Christmas "Elegance"

Black has often been given the title, or respect of "Elegance".
It has a beauty all of its own. It sometimes feel more dressy, for something special...like a formal floor lenght gown, or top hat and tuxedo.
That's a little of my feelings of this Christmas.

I have found this years holiday seasons to be a little harder for me. It seems that my personal health has stoped me from doing the things I have done every year to create a Christmas spirit in my home. I find at times, walking to be very painful. I have done what I could, and got alot done. But to my disappointment my beautiful pre lighted Christmas tree, for some reason, ended up with no ornaments placed upon it. It stands in my bay window, which has three windows looking out into our front yard. It stands in a stand, that rotates the tree. I have a beautiful tree skirt under it, that I bought last year. And running around on top of the tree skirt is a "N" gage train. My tree, even not decorated, has a shine to its self.

I think that most mothers know the feeling of wishing to make our children happy for Christmas, for it is a special time... Often we go without, to create warm fuzzys for our loved ones, most of the time we warm ourselves in the smiles, and laughter, and excitement of their happiness. I once sat in the hallway watching my son Gene, ride his "Big Wheel" up and down the hall, It was raining outside and he could not go out.
All he wanted was that Big Wheel, His laughfter filled my soal, and spilled out in tears upon my face.

This Christmas is a Elegant Christmas, for me....
Everything I received was black.

I have a list that I call Dreams, one for Needs, and one for Wants.
Needs..are things that cannot go without, that have to be addressed as soon as possible. Wants..would be nice to have. and Dreams..I would love to have, but cost too much and will take a long time to get. May never get, but still dream about.

What I received for Christmas, was on my Dream list...

I have always wanted a digital Camera of my own. My Husband has one that he uses all the time. For me it was too complicated, and I wanted something simple to use. At a Surprise dinner for Lynn's parents, my son David, showed me a camera he had just bought. I found it very simple to use, and was delighted with the large viewing window on the back. When Lynn asked me what I would like for Christmas? I asked for a camera just like Davids. To my surprise he got me one...its black...and it came with a printer.

My Son David surprised me with my second gift. I know he didn't read my list, for I had written just what it was, no brand names, or detail. But he had bought me exactly the model of what I had wanted. David lives in Orem Utah, and most of the time drives up on the weekends to spend a little time with us, and attend church.
On his way up he had called and told me he was in Salt Lake City and would be there a while. When he came he was very excited, he had been shopping... and had bought a Christmas gift for me!..It was still in his truck.. He grabbed a empty box and went outside, soon reappearing back into the kitchen, encouraging me to open the box...
I did... I was so surprised to see a DVD Player!.. A Sony DVD player, with a screen that turns around....I didn't know it, but it even has a remote... It is exactly what I had put on my Dream list...
And its Black...

My third gift came a few days latter, on the 28th. But before then my daughter Paulette and her husband James came from Arizona, and stayed with us for a few days. Having my family around me, really lifts my spirits.

Paulette had called and told me that my gift would be coming after Christmas. On the 28th. And that they were hoping to be here when it was delivered....
I had not the foggiest idea what it was, but was glad they would be here.
After Paulette was here, everyday was count down day. When the 28th arrived, it was hourly count down... Finely in the very late afternoon, the package arrived by UPS.
Paulette was excited, and wanted to do heavy heavy hangover Mom's poor head....
Big Box! and a heavy box, on top of my head.....For them I wished that their house in Tooele, would sell fast, and that they would get triple the amount of money that they were asking for....

Big Box! I had a funny feeling inside...It couldn't be...It was Impossible...put it out of my mind...
Paulette, and James helped me to open the box, It was full of large white packing peanuts...Paulettes hand was fishing under the peanuts and kept pulling things up. One time she lifted a large thing wrapped in white foam packing wrap. It was one of those times, you just hold your breath...Sure enough, it was what I kept telling myself it couldn't be....a Harp... a Harpsicle Harp....

And it was Black...

Crazy 2007

This year has been crazy, one of those unbelievable years.
All 5 of my children have new address, and phone numbers, some have had more than one this year.

Launie moved from Peeples Valley to Prescott in Ariz...with the kids.
David moved to a new apt in the same area in Orem Utah.
Jennifer and Mike, and Sarah, moved from Peoria, to Surprise, to Bullhead City, to Ft. Mohave in Arizona.
Paulette and James, moved from Tooele Utah, to Bullhead City, to Ft. Mohave in Arizona.
Jodie moved to a new apt in Parker, then to another Apt. in Lake Havasu City in Arizona, and has a new roommate.

Jodie divorced Jeff after a year and half marriage, because he could not be true to her.
Bret asked Launie for a divorce after 18 years of marriage, he found a new girlfriend. They, Launie and Bret, have 5 children...one past away a few years ago from cancer.

David took a trip to China, walked on the Great Wall, saw the LDS Temple in Hong Kong, it was closed that day. and other sights. Last year he went to Indonesia, Java, Bali and area around there. All this was paid for by a friend of his, Christy, who lives in Indonesia.
David brought his 3 kids, Bryce, Darren, Melody to our home for a visit, while Jennifer and her daughter Sarah were here. The kids really liked each other.

Paulette and Jennifer both have harps.....and Paulette has just bought a Cross Harp!They both are very musical and were asked to play several times during the Holidays.

Jennifer has been working on Genealogy..I have been very impressed with all she has accomplished in such a short time. She came for a good week and did research in SLC. Sarah (3) was with her, and we got to know her better. Sarah liked picking raspberries from Grandpas patch. Jennifer has also helped encourage me with our food storage plans.

This year we bought a Four Wheeler (ATV), and a new lawnmower, for Lynn. They were greatly needed to help him with the yard work and personal recreation.
Lynn has also built wooden shelves in our cold room. He did a great job, and tried hard to give slack movement for the boxes. He put in framing for most of the downstairs rooms. He has also installed the heating vents into his office, and craft room downstairs. We also added a wood burning stove to the basement. It burns wood pellets and is very nice.

I bought a new cane...It has been a help for me to walk.

Lynn and I are still working with the Stake Single groups. Mostly with the Seniors that are 50 and up. Also Lynn conducts the monthly correlation meeting, and I take the minutes.

Some of Our Pets died this year we miss them...Bunny, Bird, Shuska.
We have a pet cemetery on our property, which each one has been lovingly berried there.
Baby Bird, Shon, Paulette's conyer, came to live with us at Christmas.


Update:.. We now have 3 in the family with a harp...I have been added to the list, as I received one for Christmas from Paulette and James...
A Harpsicle Harp...

I Learned Everything I need to know about Life from a Snowman!

It's OK to be a little flaky once in a while.
Too much sun can be bad for your health.
There's no stopping you once you're on a roll.
Just like snowflakes, everyone is unique.
It's OK to be little bottom heavy.
You can weather any storm.
Wearing white year-round is perfectly acceptable.
It's OK to have an occasional meltdown.
You know you've made it when they write a song about you.
You can always lose that holiday weight next summer.
If Life (or mother-nature) dumps on you, view it as an
opportunity to become a bigger individual.
The key to Life, is to be a jolly, happy soul.

Merry Christmas!

Beauty...

Beauty is watching my very beautiful 16 year old girl, with golden hair, playing her viola. Such serious studying and concentration. I watch her fingers fly ever so fast and lightly over the strings. Her hand seems to have a dance of its own. Giving, coaxing, such beautiful sounds from the wonders of the singing wood.

She is sitting at the piano while playing the viola this evening, sitting so tall and graceful. Her graceful golden hair moving with her body movements, as the viola bow races back and forth across the strings.

She loves to play fast. The wonderful mastered sounds, are heard, as she allows the instrument to sing in beautiful rich slow movements of the music. Yes,Beauty is watching her grow, and seeing her as she becomes a wonderful young lady. Glowingly--she turns her head, and smiles.


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

It's not how brilliant the chords sound,
Or how fast your fingers run.
It's not the grandness of the stage,
Or the large number of people who listen.
It's not how much more impressive you play,
or the greatness of the sound.
But it's the heart's desire to sing and play
What one has to give to another....Jen

.

You are a Pegasus...

You are a perfectionist, with an eye for beauty. You know how to live a good life...and you rarely deviate from your good taste. While you aren't outgoing, you have excellent social skills. People both admire you...and feel very comfortable around you.

You Are Sunrise...

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Never Forgotten...

Beautiful pictures flash across my computer screen of my son's 3 children. Its been a few years since I've seen them. Because of a messy divorce David has limited time with them, mostly 1, 2, hours a month. This month is special, Bryce, his oldest just turned 13, and being my husband and I have moved to Utah, David asked for extra time and brought the kids to our home for a birthday party for all the kids.

This Saturday was extra busy, Lynn and I work with the Stake Single Program, and it was the Thanksgiving dinner for the 50+ group. We had to be at the Church at 2:00pm to help set up tables, work with the food, and help with meals to go out to the housebound folks. Sense there was enough help, Lynn and I were able to go home around 4pm and be there when David arrived. Jennifer my daughter was also visiting from Ariz. with her daughter, Sarah, who is 2 and a half years.
David would be able to stay with the kids for about a hour or little more, then comes the long drive back home... Lynn and I would return to Church at 6pm to help serve the meal for the evening.

The request for strawberry cheesecake, and vanilla ice cream, was changed a little, as I found a cheesecake that had multi flavors, and we got two different kinds of ice cream. that seemed to please everybody. So we had pink candles on cheesecake, all the kids help blow them out. And had fun opening their small presents, with "Heavy, heavy, hangover, thy poor head...What do you wish this person???"
A tradition in our family for years, to which the Birthday person, not knowing who the giver is, would express a special gift, or wish to go to the person who has given the gift. Sometimes this can be quite funny.

Over the years I have sent to each of my Grandchildren, Holiday cards with a stick of Juicy fruit Gum inside. I hoped that somehow they would remember that their grandparents were the ones who sent the cards and the gum, with a reminder that we love them. (Taste buds have a way of remembering good things).
I also included a small package of Juicy Fruit gum with their birthday gifts.

Time flew by, and they were gone.....Bryce 13, had gotten so tall. Darren who is 7 is about the same height as his little sister Melody, who is 5, almost 6. The last time I had seen Melody, she was about a year and a half. I know she didn't remember me. However Sarah and Melody had a great time playing together, and Melody was all smiles before she left to go home.

I watch the pictures, over and over, of that day, time was too short to remember.
David brought someone with him, and paid him to take alot of photos. Then he made a CD, with a slide show on it, for me to see my grandchildren.