Well, Christmas wasn't exactly what we had planned this year, but it was wonderful, nonetheless. My Grandmother, Wanda Bevan (my dad's mom, passed away just before Christmas, so we ended up taking Christmas on the road to my parents house in Utah. It was sad not to have her there, but she gave us all a "family Christmas" as her parting gift...her last few months were very difficult as her body was giving out, so her passing brought all of us some peace (knowing that she is in a much better place and finally rid of a pain-ridden and sick body). All my siblings were present the day after Christmas for her funeral and it was wonderful to see everyone. We stayed a week and a half and I hardly saw my children as they played the entire time with their cousins from Montana whom they rarely get to see. They will carry fond memories for a long time of all the fort-building, playing Guitar HEro 3 with a huge screen in Grandma's gym, and staying up many late nights. It was also comforting to go through many of Grandma Bevan's letters dating back before 1940...her courtship with Grandpa, letters to siblings, to her husband after long separations (although the ones we really wanted to see were the daily correspondence during WWII...she told us they burned them after the war due to their "racy" nature). Anyway, since my grandpa Bevan died when I was only 13, I didnt' know him well. The letters I read really revealed a sweet, loving man and they also revealed a tremendous love between my grandparents...something that brought great comfort knowing that once again, after 26 years, they were together again.
As much as many would find a funeral something that puts a damper on Christmas, it really made us reflect on the TRUE meaning of Chrismtas and of our Savior's Greatest Gift...Eternal Life. All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas and new year for our family. Here's to 2008!
