PERSONAL 520

SPIRITUAL 416

LDS 312

BOOK OF MORMON 237

SCRIPTURES 154

STUDIO-JOURNEY 129

RELIGION 112

LINUX 79

COMPUTERS 65

LIFE 60

GENERAL CONFERENCE 46

GENTOO 39

MISCELLANEOUS 37

MUSIC 37

PROGRAMMING 33

CARS 29

MICROSOFT 23

FAMILY 23

AUDIO 21

I LOVE MY JOURNAL 18

FUN 15

CHILDREN 12

CURRENT EVENTS 10

NATURE'S WAY 10

VIDEO 9

DRM 9

CONEXM 7

BABBLINGS 7

PROVO CITY CENTER TEMPLE 6

FRIENDS 6

HEROD THE FINK 5

GAMES 5

COMPUTER HARDWARE 5

DRUMS 4

HAND OF GOD 3

ADVERSITY 3

KDENLIVE 3

AUDIO HARDWARE 3

GENERAL INSANITY 3

STUDIO 3

THANKS4GIVING 2

CATS 2

MY JOURNAL 1

POETRY 1

FOREVERGREEN 1

EVERYDAY THOUGHTS 1

GOSPEL 1

PARENTING 1

YOUTH CONFERENCE 1

CHURCH NOTES 1

POLITICS 1

Hmmm....  It's hard to write about something so wonderful when I'm not in the mood...  But I've found that when I feel like "blah", and I write about something wonderful, I usually am feeling closer to wonderful when I'm done... So, here goes.

First off, I'm at work, so I don't have any pictures, but I'll update it when I get home.

My in-laws came into town this Christmas, and to be completely honest, it was a good experience.  It was a good experience on multiple levels.  Sheesh...  I really wasn't anticipating writing all this, but - such is journaling...

Yes, it was good in that I realize that forgiveness really is for everyone - at any time.  My mother-in-law and I have had our bouts, and quite honestly, I've never had problems with people I couldn't either solve, or move away from.  So, this is a first for me.

Being forced to honestly forgive had always seemed like an oxymoron to me.  However, I guess it really doesn't depend wholly upon the nature of the person, it has to do with intent and sincerity.

I had resigned myself to never forgive her, but rather just keep her out of my life.  Silly me.  How I didn't see the ridiculousness of that, I'll never know.

So, when Sarah asked me if her family could come up for Christmas, I laughed out loud.  Honest to goodness, I did.  But, Sarah persisted, and as time went on, I knew I had three choices:

1. Invite them, and cover up my emotions, feelings, and other yuckiness I was holding inside, and simultaneously, be completely inable to have any semblance of a good Christmas.
2. Don't invite them, and simultaneously become a grinch in my own home, and watch the opportunity for a "Merry" Christmas in 2008 pass us by.
3. Invite them, and work out sincere forgiveness so I really could have a good Christmas.

So, needless to say, when faced with the choices, there really was only one.

So, without going into the details, through a lot of effort, prayer, and soul searching, I was able to internally forgive her and then the rest was cake.

They came, and we had a good time!  Nothing but good conversation, good movies, good food, good friends, and good family!  Hehe....  (On Christmas day, we had a dinner as the host of 14 people. My family, Eric Hansen's family, Kim, Henry, and Julia, and Chloe's family.  I thought that would be awkward at best, but it turned out to be absolutely wonderful!!!)

Anyway...  I played a lot of Guitar Hero with everyone (and alone), and finally Christmas came.

Christmas morning was brought to me at precisely 9:01AM this year.  I heard the pitter patter of little feet running as fast as they could to my room, along with the chime, "Santa ate the cookies!!  He really ate the cookies!  Santa ate the cookies!"  Luci was beside herself with disbelief.  She repeated the phrase at least 10 times before I had the sense to grab the camera and get recording.

Opening presents was a great event.  You'll see all that when I get the video done.  Sarah's big gift was the best.  She was.... uhhh happy. *wink*

Then the rest of the day was relaxing, and guitar hero until dinner time.

We had turkey this Christmas, and the food was exceptional.  As previously stated, we had a lot of people over for dinner, but it all worked out in the end, and I ate waaaaay too much.  The food was absolutely scrumptious - and there was plenty, too.

And that was about it.  Wow.... I wrote much more than I thought I would.  Ah what the hey.  This is my blog, and I'll write whatever I want.

This year's Christmas was fantastic.