The Simple Christmas that was

I told Den in early December we best not get our tree down from the upper garage this year. Too risky considering for the first time in our lives, hospitals have no more room. 

So instead he ordered a small one through Amazon. It was barely 18 inches, but we never did finish decorating it. I wasn't bonded to it. But just the same we had a tree in case our kids were to ask. And they did.

"Mom, did you get the tree up?

"Of course we have the tree up."

I didn't want Den climbing up to get our nativities either. But thankfully we had a very light weight sweet one McKenna sent us a few years ago. No climbing up for this one. I had one just like it when I was a little girl! So loved it, we did. 

We packed ours away already, so I snagged this picture elsewhere.

We didn't want to hire anyone to put our outside lights up. Den worried about them falling and getting hurt. So we put this one out on our lawn, and we loved it, and it was indeed perfect.

Grocery delivery doesn't deliver gift wrap, so we used what we had. 

We worried and prayed, and prayed some more, for Logan and Amy suffering with Covid. We asked others to pray for them, too. And they did. 

Christmas Eve we drove around, just the two of us looking at lights all around the neighborhood. "O Holy Night" came on over the radio. And that was perfect. 

How could one not feel the beauty and sacredness of Christmas...even if we couldn't be physically with our families.

What more could we possibly want? Our children and grandchildren would have been nice. 

But we spent most of the day Face timing, phone calls, and receiving photos and videos...We felt blessed and loved.

We had simple turkey sandwiches for dinner. 

Then bedtime soon came and it was time to take down my hair which hasn't been cut or colored since last February. I wear it on top of my head all day and then take it down for sleep. Just like my ancestors use to do, I tell myself each night. 

We didn't feel deprived on Christmas. 

Okay, maybe be a little. But at least we had each other, unlike so many out there. 

Elder David Bednar words gave us comfort, "...the lessons we learn because of the constraints and limitations imposed by the COVID-19 virus will live on long after the pandemic has been eradicated. As hard as it may be for us to imagine today, we will be better, stronger, and more capable because of the constraints, the limitations, and the deprivations we have experienced. Physical restrictions can expand vision. Limited stamina can clarify priorities. Inability to do many things can direct focus to a few things of greatest importance.