Beautiful December...

It has been a very long time since I have written here, how ever it has been on my mind for the last few weeks.

I have received many blessings, some I hadn't noticed until I started thinking about Christmas and putting up our Christmas tree. I remember two years ago that we had our Christmas tree up, but didn't have time to decorate it. So there it was, standing tall, with all its lights on, and nothing elts.

Last year I had my first Hip replacement in March. I was still walking with crutches and in alot of pain. So much was going on in our lives at that time, that the thought of putting up a Christmas tree seemed impossible. I had a porcelain tree I had made back in 1980, and to my surprise it still worked. So that was our tree for last year.

I guess it was in Oct when I started thinking, about when I was going to put up the tree. A few weeks later I realized my blessings. I had the 2nd hip replacement this last June, and I was already off the cane. The 2nd Hip was worse than the first.
It is a great blessing, to be walking again.

Another Beautiful Surprise came today. We came home from church and found a Beautiful, dancing, snow storm in our front room. Well not really, but my surprise gift was beautifully hand cut snowflakes, hanging from my celling around our Christmas tree. Even a small one that looks like a star, was placed right over the top of the tree.

My Daughter Paulette and her husband James, had waited around the corner of the street, for us to go to church. Then they came in and hung snowflakes to surprise us. We have a lot of frost outside today, it has been fogy for the last two days. As we were coming home from church we discovered a frozen hand cut paper snowflake taped to our windshield. It had no name on it, but both Lynn and I said "its from Pauli".

For Years, we have hand cut, snowflakes, and included them with our Christmas cards, for friends, and family. I have kept most all the ones I have received. I started writing names and years on them, and last year I started putting them in plastic, so as to keep them. They are beautiful memories. And some of them are very delicately cut. Every one likes to look at them on the windows, and remember the year, they had cut each one. I even have two snowflakes from Auzie, Paulette's Jenday bird.

Another blessing that is coming, is most of my family will be here for Christmas. I am sooooo looking forward to being with my kids. Jodie and Tom will be here for a very short time, but Jodie has made arrangements for our family, on the 24th at 9:00 AM, to go to the SLC Temple and do baptisms for the dead. What a wonderful way to start Christmas together.

Another blessing I received last week was to listen to two of my daughters play a piece by Mannheim Steamroller's "Stille Nacht" (Silent Night) in two wards. One on Harp, Paulette, and Jennifer on Viola. To watch and understand the masterful touch of the instruments, and listen to the deep feeling, and quality of the music. Each of them have been given a great blessing and talent of music, and we who listen to their playing are deeply touched, and our lives are enriched because of their willingness to share.

Bishop Grua in a talk, asked that we take time to enjoy the beauty that is all around us every day. The last three days we have had fog here. Fog is very moist, and has been freezing on the trees and bushes. It is looking like a winter wonder land.
At close inspection of some of the trees you can see the ice crystals growing longer, like tiny spikes all over. Very Beautiful.... but extremely cold. The antenna on Lynn's truck looks like it was covered in long white fur.

I have another blessing that happened tonight, but I will keep this one until after Christmas. I will think on this one for a while...the way you do when it mean alot to you.
(update) This neet blessing I received was a calling as a Service Missionary.
I am pleased to serve. I will be helping in the Employment Center in Tooele, for a year, and possible extensions.... :)

I WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND HOPE YOUR NEW YEAR IS EVEN BETTER THAN THIS ONE.

I am still here...

Just wanted you to know that I am still around and have not fallen apart yet... Last June had hip #2 replaced. I am doing well...

Remember the Fireworks...

I remember when as a family we would go to the grassy lawns, of Glendale Comiuty Collage, in Glendale Arizona. Hours before the fireworks. Our kids would often play games of catch with either Frisbees or lighted neckless. We would sit on blankets with the rest of the crowd of folks doing the same thing. Most all the kids around had lighted neckless that became neet flying objects high into the sky.

It was a good feeling, seeing my family having fun with each other.
Lynn would bring snacks, or go buy some ice cream at the snack trailers.

Sitting together watching the fireworks and greatly enjoying them. Once we saw the space shuttle, and something elts that had been hooked on the space ship flying across the sky. And one year we had extra fireworks, as a large lightening storm displayed itself in the background of the fireworks.

I miss my family, today all my kids have families of their own. This year Lynn and I sat in two lonesome chairs, on the side of a road, about a block away from the park where the fireworks were. With the Oohs and Ahas only to myself.
I watched the house behind us with their family, I felt lonesome for the lafter of my own kids.

I have learned to treasure the time you have with your little ones. They will be grown and gone before you know it.

Its never comes back, and you are left by yourself to try and be happy.

Happy Birthday, Mom...

I received a phone call from my brother Verl yesterday.... He had been down to the Provo Cemetery to see Mom's grave. And wish her a Happy Birthday.

Mom would have been 100 on the 4th of July.
Ivie Hartley Brimhall

It does not seem she could be that old. It gives me funny feelings inside when I think about it, as it relates to my self.

Just Funny...

Last Saturday I decided to take the car and drive over to Tooele, which is about 10 miles away from my home. It had been a while since I had been driving by myself, as Lynn is home mostly now, and he likes to do the driving.

I was going on my way, minding my own business, and enjoying the weather and scenery around me. We live out in the country, and not much car traffic. As I turned on to the main road to Tooele, I noticed I had a few vehicles behind me. This happens to be a rather long and straight road, and often folks like to go faster than the speed limit. And this seemed to be the case to day. I had a truck following close behind me, I thought he would pass by me as soon as he had a chance to do so, as I could see his hood and front window in my rear view mirror.

Soon a space came up, but not quite large enough, as the speed was 60 miles per hour.
The next car coming toward me passed by, but the space was still too small. The truck behind me, was now hugging my back bumper. Finally a larger space for passing came, and the truck behind me gunned the gas peddle and the motor roared loudly as the truck flew by me. Once past me he slowed down, and I soon saw a man's arm and hand pointing. Motioning for me to pull over and stop.

He pulled over, and I pulled over and stopped, and the car behind me pulled over and stopped, and the car behind him pulled over, and the one behind him, and also the one behind him stopped.

Then the door of the truck opened, and my son, David, jumped out. He was wearing his black Haidong uniform, from his martial-arts class. He explained that he had been following me from my house and was trying to stop me. He had come for a short visit, as he lives in Springville, and didn't want to miss me......I was surprised to see him...

I wondered what the other drivers must have thought, as this truck was trying to stop me, with flashing lights and strange driving....Perhaps, maybe, a Policeman?

But, they too, pulled over...


.

How did it happen...

Can you believe what your seeing???

How do you think this happened, and what did people think when it did happen...

Always Hope...

Years ago when I was a young adult, I found this clipping in a newspaper. I liked it so much that I placed it in clear plastic. Today it is almost dissolved into the plastic. But the meaning is still true...

"Every time you experience something bad, immediately blot it out with the memory of something good. Seek beauty--you'll find it in the glory of a sunset, the fragrance of a rose, the song of a bird, the handclasp of a friend. And before you know it, you will have created enough new brain cells to shove back into oblivion those which hold only the sad memories."

A New Calling...

Coming to the end of one....and starting a new....
Today is both happy and a sad day, as we met with Pres. Steve Collings this morning in his office at the Stake building.

Happy because Lynn has received a new calling in the church. He has accepted the call of a Service Missionary.

And Sad because we were released from our Stake callings of working with the singles,
(18-110+) The last two, out of four years we worked with the Seniors. Also Lynn Conducted the monthly stake meeting, and I was the Secretary for the whole group.
I so enjoyed working with the singles. I think it has been one of the most rewarding calls I have served in, and I have gained many friends. I will miss being part of them.

When informing a friend of the change, she said "You will be coming to Family Home Evening, wont you? Your in that age group..." I don't know, I said, I am not a single.

Lynn and I will continue to be the Ward Reps for the Seniors, for our ward and the 13th ward, until they call some one to fill our shoes.

I Remember Gene...

David, Gene, Launie....Grandpa Brimhall in the background

Eugene Murvel Walker ( Gene ) Was my third child. He would have been 33 years old today, almost 34. He was Three and a half, when his short life was ended. Injuries from a car accident.

He died Jan 29, 1975 in the JC Lincon Hospital, in Sunnysloap or part of Phoenix, Arizona. He was buried in the Provo City Cemetery, in Provo, Utah.

This is one of the last Photos taken of Gene, two months before he died...

Lynn's feelings...

Lynn's favorite saying for today:

I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel....
I hope its not the train coming this way....

A Tag by Paulette...

Paulette reminded me that she had passed on a tag. I am to go to my sixth folder, and display my sixth picture. My sixth picture I had recently used, a pan of dinner rolls. This one had been a recent save, so I was surprised to see it at the top of my folder, and seemed to fit the qualifications of the tag.

Surprise...

Both my husband and I attended church yesterday, being that it was Sunday. As Sunday school was letting out, I noticed that our Bishop was holding the door open for some folks and was holding it open for me. I am walking with a cane, so I walk slower than others. As I came close to Bishop Grua, he said "How are you doing.. WOM?" I was surprised he knew my nickname...then he added "I have read your blog!" Which surprised me even more....As soon as I arrived home, I brought my blog up to see what I had been writing and what he may have been reading....

The Old Peach Tree...10-14-99...

Outside my bedroom window stands a old peach tree. It is dwarf in nature, compared to regular size trees. It has seen many seasons change, in the past 20 years, or more. This one seems to be rushing faster, than all the others.

There is something very peaceful about this tree.
I love to watch the changes that come to it. At this time, its extra long leaves are starting to turn orange underneath, on the inside of the tree. As I watch, a gentle breeze blows some of the orange leaves away, falling on the ground in different places.

Sometimes I see bits of blue sky, where green use to be. I am not looking forward to seeing him loose all his leaves, which will soon come.
For it is time for this one to sleep.

Even though his branches will be empty and bare, there is still beauty here. And spring promises, pink blossoms, just around the corner.

With its branches almost touching my window, I share the pleasure of the old twisted cracked limbs, ...with a variety of birds, who come.
I love the humming birds, and the songs they sing. And Baby, one little blue parakeet, who thinks this tree is his, and loves it, just as much as I do.

December Angels...

Do you believe in Angels? Well I do...
There are Angels flying all around our ward. One December afternoon a family of Angels showed up on our porch singing Christmas carols, and caring gifts of a Turkey and stuffing, can goods, and cranberries, So we could have a Christmas dinner. Their kindness to us, ended up feeding three hungry families for Christmas this year.

Another Angel came and took over the cooking for all of us on Christmas day. Leaving me to spend alot of time off my feet. A great help for me, as my other hip is needing to be replaced and I am often in alot of pain.

More Angels showed up, by leaving a bottle of sparkling apple cider, with a card attached to it. How ever the names on the outside of the envelope was not ours. Thinking I could open the card, and see who it was from, I could call them and let them know they had delivered the bottle to the wrong address. I opened the card, but there were no names of who sent it. Only money in bills.

I called our Bishop, who lives next door, and explained what had happened and how I felt this needed to get to the folks it was intended for. After a few minuets he came to our home, I felt bad because it was late in the evening on Christmas eve, and I know he had family at home.

He seemed to know who the names were and told us a little about them and then I realised I had been her visiting teacher about a year ago.
While we were talking the doorbell rang and to our surprise, our Relief Society President stood on our porch, with a bottle in her hand, our names were on it, in the same handwriting as the other bottle. Sweetness filled the air, and puzzle pieces begin to fall in place. The contents of the card seemed to be from holly hands. The warmth of Two beautiful Angles stood before me...

Because of this wonderful mix up, Friendships have been straightened. I will keep in contact with my friend Ann, Perhaps I might be of some help, even if its just a hug now and then. We both commented on what a wonderful Christmas blessing it had been.

Other Angels live in Yuma Ariz, in the winter. Receiving a Christmas card from my brother and his wife, I was surprised to find a check inside, with a note that it might help with our health bills. I was so touched, they thought of us...and I know its needed more by them now. I don't think I can cash this beautiful gift. Just knowing how much they love me is enough...

Angels come in many shapes and sizes, but the warmth of their arms is unbelievable.... I hope someday when I grow up, I want to be a Angel, and give of my heart, as Angels do...