"Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store"

This year the Grinch came to our house while we were away.

On Christmas Eve we received a phone call from Grandma Jane informing us that someone had broken into our house and stolen several of our belongings. My dad and Haley had to drive home for further investigation of the situation. The rest of the H's were left in our little cabin to try and make the best of our situation. Since we could no longer go out and purchase a Christmas tree like we had planned....we improvised a little:

(Our Substitute Tree)

I have probably read/watched Dr. Suess’s holiday “horror” story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, a hundred times in my life without fully appreciating the message behind it.

Three thousand feet up! Up the side of Mt. Crumpit,

He rode with his load to the tiptop to dump it! “Pooh-Pooh to the Whos!” he was grinch-ish-ly humming. “They’re finding out now that no Christmas is coming! “They’re just waking up! I know just what they’ll do! “Their mouths will hang open a minute or two “Then the Whos down in Who-ville will all cry Boo-Hoo!

“That’s a noise, “grinned the Grinch, “That I simply MUST hear!”So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear. And he did hear a sound rising over the snow. It started in low. Then it started to grow …

But the sound wasn’t sad! Why, this sound sounded merry! It couldn’t be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!

He stared down at Who-ville! The Grinch popped his eyes! Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!

Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, Was singing! Without any presents at all! He HADN‘T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?” “It came without ribbons! It came without tags! “It came without packages, boxes or bags!”

And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! “Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!”

Part of the purpose for telling the story of Christmas is to remind us that Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Indeed, however delightful we feel about it, even as children, each year it “means a little bit more.” And no matter how many times we read the biblical account of that evening in Bethlehem, we always come away with a thought—or two—we haven’t had before. (Jeffrey R. Holland)

I would like to thank the Grinch for making this year's Christmas the most memorable. Despite our empty house and ghetto Christmas tree, I have been reminded of what really matters. The Spirit of Christmas comes from love, charity, family support and most importantly Christ. Material things can always be replaced, but the time spent with those we love most cannot be. I am so happy that my family was kept safe and that we were able to celebrate the birth of our Savior and Redeemer together this year.

So, Thank you, Grinch.

And p.s. i have never had SO much fun decorating a "Christmas Tree" in my entire twenty years of Christmases.