This is a little late, but I will turn back the time published so it syncs with Abby's later today. Matt and I are in Pocatello with Asher this year, and Christmas with extended family is certainly a blessing we have not ever had since our marriage. In fact, I have had Christmas with just Valerie... then with Valerie and Matt... then Valerie Matt and Asher, since 2003. Every Christmas from then, until now, has been a bit lonely. In the last couple years, I have learned some things to do to help with those feelings (involving service and making dinner for missionaries or other familes who are alone in our area). Spending this year with family is a blessing for sure.
Also, Valerie is not here with us, and Asher is sick with the flu, so I can tell you for sure, what I want most, is for my little family to be healthy and well, and happy- above all else. This cements what I have learned over the last several years.
My thoughts on what we could share on the tenth day of Christmas, is a little of what speaks to my heart the most about christmas, and that is the birth of Christ, lowly as it was. The most powerful way I can express my feelings is through music, and I will spare you my voice, and leave you instead with these. Please, please take the time to listen to each.
On behalf of those with no family around, I ask you to invite them over for a bit Christmas Eve. Trust me, it will do so much good to the hearts of those who feel a bit lonely.
I recognize the little drummer boy in my children, they have both demonstrated to me, such a desire to be kind and love- giving what they can, in such sweet innocence. May we all have faith, and love, like a child.
My testimony of Christ was born, in a tangible way, as a barely-five-year old. I never doubted what I had learned of Jesus Christ as a little bitty girl. The first emotional memory I have of that knowlege, is with this song. My kindergarten class was practicing it at school (yay, Kansas!) for a Christmas program, and as I sang the words, I began to cry and cry. The music teacher asked me what was wrong, and I told her "nothing." That is true, it was such a sweet testimony to my heart then, and still the memory is one of my most-precious. I don't share it often.
Later, on Christmas day, I got a platic loom with elastic loops, and my brothers got identical blue cars, that you pulled back, then let go- and they would race away. I wanted to play with my brother, David's and he refused me, and at first, I got mad, then I the exact same spirit that came into my heart the day I was practicing in school. I try to remember that feeling, even now, and remember to view people as Christ does. It has done wonders to dissipate my frustration and annoyance with people.
This is my favorite, ever rendition of this song. I listen to the Devotional every year, excited about this song at the end. This version is just sublime, with the scene it sets.
Is that not, just sublime? It is ok if you need to wipe away tears now, that just means we match.
I also do want to share with you, my Testimony of Christ. I know, beyond all things i know, that He was born to Mary, the Son of God. I know that he lived fewer years than I have lived, and served, loved, and led by example every day of His life, and that He died for our sins. I do not know much else with this certainty, but I do try to not add to the suffering He felt on the cross. I challenge everyone who reads this to try to refrain from unkindness, selfishness, impatience, and frustration through Christmas Day. It is hard, but that is a gift we can all give to each other.
Finally, I hope Santa brings a new computer to 299 S 20th :-)
HISTORY
A Little History:
Our story begins in Pocatello, Idaho, circa 1972, when the lovely Debby Christensen agreed to a first, though fateful date with admirer, David Croshaw. Long story-short, he bade her follow him, and they went arm-in-arm to the Logan, Utah temple for establishment of an eternal family unit, Generation 1, on May 23 1973.
From their first blissful summer in Salt Lake City, educational pursuits took them to Provo/Orem, Utah, birthplace of Leslie and Rebecca, and to San Francisco/Oakland California, birthplace of Colin and Matt. Then, for establishment of livelihood, expansion of the tribe with Abby and Dana, and for raising/unifying of Generation 2, it was back to the roots in Pocatello for a rewarding sojourn.
In time, driven by a raging, but commonly shared sense of adventure and independence, one-by-one, Generation 2 escaped the homeland to distant regions of the country and the world, each ultimately developing their own tribal expansions by pairing with worthy mates and initiating Generation 3.
Now sensing fulfillment of their purpose in Pocatello, Generation 1 has also left those roots and transplanted to Cascade Idaho, from which base, they anticipate more abundant contact with The Posterity, Generations 2 and 3, in the future. That contact however, awaits fulfillment of a call to LDS missionary service in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, wherein they hope to help the state of the world by sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
So now, including Generation 0 (Grandma and Grandpa Christensen) home base includes Yuma, Arizona, Pocatello, Idaho, Cascade, Idaho, Vancouver, BC, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Spokane, Washington, Boise, Idaho, Los Angeles, California, back to Boise, Idaho, and on and on (Generation 3+) to infinity.
Our Mission Statement:
This is the blog of our eternal family unit. Initiated years ago, it served well as a journal, but even more so, as an archive of our personal interaction. It was a gathering place, a confabulation instrument, a unifying force for four generations of widely dispersed and progressively prolific posterity, and their valued associates. Though it served these purposes well for many years, it eventually took a back seat to new-kids-on-the-block, Facebook, and Instagram, and was sadly forgotten.
We now move to resurrect this blog with an added functional purpose of archiving the missionary experiences of Generation 1, of their movements and activities as they participate with The Gathering of Israel in the land northward. In so doing, we hope that via their own comments and posts, this blog will again serve to gather and unify the posterity and their friends.
As in the past, that the young and vibrant may know the old and tired, that enduring bonds may be fostered and maintained, that experience and encouragement may be openly shared, that posterity may embrace truth, and that hearts may be knit together, we must resist detachment despite our geographic divergence. We shall do so here.
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2 comments:
Beautiful, beautiful music. I'm a strong believer that music can touch and influence us stronger than words most of the time.
Thanks, Crystal. Music is so powerful. I really appreciate you sharing this!
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