New Canaan.

Merry Christmas from New Canaan. I just woke up from a food-induced coma, a few hours of peaceful napping on the big green couch in the living room. We had a nice, perfectly leisurely Christmas. I made crepes, we opened gifts, we talked to Bryan & have generally just enjoyed the quiet time together. There's been a significant amount of eating involved, & I think I've only left the living room a few times today. But that's a good thing. Of course, I spent a good amount of time talking to my family. To those that are at the cabin. To Patrick in Colorado (& Haidyn, who said thank you for the striped jammies we sent). Elizabeth in Utah. I miss my brothers & sisters. I can't wait until we're all together in February - for the first time in years I think.

With all sincerity - I appreciate the opportunity of Christmas. It's a day, a season that gives us - forces us, really - to focus on the things that simply put, matter most. Faith & family. Hope in Christ. Happiness in His gospel. Our imperfect lives are so perfectly blessed by these things.

Mike's mom came up with the idea last year for gifts from the heart. Like Mike said (I love Mike, by the way), we give each other things that are free. A service, a CD, a letter, etc. This year, I decided to give memories to Mike's siblings & parents. I love photography. I hope that's obvious. I think I love as much as I do because it gives me the ability to take the things that I love & capture them, to hold on to them for a little bit longer. With that in mind, I gathered up all of the siblings yesterday for a secret mission (after Dan had arrived on the red-eye from Denver) & we ran out for photo adventure in the snow. I say adventure because it may or may not have involved running, knee-deep snow, laughing & even trespassing. We had so much fun, I think. It was quick, & they're far from perfect (no editing since we had to send them straight to get printed), but I'm happy that we took them & I think they were appreciated. I love Mike's brothers & sister & consider them simply additive to 6 I grew up with.