Merry Christmas to all!

This year has been another wonderful one in the Weight household with lots of exciting happenings:

Amy turned 1, took her first steps, then started running everywhere; spoke her first words, and then started jabbering non-stop. She keeps us very busy and makes us laugh every day – even her tantrums are funny, for which I'm grateful. She loves going every week to the library to pick out new books, and I love the library for being our 'storage' space.

We welcomed Esther Constance Weight into our home, the day after my birthday. She's been so adorable. She's a snuggler and looks so much like Amy at that age, but has blonde (almost invisible) hair – I'm constantly pointing out that she does have hair, AND eye-brows and eye-lashes. She has the most darling kissable cheeks, squishable thighs and big smiles. Amy loves her baby sister, and calls her “Etters”. She is so willing to run grab diapers for her, and I have to watch her like a hawk so she doesn't just try to hug her to bits. I am very grateful to have had two great pregnancies, do-able deliveries and healthy kids.

Ryan was promoted at work to a leadership position, which brought extra cash and extra stress. For several months he worked three separate jobs for the company while they sorted things out, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel and we're hoping that the New Year will bring a resolution and less stress. He completed his first two semesters at Western Governors University and is doing very very well there. He keeps chipping away at his education and I am so proud of him! Proud of him as a husband, father, provider, priesthood holder and student!

Thanks to our good friends the Fiedlers and Grandma Jan we enjoyed a delectable December with all of my favorite German treats and knoedel and rotkohl. Thanks to my sister Jenny, I am enjoying vegetable yumminess from using the new cook book she gave me. I tend to get really excited when healthier things taste good – I made brownies the other day with spinach and yams... sounds gross, right? It was DELICIOUS!!

I love December... not for all the shopping (I don't like spending money actually... I think I have a miser gene somewhere) but for the snow, which makes things so white and clean, for the contrast of cold which makes coming inside so homey and warm, for being allowed to sing Christmas hymns and for all the decorations that remind us of the Savior. My favorite Christmas hymn is “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”. One phrase in the German version is “Uns zur freud ist er geboren, denn sonnst waeren wir verloren. Er vertreibet alles Weh – born to make us joyful, because otherwise we'd be lost. He casts out all pain.” I have thought about this a lot this year – I am so grateful for the 'good news' of Christ. Without Him we would be lost – no chance of repentance, no chance of resurrection, no eternal families... in short, no hope. There are still trials in life, even with the gospel, but without it we walk a much more lonely road. I am grateful to know Christ lives, loves us and understands EVERYthing we go through. Some things may not make sense or get alleviated in this life, but because of Him, we have hope that all will eventually be made right, and God will wipe away all our tears (Revelations 21:4). He truly is the Prince of Peace, and an anchor for our souls. He is God's greatest gift to us! May your celebration of His life be happy, hopeful & MERRY! LOVE Ryan, Christina, Amy and Esther Weight