Reasons #3, 2, and #1

Reason #3

Friends

It's always fun to be around friends this time of year. Go shopping, see movies, hang out. Friends are important and I am grateful to have them.

Reason #2

Family

I haven't really had an opportunity to spend much time with my family this Christmas season, but I do understand the importance of family, especially this time of year. It is after all the only thing we can take with us after this life. My family means a great deal to me and I am trying all that I can in my way to try and re-build those relationships that have been tarnished or damaged over the years. It's been difficult, but I am trying and will continue to try until we are all together as a family again.

Reason #1

The Savior

This is the reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place. I was watching A Charlie Brown Christmas last week and I love the part where Charlie asks what Christmas is all about and Linus tells him by quoting Luke 2:9-14...

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Charles Schwartz had some cajones, man! To animate a cartoon where you talk about the true meaning of Christmas and quote scripture. It is a sweet cartoon and it really does capture what Christmas is all about. It's so easy to forget about the true meaning of Christmas. At church on Sunday the choir put on the Christmas program. It was quite an interactive program because the congregation sang as well. We sang a lot of hymns! There were some of the Christmas hymns that we sang that I hadn't ever sung in church before. It was quite a treat to just be able to sing in church, just sing. My Mom, sister and nieces came to church with us on Christmas Eve. It was a nice service and it made me realize that I had been focusing this list of 25 things on some fun things, but maybe I shouldn't focus on just the fun things. Christmas is about family and friends being together and most importantly, the Savior that was born on that day. That is what I am most glad for at Christmas time. I am glad for the presents too, but I am mostly glad for my life and the relationships that I can take with me.

Reason #6, #5 and #4

Reason #6

The Lights at Temple Square

We are planning on going to see the lights at Temple Square on Christmas Eve. Mike has been so busy with work that we haven't had an opportunity to actually go Downtown and experience Christmas in the city. So, seeing the lights on Christmas Eve is our plan... It should be fun.


Reason #5

Freshly Baked Banana Bread

For the last 5 or so years I have baked banana bread for the Christmas Season. This year I have had a hard time finding the motivation to bake. I think that it might be due to my ever expanding mid section. I don't want to add any excess inches to that portion or really any portion of my body... if at all possible. But, I think I might just end up making some baked goodness this weekend. I am feeling motivated right now to bake some, but then again... I am not home or even near an oven and I might feel differently by the time I get home too. Who knows?

Reason #4

Shopping!

Christmas gives you the BEST opportunity to go shopping! Unfortunately, I haven't really taken that opportunity this year. Mike has been super busy with work and I have found it hard to get motivated to go shopping on my own. Dealing with the crowds and everything just exhausts me when I think about it, let alone going out there and actually dealing with it. But, it's crunch time now and I have to deal with it. Mike and I are starting our Christmas shopping either tonight or tomorrow, since it's our last opportunity to get anything before the actual holiday. We'll see how it turns out.

Reason #11, #10, #9, #8 and #7

Reason #11

Three Words... Hot Buttered Rum

Reason #10

Watching It's A Wonderful Life... which I haven't done yet, but I will, oh yes... I will.

Reason #9

My kitties

When they sit under the Christmas Tree, they are Christmas cats and it makes me want to keep the tree up all year round when I see them under there. They don't lay under there at the same time of course, they would kill each other first, but they are cute anyway.

Reason #8

The Marshmellow World that is my front yard this year.

Terri sings Marshmellow World every time she comes over when the lights are one, because she says... "It's a Marshmellow World at the Foxes, when the snow gets to cover the ground..."

Reason #7

Giving change to the Salvation Army

I was at the store earlier and didn't have any change to give. I always feel guilty on some level when I don't put change in the little red hanging thingy... Next time I am going to make sure that I have change so I can toss some in and feel like I am contributing!

Okay... Reason's #18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13 and 12

It has been one week and I haven't posted anything... so here goes.

Reason #18

Snow: We actually saw some of that white stuff a few days ago, but it's all gone now. Please come back before the Big Day!!!

Reason #17

I got to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas on TV with commercials and everything!

Reason #16

My Christmas work party... Free Dinner and this year we get iPods!

Reason #15

I can wear my gold wreath pin with fake diamonds in it and not feel like a fool.

Reason #14

Going to Thanksgiving Pointe and paying $5 to drive through their light display for 10 minutes! This isn't actually something that I am glad for at Christmas time... it's rather an annoyance, but what can you do?

Reason #13

The Primary portion of the Christmas program at Church... those kids are so dang cute!

Reason #12

People that are eager to spend, spend, spend... Where are all the Laurie McCrea's in the world when you need 'em?

Reason's #21, #20 and #19

I figure since I am not doing so well at actually posting every day, I am still going to give 25 reasons... I'll just lump the days that I miss together. That way no one misses out on anything.

Reason #21

Christmas Lights

Reason #20

Christmas Trees

Reason #19

Candy

I don't beleive that any of these reasons need any explination. They are pretty self explanitory.

My List #73

Go to the Symphony

I know that I haven't done much with my list lately, but this last Saturday I did... Mike and I went to the Symphony on Saturday night! We saw the Utah Symphony perform Dvorak's "New World" Symphony. It was incredible! I want to go again and again! I felt like my IQ was raised just a little bit by being there and listening to those movements.
I also decided that the best instrument to play in the symphony is the triangle. I would love to play the triangle. It's an instrument that you learn to play in Kidergarten but is also vital to an Orchestra. I could totally see myself up there ringing the dig-a-ling-a-ling of the triangle.

Reason #23 and #22

I forgot to write what I love about Christmas yesterday, so today I am writing two things.

#23
Eggnog

There isn't another time of year when eggnog is available and I love it so!

#22
Hustle and Bustle

Mike and I were downtown on Saturay night and it made me think of how much I love the hustle and bustle of the season... even though at some point you get so sick and tired of fighting through traffic, etc... I think that it just adds to the entire feel of what Christmas does to people, it makes them CRAZY!

Reason #24

Christmas music!

I love Christmas music because I can only listen to it once a year. Since last year I have been cheating on the time that I actually start listening to Christmas music... it used to be that I would start listening to it the day afterThanksgiving, but ever since last year I have been caught listening to it as soon as the first week in November. One of the guys I work with says that is okay because Thanksgiving doesn't have any of it's own music. I like this reasoning and I think I will stick with it until I don't want to listen to Christmas music that early anymore. Anyway, Christmas music is my reason #24... I am listening to Harry Connick Jr. right now and I am loving it!

Reason #25

The Festival of Trees!

We are going to the Festival of Trees tonight... I love this Festival because it helps me get in the spirit of Christmas and I only have to pay $4 to do it. That, and Mike is always willing to go with me to see them, even though it isn't his favorite thing to do, but he goes anyway.