#ShareTheGift

This past weekend, Steven​ and I had the opportunity to plan and organize a neighborhood Christmas party.  As you can imagine it stressful to plan food, set-up, decorations, a program, and activities to entertain 200+ people from toddlers to great-grandparents.  We had a ton of help (which we are very grateful and humbled by), but still it was stressful.  Friday night, I was going through and finalizing a few things, one of which was to download the videos that we were planning on showing at the party.  One of the videos was the #ShareTheGift video from last year.  The first 30 seconds illustrated the chaos and stress that is often associated with the Christmas Season.  But then the tone of the video changes.  At that moment, I was no longer stressed about the party because ultimately, it didn't matter how the food turned out or if the decorations were going to all coordinate, or if Steve was going to be able to hang the lights right, or how the table were arranged.  What mattered was that we were coming together as neighbors, as friends, as families to celebrate the birth of our Savior.  There's no greater gift than that of the Savior!

Watch #ShareTheGift here.

 Overall, the party went great.  We started the evening with our Santa scene in one of the church lobbies.  Santa asked each visitor, "What is your gift this Christmas?".  Everyeon then filtered into the gym where we had tables set with coloring pages, programs, and water.  The Young Men were in the kitchen prepping the plates and then took them out to serve to everyone.  It was quite chaotic and hysterical in the kitchen.  The YM were arguing over how to do some trivial thing, but once we got into a groove, things started moving smoother.  I'd even say that they enjoyed it.   Dessert was a hot chocolate bar, that I think was a hit... especially with the kids. 

We also had a simple program including a Primary Nativity and three speakers focusing on God's gift to us, the Savior's gift to us, and finally our gift to the Savior.  We showed the video released but the church this year (see here) and the video above.  Several people commented that they were moved by the videos once again to remember Christ this Christmas. 

Things I learned:  Plan on food for 200, hot chocolate for 400, and marshmellos for 600.  :)