Our Christmas Letters

These are our Christmas Eve letters we wrote for my Grandma's Christmas Party. They look back over the year and share a brief testimony. They're really similar, but I swear we wrote them at different times without talking to each other about them. They are long but I wanted to post them to share part of my family tradition with all of you.

Aaron's Letter
What a great year this has been! I finally graduated from USU with my Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering. I never thought that would happen! During the last semester I interviewed at a few different places and was even offered a position in San Diego. We thought seriously about being adventurous and moving out of state, but in the end I got a better offer from my current employer and that combined with having family close won out and we're still here. We bought our first home in May and are now officially adults in the shackles of a mortgage. Our once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe was, of course, AMAZING! We talk all the time about just packing up and moving to Germany or Italy, but there's always that pesky money problem. As soon as we got home from our trip we got our puppy, Sydney; we had dreamed about having a dog since we got married, so we're thoroughly enjoying having our first child in the home, even if he is a little furrier than most babies. The highlight of the year was finding out that we're expecting. We're so excited for June to meet our little one and become parents! The most recent development: I was called to be the ward organist this month! I don't even know how to play the organ! I guess that shows how desperate the ward is for musical talent. I'm excited for the challenge, though. We'll see how that goes.

I'm so happy to have family close that we can share our joys and sorrows with. Family is truly a blessing that I often take for granted. I'm thankful for this time of year and for the giving spirit that I see everywhere. I'm thankful for my Savior who came to this Earth to die for us. I'm especially thankful for my wife. I don't tell her enough how much she means to me. I love you, Meg!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Aaron

Meghann's Letter
This year has been filled with so many great experiences that I just feel so blessed when I think back on the year.

It started out with me struggling to finish up my first year of teaching. I made it through healthy but exhausted. Aaron graduated and life started moving after that. He received an offer for a wonderful job and has loved working for Harman Music Group ever since. We bought our first house and then ripped it apart to make it more to our liking. The remodeling experience of camping out in the basement for 3 months is actually something I look back on and laugh at. We had fun joking and laughing our way through the not so pretty situation. We were so blessed to have a chance to spend a month in Europe. It was incredible and we’ll never forget it! What fun we had together on our out-of-country adventure! I’m so glad I got to see Aaron’s mission and experience some of his 2 years of service through the people he served and the food he ate. We came home and started working hard to complete the house. After a few months of trying for a baby and nothing happening I got tired of sitting around at home and started substitute teaching. I quickly saw that my first year was like a bad nightmare and the chance was slim of something like that happening to me again. So, I started looking for a full time teaching position. I was offered a job and also found out I was expecting. We prayed and felt that teaching while pregnant was the best thing for our little family so I took the job that same day; so far so good. Aaron and I have been looking forward to having children since we were married 4 ½ years ago, so we are ecstatic to be so blessed with this pregnancy. This year Aaron has been the greatest blessing in my life. He supports me through everything. He has honored his priesthood and our lives have been blessed because of it. He loves me even when I’m difficult and make me smile when I cry. I’m so truly blessed to have him as my companion for eternity and I’m so glad we have eternity to be together.

Aaron and I are the musical team in our new ward. I lead the music and he plays the organ. Having this calling has brought the hymns into our home and helps remind us of the gospel truths we know. Here is my testimony for this year: I know my Savior Jesus Christ lived on this earth, He loved me enough to come into this world to suffer for my sins and then die that I might live with Him and my Heavenly Father again. I know that prayers are answered individually with love. I know that Joseph Smith restored the Gospel to the earth and that it is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I have a Prophet who is inspired and knows of God’s will for me. I know that if I follow Heavenly Father’s will, happiness will always be a part of my life. I know that we are never alone in this life that there is always our Savior watching over us, supporting us, and guiding us. I know these things to be true. Amen

All My Love,

Megs