Christmas 2014 was maybe the best one yet.
First of all, it was our first Christmas as a married couple, which is special on it's own.
But in addition to that, we also got to spend Christmas in AMERICA.
There really isn't anything quite like being home with family for Christmas.
For the first time since 2007, we had more than one day off for the holiday. Really, we were just given a long weekend, Wednesday to Sunday, but Liz and I jumped at the chance of actually going home for Christmas. It had been so long.
The whole thing was a surprise to everyone but my brother Joel and his wife Jess. They kept the secret well and perfectly coordinated everything else. The result was three special days with family.
"Three days?!" you might be saying. "All the way to America for only three days?"
I know right? So impractical. So spontaneous. But SO worth it.
I didn't do the greatest job of taking pictures, mostly because I just wanted to be there and enjoy each moment, but here a few that I wanted to post before the time gets away anymore than it already has.
Christmas morning.
It was a pretty relaxed Christmas...pants being optional. :)
Everyone, all together in one place. :)
I've been learning recently that loving others isn't always practical. It definitely isn't always easy, and it's not always our first response. But loving is the right thing.
As we made the trip for Christmas, I was reminded of the reason for the holiday at all, where our Savior made the ultimate trip to join us all here on the earth, to become God With Us, and ultimately die in our place. His coming also didn't make "sense" to the world. Even now it seems such a crazy story to those hearing it for the first time. But it's that "crazy," "impractical" act of love which changed everything and gave us Hope.
I hope that our memories from Christmas this year be a reminder throughout the year of the love God showed by sending his Son.
