Christmas at the Rusch's

Well Christmas has come and gone again this year, it always comes quicker than it stays. But we are grateful to have spent it with family and friends. We started the Christmas holiday the night before the night before Christmas on the 23rd, that is our family tradition night. We make and eat homemade pizzas, a tradition started by keith's mom while they were growing up, then we play games and read stories, until late then the kids sleep under the Christmas tree. On Christ mas Eve we spent the evening at my Sister Tiffany's where the meal was fabulous (my favorite part about the holidays is the food) . We exchanged gifts with my family which was fun. We received great things from my Sister Sharee and her husband Dave. My parents gave us a lifetime table that we've wanted for a while to take camping. They also were very instrumental in providing most of our christmas since we are still struggling. We are thankful to them for so much. We went home and kids went right to bed while mom wrapped presents till 2 am and dad watched tv and watched mom! J/K. We started off Christmas morning with breakfast at Carolyn's, which is always yummy, then we get to see how creative Carolyn gets with great gifts. She is always so awesome and comes up with the cutest things! All my kids loved their gifts, and they had fun. We always get to receive and read a great book with a great message. Keith and I made a great haul too. Keith even received a money tree that resembled tomatoe cages. It was a great time. We went from there to both grandpas, we always feel great about visiting them. I didn't realize how much it meant to them until I was visiting with a friend who is also 80+ and to see how excited she was to have her family come for a visit was very humbling to me, and I realized that I don't take those visits to grandparents seriously enough.
After that we visited our friends the Allreds and then went home to our house to have ham, potatoes, beans and goodies with my parents and sister Sharee, Dave and Ryker, who kept us laughing at all his silliness! He is adorable. It is great to have a baby around to show us how we need to laugh more and enjoy the smallest things in life!
I truly do love life, I am grateful to my Savior for every breath. He blesses me more than I deserve, I know that if it wasn't for Him and His atonement that I would be in a miserable place. I'm grateful he was born, lived and died so that we would have an example and a redeemer to save us from our own stupidity. I am truly blessed in all areas and continue to be amazed at the love of the Lord for me and my family. I love Christmas and the exclusive opportunity each year to focus on Him, I love that it brings out the best in people, yes it does bring out the worst as well, but in my eyes the good surpasses the bad at this time of year, I am grateful to be a witness of the caring and love that people are capable of and will have permantly in the Millenium. I leave everyone who reads this my testimony and love in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.