christmas.

Christmas is probably my favorite holiday - next to my birthday. The whole month of December, everyone is so joyful, loving, cheerful, and everybody wants to serve! There is a special spirit throughout the whole month and miracles happen. Last year, I was a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and spent Christmas away from my family. Christmas day was a hard but great day for me:

"I got to call home and talk to my family which was awesome. We just talked about normal stuff. We had a blast and I didn't cry until the very end when I had to leave a message for Richie. I totally lost it. It took me a while to recover from it but it made me really realize that I wasn't crying because I missed my family...I was crying because I love my mission so much and I don't want to go back home. We got to serve Sharon by singing to her and I felt the spirit so strongly. It felt good to serve her. Tonight I helped Sister Merciales do a three way call with her family in the Philippines. I called her family from the TC and then added her to the line from the phone she was using out in her area. It felt good to serve her. I love my mission!"

That day was a huge day for me. I finally didn't want to go home. I know, it sounds weird...especially since I still had another 9 months on the mission. However, I realized that I loved being a representative of Christ and that I wanted to do that and be that every single day for the rest of my life. When I told my parents we were going to do service, they were shocked! But, to me, that's what the Savior would have done. To me...it was normal. A family came and gave each of the VC sisters presents. They are one of my favorite families from the mission. What an example of Christ-like love they are to me. They glow with the love of Savior every time I see them.

Christmas this year was wonderful, but not as special as the one on the mission. This year, I was able to reflect on why last year was so great. I have come to the conclusion that it's because last year, I was representing him 24/7 that day. In reality, I represented him 24/7 for a whole year and a half! But that Christmas it wasn't about the presents, family, friends, homemade tamales, and the endless amount of text messages from people dear to me. It was who I was representing that day - the Savior. It was a day where I reflected on the Savior all day long. It was a day where I was able to testify of Him to people I met. It was a day where I gave thanks to Him for all that I have and am. Isn't that what Christmas truly is all about?

love,
Liv