1 No Room in the Inn

The Christmas story, as told in the book of Luke, tells of Joseph and Mary traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem and, while they were there, Mary bringing forth her firstborn son and laying him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn (see Luke 2:4-7; emphasis added).

Each of us, some two thousand years later, plays the role of innkeeper. Each of us decides whether there is room for Him in our hearts and in our lives.

What? you may say. No room for Jesus?

Yet, we may unwittingly, unconsciously leave no room for Him because of the cares of daily living, the very busy-ness of our lives, especially at this hectic season of the year.

If we ignore the needy and less fortunate, the lonely and suffering, the aged and the children, or those whom Jesus referred to as the least among us (see Matthew 25:40), then we are saying we have no room for Him.

If we fail to keep His commandments (see John 14:15), which center in loving and serving God and in loving and serving our neighbor (see Matthew 22:36-40), then we are saying we have no room for Him.

If we forget to take time to ponder and pray and to thank Him for His abundant blessings and tender mercies (see D&C 59:21), then we are saying we have no room for Him.

As the final verse of one of our beloved carols, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," reminds us,

How silently, how silently
The wondrous give is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heav'n.
No ear may hear his coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

Our Christmas wish is that our inns will not be too full and that we will allow the dear Christ to enter in.

2 Quote of the month

God our Father is not a feeling or an idea or a force. He is a holy person who, as the scriptures teach, has a face and hands and a glorious immortal body. He is real, He knows each of us individually, and He loves us, every one. He wants to bless us.

— Elder J. Devn Cornish in the October 2011 general conference

Until his call as a General Authority last April, Elder and Sister Cornish lived in the same ward as our daughter and son-in-law in Atlanta. Sister Cornish worked in the Primary with Eliza.

3 This month in our family

Lyle's family
Sat, Dec 3: Hannah Grace Kersker's birthday
Thurs, Dec 8: Aric's birthday
Sun, Dec 18: Shandi Cleverly-Burdett's birthday
Tues, Dec 20: Adria Janelle Kersker's birthday
Thurs, Dec 22: Doug's birthday
Thurs, Dec 22: Crystal Price's birthday
Fri, Dec 23: Dakota's birthday
Sun, Dec 25: Shawn & Shandi Burdett married 2000

Gail's family
Wed, Dec 7: Brian's birthday
Thurs, Dec 8: Dustin & Michelle Duay married 2002
Sat, Dec 10: Kyle Foley & Cortney Stockdale being married in Salt Lake Temple
Mon, Dec 19: Brian & Kate married 2003
Sat, Dec 24: Richard & Angie Craine married 2000
Mon, Dec 26: Jacob Robert Rankin's birthday

Kay's family
Fri, Dec 9: Chuck McAllister's birthday
Sun, Dec 11: Kinslee Higley's birthday
Mon, Dec 12: McCall's birthday
Thurs, Dec 15: Chad & Melissa married 1994
Tues, Dec 20: Brandon & Nicole married 1997

Gene's family
Mon, Dec 12: Ronnie's birthday
Wed, Dec 28: Terry & LaWanda Packwood married 1990

Ray's family
Sun, Dec 4: Curtis's birthday

Dean's family
Fri, Dec 2: Talmage & Louise married 2006
Thurs, Dec 8: Aaron Marvin Challis's birthday
Mon, Dec 12: Tanner Hoff born and died 1995
Wed, Dec 14: James died 1999

Dale's family
Fri, Dec 16: Kira's birthday

Jackie's family
30: Rex Sayer's birthday


Everybody!
Sun, Dec 4: Fast Sunday
Sun, Dec 4: First Presidency Christmas devotional (6:00pm MST)
Wed, Dec 7: Pearl Harbor Day
Sat, Dec 10: Full moon (Cold Moon or Moon before Yule)
Sat, Dec 17: Ivard & Dorothy married 1934
Wed, Dec 21: First day of winter
Sat, Dec 24: Christmas Eve
Sun, Dec 25: Christmas Day
Sat, Dec 31: New Year's Eve

4 Bits and tidbits

Gail's family

Cortney Joanne Stockdale (daughter of Stephanie and the late J. Paul Stockdale) will be married to Kyle Taylor Foley (son of Craig and Krisine Foley, grandson of Gail and Lynda) on Saturday, December 10, in the Salt Lake Temple. A formal reception is being held in their honor that evening from 7:00 until 9:00 at the Prudential Building, 5929 Fashion Pint Drive, in South Ogden.

Kay's family

Bishop Kay missed two weekends in a row from his ward in Hurricane. The first weekend of November (from Wednesday, November 2, through Monday, November 7) he was in Indiana for the baptism of a grandchild, one of Brandon and Nicole's kids. The second weekend (from Friday, November 11, through Monday, November 14) he and Karen were in the Salt Lake City area for the ordination of one of her grandsons on Sunday and a six-month checkup on his hip on Monday.

Dean's family 
We learned on Thanksgiving Day that Talmage and Louise are expecting a child next summer in late June or early July. This will be our 23rd grandchild. The 22nd one, a girl, is expected sometime in March at Pete and Anna's house.