Our Tree

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Our Tree

Well, we were a little overanxious in clearing out stuff we didn't know where to store when we moved in with my parents. One of the casualties was our Christmas Tree. It wasn't a great tree anyway - just a small scraggly thing that we picked up for $20 thinking that it would work while we lived in an apartment. And then we lived in an apartment year after year and everytime the tree seemed smaller and sadder so we finally decided that we didn't need it anymore. But as Andy was getting ready to leave for 4 months, I realized that I would find great peace in having a tree of my own downstairs.

Several years ago, I was up at USU and had a very difficult time emotionally. I still don't think I ever figured out what was wrong with me, and I suspect that there were some phycial complications triggering the emotional ones. But the end result is that what seemed like a very dark period of my life was made lighter from the Christmas Tree that sat in our dorm room kitchen. I had difficulty sleeping at night and would find myself alone, in the dark staring at that tree. We were up on the 4th floor and there was nothing as peaceful as watching the tree and seeing the snow fall out the window behind it.

So I decided, that as I am facing another Christmas Season with great potential for emotionality, that our own little Christmas Tree would be a nice little bandaid for me on those lonely nights that I might need it.

Without much money, or much space, we ended up buying a pre-lit tree that is a simple 4 1/2 feet. It is really cute and I am so glad that we got it. Ammon helped Andy set it up, and I love my Christmas Ornaments! I was also thrilled to get a picture of Andy and Peter for Peter's first Christmas. It almost even looks like Christmas morning since they are still in their pajamas.

Christmas this year has been a promising one. It is the first year that I haven't had to take a budget that is already too short to buy groceries, to try to invent a budget for presents. This year, we eat no matter what - and that has made things a lot more fun. It is also a promising year in that Ammon is a fun age and now we have another adorable little one in our family too. I think it would be our best Christmas yet if only Andy were here. We will miss him terribly, and our hearts will ache for him in his absence, but I think it will be a great day.

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Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.