Thirteen years ago, I remember lying awake, early one Christmas morning at my grandparents’ house in Mesa. Years prior I anxiously waited for parents, uncles, aunts, and grandparents to wake up….this was a prerequisite to diving into the pile of presents that waited upstairs. This year was different. Sure, I was excited about openings gifts, but my thoughts lingered on the sacred words sung and spoken by family members the night before—I thought about how I felt. I was overcome by emotion, and Christmas became something more miraculous and meaningful. This year, Christmas was again an expanding experience for me. There were still presents, scriptures, carols, and traditions, but there was also a lot about this holiday season that was either new or unusual. 1. I have a husband, and although it was our third Christmas together, it was his first Christmas away from his family excluding years on his mission. 2. ...