We have been looking forward to this Christmas week for months and months. You could say we've been looking forward to it since March 2020, although the seed wasn't truly planted until August/September.
Instead of detailing out each activity that we did and describing each picture attached, I think I'd rather write a few of my most important thoughts and then let the pictures speak for themselves.
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As I mentioned above, we've been looking forward to this for a really long time. Prior to Covid-19, we had been going to Cal and Sue's house every single Tuesday afternoon. We loved it, but as soon as everything started shutting down - we realized we would have to stop going immediately. We would occasionally get to do "porch visits" with them - but our kids have been confused about why the only hugs they can give grandma and grandpa are air hugs. So when we realized that if we could quarantine for two weeks, we could make sure that we weren't sick/hadn't been exposed to Covid! And if we weren't sick/exposed - it would be okay for us to be together again. We immediately started planning to quarantine through December so we could spend Christmas at the Peaden Home. We ended up cutting back most of our activities through October, then even more in November. So by the time we were planning to quarantine, we were pretty sure we were safe! Even so, there were a lot of prayers said that everyone would be safe and we wouldn't get anyone sick.
This week did not disappoint. It was SO nice to be back inside this home that means so much to us. We played, snuggled, chatted, Christmas-baked, cleaned, and so much more. As a huge blessing, Kevin and Amy were both also able to quarantine and were there for much of that week before Christmas. Plus, in a huge Christmas surprise, Bruce secretly quarantined while living in Colorado and drove out to show up on Christmas Eve! I'm not sure that I've ever seen Sue so touched and emotional as when Bruce showed up. I think that this year has been incredibly hard on Cal and Sue and this was the best Christmas gift that we could have given.
Above: The great Christmas sort (done early this year!)
Left: The presents arranged beautifully to enjoy for the days leading up to Christmas.
Right: The presents after our kids pulled them all out of their beautiful positions and stacked into a giant pile in front of the tree. (At one point, Caleb and Lucy made a tunnel through them. It makes me laugh.)
The Christmas Star
Instagram Post by Russell M Nelson
Tonight, December 21, is the winter solstice, regarded in many traditions as the darkest and longest night of the year. How fitting that astronomers and scientists are predicting tonight's appearance of a "Christmas star," formed by the great conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, a rare event not seen in nearly 400 years.
While we don't need to ascribe any special meaning to the actual phenomenon, tonight's Christmas star will undoubtedly draw our minds and hearts to the original start that appeared in the heavens to make the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the shepherds in Judea, for the Wise Men, and for the believers in the New World, the star brought more than mere physical light - it brought hope.
My dear friends, as we near the end of a challenging year, one that may feel to many as a time of uncertainty and darkness, let us never forget that the light of hope still shines brightly, Jesus Christ is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. As we turn our hearts to Him, He will pour out His love for us in unmeasured ways. I wish you all a very merry and hope-filled Christmas season. #LightTheWorld
It was neat to go outside and watch the planets Saturn and Jupiter come together in the sky. In the pictures below you can see Jupiter and Saturn right next to in. With the naked eye, you could see a bright star with a smaller star next to it, we'd been watching it move closer and closer over the past several days but on this day they came so close that they touched, just for a moment. (I took a screenshot of the app and you can see Jupiter and Saturn right on top of each other, with Pluto nearby.)
I wanted to include the Instagram post by my brother in law Kevin, that I thought was beautifully written. (A lot of people were pretty disappointed with the "Christmas Star" even though I thought it was neat and reminded me to have hope.
Kevin Peaden: "The "Christmas Star" that appears here is hardly noticeable (especially taken on a camera phone). Yet the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn is an event that has not occurred in several hundred years. It was a significant event and it was fun to see.
As I thought about this, I thought of how often important events may seem insignificant. The Savior's birth was noted by shepherds, wise men, and others, but probably most people in Jerusalem went to bed none the wiser that the Savior of mankind was entering the world. They slept, awoke, and went about the next day like normal.
In celebration of the Christmas holiday and fancy ribbons, presents, and lights, I am hopeful we do not overlook that which is most significant, which is that we celebrate the birth of the Savior and seek to spread His light and love to all. I truly hope all feel loved and needed this Christmas holiday."
More holiday happenings:
As I thought about this, I thought of how often important events may seem insignificant. The Savior's birth was noted by shepherds, wise men, and others, but probably most people in Jerusalem went to bed none the wiser that the Savior of mankind was entering the world. They slept, awoke, and went about the next day like normal.
In celebration of the Christmas holiday and fancy ribbons, presents, and lights, I am hopeful we do not overlook that which is most significant, which is that we celebrate the birth of the Savior and seek to spread His light and love to all. I truly hope all feel loved and needed this Christmas holiday."
More holiday happenings:
Next up: Christmas Eve!
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