First Snow

Merry Christmas everyone!
I just wanted to let you all know how grateful we are to have you as friends and family. We woke up to this

outside this morning and Craig got up early to shovel the driveway. The fresh look of the clean white snow reminded me that I have so much to be grateful for. My mom just left yesterday from a nice visit where she spoiled us rotten. We are grateful to know that our parents and family love us so much.
I am grateful for shelter and warmth, for food and health and a wonderful family. Craig, Addy, Hope (and Hayden...coming this March) are my greatest treasures.

But I especially want to share my gratitude for my Savior at this time. Elder Eyering speaks about how we are "Blessed with His Light" at Christmastime. He said,

"That light is easier to discern at Christmastime, when we are more likely to pray to know what God would have us do and more likely to read in the scriptures and so more apt to be on the Lord’s errand. When we forgive and feel forgiveness, when we are lifting the hands that hang down (see D&C 81:5), we are being lifted ourselves as we move toward the Source of the light.
You remember that the Book of Mormon describes a glorious time when the Savior’s faithful disciples reflected His light for others to see (see 3 Nephi 19:24–25). We use lights to celebrate the Christmas season. Our worship of the Savior and our service for Him brings light into our lives and into the lives of those around us.

We can with confidence set a goal to make this Christmas brighter than the last and each year that follows brighter still. The trials of mortality may increase in intensity, yet for us, darkness need not increase if we focus our eyes more singly on the light that streams down on us as we follow the Master. He will lead us and help us along the path that leads upward to the home for which we yearn.

There have been times, often at Christmas, when we have felt parts of what we will experience when we at last come home to the Father who loves us and answers our prayers and to the Savior who has lighted our lives and lifted us up.

I testify that because of Him, you may have an assurance that you can go home not only at Christmastime but also to live forever with a family whom you love and who love each other."

I feel like I need to more earnestly seek for the light, share the light with others, and my share my gratitude for the light in your examples and the example of my Savior.
The snow this morning brought back fond memories of my dad waking us up and having us look out the window on a magical transformation of the world. The brightness reminded me of this "light" we can feel and share not only at Christmastime, but all year around.
Love you all! Merry Christmas.