Merry Christmas Everyone!

I have to admit that I have really got the Christmas Spirit again this year!

I think that it is because I know my wife, Suzanne, loves me , my eight (8) sons love me, my five (5) daughters-in-law plus Valerie (marrying David in April) love me, and my ten (10) grandchildren (+ 2 on the way) love me !

Of course, my family loves me, my friends tell me they love me . . . and that includes all of the many friends I have made around the world for almost 50 years!

But, what really makes me tender inside, is the knowledge that my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus, love me !

Yes, whenever I am in need . . . He is there! Whenever I need to just talk . . . He listens!
When I have to get away and go for a walk . . . He is by my side! When I search for answers and inspiration and write my songs from within my heart . . . He is there!   Because He loves me !

As I face these troubling days . . . I have no fear . . . For He is near! When I fall short . . . He catches me! He is the “Peace” and “Spirit” I feel at Christmas! He really knows my heart! How can I make sure of great and happy tomorrows?   He is the Way!

I wish you all, and your families, a very Merry Christmas! And, I pray that Jesus will also be in your hearts this day! -- Love, Alan Osmond

Q. What do snow men eat for breakfast?
A. Snowflakes.

How come you never hear anything about the 10th reindeer "Olive"? Olive? Yeah, you know, "Olive the other reindeer, used to laugh and call him names..."  

The 3 stages of man: He believes in Santa Claus. He doesn't believe in Santa Claus. He is Santa Claus.

Q. Did you hear that one of Santa's reindeer now works for Proctor and Gambel? Its true....Comet cleans sinks!

From my family to yours, have a wonderful Christmas and we wish you the best for the upcoming New Year! Love, Wayne

My Friends,

Christmas time is a very special time of year when we give gifts to all of our loved ones. As we spend time with our families and friends this holiday, I wanted to share with you a special message that was written by a good friend of mine. In this message, he reminds us Christ's Christmas gifts to us:

Love involves giving of oneself, as Christ did. Christmas time is a glorious time of happy friendliness and unselfish sacrifice;

a time of increased hospitality, devotion, and love; a time of the subduing of selfish impulses; a time of renewing friendships, cementing loosening ties, and the swelling of the heart. It transcends the individual, the family, the community, the nation; it approaches the universal, crosses borders, and touches many nations of the earth.

Our caroling voices sing the sweet songs of Christmas reminiscent somewhat of the host of heavenly angelic voices in the long ago, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."  

We set up the evergreen tree with its gleaming, brightly colored lights; we hang wreaths and bells; and we light candles -- all to remind us of that wondrous gift, the coming of our Lord into the world of mortality.  

We send Christmas cards to numerous friends and relatives, pulling back into happy memories the loved ones who have moved out of our immediate association. Like the wise men who opened their treasury and presented to Jesus gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh, we present to our loved ones things to eat and wear and enjoy.

Though we make an effort to follow the pattern of gift giving, sometimes our program becomes an exchange -- gift given for gift expected. Never did the Savior give in expectation. I know of no case in his life in which there was an exchange. He was always the giver, seldom the recipient. Never did he give shoes, horse, or a vehicle; never did he give perfume, a shirt, or a fur wrap.

His gifts were of such a nature that the recipient could hardly exchange or return the value. His gifts were rare ones: eyes to the blind, ears to the deaf, and legs to the lame; cleanliness to the unclean, wholeness to the infirm, and breath to the lifeless. His gifts were opportunity to the down-trodden, freedom to the oppressed, light in the darkness, forgiveness to the repentant, hope to the despairing.

His friends gave him shelter, food, and love. He gave them of himself, his love, his service, his life. The wise men brought him gold and frankincense. He gave them and all their fellow mortals resurrection, salvation, and eternal life. We should strive to give as he gave. To give of oneself is a holy gift.

May each of you have a wonderful Christmas holiday and I look forward to seeing you all in the upcoming year! Love, Merrill

I'd like you to remember as we experience this holiday season, that "God gave us life as his gift to us, how we choose to live this life is our gift to him." This is one of the greatest truths that I've ever heard.

We are all born under different circumstances - some of us have challenges that look almost unbearable, while others seem to go through life without a glitch. No matter the situation, all of our tests balance out in the end.

We all have trials, though different in nature, but they all seem

to have the same intensity. It's our attitude that pulls us through as we listen to the spirit and look to our Savior for guidance and strength.

May you and your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas! - Love, Jay

During one of our Family Home Evenings, my daughter Sophia presented a very good lesson. She brought six sticks into the room and had each one of us take a stick and put a face on it. She furnished us googly eyes and hair for each one of the sticks.

Being the Daddy, I took the largest stick, and Michelle took the next one, and each one of the kids took a stick. After we all had put our faces on the sticks, Sophia took the unclaimed stick and asked us, who was this?

She then said that when a person is alone, without friends or family, they are unable to handle the daily stresses of life by themselves.

Eventually, this person will snap from under all of the pressure. She demonstrated this as she snapped the stick into two pieces.

She then went on and said "but people who have families and friends are able to handle the stresses and pressures because they are able to lean on one another when times g et tough. She then bundled up all of the sticks together and tied them together with a string. She passed the bundle around to each of us, to see if could snap the sticks, but because the sticks were together, none of us could.

I'm only as strong as my weakest child. When we see some one struggling, how important it is to stay together.

This holiday season I feel a great sense of unity not only with my little family but my brothers and friends, and hope that we can rally around each other so that we can be strong and resist pressures we may individually face.

May each of you have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! -

Love, Jimmy