Christmas with no Santa Claus.

I love Christmas. I'm pretty sure everyone does. But lately my holidays have been a little disturbed by some extreme views.

I think that by now we all know the true meaning of Christmas. We know that it's not all about gifts and parties but about celebrating the birth of Christ. We know it's about giving and not receiving, we know it's about service and loving one another. WE KNOW! And it's up to each one of us to take what we know and celebrate Christmas as we choose.
Personally I respect each person's views and choices. If you're a Jehovah Witness and don't celebrate it than I respect that. If you choose to not give gifts and only focus on the spiritual aspect of it, than I respect that. I won't ever try to enforce my traditions and my believes on anyone else. Than why can't some people give the same respect back?

As far as I know, as an LDS, I'm allowed to celebrate Christmas. Growing up in the church we had wonderful Christmas devotionals as well as memorable parties. Memories of Hermano Puente dressing up as Santa Claus, breaking piñatas, eating, dancing, and of course singing hymns, giving service, etc. Yes, our leaders, and even the prophet have reminded year after year to not let the hustle and bustle of the season suck us in. To always keep the true meaning of Christmas alive. BUT they have never ever said , "WE ARE AGAINST THE TRADITION OF SANTA CLAUS" "WE DISAGREE WITH HAVING PIñATAS AND PARTIES" "IT HAS TO ALL BE STRICTLY SPIRITUAL AND THAT MEANS NOTHING THAT IS REMOTELY FUN"NEVER! So why is it that now so many members of the church seem to be going to the extremes. They seem to think that the church means living like some type of nun, or that being rightous is living in some sort of bubble. And that's not even the problem, because if that's what they believe that's fine with me, what I can't seem to understand is why they expect everyone else to abide by what they think is right. My ward no longer has a Halloween party because these people seem to say that the Church is against it, that Halloween is of the devil. Ummm than why is every other stake having Halloween parties? So the leaders who approve them are wrong and they are right. PLUS, the church has always told us not to allow our kids to dress as devils, or monsters, or satanic things. We take it more as a costume and candy party for fun. But they seem to be so offended, they even go as far as to attack you for it, trying to make you feel like you're evil for not agreeing with them. WHAT? And now Christmas. Gone are our wonderful, spiritual AND fun parties because of these few members who seem to think that we are sinning for telling our kids there is a Santa Claus. They're against having a dance after the spiritual part of the party, or even to having piñatas.

Really. They even go as far as to say that the CHURCH is against all of that, yet where is there one single speach or paper or talk or letter or scripture where they say this. Don't you think that if the CHURCH was against all this the prophet wouldn't personally come out and say this to us. Wouldn't he make it clear like other religions where they are against all of this. If the prophet where to say that we are not to celebrate with festivities or that Santa Claus shouldn't be a part of Christmas traditions than I would absolutely follow his words but to change everything because of a few members who take things to the extreme, really? Does it really make someone more holier than me because they don't tell their kids there's a Santa Claus? Am I a sinner because I like to dance at my Christmas party? My best memories of Christmas is not only giving service with my family or singing hymns at church and home, or reading of the birth of Christ. But also of the excitement of Santa Claus, looking forward to wonderful parties with my ward and family. And what, now my kids don't get to enjoy that because some people want to enforce fake laws they make up themselves out of self rightousness? My dad said that he was reading the Liahona, and he read how the pioneers celebrated with music and dancing, others with caroling, others made gifts to give to the kids, etc. But I guess now some people think that to truly be a rightous LDS you can't do any celebrating. Makes me wonder if these people who are so rightous are trying to make up for other short comings. Sorry I'm so upset, but it just makes me so mad when they don't respect other people. One of the daughter's of one of these members keep attacking Natalie about the Santa Claus thing. Without anyone even bringing up the subject they have to bring it up themselves and then start bullying Natalie for believing in Santa. Maybe these parents should take some time off from imposing their believes on others and teach their daughter how bullying other kids about their believes is also a sin and is wrong. I know we are not perfect, the gospel is but we are not. And it's sad that this goes on, and it's sad that I'm this upset about it. I know I shouldn't let it get to me and I should just let it be. But it really upsets me. Next thing you know we won't be able to celebrate New Years because it's not a spiritual holiday and we'll go to hell for giving chocolate bunnies on Easter.

P.S. I put up pictures of my little family at a Christmas parade to brighten up the blog! Hahaha!

All at once.

I'm still kind of shocked. I'm actually speechless. And that is super duper rare for me. But I knew I had to blog about this so that I will never forget this moment.

I have been crying, begging, fighting, praying, wishing, hoping and dreaming that David would one day decide to come back to church and become active and use his priesthood and go back to the temple. But I have to say I had kind of given up hope.

But then something happened. They couldn't find his record. To make a long story short, since they didn't have this information Natalie's baptism and confirmation weren't valid and most importantly our sealing wasn't valid either. We had to find that information or do the ordinances again. Now we had tried getting the info but we just couldn't find it. So what was left was to wait for David to decide if it was important enough for him to get active in the church again to be able to soon perform these ordinances again.

But to tell you the truth things weren't looking too good. He has his usual reluctant self. So I wasn't expecting anything. I had asked the missionaries who come to eat to be a little bit more pushy with him about this subject. Also around this time we had just found out that a sister from our ward who had moved to Florida had lost her 2 year old daughter in a pool accident. So this might have also got him to thinking about our sealing.

I really do feel like the missionaries were the one to make this miracle happen. They gave us such a wonderful and heartfelt message and let him know this was no playing matter. They actually asked him for a time line to get this done and to my surprise he said he would go to church on Sunday. I couldn't believe it. Many elders have talked to him before, many elders had given him heartfelt messages, many elders had asked him to come to church and he would always say NO. Here we were sitting with the elders and he had just agreed to come to church on Sunday. We were so excited and we told him that if he wanted we would tell the bishop to not give him any callings and to just let him ease back in to the ward. To which he gave me such a surprising answer, "No, how can I refuse a calling if the bishop gives it to me." I just don't get it sometimes. David is not one to share much with anybody even me. So sometimes I don't really know his feelings towards the gospel or his understanding of it. But at moments like that, with answers like that, make me feel confident and secure that he does understand the gospel enough to respect the bishop.

Now this all had happened last Tuesday. So from Tuesday to Sunday, there were still 4 long days in between. I didn't want to get my hopes up like I had done before and then be dissapointed on Sunday when he changes his mind. We didn't talk about it or say anything. Then Friday rolled around when we have to go to church for mutual and institute class and so forth. Now usually he would hide out in a room playing DSI or something but the past two Fridays he had actually gone to class. Now I don't know if this had to do with the fact that we had lost the DSI or that he actually decided to go to class. Whatever it was I'll take it. Well then the bishop got us for our thithing interview and I kind of gave him the heads up.

So we're in there talking and the subject of the lost records comes up and I let him know that we tried our best and we just can't find the information. So he goes on to tell us that what are we going to do. David then says come to church. I mean it still hasn't sucken in. I'm sitting here typing this and still can't believe how something I had been wanting and praying for over 3 years was finally happening without any warning that such a thing would happen. The bishop than says that he wants to give him the calling of first counselor in the Y.M. presidency to which I thought he would say no. But ofcourse guess what he says, "YES". Really? What's going on here. He accepts the calling and we end with a prayer. I hug the bishop, (who has been in our lives since the beggining of our relationship) and leave the office in tears. I go to the bathroom, clean my tears and walk out still in shock.

Sunday comes and I try to act normal. I get the kids ready and then ask him for his clothes to iron and I notice the t.v. hadn't been turned on. Something rare in for our usual Sunday routine. He did tell me there was a Bears game at 12 to which I start getting a little nervous but I go down to iron our clothes. When I come back up the t.v. is on and their watching the game. I know some of you may think this is horrible. I really use to think, (well I still do) that it should be all or nothing. But I've come to the conclusion that we are all different (duh), and that some people have such a transformation in their lifes that they do change everything, but others (like David) have become numb to the spirit. They know what they have to do, but it's been so long (or most of their lives) that for them it takes small steps to get back on track and build a testimony that was never there or that was too weak from the beginning. Especially because I don't know what made David suddenly choose to jump right back into church. I don't know what gave him the courage to just do what he knows is right even though he might not feel a full desire to do it, but that he's doing cause he knows it's right. So that's why I understand him, understand that he might not change 100% overnight. He might now stop watching tv on Sundays right away but atleast he's finally doing what he knows is right even if he's not sure he's ready to do it.

So we went to church and I have to say it was one of the best Sundays I have ever had. Y.W.'s class was so touching. Reminding me of my individual worth and reminding me that I have a special purpose in being here on earth on these last days. Then being able to sit in Sunday class with my husband. I didn't have to sit there alone anymore, I had my partner with me.

Then sacrament meeting was the most spiritual one I had been in in a long time. I don't think I had ever felt the spirit surround us all as much as it did this past Sunday. I had prayed that it would be that way so that David could feel it and be reassured that his choice was the right one. I'm sure he felt it, there was no denying it. It was very special having the bishop announce his new calling as Davis stood up. Everyones testimony was wonderful and especially Natalie's who thanked Heavenly Father for having her dad at church with her finally. She then came down and hugged her father and told him she was so happy and thankful to have him there with her. Afterward he was officially ordained by Brother Garnica, accompanied by my brother in law Omar and my brother Juan.

So you can imagine how felt, how I feel. Yes I'm nervous and scared. I know the adversary is going to work hard against us now that David has chosen to do the right. But I will not let it touch us, we will persevere. I know it's still a long path for David, he needs to regain his lost testimony and the love for the gospel that he knows is true. But I'm just so thankful that he finally allowed himself to take the first right step back to the straight and narrow path.

Now more than ever, I know that Heavenly Father knows when it's the right time for him to give us the blessings that we ask him for. And even when we are unworthy of them he showers us with them. When we least expect it, he not only give us what we asked for but plenty more. I wanted David to come back to church but I didn't know how that would be possible. Then H.F. finds a way to make a problem a blessing, and not only have him go to church but to accept a calling right away. A calling were we'll be able to work together, a calling were I know he will grow and bless the lives of the youth.

I couldn't have asked for a better gift this Christmas season.