Striking the set!!!

The Christmas magic is going back in the boxes and will be brought out the end of 2013.  What a wonderful time we had!!! 

Christmas Video watching....

We listen to LOTS of Christmas music!  I mean real Christmas music with lyrics that would be banned in public school.  Familiar Christmas Hymns and songs we sang in school choirs as kids and sentimental tunes like....I'm dreaming of a White Christmas and I'll be Home for Christmas and  Blue Christmas and Chestnuts roasting on an open fire .....all sorts of things that are great listening.

****************************************************************

              This is a classic favorite!  Hilarious!!

*****************************************************************************



There are several versions of this and we enjoy them all.  We didn't watch as many this year as we couldn't find our small collection.  The one above we watched and is a favorite.  Wonderful!   I'd say our most favorite of all is this 1938 version....



****************************************************************************
This year for some reason, unbeknownst to me, I just couldn't get enough of The Nutcracker.  I watched all of these.  I.  Singular. Alone.  Terry can't bear the sight of the costume budget cut, or whatever, that renders the men running around and leaping in tights.  He did endure it once, maybe twice, and vowed to never again put himself through such embarrassment.  Either I have no scruples or I elevate my vision and focus on the overall stage and just love the entire production.

I really enjoyed viewing the San Francisco production. It was a new 2012 ballet.  I'm missing one picture and not sure which, as I saw 5.










After I watched 4, and thinking the party is over, I had the wonderful luck of finding one more!!

 This has got to be the most amazing version I've ever seen!!  It's totally different and just mesmerizing!  Fascinating!  My own copy is on the way to my mailbox!!  So the San Francisco Ballet was my favorite traditional one but the one below touched my heart and even brought me to tears.

Terry laughed when I said that I'd find someone, or a few somebodies, that would like to watch any or all of these next year.  or maybe during the year?!!!   Let me know!!!

Bravo!!  Bravo!!

What a marvelous Christmas we had....

It was a wonderful time!  Things went pretty much as planned with the exception of losing a day because of little ones etc. they didn't arrive on the scheduled day but the next day.  The plan was we would cook 5 family dinners here, they would stay at Kip's and come back and forth to visit.

We would have a traditional big spread on Christmas Eve at noon.  Then leftovers for evening meal.  They were going to leave after breakfast on Christmas day.
 
The requested meal scheduled for first day arrival was biscuits with sausage gravy.  Easy peasy.  Could be made at anytime etc. etc.  When they didn't arrive the original day I just kept with the original 5 meals and moved it to the next day.  I had such a carefully laid plan!

Sunday night, Shannon, a friend put out a notice to the Ward women...did anyone have some candlesticks she could borrow?-- as hers were loaned out etc. etc and she wanted if for Monday night.

I checked with her, via email,  later that night, 9-ish?, and asked if she'd got some candlestick holders as I had some that she could borrow.  She let me know that she had some that were on loan and  --how disappointed her children would be if she didn't keep the long time family tradition of a candlelight dinner on Christmas Eve.

How nice....I thought.   And  then it hit me like a ton of bricks!!!!  Tomorrow was Christmas Eve!?!!   No way!!!  Surely not!!  Except for the Turkey and a lavish menu, with most of the ingredients at ready, I still had to shop.  There were pies to make!!  There was a cranberry salad that needed to set up!!  A bean salad to marinate!!  I started to hyperventilate and rushed out to Terry....Oh, good grief!!!  tomorrow is Christmas Eve!!!  He said...Are you sure???  How did that happen?!  We did the only sensible thing that 2 modern people would do.  We came back and checked the computer calendar.  Sure enough!  plain as day!!  Christmas Eve was on Monday not Tuesday!!!

I pulled the thawing turkey from the refrigerator and willed it to finish thawing at room temperature overnight and not give any of us whatever lethal germs you can breed. 

I should have had a clue that my thinker was off a cog because at Church, a friend invited me to her house, the day after Christmas.  In my off kilter thinking and still being governed mentally by my 5 day meal list menu laying on the counter, I replied...Oh, on Thursday.  She said...No.  On Wednesday.

Early, the day of the meal, Terry and I were up and trying to figure out how to pull this off and be calm at least outwardly.  We had let Kipper know that we'd lost a day and we weren't ready but we would be but the meal would not be at noon but close to it (said with fingers crossed!).

I dashed over to the local market and purchased the last minute items we needed for our feasting.  Lo, and behold, there was Shannon.  I told her how thankful I was that she let me know about Christmas Eve but felt secure she'd understand my lunacy.  One thing though, in my mad dash from the house to the store, I did what all fat folks do at stress time...grab something sweet and eat! On the run!  One of Terry's  cinnamon rolls, with white frosting.  When I got home with our groceries, Terry informed me that I had white frosting on my chin and upper lip!!!  A lot of it!!!  Oh, gosh!!  Sigh.  Oh, well.  Life!

I think we ate around 1 or was it 2?  I know it wasn't 3.  It was a delicious meal, a gorgeous table, and we were truly happy to be with some family.  There were no pies.  There was no cranberry salad but there was a bowl of cranberry sauce.  We forgot to make a green salad.  The bean salad marinated long enough to be cool but not chilled and definitely not marinated but it was good anyhow.  The basics were delish and Terry and I enjoyed watching others enjoy what we'd done.  We felt it was a miracle that we did what we'd planned to take a full day and a half to do the way we wanted (okay.  I wanted.   not we.) and we did it in a few hours.  We were a great team and acknowledged how nice we didn't get into a dog/cat mode but instead pulled together like a set of oxen supposedly do.

Here are some random pictures.

g

Ava/Terry/Kipper

and some more random pictures

and a couple of more....

Kim cooked a breakfast casserole that is a family tradition at her childhood home.

ready to leave for a snowy ride home

Another goodbye

  **************************************************************************
Ava took all of the sweets- cookies, gingerbread men, gingerbread house etc., put them in Kip's 2 refrigerators, scotch-taped the doors and put school chairs in front of doors-- to keep Santa from eating anything other than what was on the plate she left him!







********************************************
Kip insisted we get a family picture and then posted it on FB so I will do the same being as how it's out there anyhow!!  He told me after the fact!!
I told him I look like I have viking eyebrows and he said-- "its just bangs, Mom".  Whew!!!
I am glad that we have a photo memory of our few delightful days together!

 Terry and I in back.
Front...Kim holding Kai.  Kip holding Ava.  Kipper.
so that is our oldest child/son ...Kipper.  His son- Kip.  Kip's wife Kim.  and our 2 great grandchildren!!  You probably already figure that out.  Just in case you needed help.  there you go!

Christmas!!!!! Yes!!!

My Christmas thoughts are on what Christ means to me and the impact the Gospel has in my life.  I'm so thankful for a myriad of blessings.  Family and then friends.  Friends that are like a special family addition to me.  My thoughts and love and prayers go out to those suffering losses and working their way through heartache and pain. 

Special love to all the missionaries serving throughout the world, those I know and don't know.

It's our Grandson's first Christmas in the field.  He makes me feel so tender.  He and his Dad drove from KS to WA, just so we could see  him before he headed out.

I'm thinking of all my children and grandchildren and thankful they aren't deprived in life of the basics as so many others are in the world.

And I'm thinking of you!  Thanks for being a part of my life by reading my blog.  It's a feeling of connectedness and forms a friendship of a specific kind as it's all about choice.  I choose to share whatever random thoughts I'm having and you choose to read my musings.  Merry Christmas to each one of you!  Those I personally know and those that I've not yet met. 

Technically we had our Christmas on Christmas Eve and I'll share more about that later on but for now, this Christmas day....What would our lives be like in this chaotic world without the Peace of the Gospel??  It is a day to celebrate His Birth.  For sure!!!

Christmas Eve!

It's Christmas Eve....Have a wonderful day!!!

Winter pictures of Temple Square-Christmas

Enjoy!!!

beautiful video

Touches my heart so much!

"Behold the Lamb of God" by Walter Rane

pictures of Nativity

A friend is looking for a beautiful Nativity picture.  I saw these and shared it with her. here  My favorite is the Walter Rane painting.  There are others also that are so beautiful.  So unique.  What beauty for a home.  That Rane version is unlike anything I've ever seen.  I loved his explanation of why he did it the way he did.  I hope you enjoy looking at these and what the artists say about them.  Maybe you are looking for a piece of art also.  A great teaching tool. 

and  here is something wonderful to watch.

and one more beautiful hymn to watch here

Enjoy your day!!!

Ward Christmas Party

Every year, wherever I've lived and whatever Ward I've been a member of, has a Ward Christmas party.  Confession time....each year I go with the expectation that it will be noisy, crowded, chaotic.  Children running in packs at times.  Food problems of some sort.  Nothing peaceful.  Nothing of Christ.  More of Santa.
 
Maybe I'm bah-humbugging but I'm just being honest.

This year they were  having Taco's.  Our part was olives (chopped).  I used that gigantic can from my food storage pantry.  and we were also to bring a dessert.  Terry made a batch of his delicious oatmeal cookies to share.  Best oatmeal cookies in the country!!!

Terry didn't feel up to going as his balance was off but encouraged me to go. I went because I have a personal commitment to not be a pick and choose Mormon; I support those that I sustained;  I looked forward to seeing my friends; I wanted to support those responsible for what I was sure would be another disaster in my book.  I was fine to miss the dinner, thinking there might be a shortage of food anyhow, but I for sure wanted to see the Primary program planned by my friend, Crystal.

First of all there weren't as many people as usually attend.  True, the tables were filled but it was missing some it seemed.  Boycotting or just busy?

So it ends up being...tablecloths on tables!  lovely to look at!  The food was delicious.  LOTS of food.  I mean excessive amount of food as some were probably still smarting, from last year, when the tables were bare and the line was still in place with hungry folks!  Oops!!  

You could visit and hear each other.  Yes, you had to speak up a bit but it was calm and nice.

Dinner was over and  Crystal had a Santa narrated program that was so charming and had a great message, sweet children, all about symbols of Christmas, special musical numbers  (Emma!!!  that was gorgeous!!),  and all in attendance got to sing a couple of Christmas hymns also.  It was so great!!!  Best thing ever!!!

One more time....if you go to where you should be, even with a whiny attitude, it always ends up being worth your while and you are blessed!!  Well, at least I am!!!

I was blessed tonight with the joy of the Gospel, the comfort of friendships, feeling the warmth of the Spirit and just enjoying being with others that also love the celebration of Christmas.

What a satisfying event tonight was.  Sigh.


  

Joy in our home today......

Our village visitors ended today and now it's time for family to arrive and have Christmas celebration.

Brooklyn was interested in sitting on the old school chair and checking out the Nativities.  The Village and tree came in last as far as her interest!  She looked adorable perched on the tiny chair.

Brooklyn

 

 

 *******************************************************

The youngest visitor slept through the entire visit!  well, up until she opened her eyes at the end.

Newborn Melanie

Melanie's Siblings.....

Amy (enjoyed the Nativities so much.  Made me happy!)

Timothy and David

Timothy telling the Nativity story to me.

Timothy told me the happenings several times and wished I could have videoed him and put it on FB.  A great idea but it didn't happen.  My battery power is somewhat limited!

********************************************

Next year IF we (oops! typo.  should be he) decorate like this again.  We will have our visitors come earlier in the month .  The children brought joy into our home and we enjoyed each one. 

Time to finish up the details for family coming!!!!

Yes!!!

Checking out the details!

Alexandra and Grace came by and they got away without me taking a picture of them!

A busy day and the fun of some more children to peek at the houses.  My pictures are not winners but the children were adorable!!!

Sunday was Lydia's 7th birthday.  I couldn't help but think of the Connecticut tragedy.  She is the age of those children.  Heartbreaking.  She is so small and fragile.

Michael & Cecil (striped shirt) & Lydia

Lydia & Michael & Cecil

Tender Story

Just reading this brought so much tenderness into my heart.  Grab a Kleenex before you look at this!

here

Sunday was a long day but this was on Saturday!

Aleya and Eli came over!!!  We enjoyed our time together!!!

Aleya holding the "halibut".  Eli, just checking things out.

Such sweeties! 

These aren't the best pictures in the world of them but I only took two.  Should have taken more.

Lights Aplenty!!!

Terry is just so sweet!!  He finished up the last of the lights that he wanted to put up and things look so great, especially in the dark of night.  He hung icicle lights on the eves.  Here he is, my darling guy, untangling/finding burnt out lights for the final hanging!....

We are ready for family to arrive!!  so excited and happy!!  

Everything feels so Christmasy.

(it's not taking away from my thoughts of the Savior and celebrating His Birth but I'm still mulling over the Wear Pants on Sunday situation!!  I have to write some more and then I promise, I'll hush up!  I have strong feelings about this whole plan --did you know that???  Just one more blog, tomorrow, and then I'll zip my lips!!)

A Big Day

That was quite the timeout!!  I am not sure what I did as far as pushing buttons but I do know for sure that I totally fouled things up!  At least I can now get on my blog and post!  I really missed being able to be in touch.

So things just purred along with Terry in high gear on his determined goal to put the little houses out and the doodads of people in action and the garlands out front.

Houses by the dozens!!

figuring out his design (which side of tree will he put them?)

We have so much stuff!!  I asked Terry if we needed an intervention or to be committed??!!!

                         Things were looking pretty great for Sunday when we watched the Devotional.


 
                          lit up and lovely and done!!!

all sorts of figurines

even sledders

garland above the couch/a bit of the porch tree and garland.

 Time to focus on Christmas as we are decorated and ready!
We are ready for the little ones to come visit.  It will be a happy time for all of us!
 *****************************************************************

Today is my big day for the oral surgeon!  It will be a long day!!  Not making me feel all excited!!  If  I'm not here for a couple of days then understand that I'm in bed!!  When I get sick or any such thing, I head to the bed.  The door is closed.  and I just crash and snooze and heal.  I have all the juices and soup etc. that I need.  Terry is ready to take care of details and if need be, our son will help also. 

What I would appreciate from you are prayers that I'll be brave.  Terry reminds me that having some teeth extracted is not an earth shaking/first time scientific experiment!  How dare he minimize the procedure and make it sound so normal and routine!!!  As if it's done everyday to lots of people!! 

Attempting to calm myself and increase faith, as 2 of the teeth are broken off  below the gum line, and yes, I know I will be asleep but it's still unnerving. I decided to read the Psalms and see what would touch me and give me hope.  I was barely started and when I got to Psalm 3 and read about the Lord being a shield and the Lord heard his prayers.  And then he laid down and slept and then when he awakened the Lord sustained him and he would not be afraid of any amount of people that were against him.  I was feeling strengthened at the power of the Lord.

Then he talked about how the Lord had smitten the cheeks of his enemies and then!  .... surely not.  my eyes deceive me?! but there it is in black and white.  vs 7.  not only did they get the cheek smack but  ...thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. What!!!  I'm praying for help, for courage, with this mouth mess, seeking solace from the all time comfort scriptures- The Psalms-  and I get that right out of the chute?

I stopped the straight read through and flipped over to the 23rd Psalm.  So peaceful.  So hope-filled.

I read the verses, throughout the Psalms, that I'd previously marked in red and felt good. 

De-railed!!

Oh, boy.  The train is off the tracks here!  Thursday the little houses were to be put up and there is nary a one to be found anywhere in the house.  They are all still in the garage!  No garlands are up outside.  Terry really wants Ava and Kai to enjoy the houses so he decided to go into think mode and ended up building a shelf, just their height, so they can peek in the houses with ease.  He took an old shelf from the garage, cut it to the length he wanted it and then proceeded to design some sort of apparatus to hold it on the wood burning stove top.  In his intense concentration of manhandling the shelf, for placement, he banged the tree a couple of times, it shook and some gold beads slipped.

Also the new heater purchased Wednesday, our gift to ourselves, was what caused the power outage and not the tree.  The choice for Thursday was...enjoy new heater or enjoy all our lights.  We had a blackout of all lights and chose the heater.  Has infrared and we really enjoyed it.

My mechanic channeling his inner carpenter.  See the heater?

all things banged around can be picked up and put back on!

He is one kind & thoughtful Gramps!

Correct heighth.  house-less shelf.

Our handmade halibut ornament

Not looking on schedule.

And so the day went.  busy with no tangible results on the houses and etc. but the most important thing of all was put out-- the Nativities.  I'm not one that wants statues.  I wasn't raised with it but I do admit to growing in love and appreciation of Nativities, over time.

When our children were growing up we had one Nativity with all the pieces.  I have no idea what ever happened to it.  IF I was raising my children again....I'd buy a nativity every year. (much like people collect ornaments or nutcrackers  or other Christmasy items)  It wouldn't have to be big or spendy.  I'd let them play with it and tell the story over and over.  I wish I'd done that.  Maybe you will think about doing that yourself!

With the world working harder and harder to eliminate Christmas and the mention of Christ, I find myself wanting to take a stronger stand in my own home, that all of these decorations are in celebration of the fact that I/we believe that Christ was born and it's a day, a time, a season to celebrate that fact.

We have a simple white 3 piece Nativity also but it's in the garage, somewhere, with the houses.  It will turn up.  Tomorrow.  Terry will be surprised when a couple of new ones show up this year.  I love them grouped together in pure simplicity.  a peaceful setting.

This one is on an antique doily done by one of our grandmothers.
I love the detail and feeling of this one.  A friend had one and I had to have one also.

This is new and fascinating.  It's called a pillar nativity.  The 9 pillars can be separated and different arrangements can be made to tell the story of the Nativity.  It is some sort of resin.  Just gorgeous.  I look forward to having others see it and enjoy it.  It's a work of art.  Has sort of an antique script on each one, on 2 sides, with a corresponding scripture for that pillar.

 This is an ornament reminding us that two of our children lived in Jerusalem at the BYU Study Abroad for 6 months.  The baby Jesus is olive wood from Jerusalem.  Jeanee sent us an olive wood Nativity set but it was stolen at the post office over there, replaced with dirty clothes and some sort of husks.  The baby Jesus is all that is left.  (Lots of lessons there for sure.)  The animals are reminders of that night.  All of these Nativities can be handled by a 2 and 4 year old.  I look forward to seeing them enjoy them.  

Peace.  Simplicity.  The reason for the season.