From the time I can remember, I have loved giving gifts . . . not just at Christmas but all year ‘round. It is my love language to family and friends and even strangers. I love to make things, arrange things, and give them to others to help brighten their day, and give them a reason to smile.

Our Christmas tradition before the kids got married, was always to share Christmas Eve quietly alone with each other. After we became empty nesters, we decided we would not plan anything on Christmas Eve so that our kids would have that time alone with their own little families.

On Christmas day, we have an open invitation to the kids and their families to come when and if they want anytime during the day. It’s an easy day, with easy food. If they want to bring something of their choice they can. We text them and let them know what we are planning for the main meal, and if they want to bring something easy to go along with it, they can. But there is never any obligation to come or bring anything, we just want them to feel loved and welcome always.

We love it this way. It gives each family time to have and enjoy their Christmas morning, get ready when they choose to, and come over at a leisurely pace. This year, Ronnie got an outdoor pizza oven.

We are a pizza loving family, and thought it would be fun to make pizzas for dinner this year. Normally we just do cold cuts, veggie trays, rolls, salads, etc. But this year, we decided to do pizzas instead.

Ron and I tried out a homemade pizza dough recipe as well as a homemade pizza sauce recipe a week ago Saturday.

We spent the day watching videos about our new pizza oven, as well as the best ways to do things. We had so much fun spending that day together, just the two of us, figuring out a new thing!

We looked at recipes from Gygi’s in Salt Lake City, as well as Riverwood’s Mill in St. George, Utah. We ended up using the ones from Riverwood’s Mill. They turned out so yummy! So after focusing on Christmas Eve about the Savior, and the gifts He has given us, we got up on Christmas morning, ready to make 18 pizzas for the kids and grands! Yep, it was a lot more work than what we’ve done in the past, but Ron and I had so much fun doing this together!

Here are the links for the recipes we used. The only thing we did different was add ½ of a small can of Muir Glen tomato paste, and one crushed garlic clove to the sauce. Everything else we did exactly like the recipe.

https://www.riverwoodsmill.com/gathr/Pizza_dough

https://www.riverwoodsmill.com/gathr/Pizza_sauces

One of my cute sewing friends made us coordinating aprons for Christmas with our names on them, and they were the perfect pizza making accessory!

When it all comes down to it, what matters most isn’t what we eat, or what gifts we give or receive, it’s all about focusing on the birth of the Savior and being together as a family! This is what keeps the LIGHT burning in our families, and all our significant relationships! I love all the hugs, and the love we feel when the kids leave and some are sad to go. It makes me sad when they are sad, but it also makes me glad that they love coming over enough, to be sad when it’s time to leave.

I’m so grateful for the Savior, and for serving others, and for my family. I love them more than life itself! Because of the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for all of us, I know we can live together forever as an eternal family in Heaven. Life doesn’t get better than that! I hope you all have the merriest of Christmas’ and that you were able to surround yourself with those who matter most in your lives, because when we do that, our lives are filled with LIGHT!

Love Ya, Les :)

Family