(No Subject)

Dear Family,
It seems that every year, I get asked what I want for Christmas. And every year, I struggle to come up with an answer. I know there were things I had wanted at one point or another throughout the year, but I can scarcely remember them once the time comes. It does no good to say 'I don't really want anything' because I know Mom's just going to spend the money and spoil me anyway. Even this year, halfway around the world with only two suitcases to live out of, I've been spoiled with three boxes filled with gifts (which I am grateful for, and can hardly wait to open, even though I'm not sure yet how I'll move it all around once I'm transferred ;-)) You've always been wonderful, far better than I am, at giving wonderful gifts.
I finally know what I really want for Christmas. And it doesn't weigh anything or take up any space, so it'll be perfect for me to carry around for the next year. I want our family to turn off the television and read the Christmas story in Luke Chapter 2 together. I want us to contemplate the significance of Christ's birth for us personally. I want us all to listen to and read what our prophet and apostles today have to say about the life of Jesus Christ. I want us to search for a greater understanding of the mission He cam here to fulfill. This season is a time when we declare that there are glad tidings of great joy and that there is peace on Earth. Understanding and applying the gospel of Jesus Christ is what brings true peace. It's the reason for all our hope. It brings true joy in this time on earth, and through the veil into eternity. What I want for Christmas is for our family to feel that peace, to know what reason we have to feel hope. This Christmas, I want our family to come unto Christ.
As a close second to this, I want our family to come together. Last week, when I asked Teresa how everyone was holding up through those first difficult days, she said, "We do pretty well when everyone's together." We're so much stronger and have so much more to be glad for when we're together. I want us all to forget about ourselves and show our love for each other. Put away the pride and say, 'I love you'. Hold back the teasing and the sarcasm. Show gratitude for each other through hugs and 'thank you's, compliments, and little acts of kindness. Think more about the person who gave you the gifts than the gifts themselves, and show your appreciation for them. Leave that darn TV off. Cook and play and work and talk and do things together, rather than next to each other. This Christmas, I want our family to truly love each other.
I'll miss you this Christmas, but I'm grateful for the opportunity the Lord's given me to do this work because I know it blesses our family. I'm grateful for the lessons taught and the gifts, the games, the differences, the countless meals prepared and shared, the laughs, the stories, the hugs and kisses, the advice, the clothes, the skills learned, songs, fights, cakes, little successes, walks, work, crafts, and thousands of other priceless memories. I'm especially grateful that we've been given the chance to appreciate these things all over again. Casey had given us a beautiful gift - a reason to change our hearts and refocus our lives on the things that truly matter most. Let's show our appreciation for this chance we've been given and use it well.
I love you all so much. I hope for, and do believe that this can be, the greatest, most special and loving Christmas we've ever had. This is my prayer and my Christmas list.

Merry Christmas!
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser