New Years Resolutions - I don't make them. I don't feel motivated to make resolitons until April. When I listen to General Conference then I make my resolutions and I re-evaluate them again in October. Somehow that seems more doable to me and can stay more motivated - especially since my husband listens to General Conference in the car whenever he is driving plus we read it as our couple scripture study from cover to cover.
Snow storms in Rhode Island make me laugh. You would think they never get them! We have been expecting 6-8 inches of snow today and we are under a winter storm warning. That is all fine and good but that warning went up last night. The snow isn't even expected until noon today! People go into an absolute dither whenever it snows here but it doesn't keep people off the roads. Plus they don't know how to plow here. They don't scrape the roads so there is always at least an inch of snow on the road that ALWAYS turns to slush then ice. It isn't the snow that is bad to drive in it is actually the next day when the slush turns into ice! Plus if we have too many snow storms then the unions actually will not allow the plows to run once the contract is up. This happened a couple of years ago. The cities were willing to pay overtime but the unions wouldn't allow it. They might this year with the tough economic times but I can't imagine the policy has changed if that is what is holding them back. I expect Clyde home any minute. I don't think they will be working long with a storm warning in effect.
I have the most fun grandchildren in the world. The fun part is that my daughters' let my grandchildren choose the gifts they give me. Because of this I now have two collections. One is WillowTree figurines. Carlye Anne is the one that usually gets me one of those. My other collection was started by Noah but has been added onto by my other grandchildren and daughters' and that is Webkinz. The thing that makes this one so fun is getting onto each others sites and taking care of them for each other plus we can send cyber-gifts and letters to each other whenever we want. At first I wondered why Noah thought this was so much fun but now I play it every day for myself and usually am on with a grandchild or two during that time. It keeps us in touch. I also have a kind of box collection because of the Pfiesters. Carlye Anne gave me a WillowTree box and Nathanael has given me another little box. That may not sound like much but because of that box I am now in possession of a Santa Claus box. Someone saw those two boxes together and assumed I must love boxes - so I may be on the way to a third collection that I never expected - a collection of boxes.
For those of you that are in on the joke - we will be celebrating the New Year as we always do - with Cherry 7-Up and watching the original KING KONG. Future note - don't ever ask your father what he does for a tradition.
As I do face the New Year I am grateful for my family. I am also grateful to mostly be pain free. Now if I can just get my stamina back so I can go back to the temple. I guess if I had a New Year's resolution - that would be it - to be able to go to the temple and be useful there again.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
No Monday Hero
Today I am foregoing Monday's heroes because it is Clyde's and my 36th wedding anniversary. Wow! Has it been that long? A little over 37 years ago I was flying home to Germany and all the way from the airport, Marianne was telling me about this 'guy named Clyde'. She wanted me to promise I would leave him alone. I didn't promise but assured her I wouldn't be interested in anyone named Clyde. Ten days later that 'guy named Clyde' and I were engaged. To balance it out we were engaged for a year for many reasons - the biggest one being he was a recent convert to the Church and couldn't take me to the temple for another year. I know for a fact if we had not married in the temple we would not be married today. Those covenants are what kept us going. To return to the temple over and over and basically relive my wedding day any time I want has been the greatest blessing of my life. There are some aspects of my wedding day I am grateful I have not had to live over and over though.
Because we were married on the 29th of December - in those days the temples shut down for Christmas. Clyde and I had gone to the Provo Temple the day before. I will not go into detail here but to give you an inkling I was number 202 on the brides list for that day and I got there at 7:00 in ther morning. There were 25 people to a locker! It was wild. The next day it was blizzard conditions in Manti and people could not get there. The roads were freezing and it was treacherous. The Manti Temple is at the top of a hill. Dad and Clyde dropped me off and I actually slid under the car the roads was so slick - great start to the day. Clyde grabbed me as was literally half way under the car. We got into the temple. The temple president and his wife with a handful of people that could walk from Manti were the only people in the temple. It was literally just our family. The Stake President and the Temple President had both been inspired to tell us to do a session before we were sealed. After the fiasco of the day before I am not sure we would have ever attended the temple again. But to do a session literally with just the family is a memory I will always cherish. My Aunt Lou was with me and had been an Ordinance Worker in the Manti Temple for many years before moving to Salt Lake and becoming an Ordinance Worker in the Salt Lake Temple. I think because there were so few of us and I was the only bride I ended up with 3 escorts - Mom, Grandma Tuttle and Aunt Lou. They were all three whispering things in my ear all through the session about the Manti Temple and about the session itself. I learned so much that day. I am still grateful for the lessons I had that day.
My Grandfather was supposed to be a witness at my wedding but he never got there. Instead my old bishop - Ferrin Mangleson was the other witness with my father. I had been quite close to him so that was nice. Very few people got to my actual sealing but it was still special. When Clyde and I exchanged rings, I had to give him my father's ring. His ring was still coming from Virginia (it didn't arrive for another week and he lost it 4 years later).
Our reception is still talked about. When we moved back to Ephraim 25 years after we were married, people would come up to Clyde and introduce themselves with the preface, "I was at your reception. I remember it because we couldn't leave after we got there." That was true. People arrived early in fact in hopes that they would beat the storm and ended up staying until after midnight when the storm finally broke. It was an interesting reception because there were not all that many people there but none of us could go anywhere. There was an area with elderly people having a great time. There was another area with people Mom and Dad's age and then there was another area with my friends. We might have had 100 people there and they ate enough food for 300 because they were trapped. It was quite the party. We really did have a good time. Because of the snow storm, Clyde and I could not go to Salt Lake for the first night of our honeymoon. We ended up staying at the only hotel in Ephraim at the time. We were surrounded by everyone from our wedding that was stranded in Ephraim and the walls were thin. It made for an interesting evening. One of my bridesmaids would bang on the wall periodically during the night and yell, "Hey, what is going on in there!" When I saw her later I pretended I hadn't heard her so she would never do anything like that again. I told her maybe she was keeping someone else awake.
Clyde and I have had our ups and downs. Fortunately there have been far more ups than downs. We have been comitted to the marriage and for the most part worked hard to make it work. The last few years have been the pay-off. We currently have 9 of the most beautiful grandchildren that anyone has every been blessed with. I always knew that I had 4 of the most beautiful daughters in the world (my sister also has 4 beautiful daughters that are like my daughters so there are 8 of the most beautiful daughters in the world right there). When our daughters started giving us grandchildren I have been startled every time by their beauty and wonderful personalities. All I can say as I start this New Year is that I am one of the most blessed women on the planet.
I need to also point out that our oldest daughter did the sweetest thing for us on our anniversary. She gave us our first grandchild - Carlye Anne - who turns 8 today. Happy Birthday Carlye!
Because we were married on the 29th of December - in those days the temples shut down for Christmas. Clyde and I had gone to the Provo Temple the day before. I will not go into detail here but to give you an inkling I was number 202 on the brides list for that day and I got there at 7:00 in ther morning. There were 25 people to a locker! It was wild. The next day it was blizzard conditions in Manti and people could not get there. The roads were freezing and it was treacherous. The Manti Temple is at the top of a hill. Dad and Clyde dropped me off and I actually slid under the car the roads was so slick - great start to the day. Clyde grabbed me as was literally half way under the car. We got into the temple. The temple president and his wife with a handful of people that could walk from Manti were the only people in the temple. It was literally just our family. The Stake President and the Temple President had both been inspired to tell us to do a session before we were sealed. After the fiasco of the day before I am not sure we would have ever attended the temple again. But to do a session literally with just the family is a memory I will always cherish. My Aunt Lou was with me and had been an Ordinance Worker in the Manti Temple for many years before moving to Salt Lake and becoming an Ordinance Worker in the Salt Lake Temple. I think because there were so few of us and I was the only bride I ended up with 3 escorts - Mom, Grandma Tuttle and Aunt Lou. They were all three whispering things in my ear all through the session about the Manti Temple and about the session itself. I learned so much that day. I am still grateful for the lessons I had that day.
My Grandfather was supposed to be a witness at my wedding but he never got there. Instead my old bishop - Ferrin Mangleson was the other witness with my father. I had been quite close to him so that was nice. Very few people got to my actual sealing but it was still special. When Clyde and I exchanged rings, I had to give him my father's ring. His ring was still coming from Virginia (it didn't arrive for another week and he lost it 4 years later).
Our reception is still talked about. When we moved back to Ephraim 25 years after we were married, people would come up to Clyde and introduce themselves with the preface, "I was at your reception. I remember it because we couldn't leave after we got there." That was true. People arrived early in fact in hopes that they would beat the storm and ended up staying until after midnight when the storm finally broke. It was an interesting reception because there were not all that many people there but none of us could go anywhere. There was an area with elderly people having a great time. There was another area with people Mom and Dad's age and then there was another area with my friends. We might have had 100 people there and they ate enough food for 300 because they were trapped. It was quite the party. We really did have a good time. Because of the snow storm, Clyde and I could not go to Salt Lake for the first night of our honeymoon. We ended up staying at the only hotel in Ephraim at the time. We were surrounded by everyone from our wedding that was stranded in Ephraim and the walls were thin. It made for an interesting evening. One of my bridesmaids would bang on the wall periodically during the night and yell, "Hey, what is going on in there!" When I saw her later I pretended I hadn't heard her so she would never do anything like that again. I told her maybe she was keeping someone else awake.
Clyde and I have had our ups and downs. Fortunately there have been far more ups than downs. We have been comitted to the marriage and for the most part worked hard to make it work. The last few years have been the pay-off. We currently have 9 of the most beautiful grandchildren that anyone has every been blessed with. I always knew that I had 4 of the most beautiful daughters in the world (my sister also has 4 beautiful daughters that are like my daughters so there are 8 of the most beautiful daughters in the world right there). When our daughters started giving us grandchildren I have been startled every time by their beauty and wonderful personalities. All I can say as I start this New Year is that I am one of the most blessed women on the planet.
I need to also point out that our oldest daughter did the sweetest thing for us on our anniversary. She gave us our first grandchild - Carlye Anne - who turns 8 today. Happy Birthday Carlye!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Aebleskivers, Advent and Christmas Games
Last night we went over to the Halversons to make Aebleskivers. It turned out that one of the other families that were there, the mother, Nicole, had grown up having Aebleskivers at her grandmother's house in Manti at holidays. She was in tears as she helped me make them because it brought back such wonderful memories. The other fun thing about Nicole and her family and the Halverson's is that we all celebrate Advent. Nicole served her mission in Austria plus her family is German. Her father still has family in Germany. The Halverson's have been back from Germany 18 months now. A family the Halverson's knew really well over there, sent them a 'care' package of Lebkucken, Stollen and a variety of Haribo candies. I ended up with one of the loaves of Stollen and I am in heaven. I had a cup of Ovaltine and a piece of Stollen and it was wonderful this morning (I know I am weird, but it is a wonderful part of my memories).
I should say something about the dynamics of the group that was there last night. There was Clyde and me - the grandparents. The Halverson's and Jubecks are early 40's and late 30's with their children from 8-14. Then there was the Child family. Cassidy and Christine are Pam and Chris' age. They had their two daughters, 4 and 14 months. After everyone filled up on Aebleskivers, hot chocolate or juice and sausages, we then played the Christmas game that my sister, Marianne has been perfecting for the last 3 or 4 years. We played it for about an hour and laughed so hard our sides hurt by the time we finished. It was a very fun evening. With the singing, the scriptures and the thoughtful questions in the game it really made you think about what Christmas is about. Then there were silly parts that broke the more serious things up. It was a wonderful evening. To make matters even better, I kept having deja' vu the whole evening, so I knew I was supposed to be there and we were doing what we were supposed to be doing. It was wonderful
I am grateful for the love of our Savior and a kind and loving Heavenly Father, who sent His Son to earth. We have much to be grateful for at this season of the year. May the Lord bless all of you.
I should say something about the dynamics of the group that was there last night. There was Clyde and me - the grandparents. The Halverson's and Jubecks are early 40's and late 30's with their children from 8-14. Then there was the Child family. Cassidy and Christine are Pam and Chris' age. They had their two daughters, 4 and 14 months. After everyone filled up on Aebleskivers, hot chocolate or juice and sausages, we then played the Christmas game that my sister, Marianne has been perfecting for the last 3 or 4 years. We played it for about an hour and laughed so hard our sides hurt by the time we finished. It was a very fun evening. With the singing, the scriptures and the thoughtful questions in the game it really made you think about what Christmas is about. Then there were silly parts that broke the more serious things up. It was a wonderful evening. To make matters even better, I kept having deja' vu the whole evening, so I knew I was supposed to be there and we were doing what we were supposed to be doing. It was wonderful
I am grateful for the love of our Savior and a kind and loving Heavenly Father, who sent His Son to earth. We have much to be grateful for at this season of the year. May the Lord bless all of you.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Monday's Hero
I seriously thought about writing about Santa Claus today but decided that I had better write about someone that is in my everyday life. Today my heroine is Karyn Halverson. She is the mother to my 'adopted grandchildren' and an Army wife. Her husband has served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Scott was a bishop in Germany while he was deployed to Afghanistan, so Karyn was the bishop's wife with a long-distance bishop. That must have been really hard. Plus it was a bi-lingual ward to boot! Karyn is one of those people that can do anything. I am sure there are times she wishes she would say no but she doesn't and she is there for everything. She supports her 3 children in all of their extra-curricular activities and then fulfills her Church responsiblities. I know for a fact her family comes first in her life. They are very secure in their love from her. She is a stand-in babysitter for mother's that need to fulfill responsibilities but have little ones that need to stay home. Since the minute Karyn has walked into the Newport Ward she has been my hero. I have learned a lot from her plus we have a lot in common because of our mutual long stays in Germany. We both have white lights on our Christmas trees, we each have an Advent Krantz (but she makes hers each year out of an evergreen wreath) and we celebrate St. Nicholas Day with our family. These are traditions that will go on and on in both our families. Plus we both believe in Santa Claus.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Christmas in Germany
I was so good about writing memories and then I stopped. I have been thinking a lot about my Christmas's in Germany when I was younger. I guess because it gets dark here so early and the weather is so dreary. Somehow that didn't bother me there. Maybe because I was in school all day. I have carried on so many of the traditions of my childhood there. I have all white lights on my tree because of that. Germans didn't put colored lights on their trees. The white lights signified candlelight and starlight and even sunlight - in other words it was more natural than colored lights on your tree. Heidi has blogged about Advent so I won't go into that but it is a very important part of our family's Christmas. St. Nicholas coming on the eve of December 6 is important to us. Our family puts out their shoes and gets little treats and presents on the Eve of the Feast of St. Nicholas. I think my love of Christmas came because of the love of Christmas and the simplicity of it then and there. It had only 15 years since WWII was over when we first went over and so things were still on the comeback. I am sure my Christmas memory is much different from someone's now. At that time family traditions were still essential to what Christmas was all about. In my mind that is still what Christmas should be. I think that is why I have such a hard time when it is just Clyde and me. I have to find a family to focus on or it doesn't work but that family has to have a few of our traditions or be willing to accept our traditions for the day at least. However I have found that as we have shared our traditions we convert more and more people. Next year Clyde and I are going to have to find an Aebleskiver pan so we can give one to the Halverson's before they leave the area. It has been fun going over their several times during the Christmas season and making Aebleskivers with them but I think that is one tradition they will be more than willing to carry on. It has been more fun because they celebrate St. Nicholas and Advent. To not have to explain why we do something is kind of nice.
The other thing I realized as I was watching Polar Express the other evening with Taylor Halverson is that I can still hear the bell. I do believe in Santa and always have. No one will or can EVER take that away from me. I know that he is real and living. To not have Santa during the holiday season would be very heartbreaking indeed.
The other thing I realized as I was watching Polar Express the other evening with Taylor Halverson is that I can still hear the bell. I do believe in Santa and always have. No one will or can EVER take that away from me. I know that he is real and living. To not have Santa during the holiday season would be very heartbreaking indeed.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Monday's Hero
This week is once again a heroine. My Aunt Norma is one of my favorite people in all the world. She is to me a combination, Aunt, sister, mother and best friend. We have had this relationship since I was a baby. When Norma would come to visit from the time I can remember, my whole world would be better. When things have not gone well for me I have turned to Norma first and she has let me cry on her shoulder, helped me face the world and look at things realistically. I am so grateful for her.
When our daughters were really little, Norma and her younger three children were in our ward. It was wonderful! We always sat on a the same center pew with Clyde on one end and Chris Allen (Norma's second son and middle child) usually on the other end. The girls would just go from adult to adult and were rarely taken out. If for some reason their father had to take them out they knew they were in BIG trouble. One stake conference, Clyde and I thought we could handle the girls by ourselves in the choir. That was the infamous conference when Clyde had to carry Heather out and as they were leaving Heather yelled, "Popi, save me!" as my father was speaking at the pulpit as stake president. The whole congregation laughed and loved it but it didn't help Heather's cause. The next stake conference the Allens took the girls and things went much better.
While we lived in San Antonio, every morning at 9:00 Norma would call me or I would call Norma and we would visit for a few minutes. I loved that time and it started my day off right. Now when we call each other - we pick up where we left off and our phone calls are long because we have so much catching up to do. I dearly love My Aunt Norma and I am so grateful she is a part of my life. She will always be one of my lifes heroes!
When our daughters were really little, Norma and her younger three children were in our ward. It was wonderful! We always sat on a the same center pew with Clyde on one end and Chris Allen (Norma's second son and middle child) usually on the other end. The girls would just go from adult to adult and were rarely taken out. If for some reason their father had to take them out they knew they were in BIG trouble. One stake conference, Clyde and I thought we could handle the girls by ourselves in the choir. That was the infamous conference when Clyde had to carry Heather out and as they were leaving Heather yelled, "Popi, save me!" as my father was speaking at the pulpit as stake president. The whole congregation laughed and loved it but it didn't help Heather's cause. The next stake conference the Allens took the girls and things went much better.
While we lived in San Antonio, every morning at 9:00 Norma would call me or I would call Norma and we would visit for a few minutes. I loved that time and it started my day off right. Now when we call each other - we pick up where we left off and our phone calls are long because we have so much catching up to do. I dearly love My Aunt Norma and I am so grateful she is a part of my life. She will always be one of my lifes heroes!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Book Review
Several years ago Heidi gave me the book, The Autobiography of Santa Claus As told to Jeff Guin. I have enjoyed it so much that last year I bought The Great Santa Search and How Mrs. Santa Saved Christmas by the same author. Each book is told in 24 chapters - one for each day before Christmas. I have started reading The Autobiography... every year and then another Christmas book. These are wonderful books. The historical facts in them are really interesting and fun. I am a history buff anyway so they are really a fun read to me. The story of Santa is great besides. I am starting to get more in the Christmas Spirit as I read these books. Next year I am starting earlier.
The other thing I have decided that has helped with my Christmas Spirit is reading the Ensign. I forget every year how that helps with the Spirit of the Season until I start my reading. What a blessing that is. But then we are blessed to have anything more than the Bible to read. For many years that is all any family had -if they had that. I look at my walls of books and think how truly blessed we are to have so many choices just in our home.
The other thing I have decided that has helped with my Christmas Spirit is reading the Ensign. I forget every year how that helps with the Spirit of the Season until I start my reading. What a blessing that is. But then we are blessed to have anything more than the Bible to read. For many years that is all any family had -if they had that. I look at my walls of books and think how truly blessed we are to have so many choices just in our home.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Monday's Hero - MaryAnn Kohl
Today is MaryAnn's Birthday - so like last week this makes this weeks heroine a 'no-brainer.' MaryAnn Kohl has been my friend since we moved to Rhode Island 5 1/2 years ago. Her husband Gary was the first person to greet me in the new ward and she was the second. It is usually that way. If someone new appears and we don't know a name or how long they are going to be here we go and ask the Kohl's because they more than likely met them upon entering the chapel.
MaryAnn and I cemented our friendship when we worked together in the Relief Society Presidency together. She was the first counselor and I was the second. Then Clyde and I were called as Temple Ordinance Workers and deliberately chose Friday evenings so we could attend the same evening as the Kohl's. It has made a wonderful experience even more joyous.
MaryAnn is the mother of 8 wonderful children. I have to come to love her children, daughter-in-laws, son-in-laws and grandchildren by reading their blogs and tracking them on the internet. Plus MaryAnn has wonderful 'grandma' stories to share with me. I have been included in planning of 4 of the Kohl weddings and that has been really fun to share.
MaryAnn's biggest claim to fame outside of her family is her love of family history. Currently she and Gary are regional family history representatives. They go in with this new Family Search and teach it and help people understand it better. She is also the primary substitute secretary for fulltime secretaries at the Boston Temple. She is has a part-time responsibilty at the temple but with her filling in as secretary she can usually take care of her part-time office responsibility then too. If she can't she just goes in early on a Friday before her temple shift in the evening and does it. There are many Fridays that she works from early in the morning until 10:00 when we, as Ordinance Workers can go home (actually later if we have had to run an extra session) and then she has had to be back at the temple at 7:30 the next morning. It takes at least 1hour 30 minutes to drive to the temple (on a very good day!) so it makes for a very hectic couple of days for MaryAnn on those weekends.
MaryAnn is also our nursery leader. Because of her regional calling they have been trying to release her but for some reason people think the nursery is the worst calling in the Church and also feel that they can say no to that calling when they would never dream of saying no to something else. Or better yet, we get assistants called for her and they never come to help. As with every other ward - our nursery is our biggest class though not as large as most wards.
I thank the Lord daily for my friendship of MaryAnn. She has truly been one of the greatest blessings of Rhode Island.
I hate making this so long but I have to add quick little note. This last Saturday I went over to get Ashley to help me decorate the tree. She was running a fever and so sick she had forgotten I was coming (which is saying a lot as to how sick she was!) I spoke with Karyn and asked if I could have Taylor instead. She wondered at my sanity because how could an 8-year-old help? Taylor was amazing. She decorated the tree beautifully. It is a little bottom heavy and there are some limbs where there 3-5 ornaments and other limbs where there are none, but I am not changing it. It is great and because of a cold front that was coming through my arthritis was so bad I could hardly move. The best part was when I took out the little Hallmark village. I thought she was going to die of sheer delight! She carefully unwrapped each little house/shop and examined it and then she set them out. Last year Clyde got tired of people picking them up and knocking 4 or 5 down in the process, so we set them up on 2 large lazy Susan's now so you can see into the backs and the fronts all face in. This will work great for maybe 1 or 2 more and then we will be right back to having to stick a few around other places. I have 22 now! Anyway - Taylor was a joy and at the perfect age because she is sitting on the fence. Since everyone knows that I believe in Santa - Karyn new she would be safe with me. She wants this to go as long as she can since this is their youngest and really probably the last year Taylor will really believe.
MaryAnn and I cemented our friendship when we worked together in the Relief Society Presidency together. She was the first counselor and I was the second. Then Clyde and I were called as Temple Ordinance Workers and deliberately chose Friday evenings so we could attend the same evening as the Kohl's. It has made a wonderful experience even more joyous.
MaryAnn is the mother of 8 wonderful children. I have to come to love her children, daughter-in-laws, son-in-laws and grandchildren by reading their blogs and tracking them on the internet. Plus MaryAnn has wonderful 'grandma' stories to share with me. I have been included in planning of 4 of the Kohl weddings and that has been really fun to share.
MaryAnn's biggest claim to fame outside of her family is her love of family history. Currently she and Gary are regional family history representatives. They go in with this new Family Search and teach it and help people understand it better. She is also the primary substitute secretary for fulltime secretaries at the Boston Temple. She is has a part-time responsibilty at the temple but with her filling in as secretary she can usually take care of her part-time office responsibility then too. If she can't she just goes in early on a Friday before her temple shift in the evening and does it. There are many Fridays that she works from early in the morning until 10:00 when we, as Ordinance Workers can go home (actually later if we have had to run an extra session) and then she has had to be back at the temple at 7:30 the next morning. It takes at least 1hour 30 minutes to drive to the temple (on a very good day!) so it makes for a very hectic couple of days for MaryAnn on those weekends.
MaryAnn is also our nursery leader. Because of her regional calling they have been trying to release her but for some reason people think the nursery is the worst calling in the Church and also feel that they can say no to that calling when they would never dream of saying no to something else. Or better yet, we get assistants called for her and they never come to help. As with every other ward - our nursery is our biggest class though not as large as most wards.
I thank the Lord daily for my friendship of MaryAnn. She has truly been one of the greatest blessings of Rhode Island.
I hate making this so long but I have to add quick little note. This last Saturday I went over to get Ashley to help me decorate the tree. She was running a fever and so sick she had forgotten I was coming (which is saying a lot as to how sick she was!) I spoke with Karyn and asked if I could have Taylor instead. She wondered at my sanity because how could an 8-year-old help? Taylor was amazing. She decorated the tree beautifully. It is a little bottom heavy and there are some limbs where there 3-5 ornaments and other limbs where there are none, but I am not changing it. It is great and because of a cold front that was coming through my arthritis was so bad I could hardly move. The best part was when I took out the little Hallmark village. I thought she was going to die of sheer delight! She carefully unwrapped each little house/shop and examined it and then she set them out. Last year Clyde got tired of people picking them up and knocking 4 or 5 down in the process, so we set them up on 2 large lazy Susan's now so you can see into the backs and the fronts all face in. This will work great for maybe 1 or 2 more and then we will be right back to having to stick a few around other places. I have 22 now! Anyway - Taylor was a joy and at the perfect age because she is sitting on the fence. Since everyone knows that I believe in Santa - Karyn new she would be safe with me. She wants this to go as long as she can since this is their youngest and really probably the last year Taylor will really believe.
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Christmas Book
Every year I put together a Christmas Book for family and friends. It is put together with lots of love and takes me a considerable amount of time. I need Clyde's help in order to get this done but for some reason this year it been like pulling teeth to get him to help me. I am wondering if it is worth it. Do people even care if I do this book? Do they read it? Or should I find something else to give in the future? I guess this is a little like Tinkerbell when we clap to make her live. I need to know if this is worth going on with. If people want me to continue then I will with or without Clyde's help. I just need to know.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Christmas Questions
I liked this on Heidi's blog so I am answering her questions - though many answers are the same as hers.
1. Gift wrap or gift bags? - It really depends on the gift. Wrapping is so much more fun but the odd sized gift really fits better in a bag.
2. Real tree or artificial ? - I am very allergic to pine trees so it has to be an artificial.
3. When do you put up the tree? Tradition in our family was to put the tree up right after Thanksgiving or on Heidi's birthday. This year will be latest I have put the tree up in almost 30 years.
4. Do you like eggnog? Yes but it has to be cut - 1/3 eggnog to 2/3 milk. My Aunt Norma has a fabulous recipe that I have used a couple of times with eggnog and ice cream and whole cream - not fattening at all but OH SO GOOD!
5. Favorite gift as a child? A little doll that I still have. I named her Baby Carrie originally but that upset my grandmother (Carrie Myrl). She went by Myrl and hated the name Carrie. For some reason my mother wasn't too thrilled with the name either. I ended up calling her Dolly. I obviously still love the name Carrie because I would never have named our oldest daughter that if I hadn't thought it was a beautiful name.
6. Hardest person to buy for? My parents - especially my dad and my husband.
7. Easiest person to buy for? I will lump that into all of my grandchildren and then my daughters'.
8. Do I have a Nativity Scene? Several that I keep up all year and several more that come out just at Christmas.
9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Both
10. Worst Gift you ever received? It's Christmas - there can't be a bad gift at Christmas! Coal is a good gift at Christmas time.
11. Favorite Christmas Movie? My all time favorite movie is the "Bishop's Wife" which is a great Christmas movie. I love the Muppet Christmas Carol, a Christmas Visitor (which has been renamed) and others.
12. Have you ever recycled a Christmas Gift? Yes, but not at Christmas time and only once that I can think of.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? In January.
14. Favorite things to eat for lunch on Christmas? Ham, potato casserole and exotic fruit salad.
15. Lights on tree? Yes - white
16 - Favorite Christmas Carol? - A German Carol, "Ihr Kinderlein Kommet" - loosely translated it means, Oh Come Little Children. That is my most favorite carol and then the others - any other Christmas Carol is #2.
17. Travel or stay at home for Christmas? For several years we traveled at Christmas and then my husband was called as bishop of our ward. Now we stay at home because of the needs of the people and tithing settlement. It is kind of bittersweet. I love being with the ward members but I desperately miss the family and having Christmas with grandchildren.
18 - Can you name Santa's reindeer? Yes and thanks to having watched and having family members be in the play 'Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer', I can even name lesser reindeer. Even know which one is the 'Baptist!'
19. Angel or star for your tree topper? My tree topper is either a snowflake or a Santa.
20. Open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? If we knew the girls' were getting pajamas then they opened those on Christmas Eve. All others were opened on Christmas morning.
21. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The crowds! It also seems to be a time when people blatantly say, "Gimme" as if they deserve something for nothing. I am not talking about Salvation Army but others. I cannot believe the people that call or come to the door asking for stuff during this season. It just aggravates me because about 90% of the time they are scams and not really who they are representing. Did you know that most charities do not solicit during this time of year because they know they will probably be turned down? If someone calls you or comes to your door - call the charity they are representing (the headquarters) and find out if they are legit. 'Tis the Season for scamming and stealing.
22. Favorite ornament? Oh, Wow! I have a tree of them. I love my Santa ornaments and my ornaments from Germany. I love my Hummel ornaments. I love my ornaments and I can't choose one over the other.
23. Favorite Christmas Dinner? Ham, rolls, potato casserole, exotic fruit salad
24. Favorite Christmas Breakfast: Aebelskivers with whipped cream and either cinnamon or strawberry jam.
25. What do I want for Christmas? The impossible. I want all of our children and grandchildren to be under the same roof and celebrating together. I hope that one day that will happen.
1. Gift wrap or gift bags? - It really depends on the gift. Wrapping is so much more fun but the odd sized gift really fits better in a bag.
2. Real tree or artificial ? - I am very allergic to pine trees so it has to be an artificial.
3. When do you put up the tree? Tradition in our family was to put the tree up right after Thanksgiving or on Heidi's birthday. This year will be latest I have put the tree up in almost 30 years.
4. Do you like eggnog? Yes but it has to be cut - 1/3 eggnog to 2/3 milk. My Aunt Norma has a fabulous recipe that I have used a couple of times with eggnog and ice cream and whole cream - not fattening at all but OH SO GOOD!
5. Favorite gift as a child? A little doll that I still have. I named her Baby Carrie originally but that upset my grandmother (Carrie Myrl). She went by Myrl and hated the name Carrie. For some reason my mother wasn't too thrilled with the name either. I ended up calling her Dolly. I obviously still love the name Carrie because I would never have named our oldest daughter that if I hadn't thought it was a beautiful name.
6. Hardest person to buy for? My parents - especially my dad and my husband.
7. Easiest person to buy for? I will lump that into all of my grandchildren and then my daughters'.
8. Do I have a Nativity Scene? Several that I keep up all year and several more that come out just at Christmas.
9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Both
10. Worst Gift you ever received? It's Christmas - there can't be a bad gift at Christmas! Coal is a good gift at Christmas time.
11. Favorite Christmas Movie? My all time favorite movie is the "Bishop's Wife" which is a great Christmas movie. I love the Muppet Christmas Carol, a Christmas Visitor (which has been renamed) and others.
12. Have you ever recycled a Christmas Gift? Yes, but not at Christmas time and only once that I can think of.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? In January.
14. Favorite things to eat for lunch on Christmas? Ham, potato casserole and exotic fruit salad.
15. Lights on tree? Yes - white
16 - Favorite Christmas Carol? - A German Carol, "Ihr Kinderlein Kommet" - loosely translated it means, Oh Come Little Children. That is my most favorite carol and then the others - any other Christmas Carol is #2.
17. Travel or stay at home for Christmas? For several years we traveled at Christmas and then my husband was called as bishop of our ward. Now we stay at home because of the needs of the people and tithing settlement. It is kind of bittersweet. I love being with the ward members but I desperately miss the family and having Christmas with grandchildren.
18 - Can you name Santa's reindeer? Yes and thanks to having watched and having family members be in the play 'Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer', I can even name lesser reindeer. Even know which one is the 'Baptist!'
19. Angel or star for your tree topper? My tree topper is either a snowflake or a Santa.
20. Open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? If we knew the girls' were getting pajamas then they opened those on Christmas Eve. All others were opened on Christmas morning.
21. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The crowds! It also seems to be a time when people blatantly say, "Gimme" as if they deserve something for nothing. I am not talking about Salvation Army but others. I cannot believe the people that call or come to the door asking for stuff during this season. It just aggravates me because about 90% of the time they are scams and not really who they are representing. Did you know that most charities do not solicit during this time of year because they know they will probably be turned down? If someone calls you or comes to your door - call the charity they are representing (the headquarters) and find out if they are legit. 'Tis the Season for scamming and stealing.
22. Favorite ornament? Oh, Wow! I have a tree of them. I love my Santa ornaments and my ornaments from Germany. I love my Hummel ornaments. I love my ornaments and I can't choose one over the other.
23. Favorite Christmas Dinner? Ham, rolls, potato casserole, exotic fruit salad
24. Favorite Christmas Breakfast: Aebelskivers with whipped cream and either cinnamon or strawberry jam.
25. What do I want for Christmas? The impossible. I want all of our children and grandchildren to be under the same roof and celebrating together. I hope that one day that will happen.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Time and Place
What a difference a place makes. I was thinking about an incident that happened in Texas in the early 90's. We were living in Kerrville, Texas at the time and I was going to school and still teaching seminary. I don't know if I was coming home from a final or from a seminary meeting late at night by myself but it was raining hard until Boerne and then it got really foggy - like hard to see foggy. I was seriously thinking about turning around and staying at my sister's in San Antonio, when suddenly a big white 'Texas' sized pickup truck with foglights passed me and settled in at a reasonable distance in front of me as if to guide me. Almost immediately the exact same make and model was behind me but with their low-beams on. They kept me safely cradled from just outside of Boerne until my turnoff in Kerrville (where miraculously the fog was not as bad). I was content to stay between them and they seemed happy to let me stay where I was. If that had happened here I would have been so spooked I would have turned off at the nearest exit and called the police. I think if it happened in Texas today, I would still be content to let them direct me. It is just the difference of the place and the people in them. Maybe I am too naive about Texans and have a fanciful idea about them. I hope not. Since I doubt I will be in that situation again it doesn't matter. Those two trucks will always be my 'angel trucks'. I am grateful to the phantom drivers for getting me home that night. I have other experiences where drivers and remarkably usually trucks have helped me and guided me in bad weather in Texas. I will always be grateful to them. But then 'pick-up truck' drivers in Texas are different than in other states. A truck is usually a necessity in Texas and not a status symbol. Therefore the people that drive them are usually people that are quick to help and salt of the earth. I love Texas and I love Texans.
I was talking to someone that had recenlty visited Texas from Rhode Island. They had never been out of New England before and I was anxious for their report on Texans. They told me that Texans were way too friendly! They wished that people in Texas did what people in New England did and left everyone alone! I thought it was sad that she was visiting such a wonderful place and all she wanted was to be left alone. For you Texans - don't change. Stay friendly and don't ever leave anyone alone. They may not know it but we need people like you!
I was talking to someone that had recenlty visited Texas from Rhode Island. They had never been out of New England before and I was anxious for their report on Texans. They told me that Texans were way too friendly! They wished that people in Texas did what people in New England did and left everyone alone! I thought it was sad that she was visiting such a wonderful place and all she wanted was to be left alone. For you Texans - don't change. Stay friendly and don't ever leave anyone alone. They may not know it but we need people like you!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Book Review
I am combining my book review with a movie review. I love Stephanie Meyer's book "Twilight" and the others that went with it. As with most people Twilight was my favorite book but it kept me wanting more. I am not so sure that Stephanie was too heartbroken when her latest book in the series was leaked to the internet. I think she was getting tired of it.
The day before Thanksgiving, Pam and I went to see the movied 'Twilight'. I went with no expectations because I have been disappointed too many times before. I didn't read the book before we went because I didn't want to compare too closely. I wanted it to be a new experience and it was. I enjoyed myself. I thought it was funny that when 'Edward' appeared - all the girls in the theater screamed. That made Pam and me laugh. There were some disappointing things that were left out of the book but here is what I found out.
1. Bella is portrayed as someone that trips over the flowers in the linoleum in the book. It turns out that they did try and do that for the movie but they pulled out all of the parts because they came off cartoonish and diminished from the movie rather than enhanced Bella's character. Whether this is the fault of the actress or the direction given - I don't know. Too bad someone like Sandra Bullock or Julia Roberts couldn't have played Bella. I know they are too old but they can play klutzy and get away with it.
2. There is a part where Robert Pattinson (Edward) plays the piano. It is beautiful. That is actually him playing the piano.
3. I was disappointed that the Cullens' didn't have bigger parts in the movie. Alice in particular should have had a much bigger role than she did. Rosalie took center stage in this movie instead and in the book her part is not all the big in comparison to Alice's. The Cullens' parts mostly ended up on the editing room floor. They had to cut and it ended up being the scenes that didn't affect the absulutely main line of the story. As with Harry Potter or any large book you have to realize it is either a revised movie or a mini-series.
I am glad it made enough to prove that a sequel can be made. I was leary of Robert Pattinson as Edward but he pulled it off. In fact the characters were all really well portrayed but I have to say that the best portrayals were the 'wandering' vampires. They were exactly as I pictured them - always. My other little peeve was that if they hadn't spent so much time with scenery they could have kept some time in with other story lines - but it does work well.
I learned yesterday that the house in Cleveland, Ohio where they filmed "The Christmas Story" is now a national landmark. It was dedicated for the 25th anniversary. I can't believe it has been 25 years. Well now the city that Forks was based on is also and national landmark because of 'Twilight.' Interesting what a movie will do for you.
Yes the books are about vampires. No they are not about vampires in the sense that Dracula is. It is truly a book of good versus evil and how people face those decisions in their everyday lives. If you haven't read the books - read them. You will be in for a wonderful adventure.
The day before Thanksgiving, Pam and I went to see the movied 'Twilight'. I went with no expectations because I have been disappointed too many times before. I didn't read the book before we went because I didn't want to compare too closely. I wanted it to be a new experience and it was. I enjoyed myself. I thought it was funny that when 'Edward' appeared - all the girls in the theater screamed. That made Pam and me laugh. There were some disappointing things that were left out of the book but here is what I found out.
1. Bella is portrayed as someone that trips over the flowers in the linoleum in the book. It turns out that they did try and do that for the movie but they pulled out all of the parts because they came off cartoonish and diminished from the movie rather than enhanced Bella's character. Whether this is the fault of the actress or the direction given - I don't know. Too bad someone like Sandra Bullock or Julia Roberts couldn't have played Bella. I know they are too old but they can play klutzy and get away with it.
2. There is a part where Robert Pattinson (Edward) plays the piano. It is beautiful. That is actually him playing the piano.
3. I was disappointed that the Cullens' didn't have bigger parts in the movie. Alice in particular should have had a much bigger role than she did. Rosalie took center stage in this movie instead and in the book her part is not all the big in comparison to Alice's. The Cullens' parts mostly ended up on the editing room floor. They had to cut and it ended up being the scenes that didn't affect the absulutely main line of the story. As with Harry Potter or any large book you have to realize it is either a revised movie or a mini-series.
I am glad it made enough to prove that a sequel can be made. I was leary of Robert Pattinson as Edward but he pulled it off. In fact the characters were all really well portrayed but I have to say that the best portrayals were the 'wandering' vampires. They were exactly as I pictured them - always. My other little peeve was that if they hadn't spent so much time with scenery they could have kept some time in with other story lines - but it does work well.
I learned yesterday that the house in Cleveland, Ohio where they filmed "The Christmas Story" is now a national landmark. It was dedicated for the 25th anniversary. I can't believe it has been 25 years. Well now the city that Forks was based on is also and national landmark because of 'Twilight.' Interesting what a movie will do for you.
Yes the books are about vampires. No they are not about vampires in the sense that Dracula is. It is truly a book of good versus evil and how people face those decisions in their everyday lives. If you haven't read the books - read them. You will be in for a wonderful adventure.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Monday's Heroine - Our daughter Heidi
Today is Heidi's birthday so what better heroine than her. Heidi's was an easy delivery. My mother didn't believe I was 'hurting' enough to be having a baby and wouldn't take me to the hospital. Dr. Forks finally called and told my mom to bring me in. I arrived at the Hospital and 20 minutes later I was holding Heidi in my arms. Mom even said that I would be sent home and shouldn't be messing up a hospital bed. When I delivered Heidi the Dr wanted me to call Mom and say, "See - it wasn't a waste of time!" from the delivery room but we decided we could wait a few minutes. The funny thing about that evening is that Dad and Omi had wanted me to go to the symphony with them. I had the baby before they came home from the symphony.
Heidi has always been that easy going. She slept through the night really early and really tried hard not be any trouble. She was a good student and now she is a good wife and good mother (as all our daughers' are). I really am amazed at what incredible mothers we have raised.
Heidi is not afraid to try new things. She analyzes the situation and sometimes with fear and trepidation she steps out into the unknown but she does it. I am always amazed how she overcomes her fears and does things she doesn't want to do or things that frighten her. Other people might run away from the challenge but Heidi faces them. I am proud to be the mother of Heidi Noel Bailey Bahlmann.
Heidi has always been that easy going. She slept through the night really early and really tried hard not be any trouble. She was a good student and now she is a good wife and good mother (as all our daughers' are). I really am amazed at what incredible mothers we have raised.
Heidi is not afraid to try new things. She analyzes the situation and sometimes with fear and trepidation she steps out into the unknown but she does it. I am always amazed how she overcomes her fears and does things she doesn't want to do or things that frighten her. Other people might run away from the challenge but Heidi faces them. I am proud to be the mother of Heidi Noel Bailey Bahlmann.
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