Homeownership - week one

Devin and I knew that when we bought a house it would be hard.  There would be things that break, things that need updated, etc.  HOWEVER – neither of us were prepared for what would happen in the first week of being homeowners.  Friday February 18, 2017 Devin and I received the keys to our beautiful new home.  We were so excited! We had gone to Home Depot and got some paint samples to take with us, as we wanted to paint the house as soon as possible.  When we got in the house, it was freezing.  We were so cold.  Devin ran down to the cellar to make sure that we weren’t having any water issues.  PHEW! We were in the clear.  When D and I bought the house, there was a big bubble over the fireplace, showing signs of a leaking roof.  My dad came over and he pulled the bubble down.  Turns out, it’s wet up there.  It should not be wet up there.  Dad said it should be an easy fix and since D and I were already anticipating having to fix it, it didn’t bug us too bad. 

Saturday we were up bright and early.  We found paint that we liked so we went back to Home Depot for paint and painting supplies.  We got over to the house and our furnace broke.  Lovely.  I was so super sad about that.  It was really chilly in the house.  We were still able to start the fire place which was nice.  Devin and I have a home warranty on the house that lasts for a year.  We already used it!  We called the warranty people and we were able to have someone come to the house that day and look at the furnace.  He said it was covered under our plan and he’d be able to fix it on Monday.  WOOHOO! Saturday we just spent the remainder of our day painting.  We got a lot done!  We got all of the ceilings painted.  It didn’t look like much, but we all know we did a lot. 

Monday we came back and knocked out a TON of work.  We got a lot of walls painted and the kitchen is almost completely done.  Once we started to put the color on our wall, (we chose ‘clay dust’) we could see a difference-- it was very rewarding! 

Tuesday we went back to work.  It had been raining all night on Monday so we were still a little bit nervous about having water downstairs.  We learned the power was out and left work early cause that meant the sump pump wouldn’t work anymore.  We were right.  We had water in the basement.  I ran to my parents’ house to get their generator and  we got it plugged in and it started working.  Devin, my dad and I all agreed that the sump pump was looking kind of old.  We decided that I would go to Brigham City (closest sump pump available) and get a backup one – just in case.  Grandpa, grandma and I drove to Brigham and picked it up.  The power came on right before we got home, which was a relief.  I’m not kidding you when I say that not even 10 minutes passed by when Devin came running upstairs to say that our sump pump burned out.  UGH! These things come in threes, right?! Cause this was number three.  I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that God pushed us to buy that extra pump.  Devin and my dad installed it and we’ve been pumping again like champs!  This is going to be hard, and things are going to be tough—but I am so grateful for Devin and I’s families and the things that they do for us.  We are especially grateful for our Heavenly Father’s hand in our lives.  Here’s to many more years as homeowners!

Home Loan Process

January 27, 2017:  I’m not going to post this blog post until after everything is said and done.  For the last two weeks Devin and I have been looking at this beautiful little house in Wellsville, UT.  We know the couple that is selling the house, and they were so great to us.  They gave us a couple of weeks to think about the house and then make our decision.  On January 25, 2017, Devin and I submitted an offer to the home owners.  They accepted it that night, and we even signed the contract. 

Today, January 27, 2017, our credit was pulled and we were approved for a USDA loan through Wasatch Mortgage Solutions. (Wasatch Mortgage is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS:3135)  As per WMS’s website, USDA home loans are tremendously popular.  There is no down payment required with a USDA loan.  Often times, USDA loans are also referred to as a Rural Housing loan.  The property must be in a “rural area” to be considered for this loan.  In fact, according to their website, there are very scarce places in Northern Utah and Southern Idaho that do not qualify for a USDA home loan.  To see more information on what kind of loans you could qualify for, click here.

I am seriously just so excited.  It really is just the perfect home for Devin and I right now.  I am very grateful to my Heavenly Father for answering our prayers and for the owners of this house.  They have been so patient and loving to us.  We can’t wait to see what we can do with it. 

January 30, 2017: Ok so plans changed.  We’re still buying the house, but we had to switch the type of loan that we are doing.  We want to do a Conventional loan.  We’ve chosen to switch to this, because of the appraisal.  An appraisal with a conventional home loan is not as picky as one being done for a USDA loan.  Where our house was built in 1921, we feel that this is going to be the best option for us.  There is a downside for us doing the loan this way.  Rates are a little higher for this loan.  As per my husband’s website, conventional home loans are one of the most popular mortgage programs that are available. Once you’ve reached 20% equity in your home, your monthly mortgage insurance falls off of your mortgage.  To learn more about conventional loans, click here. (NOTE: just like with all loans, there are certain criteria’s that need to be met.  This is not a guarantee of payment)

Today, D and I met with our mortgage officer (Jedd) and signed a bunch of papers.  It’s been really nice for us to do our loan through family, because we are kept in the loop constantly! –well, more like I am annoying and they give me what I want :) haha. HOWEVER—WMS is REALLY great at keeping their customers in the loop.  Devin sends out an email each time your loans completes a step in the process.  It’s actually really comforting. – Derik is going to submit our loan to wherever he submits them, and all we have to do now is….wait.  I hate waiting.  UGH.  I know that Heavenly Father makes me wait for a reason, but man it is tough!

UPDATE: I got an email from STEARNs Lending, LLC – I had to do some “e-signing” for them.  They sent both Devin and I a link (we’re both on the loan) and were asked to read through, and fill out the information.  I signed where needed to be signed, and now I am back to waiting! Hopefully tomorrow they will let us know if they will fund the loan for us.  If they decide that they are going to fund us, they will come back saying they’ll fund us as long as we give them this or that.  EI: An appraisal report.  So hopefully by tomorrow afternoon, we can have our appraisal ordered and ready to go!

January 31, 2017:  Not a whole lot is going on with our loan right now.  We did just get notice that it was sent to underwriting.  I asked D what that means, his response: “Someone is going to review it to let us know conditions.  We should know tomorrow what we gotta do.”  So hopefully it’s assigned to a nice underwriter and that everything continues to go well!

Dev and I have been talking about things that we want to do to the house once we have it.  Priority number one is painting.  I’m going to make him paint the entire house.  I’m not quite sure how he feels about that, but it has to be done.  It is a smaller house, so I want light, refreshing colors to make it feel more home like and bigger.  I’ve been reading into color therapy as well.  Some people know that I suffer from anxiety.  Blue is a really big calming color that doctors use with anxiety.  I think we are going to be decorating with blue, maybe have a blue accent wall in our room – we haven’t quite decided yet.  It is really fun though to be able to finally have a place that we can paint our own, and put nails where we want, have a GARDEN!  I am so beyond excited for a garden.  It’s nice to be able to share these similarities with D.  We are looking forward to making this house a home.

UPDATE: We locked our rate in!  From my understanding, there is a big meeting that is supposed to be being held tomorrow.  Apparently, that can affect mortgage rates.  We had two options:  Lock right now.  Lock tomorrow.  If we took a gamble, we could be paying less a month and bring less to closing – or be paying more a month and bring more to closing.  D and I decided that we felt comfortable with our payment and the rates so we locked it down. :)

February 1, 2017:  We got our conditions back! The underwriters did their thing and sent us back things that we have to do before they will fund the loan.  Obviously, we need an appraisal.  Other things that they listed were minor things.  Current flood insurance, closing papers, updated VOE, just things that were small.  D and I were really happy with how it came back.  Easy fixes for right now.  Hopefully later today we will order our appraisal.  That will take a little longer.  I keep saying that I have to wait, but we’ve been blessed with opportunity of knowing things pretty quickly.  I’m still praying that our appraisal won’t kill us.  I know that we will be blessed as we continue to do what we are supposed to be doing. :)

UPDATE: We are starting to get the things that the underwriters need approved! We’re doing the best that we can.  Devin called me to let me know that he ordered our appraisal! OHMYGOSH this is getting so freaking real.  I’m still just trying to keep calm as who knows what could happen.  I pray and plead that everything with this appraisal will turn out good for us.  For those that do not know, an appraisal is “an act of assessing something or someone.  An expert estimate of the value of something.”—Thanks Google! Hopefully the appraiser will come back saying that we don’t have to fix too much on the house before we can move in.  Also, we figured out who we are going to go with for our home owners insurance.  That’s a relief! I am forever grateful to my Heavenly Father for how things are turning out.

February 4, 2017: Today Devin and I went and walked the house again.  We had just gotten home from doing taxes and I just had a feeling that we needed to go and see the house.  We felt really bad because the seller was at a swim meet for his daughter.  He kept reassuring us that it was ok, (they have an hour break in between swims) so I felt a little better.  With the temps being so high and it had rained over night, I wanted to see what the damage was to the house.  We walked through it and everywhere that we had looked, was dry.. except that addition room.  There was a leek.  UGH. The owner told us that he would get up on the roof to see if he could see the problem.  D and I started to worry, but technically it should be the sellers responsibility to fix the issue, since we don’t own the house yet, but in our contract, we are buying as is.  So…yeah.  I am kind of frustrated that the appraiser didn’t get in the house before this happened.  It’s upsetting our mortgage company that they haven’t even called to schedule the appointment.

UPDATE:  I got a text from the seller.  He thinks that he solved the issue.  He said that he found where the water was seeping.  There was an inch of ice built up right on the end of the roof.  The water was backing up because of the ice, and leaking down through some screws that were loose.  As soon as he pulled the ice away, it appeared to have stopped.  He said he’d replace the screws on Monday and that he was drying out the sheetrock.  (There will still be a stain on the ceiling)  So hopefully that fixed the issue.  There is still the potential that we will need to replace the roof and have a roof inspection.  But it’s looking up a little bit. :)

February 6, 2017:  Appraisal update! Our appraiser has called and left the seller a voicemail.  That’s literally about all I know.  Haha! :)

UPDATE:  Devin sent me a text saying that our report delivery date is on 02/09/2017 by 5PM.  PEOPLE THAT IS THIS THURSDAY!!! I am just continuing to pray that the appraisal goes well and that we don’t have to fix too much.  Doy gracias a mi padre celestial por los bendiciones que nos ha dado. 

February 7, 2017:  Apparently our appraisal is for today at 4!! I am excited and so nervous at the same time.  I am literally praying and pleading that everything will be dry in the house and that everything will go ok.  My anxiety is now through the freaking roof! This is getting so real.  Of course, the day that it is raining is the day the appraiser decides to come..but I know that eventually everything will be ok.

On a side note, the owners wife texted me and said that they had 3 bottles of liquid detergent for the washer and asked if we would like it.  They are just being too kind to us! I can’t even stand it.  We are so, so blessed. 

UPDATE: D and I drove by the house on our way home from work.  It was a little wet, but not even as wet as last Saturday.  That made us pretty happy.  To be honest with you, I was expecting it to be like pools of water in the back yard, and in the drive way.  The owners put sandbags in the driveway to keep the water from going to the garage.  Again, very grateful for that!  I’m glad that the appraisal is supposedly done with.  Just have to wait for the appraiser to write the report.  Praying has been my saving grace with my anxiety. 

February 9, 2017:  We received the appraisal! Holy toledo.  WMS received a message during the day yesterday from the appraiser stating that he would have the appraisal submitted by 5 PM today.  It literally got uploaded at 4:57.  I am not even kidding. Since WMS is a family run business, Devin just forwarded the message to me, and we just looked at it when we got home.  When we looked at it, we surprised to find out that we do not have to fix a single freaking thing.  WHAAAT?! Even with the leak from last Saturday? Well…when I got looking at pictures, I could tell that something was off with the room where the leak was at.  The owners had painted it.  (I am not sure whether the leak was patched or what..all I know is that the wall was painted.) Anyways, the house did come in higher than our offer, which was good for us.  But still a little lower than what D and I were hoping for.  But that’s ok.  :)

Since we have had soooo much rain, D and I decided to drive by it on our way home from work.  It looked dry.  We were really surprised.  The sellers had sandbagged in front of the drive way, as well as in front of the sidewalk.  As long as the water isn’t in the root cellar, I am a happy camper! We’re thinking of moving our close date to the 24^th.  That is TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY! I can’t even stand it.  I am so excited.  Devin and I are going to look at couches on Saturday.  We have a really nice one, but I called Fishers and they discontinued the brand we bought.  So were going to see if we can find a couch that would match, if not, then we might buy a new set.  Who knows!  I am here to tell you though that God hears and answers prayers.  It is not a joke.  He will be there when you need him.  I have been praying nonstop for peace and comfort.  Especially with all of this rain that we have been getting.  He will hear you.  Just keep having faith.

February 11, 2017:  This morning we got a text from the seller asking if we could come and help them move some things out of the house.  SURE!  Devin and I were going to drive by to see if anyone was there anyways.  We wanted to see the basement and if it had flooded or not.  GULP! I was dang nervous to go down there.  Our two neighbors to the east of us both had water in their basements.  So down the stairs we went – only to find the floor was dry and it was just the sump pump filled! Woohoo!! We were so nervous! Oh my heavens I couldn’t even explain to you have nervous I was.  We drained the sump pump and the water was gone in like literally 20 seconds.  We are still a little bit worried, but at least we know that the sump pump works.  Also, I forgot to mention, Derik is going to resubmit everything on Monday to Stearns.  If they approve all of our conditions, we could close by THURSDAY.  That is in less than one week.  I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father that our house did not flood.  I know that he hears and answers your prayers.  I can truly testify of that. 

UPDATE: We went and looked at couches today! Man what a job! Since we can’t really find a matching set to our leather couch, we are thinking of getting a fabric loveseat that would accent the leather.  We have found one that we like.  Pics will come in a later blog post.  We also looked at paint.  That is a stressful job.. just in case anyone was wondering..

February 14, 2017: Happy Valentine’s Day!  We have news! We are closing on THIS THURSDAY. Yes, I said that correctly.  THIS THURSDAY.  – As in, two days. This is so real—I almost don’t even believe that it’s happening.  Devin and I have been so blessed.  The closing is at 3 PM – then we will get our keys on Friday.  What a blessed life we live in!

February 16, 2017:  We signed our papers.  HOLY COW! THIS IS REAL! We just met with Kim Winward at American Secure Title.  We signed A LOT of papers.  It was insane.  When we first started, she told us that we have to include our middle initial.  My “signature” is literally my full, legal name – with lots of loops and curves and fancy things, so don’t even try to forge it ;)  so when she told us we needed to include our middle initial, I thought I would be ok.  Well I was wrong.  We were like ¾ of the way done signing our 3-inch stack paper, everyone noticed (everyone but me…literally) that I was signing my full middle name – Ashlie.  We were having such a good time talking that nobody caught it! So I had to resign some papers haha.  Oh well! :)  It was a really cool experience.  Devin and I are EXTREMELY grateful for our loan officer, (Devin’s dad, Jedd – he’s the best.  If you want a home, come see him) Devin’s brother, Derik, (who did all the processing) the title company, and Stearns.  They’ve all been so great to us!  We have been truly blessed with the best.

The money should fund tomorrow, and we should get our key!  D and I are going to go and get some paint samples tomorrow to paint on the walls.  Another blog post will come I’m sure of the house and what it looks like – so stay tuned for an update of our new home sweet home.

February 17, 2017:  Devin and I are official home owners as of about 1:30 today! OUR HOUSE HAS FUNDED!!!

Blizzard of '17

Can you believe this freaking weather?!  HOLY MOLY!  I have never in my entire life, seen weather as crazy as this.  I always believed the saying that if you didn’t like the weather in Cache Valley just wait a few minutes cause it will change..but this is RIDICULOUS.  The storm that we got was so insane! Monday, January 2^nd, we had off due to observing New Year’s Day.  Work proceeded as usual on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Thursday however, it seems like the whole valley got cancelled.  I got a text from Tracey (my boss) on Wednesday night saying that we were having a snow day because schools decided to close.  SINCE WHEN HAVE THE SCHOOLS IN CACHE VALLEY HAD A SNOW DAY?! They were expecting below freezing temps and freezing rain. Boy, I guess there is a reason that the weather man is doing the weather and not me.  Cause he was right.  It was so freaking cold outside.  Devin spent most of Thursday clearing roads and roofs.  We later took his mom down to her appointment in Ogden.  Which by the way, Devin found probably the last Sobe Lifewater Strawberry Dragonfruit drink that I will ever have.  It was delicious.  Sobe decided it was not and quit making it.  :(  Saturday (January 7th) Devin and I had planned on going snowmobiling.  Well Friday, the day before, dad sent me a text saying that it reached -35 in Dry Lake while he was on his way to work.  NEGATIVE THIRTY FREAKING FIVE.  I can’t even handle that.  I sat inside all day on Saturday while D cleared more roof tops.. it was sooo cold! We did end up going snowmobiling and it was like 2 feet of beautiful powder.  It’s been a long time since Dry Lake has had that much powder.  Devin was in pure heaven.  Of course..only to have it ruined.  It has literally rained since Monday.  Today is Wednesday.  Rain in January? I know.. I didn’t think that it could get any worse.  We went from -35* in some parts of the valley to 40* in some parts.  That’s a 70* change.  I really just wish that whoever ticked Mother Nature off…or Elsa off…would just say their sorry.  Haha! But seriously.  This is ridiculous.  See pics below:

Merry Christmas! 2016

What a Christmas this was!  Every year I get SOO excited for Christmas! I literally can barely contain myself.  A little fun fact about Jessica:  Whenever I get super excited, I get a little bit of anxiety.  I can feel my heart start to race and I literally will close my eyes and make this high pitched noise.  Devin calls it my excited squeal.  So I was super squealy the week of Christmas.  The fun thing for me this Christmas was I had absolutely NO idea what I was getting for Christmas from Devin.  He was able to keep it a total secret! Devin wasn’t so lucky.  I was only able to keep one of his gifts a secret.  I have a really hard time keeping secrets from Devin.  In regular situations, that is a good thing.  For Christmas and birthdays, that’s not very cool.. 

Jason, Jessica and Lindsie

Christmas Eve we woke up and Devin and I cooked a really delicious breakfast casserole.  It had ground sausage covered with a cheese, egg and milk mixture, topped with seasoned tater tots.  I really thought it would be kind of greasy from all the cheese, but it was surprisingly pretty healthy looking – and it tasted SO good!  Holy Jingle Bells! It was divine.   Devin’s grandma Shirley came over for a “breakfast for lunch”.  We had crumbly toast and bacon.  Again, divine.  We watched “Singing with Angels”.  It’s an LDS movie about a lady in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  Wasn’t as Christmas-y as I would have liked, but it was still a really beautiful, spiritual movie.  Later we went and hung out with my family for a little while. 

Angie, Brandon, Devin and Jessica

Christmas Eve night Devin pulled our mattress off of our bed and moved it into the family room.  We were sleeping by the Christmas tree!  How exciting!! :)  Devin said that once we have kids we won’t be able to sleep out there for fear that Santa wouldn’t come for the children, so why not make it an “us” memory!  He’s just so thoughtful I can’t even stand it.  *heart eyes*

Dev and I were up at 5:15.  Haha, uh..I’m still a little kid at heart and I really was just so excited (and still squealing) over the fact that Christmas was finally here.  I was really trying my hardest to be an adult so I laid back down and tried to go back to bed until at least 6:00.  As soon as it was 6:00, D jumped off the mattress and ran upstairs to see if we got any snow.  Boy did we ever!  Another white Christmas for the books!  He came running down stairs saying it was time to open presents!  It literally took us from 6:00 to 6:26.  TWENTY SIX MINUTES PEOPLE.  UGH. 

This year we were truly blessed to have Christmas on Sunday.  What a special day! Spending the day where we celebrate our Savior’s birth, at church! Ah! My mom-in-law played a beautiful piano solo and it was just so perfect.

When we got home we opened gifts with Devin’s parents.  We had lunch with his family which was also divine.  I seriously just love food.  So freaking much.  It’s becoming a problem.  After we headed on over to my parent’s house.  Again, so much food. 

I was literally so spoiled this Christmas!  I got photo shop, lazy one slippers, water proof speaker, turkey baster, bowls, whisks, make up brushes, an apron, a new tripod, windshield cover, perfume, wireless charger (usb), Yoshi’s Wooley World, a Yoshi Amiibo, clothes..the list goes on!  Devins big present that he got this year is an electric smoker!  I’m so excited for him to start smoking some meats!  He also got a new wooden watch, a Nintendo NES classic, clothes, and I surprised him with a steak brander.  It’s a moose.  Now whenever I want a steak, he can brand a cute little moose into it.  What a blessed Christmas we got to experience this year.

Devin and his smoker

Also, we bought both of our families “Bean Boozled”.  Have you ever freaking played that game?  Google it.  Actually..just click here.  Either way.  GROSS.  Devin and Lindsie got canned dog food one time, and Miga wouldn't even eat it.  She went and hid under the table because her owners were being mean.  Eventually she came out.  With the help of normal human food. :) 

Devin got to open one of his presents a little early this year.  On December 6^th D got a new snowmobile!! It’s a 2007 Polaris and it runs like a champ!  Since it snowed so much on Christmas morning, of course we had to take it out of the shed and take her for a spin.  I got my snowmobile all cleaned up and ready for our next ride.

Sunshine and Night Rider

So in other news..Carrie Fisher died this week.  I was super sad about that.  I just barely got into Star Wars and she dies.  I may or may not have cried..  I loved Princess Leia!  Carrie’s mom, Debbie Reynolds, passed away 1 day later. 

RIP Princess Leia <3

I am so thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ.  For the sacrifice that he made for me and for my family.  I feel so blessed to celebrate his birth and to be able to give as he did.  Nothing that I give will ever compare to what he gave me, but I know if I try my best to be as he was, that will be enough. 

Hope that everyone had a great Christmas and that y’all will have a safe and Happy New Year! 

Holidays 2016

Thanksgiving this year we went to Idaho.  How funny huh.  We just move back only to go there for Thanksgiving.  It was really nice to have Thanksgiving with the Jackson side this time.  I haven’t been with them since 2010.  Do you realize that was before I even moved to Mexico?! HOLY TOLEDO.  My parents have gone up, but one of the years we were supposed to go up there D and I were married and just decided to stay home and enjoy the holiday in good ol’ Cache Valley.  We actually went up Thanksgiving day.  Allie and Sean rode with us and we left bright and early.  Ok it was really only like 8 AM but that’s still early considering I wasn’t going to work.  Since my dad’s side of the family is so big, we rented out the civic center in Roberts.  There was plenty of room for everyone to eat.  This year was a little bit different.  Since we weren’t at my grandparents’ house, after we ate, everyone just kind of disappeared.  It wasn’t like Thanksgiving’s past.  We went and chilled at grandma and grandpa’s and watched the Cowboys beat the Redskins.  My aunt and uncle are living with grandma and grandpa while they build a house, so we didn’t sleep there this time.  We got a hotel in Idaho Falls.  We went swimming and then off to bed it was.  We got up at 5:30 the next morning to go BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING!! Man oh man do I love to shop!  The biggest deal that I found was a smoker.  I bought my husband a nice electric smoker for Christmas this year. (Don’t worry.  He already knows about it.) It was on a KILLER deal! He’s been looking at one for a while now, so he decided to finally jump on that wagon and I’m super excited to have him smoke some delicious meals.  Also, my mother decided to dress us.  Do you know how moms dress their girls when the have the opportunity of doing so?  Matching.  We all freaking matched.  Red ugly sweaters that were actually pretty cute. 

We went back to grandma and grandpas to chill then back to the hotel to swim.  The next morning we checked out and then went back to Roberts to watch the Ohio St vs Michigan.  Ohio St won in double overtime.  It was actually a pretty good game.  I fell asleep during the 4^th quarter and woke up to people in the house yelling during overtimes.  After the game we headed on home!

As soon as we got home, Devin helped me put our tree up! We were so tired though, we didn’t get it decorated until the next day.  I love my tree.  Yay for Walmart buys!  We celebrated Devin’s grandmothers and mom’s birthday pretty much right after Thanksgiving.  We went to Texas Roadhouse.  Couple of days later we were supposed to go to the Jazz vs. Warriors game in SLC.  Devin was sooo sick though. L  I felt so bad.  I bought him the lower bowl tickets for our anniversary back in October.  We made it all the way to the train station in Ogden but I finally made him turn around and come home.  He had a fever, sore throat and I just knew that he would be miserable.  My poor love bug! He went home, turned the game on and then fell asleep.   The next weekend, we had a little family party.  I got to see my aunt Shelly and Uncle Jared and their kids.  There is always such good food!  I made my “famous” (all my family loves it!) Loaded Baked Potato Dip. Recipe is below.

We did make it down to Temple Square this year too!  The lights were BEAUTIFUL!! I loved it.  I have a hard time around the holidays trying to enjoy it.  But going to Temple Square just days before Christmas really helped.  When I was little, going and sitting on Santa’s lap, wrapping all these presents and putting reindeer food on the roof of the house on Christmas Eve was what it was all about.  Now that I am older I truly understand the meaning of Christmas.  Going to the temple even to just look at the lights was the perfect way for me to bring Christ into my Christmas.