us.  Because Jesus came to the earth we will all live again.  Because he was born we all have the opportunity to return to our Heavenly Father.  Because he was willing to descend below all things and be our Savior, I know that death is not the end but new chapter in our eternal journey.  I know that we will be together again- and that gift fills my heart to overflowing.