FROM AROUND THE WORLD

I am posting a letter each day between now and Christmas -- all representative of hundreds of others I have received in the last few weeks. This one is from Tatia in Gilbert, Arizona:

"I had just a couple of weeks to put together a ward Christmas party. I wrote a narration and created a power point presentation, I knew it would be a lovely night, but something was missing. Then a friend sent me an email with a link to your website, and there was your song! I had found my missing link.

I found the missing link not only for our ward party, but also for myself. In an effort to try and make Christmas fun and happy for everyone around me, I was making myself frazzled and overwhelmed. I knew what I wanted Christmas to be for my family this year, but I kept skipping over it with everything else.

I have so much to be thankful for right now. Heavenly Father has blessed our family in allowing our Dad to still be with us this year. He is in Australia recovering from a second open heart surgery - without the surgery he may not have made it to the end of the year. I have two healthy wonderful children – a sweet young couple we know will be burying their first baby tomorrow. I have two brothers-in-law away from their families in Iraq and East Timor fighting to protect our freedoms and liberties. I have a brother and sister and their families who survived the earthquakes and Tsumani that hit the Pacific a couple of months ago; they live in Apia Samoa. And most of all I have the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. With the testimony that I have that He lives, how could I not have room for Him in my heart and in my life!

Thank you so very much for the reminder of what is most important to me and what should be most important to us all. The blessing of a Savior who came to earth, atoned for all of us, and has marked the way for us to return to be with Him again. This is what Christmas is all about. It is time for me to slow down, reflect and little and allow the true meaning and Spirit of Christmas to permeate my life, my home and my family."