Christmas is not just a day, an event to be observed and speedily forgotten. It is a spirit which should permeate every part of our lives.  William Parks 

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John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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December 5th is a special day to me.  It is my sweetest of heart’s birthday.  So we’ll start today’s blog with a Christmas love song.

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The Greatest Gift of All
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
audio recording with still pictures included
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1tn6NhH7_s

Dawn is slowly breaking
Our friends have all gone home
You and I are waiting
For Santa Claus to come
There's a present by the tree
Stockings on the wall
And knowing you're in love with me
Is the greatest gift of all
The fire is slowly fading
Chill is in the air
All the gifts are waiting
For children everywhere
Through the window I can see
Snow begin to fall
Knowing you're in love with me
Is the greatest gift of all
Just before I go to sleep
I hear a church bell ring
Merry Christmas everyone
Is the song it singsSo I say a silent prayer
For creatures great and small
Peace on Earth, good will to men
Is the greatest gift of all
Peace on Earth, good will to men
Is the greatest gift of all

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“Knowing you're in love with me is the greatest gift of all.” We often get so busy in this life that we give little or no time to those most precious to us – our spouses -- those we love.  I have been guilty of taking Dean for granted, so I’ve decided on a service project for him.  I’m going to do the 12 days in December.  The 12 days of Christmas traditionally runs from Dec. 26 - Jan. 6, but I don’t want to wait that long to start.  Personalize your own list, make it fun.
Day 1–  a can of pears, 
Day 2 - a bar of dove soap
Day 3 - chicken enchiladas (he Loves them)
Day 4 - a sweet text or phone call
Day 5 - fresh doughnuts
Day 6 - new down pillow
Day 7 - 10 punch pass to the pool
Day 8 - his own personal, private container of yogurt!
Day 9 - foot massage 
Day 10 - another foot massage!
Day 11 - a cake, with “I love you” piped on it
Day 12 - a back rub with my fists pounding on is back like a drum
Every day - a sweet kiss on his forehead.
I know I’m cheesy, but he doesn’t mind – well at least not most of the time.  Don’t put off serving those you love.  Teach service by setting an example, by making those you love a priority. ~~ Marilee

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Dean loves gingerbread cookies, so I’m sharing his favorite recipe + an additional more kid friendly recipe.

Soft Gingerbread Cookie
2 1/4 c. flour
2 t. ground ginger
1 t. baking soda
3/4 t. cinnamon
½ t. cloves
1/4 t. salt
3/4 c butter, softened
1 c. white sugar
1 egg
1 T water
1/4 c. molasses
2 T white sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Sift together four, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt.  In large bowl cream together the butter and 1 c. sugar util light and fluffy.  Beat in the egg, then stir in water and molasses.  Gradually stir in the dry ingredients.  Shape dough into balls about the size of walnuts.  Roll in sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheet, flatten slightly.  Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.  Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before removing to wire rack.  Store in airtight container.

Kid friendly recipe
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 whole egg, room temperature
1 egg yolk, room temperature
1 tablespoon molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 box Duncan Hines Spice Cake mix
3 tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon ginger
Preheat your oven to 375º F. In the bowl of your stand mixer combine butter, egg, egg yolk, molasses, and vanilla. Whip together until fluffy. Mix in ginger. Whip until combined. Add in the cake mix and flour and mix until well combined. Roll dough out onto a floured surface (1/8" thick) and cut into desired shapes. Place cookie cut outs onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool on baking sheet for 1 minute before transferring to a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container and enjoy!

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December of 1975 was our first Christmas together.  We lived in a tiny little house on a pocket handkerchief sized lot, near the university I attended.  Our furniture was a bed, a bedside table, a dresser, a card table with 2 folding chairs and a bean bag chair.  I asked Dean what he remembers about our first Christmas together, and he remembers sitting in our bean bag chair in front of the fireplace talking about family traditions, and deciding what OUR traditions should be.  I remember sitting there together with his arms wrapped around me planning our future, and his holding me tight while we felt our baby move.  It made Christmas real to me in a way that it never had been before.  I carried life within me.  I knew that I was loved – by my husband, my Savior, and my Father in Heaven.

I Remember every December
the love, the joy.
the gift our Father gave this world
a perfect baby boy.
He waxed strong 
a young boy about his father’s business
He grew in wisdom and stature 
this man who taught us how to live
He fed the hungry
calmed the waters
healed the sick
gave sight to the blind
Willingly, He paid the price
He sacrificed His life
and in so doing,  He saved ours