Christmas Eve

The kids had fun dressing up for our family role play of the birth of Jesus. We even wrapped lights around the piano bench for the manger. We decided to read the story to the kids and have them color the nativity as we read. They were only allowed to color the people and animals when they heard them read from the scriptures. We were hoping they would get more out of it that way. It worked out really well and I think this may become a tradition.
It was neat because Samantha is getting older and really starting to connect things together about the gospel. She asked how the atonement worked and we were able to explain and she understood that Christ came to earth and was the only perfect person. Since he was the only one perfect he was the only one that could ask Heavenly Father to give everyone's sins to him so he could pay for them for us. He prayed hard and felt everything, our pain, sorrow, everything and he bled from every pore because it hurt so bad. Jesus did that for us and became our Savior, meaning he saved us so we can return to Heavenly Father again. Otherwise Heavenly Father could not let us back in to him. If we don't use the atonement it will make Jesus sad since he already paid the price. This experience was really special and we look forward to more.