The 29th of December

The 29th of December is a pretty important date in our family.  It is Clyde's and my wedding anniversary and it is the birthday of our first granddaughter - Carlye Anne Pfiester.  Yesterday we celebrated Carlye's 11th birthday here in Kerrville.  It was fun to be able to spend time with both Carianne's family and Pam's but to also see some of the friends we have made through the years.  Plus we consider Carl's family our extended family so it was fun to see Tiffany and Victoria with V's new baby brother Boston and to also spend the day with Cassie.  Then last night we went to Mr. Gatti's for pizza and ran into Carl's mom, Pat and Tiffany, Michael, Victoria and Boston, again.  It was like Carlye had family party there.  I will post more pictures later but I want Carianne to be able to post first.  Besides with so many people on the internet right now - things are uploading really slow.  Happy Birthday Carlye and Happy 39th Anniversary Clyde!

Counting My Blessings

I am sure I will get around to taking pictures tomorrow or soon after but today was spent catching up with my Pfiester family in Kerrville, Texas.  I am thankful for the opportunity to spend some time with them and pretty soon with the Davis family too. 

Last night I was also thinking about what an amazing family I have.  I not only am blessed with a wonderful husband, daughters, son-in-laws and grandchildren, sister, brother and their families but I also married into a pretty amazing family.  Saturday I spoke with Clyde's younger sister, Sara Warne.  She has cut two Albums and she asked me if I had listened to her Christmas one this season.  I told her I do every year - had my cry and put it away until next year.  Her music is so moving to me that I cry like a baby when I listen to it.  It is not something I can listen to over and over to because it is so draining.  On the other hand it is so uplifting that I have to listen to it.  It is a little like my watching the movie, The Bishop's Wife every year.  It wouldn't be Christmas without it.  I am so blessed to have talented people in my life to enrich my life and help me draw closer to my Savior.  But then isn't that what Christmas is all about?

Merry Christmas

This is picture of my family taken Christmas 1970.  I am in the front on the left, my brother, Bob Brugger is in the middle and Marianne on the far right.  In the back behind me is my grandmother, Sarah Tuttle and my dad, Archie Brugger and my mom Carolyn Brugger.  I think this was the last family picture we ever had taken.  I don't have one if there ever was another.  There weren't many more Christmas' where we were all together because of marriage, and logistics.  Sadly, the next two Christmas' would be all about me.  I would be spending all of my time with Clyde the next Christmas and become engage and on the Christmas after that Clyde and I would be getting married just a few days later.  I am astonished how self absorbed I was then and how loving and giving my sister has always been.  She is truly an example to follow.  I am glad our daughters ended up following her example more than mine!


I have come to the conclusion - even though I had a hard time sleeping last night (because of Christmas and travel plans) it isn't much fun celebrating Christmas without children around.  I look forward to our second Christmas in a few days in Texas with the Pfiester and the Davis families!  Merry Christmas to all of my family and loved ones.  May the joy of this season carry through with you throughout the year.

Merry Christmas

 My mother made this Nativity as a Relief Society Project.  It has gold and lots of jewels on it.  I made a small one and kept it all white  - in fact it never went in for the second firing - it looks like bisque.  I thought Mom's was gaudy.  Now I miss it.

For those of you keeping track, this is the last night of Advent.  The Advent Krantz pictured above is the one that got our family started.  The Voigt family in Germany gave us our very first Advent Krantz made of evergreens and red candles.  That was the year we went to the Mission home and learned the story of the lighting of the candles.  I have since heard another variation - the 4 candles represent the 4 Gospels of the New Testament.  I thought that was an interesting twist.  If there are 5 candles then it signifies the 5,000 years from the escape from Egypt to the birth of Christ.  Both are interesting interpretations.  I will stick with what I heard as a child.  


The thing that is special about this Advent Krantz is that it is from East Germany in a time when things were very hard to come by from East Germany.  Kaethe Voigt got special permission to visit her family in Eastern Germany and came back with a few heirlooms and this Krantz for us.  It has been very precious ever since.

Christmas in Germany

 My mother, Carolyn Brugger, working on a felt Christmas tree.  This was supposed to be a project we were all going to do together and then Mom couldn't stand the haphazard way we were doing things so she took it over.  Marianne and I eventually lost interest.

Bob stuck with Mom to the end of the project.  These pictures are mirror image.  They should be reversed.  I am not sure how this happened.  I thought I had put the negatives down correctly but apparently hadn't.  This is when we lived in the attic in Frankfurt, Germany.  This was a very hard time for Mom.  We would now diagnose her with S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder or Winter Depression) but then there was no diagnosis for the severe depression she went through that winter.  She constantly complained of the dark and cold.  She claimed she would NEVER complain of the heat again.  Of course she complained of the heat plenty later on both in Texas and Utah but I will never forget her lament of being so bitter cold and the sun never shining.   I look at this picture and realize she is about the age of my daughters right now.  That was a bit of a shocker!  I am about Marcus and Nathanael's age.

Popi's Doll Beds

I apologize for the blurry.  Picture.  We have tried to and tried to fix it but it was apparently taken blurry.  I obviously don't remember this Christmas.  It was just before my 3rd birthday.  Dad was just about to graduate from medical school at the University of Utah and he would be in the Army by that summer.  The next Christmas would be in San Antonio.  I still had that doll bed when Carianne was born and then my dad and Clyde threw it away when they started making beds for their granddaughters.  (It was getting beyond repair.)  Carianne's was made by my mother and me - which is why it so simple.  Clyde and Dad cut the wood but their hearts were not into the furniture making yet.  Heather's cradle is made from a pattern for a miniature doll house that we blew up.  It took months!  However after Heather's cradle, Popi and Clyde knew from that point on they could build anything.  Dad built some beautiful furniture because of my ambitions for toys!  Eventually Popi went back to the old tried and true and built doll beds for Heidi and Pam like mine above.  Now Heidi's bed is being enjoyed by her daughters'.  The only change from the original design is instead of wooden wheels, Popi put on big roller wheels for ease of moving around.  It made it fun for the girls when the wanted to use it for a wagon or push each other down the halls!  Popi made it sturdy enough, so  the girls could sit in it for quite a while - basically until they simply could not fit inside anymore.

P.S.  I just spoke to Heather.  She has my doll crib!  It was not thrown away when I thought it was.  It was given to her by Popi when Bella was a baby.  We will see how many generations it will go through now!

Carianne's First Christmas

This is me on Christmas Morning 1977.  We were at Mom and Dad Brugger's house.  My mother always liked all of the opened gifts put under the Christmas tree so that when people came by, they could see what we had received.  That is what I am doing - arranging the gifts under the tree.  This is the year Carianne was born and though she isn't in the picture, she would have been a little over 2 months old.

Red Christmas Jumpers

Every Christmas Until I was about 8 or 9 I had a red velveteen outfit for Christmas made by my mother for Christmas.  I would wear this every Sunday until my birthday.  Marianne usually had a matching outfit.  This is the first picture of our matching outfits.  We have others but I think this was the first year Mom actually did the matching thing from head to toe.  When we moved - until we were teenagers - Mom would make Marianne and me matching clothes so she could spot us.  Then we balked and wouldn't put up with it anymore.  Now I would love to have a matching outfit with my sister again.  I think that would be so much fun!

Christmas at the VA

 Pam and Heather in the Dining Room/Computer Room of our tiny duplex.  Within just a few more months that wall would be covered in boxes for our move to Utah.  (That duplex would seem like a mansion compared to what I am living in now!)

Heidi posing in Christmas finery.  It's been a long time since I have seen some of these decorations.  We lived on the VA property for 2 Christmas Seasons.  This was our last one before we moved to Utah.  Gr'Anne and Grandpa Bill Bailey had sent these shirts to the girls so we took pictures to mail to them.  Heidi is standing in front of her 'Noel' pillows. My village she is also standing in front of is much bigger now!  Probably twice that size.

Christmas Angels

I was probably about 6 almost 7 when this was taken.  I love how both Marianne and I are rolling our right foot.  I know we were told to stand up straight and stop that - so it was not posed.  Every year our ward in San Antonio would put on quite a Christmas Program for the Ward Christmas Party.  There was always a large Primary Choir with 'Angels' in it.  We were either dressed all in white or had capes like these on to cover our shoulders.  My mother would make a part of the capes and couple of the other mothers would make the rest.  They were out of white felt - when felt was the cheapest material you could buy.  I remember this Christmas program one of the boys my age sang, "All I Want for Christmas!".  I think it was Robbie Roberts or maybe Mike Sparrow but I am not sure.


On a very sad note in my life:  Yesterday I was told the Sedona (the place I have worked out for the last 7 years) had to close their doors as of yesterday!  I feel like I have had a death in the family.  It has been so convenient to go over there and work out and visit with friends.  Now it is all on me.  It would be anyway in 18 months when we retire but I hadn't anticipated it this soon.  I guess I better get used to this.  But I did cry a lot yesterday.  

The Giant Poinsettia Bush

This is Christmas Day just after Marianne's 1st birthday, so I think it is Christmas 1956.  Texas was going through a drought quite similar to what has been happening this year.  But this Poinsettia Bush loved the weather!  I know it is Christmas because I remember Dad taking our picture and saying no one would believe the weather.  We had lived there less than 2 years and were still marveling that Christmas could be spent in a swimming suit poolside some years!  Other years a 'Blue Norther' would come through and you would know it was winter.  Nothing could get you warm! That Bush was still there when we left that house 5+ years later.  It went to the top of the second story window at that point.  When we came home from Germany, the people that had taken over our duplex had it taken out.  My mother was very sad about that.  My parents loved plants and always had something growing even in our tiniest apartments.  It made my mother happy to have some greenery to attend too.

40 Years Ago!

Clyde took these pictures of Marianne and me 40 years ago.  My time flies when you are having fun!  I don't know if I was engaged to Clyde yet or not but it would happen soon if it hadn't already.  Marianne and I became best friends once I went off to Snow College.  It was a very memorable Christmas to say the least.  The top picture is Marianne and me looking to see who was at the front door.  Don't know who it was now but I still remember the layout of the apartment well.  

Our First Christmas with Carianne

The year Carianne we were in the process of moving.  I went ahead and set up the Christmas tree even though we would be in San Antonio for Christmas.  We had this tree until we moved back to Texas from North Carolina.  I wish I could find one this size now.  It would fit our apartment perfectly.  Anything bigger just doesn't work.  Anyway, I made Carianne's stocking and hung it up.  I was on the spot with each of the girls there after until Pam.  For some reason she didn't get one until she was almost 5!  I am not really sure the reason.  When Pam threatened to make her own - I finally broke down and made her one.  That is truly a case of being a bad mom!

Letters to Santa

People that know me well know that I still believe in Santa Claus.  Imagine my delight when I saw this mail box dedicated specifically for letters to Santa at the Shades of Green Resort in Orlando.  I had to take a picture.  It had a pretty steady stream of letters being dropped into it as I sat in the lobby.  I loved it!  There was a TV about 5 feet to the left of this picture and there were little chairs set up in front of it.  It played "The Santa Clause" continuously.  In the halls as you walked to and from your hotel room there was also Christmas music being piped in.  It was very quiet but very much there.  I loved sitting in the hallway - just outside of our room, reading and listening to the music.

The Resort and Magic Kingdom

 This is the chair that Santa sat in to visit with the children in the lobby of the resort we stayed in.

This is a chair that families sat in and had pictures taken in under a huge Christmas Tree in the lobby.  One night we were there, children decorated full sized gingerbread houses.  Each child had an assistant to help them with the royal icing and decorating.  When a mother asked how in the world was she going to get this home on the plane, the response was that they would be mailed home.  Some of the pictures of the houses were absolutely beautiful!


Our last evening was spent in the Magic Kingdom.  First we hopped the train to Frontier Land.  Then we went to Adventure Land and got our Fast Pass to Jungle Cruise.  We couldn't get on until 6:30 so we went to the Tiki Room.  That was fun.  Then we went to Liberty Square and had some dinner and went to the Hall of Presidents.  I had seen the Hall of Presidents when it was introduced at the New York World's Fair in the mid 1960's.  This was the same time the Christus was shown before it was put on permanent display in the Visitors Center at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.  Anyway - when I saw the Hall of Presidents, it ended with Lyndon B. Johnson speaking.  It was quite interesting to see how many more presidents had been added in the ensuing years.  After that it was time for the Jungle Cruise.  Our guide was over the top and full of himself.  Of all of the rides it was my least favorite because of him.  When the Hippos 'charged' the boat - he pulled out his credit card instead of the gun and said, "That is how you stop  a charging hippo."  No one laughed - in fact most groaned.  A few people went looking for the management when we got off to complain - it was that bad.  After that we went to the Pirates of Caribbean.  There had been a 45 minute wait before this and suddenly we could walk right onto the boat.  Unfortunately we were sitting in the very back of the boat so we go wet - but it was fun.  After that we were going to leave but were trapped by the 'Main Street Electrical Parade'.  Not a bad way to be trapped.  We started walking against the parade and saw it all - just not standing still.  We did not stay for the fireworks.  We got on the monorail and headed back to the hotel.  The next day we packed and came home.  The one thing I wished the whole time I was there was that I had grandkids and or daughters and son-in-laws with us.  It was fun with Clyde but it would have been so much more fun with the rest of the family.  Hopefully there will be another time with the rest of our family.  That would be a blast!

Our Second Day at EPCOT

Because our time was short the second day we went to EPCOT, we had to decide what we wanted to do.  We didn't even get to the park until 4:30 p.m.  The first thing we did was to get our fast pass to 'Soarin'.  We could get on the ride at 7:30.  We road the boat of "Living the Land" and then we had some really good sweet and sour chicken.  The thing that was unusual about this dish was that the chicken wasn't dipped in batter.  It was just plain chicken and vegetables in a sauce on rice - really good.  Clyde and I figured out really early that one serving was plenty for both of us.  Then we headed over to "The Seas with Nemo and Friends."  There we rode the clamobile and basically watched a 10 minute undersea version of finding Nemo.  After that we watched "Turtle Talk with Crush" which is a show that Crush the turtle from Nemo interacts with the audience.  That was a really cute!  We walked around and looked at the aquariums after that.  It was quite dark by this time and the aquariums themselves were not lit - so it was kind of murky but quite beautiful.  Then we headed back over to "The Land" pavilion and watched a video called the "Circle of Life" narrated by the Lion King characters about being responsible citizens of the earth.  At first I thought it was going to be over the top but it was basically don't litter and pay attention.  It was really quite well done.  We still had a few minutes to wait until we could ride 'Soarin' so we sat in the food court again.  Floating on the ceiling were these hot air balloons. I had to take the picture that I started this blog with.  It was so dark that is the only picture I got of our outing that day and really of our experiences in the park again.  Then it was time for "Soarin".  Soarin is a virtual hang gliding experience.  It was by far my favorite thing we did while we were there.  I would have ridden that a dozen more times if the turn around had been faster.  It was so much fun!  By the time we finished that it was time to head back to our room.  A great finish for our time in EPCOT.

Day 1 at EPCOT

We got on the ferry and arrived in Germany.   In Germany in EPCOT there is a miniature village.  I had to take some pictures.  It brought back memories of walking through a similar little village in Holland.  That is the Weinnachtsman on the roof in blue.

 This pictures is for perspective.  I took it so you could see the legs of people against the village backdrop. 

I had it all lined up to take a really sweet picture Mary Poppins and then this girls father said something obscene!  Sadly apparently the little girl is used to it.  Mary Poppins was the only character we saw when it was light enough to take pictures.  We saw Belle and the Beast together.  Apparently that doesn't happen that often.  They are usually separate.  We saw Sleeping Beauty in pink and Marie from the Aristocats.  We saw Goofy dressed as a pirate, Minnie and Daisy, Pluto and Mickey but all from a distance.  During this time in EPCOT we learned about Christmas Traditions in Italy from La Befana, in England from Father Christmas and a logger in Canada.  Then we lucked into the Christmas Processional which is the story of Christ from the Bible told by a popular narrator and the Christmas carols sung by a living Christmas Tree made up of High School Honors Choirs from all over Florida.  The Narrator the night we went was Edward James Olmos.  This is his 12th year narrating this.  He knew the program so well that he sang along with the carols.  The woman that was signing for the deaf looked like a dancer as she signed.  It was beautiful.  We then wandered over to China and watched a movie in the round about China.  This was really special because I have a niece teaching there right now.  We had to stand for 15 minutes to watch the movie.  I wanted to see what Christina was seeing so badly that I stood and watched and ached the next day.  I also bought myself a fan from the gift shop there.  I love the way it cools me down plus it is really from China.  We wandered back to the Monorail and then back to the hotel.  We were both exhausted.  I was too tired to sleep once we hit our hotel room but it was a wonderful day.  I could have easily spent 2 days in that part of EPCOT.

We're Home From Disney World!

We are back from 5 days in Orlando and Disney World.  It was a great 5 days.  We actually only spent 3 days in the park.  Clyde was there for a conference for work and we knew our time in the parks would be limited.  Thanks to our friend Diane Campagna, our time in EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom was fun and mapped out.  Plus because of her guidance we are able to see things that we would have missed otherwise.  


We arrived Monday and ended up spending over 5 hours in the International part of EPCOT.  We were able to go through several of the countries and see several Christmas tradition story tellers and the Candlelight Processional.  We really lucked into a lot of things because we happened to be standing at the right place at the right time.  We saw everything we wanted to on that end of EPCOT on Monday and went to the hotel, tired and happy.  Tuesday I paid for it.  I had fought a flu bug all weekend and had a relapse Tuesday plus my knees hurt so bad from all of the standing and walking - I could barely walk.  I will blog my one picture of a character I got because all of time we spent in Disney World was at night -  hard to take pictures in the dark.  I will also tell about the rest of our days in the parks in the coming days - however I have to say the military resort we stayed on (Shades of Green) would have been worth staying on without going to the park!  It was beautiful, restful and the staff bent over backwards to be helpful.

And We're Off...

For the next 5 days we will be in Orlando, Florida - Disneyworld to be exact.  Clyde has a conference there and I get to tag a long.  This is our first trip to a Disney theme park.  I have dreamed of going to EPCOT since it opened.  Last night I couldn't sleep I am so excited.  We will see what wonders this day and week brings.

Advent

When I was a young girl, my family moved to Germany.  Our first Christmas there, Theodore M. Burton and his family invited us to his home for Advent.  We had no idea what this was.  This is the German sister that gave us the story that our family has been repeating the first Sunday of Advent ever since.  Technically you should start Advent 4 Sundays out from Christmas.  Our family does it so it falls the first Sunday of December and then the last one is on Christmas Eve.  My mother started doing it that way and I thought that is how it was supposed to be.  It wasn't until recently I realized that is a Brugger tradition and not traditional.  Happy Advent everyone.

Two Little Angels

Every time I look at this picture I smile.  I was in charge of the Ward Christmas party in Durham, NC.  It had been tradition for years that Santa would come.  At the last minute a few people balked and complained that Santa shouldn't come to a Ward Party.  I literally whipped up angel costumes from bed sheets an leftover white material I had.  Rebecca Scholes older sister was Mary and I think her oldest brother was Joseph.  We quickly put together this pageant using one of our daughters dolls for the baby.  The bishopric were the Wisemen and they were the gift givers that night as well.  Now I wouldn't have bowed to those two families wishes but then I wanted to make everyone happy.  I guess I am meaner in my old age.  I realize now that they did not represent the whole ward - even though they acted like it.  I now go and check and see what the consensus really is before I switch things up.  If the majority really don't want something - then I will change it, but not because of just a few anymore.  However because of that situation, I certainly got a cute picture of Heidi and Heather.

Christmas is Here!

As in years past I am going to post Christmas pictures, Past and Present.  My past pictures will be limited since I had never backed up the pictures I had on my computer when it crashed last spring.  I love this picture of Marcus, Anneke and Luke Bahlmann.  It was taken 4 years ago.  Luke just celebrated his 4th birthday this last Monday.  There is a similar picture with the three older siblings holding Mallory.  It was lost from my computer when it crashed.  Hopefully Heidi has a copy of it.

Happy Birthday Heidi

I don't have any pictures of Heidi's birthdays because she has them all.  This is actually Heather's birthday with Heidi (in the back) and her best friend Ashley (in the foreground).  Heidi was 3 at the time.  We were living in Durham, North Carolina.  Happy Birthday, Heidi.  Your dad and I hope you have a wonderful birthday and that this year brings you the dreams of your heart.  We love you very much.

I am Thankful For...

...this time of year.  People are a little more thoughtful and try a little harder to be Christlike right now.  Granted I have not gone shopping and don't plan to for a month outside of grocery shopping.  But I notice that people on the street smile and nod this time of year whereas any other time of year they duck their heads and just walk by.  It is truly a magical time of year.

I am Thankful For...

...Christmas writings.  I love the books, stories, poems and thoughts that float around at this time of year.  They all have pretty much the same idea but make the Season so much more fun.  I am looking forward to the First Presidency Devotional on Sunday.  They always have such a wonderful way of starting Advent for us (though technically Advent should have started last Sunday).  I love the Christmas messages that these men bring to us each year.

Happy Birthday Luke!

Today is Luke's birthday (I hope).  Luke LOVES cars and trucks.  He has since he was very little.  He is a very mellow child and for the most part is pretty easy going.  We are so glad he is part of our family.  He adds another dynamic.  We are very blessed to have such incredible grandchildren.  Happy Birthday, Luke.  We love you very much.  (Since our computer crashed this is literally the only picture of Luke I had from this last year.  I had one of him as a baby but I will save that one.)

I am Thankful For...

...people that are always stepping up to help out.  We feed the military students every Sunday because they can't get back in time to eat if they stay for the whole block.  I am grateful for willing people who help me week after week and prepare part or all of the meal so these men and the missionaries can have a meal.  It makes my life so much easier when I don't have to prepare a full meal every week.  The students are so grateful it makes the effort worth it.  Plus so much good has come from it.  We have had several baptisms and reactivations from people coming just to get a home cooked meal and then gaining testimonies.  It is amazing what a little food can do.

I am Thankful For...

...an amazing family.  I have a wonderful husband and beautiful daughters.  They are in turn married to the perfect husband for each of them.  I have 11 incredible grandchildren.  I am so blessed.  I also have an amazing extended family.  I love them very much too.

Yesterday Clyde and I went and saw the movie, Hugo.  It was wonderful.  Of course it wasn't quite like the book but it was more like the book than some movies.  Ben Kingsley was amazing as the toy shop owner but then he is one of our best actors out there.  The imagery is mind boggling - especially when you watch it in 3D.  If you do watch it in 3D you might want to take your glasses off for the first few minutes (try it and see) but it was so uncomfortable for me, I had to take mine off.  It is as if you are going through people but not really.  An odd sensation.  Other than that it was incredible.  The next movie for us will probably be "The Adventures of Tintin".  We might have to take the grandkids at Christmas.

I am Thankful For...

...a few days with my husband.  Today we are going to go and see a movie and just spend some time together.  It will be a fun - laid back day.

I am Thankful For...

...for my heritage.  As I think about Thanksgiving today, I realize that I am who I am today and where I am today in part because of my ancestors and the decisions they made.  I am a citizen of the United States of America because of the choices my great-grandparents made on my father's father's side and my ancestors made generations before in my other lines.  I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because of decisions my great grandparents, and great-greatgrandparents (+) had made over 100 years ago.  We do live in a great country and at a great time.  Sometimes it is overwhelming when I see all of the negative things happening on the news.  Then I realize - that is what the news wants to dwell on.  For the most part our family and friends are doing quite well - even though the economy is rough right now - we are getting by.  We have family and friends to support each other and help each other.  We are there for each other.  I am thankful for my amazing family - the ones that came before me and the ones that surround me with their love now.  Happy Thanksgiving!

I am Thankful For...

...a warm place to live.  It is raining hard right now.  I am grateful I a have warm snug place to live.  I need to get ready for tomorrow.  I will be thrilled when I can get to my Christmas decorations and decorate like I want to.  It just isn't worth it here.  I have our tiny tree up and my nativity scenes out.  That will be it again for the third year in a row.  Oh well.  One of these days I can go all out - like I really like to do.

I am Thankful For...

...Sedona and the people that work there.  I have been going there for several years.  They are  understanding of my health problems and are patient with me.  I love the atmosphere and the friendships I have made there.  It is a pleasant place to work out.

I am Thankful For...

...good medical care.  I am really thankful I found Dr. Thomas Fantes again.  I have been more at peace about my status - even though it is not the best - since I have been back with him.  Now we just need to get my Rx balanced and me balanced than all will be well.

P.S. I just got back and I am in better shape than I thought.  Life is good!

I am Thankful For...

...for my Kindle.  I have loved my Kindle from day one.  It has been almost 3 years since I got my Kindle.  Today it wouldn't turn on.  It has been acting up for a while and the battery - when I turn it on - is depleted in minutes.  If I keep the battery off, then I can read for a few hours before depleting the battery.  Today for some reason - even though the battery light is green - it will not turn on at all.  Good thing my new one is coming this week.  I just hope I make it for the next few days without it!  It is truly the best invention ever.  I have loved having a book at my fingertips whenever I have wanted one.  I have loved being able to hold a book with one hand at night a not really move as I cuddle under the covers and read.  I have a friend that was teasing me and telling me that I was going to get carpal tunnel in my thumbs because of all of the page turning they do on my kindle.  It is so minimal that there is no danger of that! 

Amazon has free current releases that I have loved and I have a wide array of authors that I now call favorites that I had never heard of until I had a free book from them.  I have my old classics too that are like old friends to read over and over.  The best thing about the Kindle is the books don't take up space.  In our tiny apartment that is a big deal.  I am very thankful for my Kindle.

I am Thankful For...

...music.  I love music - especially at this time of year when the holiday music becomes so important.  I love most kinds of music - everything but Jazz.  For some reason jazz makes me absolutely crazy - screaming angry in fact.  It is weird but I can only listen for a few minutes before I am ready to scream.  Most people find it relaxing but I don't.  Any other music and I am Okay.  My version of torture would be being forced to listen to jazz - especially when they riff and play phrases over and over on different instruments at different tempos.  That would make me insane quicker than anything.

I am Thankful For...

...the opportunity to be able to be an ordinance worker in Boston Temple.  It is so wonderful to be able to go every other week and spend time in the temple.  Tomorrow we are having a youth temple trip so Clyde and I are spending the night in Boston.  We would only get a few hours of sleep if we tried to come home tonight.  We are very blessed to live so close to a temple.

I am Thankful For...

... Holiday movies.  My favorite is "The Bishops Wife".  It has been for forever.  I saw it for the first time when I was a little girl on a Saturday afternoon at my Grandma and Grandpa Tuttle's house.  We didn't spend very many Christmas's at a Grandparents home and that could be why this movie is even more special.  It is a feel good movie and one I have to watch every Christmas Season at least once (but usually two or three times).  This is my movie during the year when I am down, that I pull out and watch.  It always makes me feel better.  When I would watch this any time other than Christmas, my girls would know that I was in the depths of depression.  However after I watched it, I always felt better.  


What is your favorite holiday movie?

I am Thankful For...

...fun authors.  I have been reading some very fun books the last few days.  I love to read and I love it when I find an author that makes reading a joy.

I am Thankful For...

...people that care.  It is hard to be without a car all of the time.  It is nice when people step up and help me with my Visiting Teaching and just get little service projects done.  They willingly pick me up and help me with the project as I am doing it.  I am very grateful for wonderful caring people that are just there.  It is makes life so much easier.

Happy Birthday Dad (Popi)

 When Dad would come home from work, he would be exhausted.  He was a Doctor and worked in the emergency room most of my early growing up years.  His way of playing with us was by laying on the floor and taking a nap while we jumped over him.  When he had his catnap he would play 'horsey' with us for a few minutes.  I was about 6 when this picture was taken.  It is my dad, my brother Bob, me and my sister Marianne.

 This is my dad and I think my sister on Smokey at my Uncle Raphael's farm in Venice, Utah.  I think at this time it was still Grandma and Grandpa Brugger's though.

This picture was taken on the 4th of July 2011.  We were at my sister Marianne's home.  This picture is my brother-in-law, Frank, Marianne, Doreen and Popi, me and Clyde.  


I am thankful for a wonderful father.  My dad has been an incredible  influence in my life.  He has guided me to become the person I am today.  I am grateful that he is my father.

I am Thankful For...

...spiritual experiences in unexpected places.  Yesterday Clyde and I were asked to speak about the Telestial Kingdom for a Youth Activity.  Even once I got there I wondered how this was going to go off but after as I was listening to the youth at the ice cream social, most were really touched by the Spirit and really glad they came.  So often we adults project our negativity onto our Youth and we mustn't.  Because they didn't have other things to compare this to they were thrilled with what this taught and the experience they had.  I need to remember that.  The point of the whole evening was that Patriarchal Blessing guide you through life and help you get to the Celestial Kingdom. 

I am Thankful For...

...holidays.  I love the holiday season, though as I get older and live so a far away from family, I find I don't like it as much as I used too.  My family would be surprised how little I decorate now.  It is just not worth it. But I love the season of giving, the wonderful movies and music.  That makes me happy.

I am Thankful For...

...all the Veterans in my life.  I grew up as an Army BRAT so I know what it is like to live the life of the military.  I know what it is like to see your father leave in the middle of the night and not know when you will see him again.  To always have his 'kit' packed so at a moments notice he can leave.  To wake up with your mother crying because she isn't sure where your father is.  I had it easier than most.  My father was a surgeon so he was in the MASH tents and was protected but many of my friends fathers - especially when they went to Viet Nam - never saw them again.

My father served in WWII and so did Clyde's dad.  Clyde's Grandfather, Dr. B also served in WWI.  My father got his medical degree and then went back into the military in the 50's and stayed in until the late 70's.  He had quite an amazing career.  I met Clyde because of the draft during the Viet Nam War.  Without that we would have never met.  We now have a son-in-law, Brandon Nordell - in the Air Force.  He is with our daughter and their two daughters in Okinawa.  Of all of my daughters, Heather was not the daughter I thought would be a military wife but she is doing an admirable job.  Clyde works at the Newport Naval Base and about half of our ward is military.  I am proud to be here to help make their lives easier so they can serve our country and make our lives easier.

I am Thankful For...

...Indian Summers.  Our autumn here has been incredible.  The colors were not all that spectacular because of Hurricane Irene but the weather has been in the 60's and 70's so far for most of November.  We had such a miserable and cold October I was really concerned.  We even had snow the last weekend of October with the big Nor'easter that blew through here (it didn't stick but it was flying in the air here on the island.  It stuck other places in the Northeast).  Since then it has been October weather to make up for having November in October.  It has been beautiful.  Today we have Tropical Storm Sean making its presence known with rain but even then the temperature is in the upper 50's.  Can't complain to much.  We will see how long this lasts.

I am Thankful For...

...my amazing hairdresser.  Mariana is fun and has been my hairdresser for 7 years.  The only time she has not cut my hair was when I had my surgery and I couldn't get out for a few months.  Then a friend from the ward came in and did my hair for me.  Mariana has told me so much about her family that I could probably go and visit one of their dinners and know who was who and how things worked within the family.  She is so much fun.  Today is my 3rd of 9 free haircuts for a year.  I am looking forward to a fun visit with a good friend.

I have to say one thing I am not thankful for - being so far away from family.  This is ongoing with me.  I want to be close in proximity to grandchildren.  I so envy the people that get to have family close for all of the holidays or can just run down for a weekend.  It was so wonderful when the Davis' lived in Pennsylvania and we could literally take off and go for a few days.  Life moves on and pretty soon we will be around family - I hope.

Happy Birthday Mallory!

Yesterday was Mallory Hope Bahlmann's first birthday!  I cannot believe she is already a year old.  This year has certainly gone by fast.  Here she is at Hogel Zoo at about 7 months old.  She was so proud of herself.  She had such a cute halo of hair but her mother informs us that it now lays down flat most of the time now.  We love you Mallory.  We hope you had a wonderful birthday and you have a great second year of life!  I am very thankful you came into our lives.  So my thankful post today- Today I am thankful for Mallory and always - all of my grandchildren.  They make life worth living.

I am Thankful For...

Today I am for so many things I don't know which one to pick.  I will choose the opportunity to teach seminary.  I have a great class and as happens with most teachers in the Gospel - I probably learn more than they do.  We are studying the Old Testament.  It is interesting and a good challenge.

Thankful Post #1

Every year during the month of November I write a post about something I am thankful for everyday of the month - or I have up until this year.  Today I realized it is November!  Do not ask me why but for some reason I thought it was Ocober 35th or something but it just had not registered that it was November yet. 

Today I thankful that Stake Conference comes only twice a year.  I am a home body and becoming more and more of one.  To travel over an hour one way to get to a meeting is not my idea of fun.  To do that two days in a row is torture.  If the meetings were not so incredible it would not be such an incredible experience.  Today we are going to have sacrament as part of stake conference.  We will see how that goes.

Memory Monday

I was trying to find something for Halloween and stumbled across this picture of my grandson Nathanael Pfiester, carrying a pumpkin.  It is such a cute picture that it is the one I chose.  I am thinking he is about 4 in this picture but I am not sure.  


I hope you are warmer where you are than I am right now.  We had ice on our windshield this morning to scrape off to get to seminary.  We did not get any snow however from the big Nor'easter that blew through here over the weekend.  It was like our island was in a bubble.  We got lots of wind and rain but no snow - which was fine with me.  I would be very happy to get no snow but I don't see that happening.  People that live across the bridge from us on the mainland had to dig out to come to church yesterday.  

Memory Monday

This is a picture of me as a witch when I was 6 in San Antonio, Texas on Halloween for a school party.  I always insisted on wearing red shoes to school so I know that the shoes I am wearing are red but the the dress was black and I loved this costume.  I was able to wear it two years.  It was one of my favorite costumes.  My mother worked hard on it.  You couldn't go to the store and buy a quality costume when I was young - or when our daughters were young for that matter.  I cried when I couldn't fit in it anymore.  There was a clown costume that I wore, my brother and sister wore and Carianne wore at the age of 1.  I have no pictures of anyone ever wearing it.  Pretty sad.  By the time Carianne wore it, all of my cousins had worn it  too and it was 26 years old.  It was falling apart and the fabric was so rotten we couldn't save it anymore.

Happy Birthday Carianne!

 I am dressing Carianne in her room in our home in El Paso.  She is on about a week or two old.  The picture above her changing table is a Disney Winnie the Pooh scene.  The pink diaper stacker to the left was used for all 4 daughters and came in very handy.

This is Carianne in March right after she had Carlye.  She is sitting by her favorite 'author tile' at Butt-Holdsworth Library in Kerrville - Beatrix Potter.  Carianne literally wore out copies of Peter Rabbit when she was little because they were her security.  Most children had a toy or blanket they took everywhere and slept with.  Carianne took the little green Peter Rabbit book everywhere and slept with at first in her arms and then under her pillow.  When she could finally read for herself was the first that Peter Rabbit was not in bed with her.  Then she had other books in bed with her.


We love you Carianne and hope you have a wonderful birthday.  Hopefully in the not too distant future we will be spending your birthdays with you!

Memory Monday

This is not the best picture in the world of my Grandma and Grandpa Brugger but it will do for todays purposes.  My mother had pretty poor health my whole life.  When she would end up in the hospital when we lived in Texas the first time, my Grandma and Grandpa Brugger would come and stay with us.  I remember Grandpa spending time with me everyday after school drilling me for my spelling tests and listening to me as I read.  


During the time that this picture was taken we were in Germany.  We had thought we were going to lose Grandma to guilliain barre syndrome.  She was in the hospital for weeks and in therapy for months.  By the time we put her on the plane to fly back to the states, she had braces on her legs and could walk with two crutches.  Eventually she could walk on her own again.    My time with Grandpa in Germany was spent on Math.  This was a totally frustrating time for Grandpa, my parents and me.  We did not understand that I was dys-calculate and that numbers and symbols were flipping on me.  I would do my math problems and have grandpa check them.  He at first would accuse me of guessing at the answers until I explained how I came to the answers.  He was the first to realize I was not seeing the same thing on the page he was seeing.  Working with Grandpa was kind of my sanctuary during a time when my teacher and parents were puzzled with me.  I was the top student in my reading and spelling group and the bottom student in the lowest math group.  No one knew then that there was such a thing as dyslexia and dysgraphia or other learning problems.  It was cut and dried.  You were mentally retarded or you weren't.  I wasn't mentally retarded so there had to be other problems.  It was suggested I visit a psychiatrist and maybe he could figure out why I was failing math and Bob wasn't doing well in reading.  We will just leave it at - the problem was not psychiatric and in fact that psychiatrist may have done more harm than good to our family that lasted for years.  Grandpa once again intervened and said that I just needed to do things at my own pace.  One day Math would be my favorite subject.  Well he was wrong about that but he was right that I did better in school once everyone got off my back.  My Grandpa Brugger was a very wise man and very important to me as I grew up.

Happy Birthday Noah!

I can't believe you are 7 years old, Noah!  Happy Birthday!  We love you very much and are so happy you are a part of our family.  You make life fun and exciting!  You are smart and such a happy young man.  We hope you have a wonderful birthday! 

P.S.  I am sorry there are no pictures but I lost all of my more current pictures when Grandpa had to wipe out our computer because of a virus.  We will get some new ones at Christmas and be more careful about backing them up.

A Special Weekend

Saturday a couple from our ward were sealed in the temple as a family to each other and then their son, Matthew.  To make it all possible, some of the young couples asked me if I would mind watching children.  Of course I didn't.  Originally I was supposed to watched 9 with 2 other sisters helping off and on the whole time but it ended up that I watched 3 children with 3 sisters for the first few hours and then 2 children with another sister helping.  At one time we had 5 adults and 4 children but then two went off to the sealing.  I was planning on attending the sealing but Kaitlin all of the sudden became very clingy and begged me to stay with her.  She didn't know the Rick's and was suddenly very shy.  It turned out it a good thing I stayed because with 2 babies and 2 - 3 year old's - it was a good thing we had that many arms.  The kids were pretty tired by the end of the day but because they had so many loving arms around them, there weren't extended meltdowns and things went really well.  All of the children know me because I have held them and loved them since they were babies.  I am part of their lives.  There is one baby boy that cries every time he sees my husband, Clyde.  Matthew Freel (not the one that was sealed - another Matthew), cries every time my husband says 'hi' to him.  It hurts Clyde's feeling and none of us know why Matthew is afraid of him.  If I hold him and talk to Clyde with Matthew in my arms, he is fine - but on his own - it is not okay.  We did notice that he was having a hard time with one of our Elders yesterday too, so it must might be a faze.

My payoff - the best Mexican food I have had since I have been in New England!  It was a bit mild but still wonderful!  I ate way too much but it was so worth it.  I now have a favorite restaurant in Boston!  Sometimes life gives us fun little surprises. 

Happy Birthday Sara!

Happy Birthday Sara!  We love your very much.  We were very tickled the day you came into our lives.  I swooped down and picked up Julianna and Annemarie.  All of the cousins had such a good time until your mom said it was time for everyone to come home.  Then Carianne fell in love you.  She thought you were the neatest person in the world.  She also liked the fact that your birthday was just 2 weeks before hers.   We are proud of you and the wonderful woman and wife you have become.  One day soon you will make a wonderful mother.  I imagine you are a comforting presence in the hospital because you are so compassionate.  We are very proud of you.  We are so happy you are a part of our family.

That Doesn't Apply to Me

It really bugs me when people cannot follow the rules and laws.  What is so hard about stopping at a red light?  When a checkout line says 12 items or less it doesn't mean 12 shopping baskets or less it means the number of items in your basket.  When you pull a number at the deli counter - the person in front of you that didn't pull a number shouldn't butt in front of you and get in your face that he was there first (yes he was at the counter while I was pulling a number and I didn't start the confrontation - he did!).  In other words what does it pay to not be polite and just follow the simple curtesies of life?  I know this goes on everywhere but it seems to go on much more here.  For the most part I truly have not met more rude people that the people here in New England (I have lived in Europe for years!) and the sad part is that they are probably not even from here.  There are so many transplants on this island - heaven only knows where these people originally came from.  It does boggle my mind though.

On a brighter note:  During General Conference, President Monson talked about Peter Maurick.  When we lived in Germany the second time, Peter and his wife MaryPaul were in our ward.  Their faith in the Lord was beyond faith - it was a sure knowledge.  I have never met anyone like them before or since.  I in fact babysat for them several times.  Peter is from Holland and MaryPaul is from France.  Their common language was English, so that is what was spoken in their home.  Their children were speaking 4 different languages by the time they were 3 or 4 - Dutch, French, German and English and they were speaking them fluently.  I have often wondered about the Maurick's and now I know that his spirituality is still as strong as ever.  Otherwise he would never have been in tune enough to have heard that prompting.  He is still as amazing as ever. 

I hope to be blogging better.  I have been going through a bit of a rough patch and I think I am coming out of it.  Because of General Conference, I see in part the goals I need to set and some of the traits I need to work on in myself.  I came out of Conference and the General Relief Society Broadcast with a bit of a bruised ego - but I am better for it.

Happy Birthday Julianna and Dena!

This picture was taken days after Dane was born and about a week after Thomas was born.  They are focusing on Marianne's camera, not on me.  I am lucky I have this picture since we wiped out our computer about this time.  Anyway, Happy Birthday to you Julianna.  Your Unker Clyde has been walking around today telling everyone that today is Happy Juliannuary!  Then he has to explain.  We love you and are very proud of you.


Today is also my sister-in-law, Dena Brugger's birthday.  I think it is wonderful that two of my favorite people share a birthday.  I guess this is one way to get me to blog!

Happy Birthday Marianne!

My mother, Carolyn Brugger, with my sister, Marianne and my brother Bob.  This was taken the day my brother was given his name and a blessing in our Church.  Behind my mother was one of 2 air conditioners we had in the house.  There was one in the living room and one in my parents room upstairs.  They did a pretty good job of cooling most all of the house as I recall.  I was comfortable but then when this picture was taken I was 5 years old!

Left to right, my sister's husband - Frank Dittmar, my sister Marianne Dittmar, my step-mother Doreen Brugger, my father Archie Brugger, me and Clyde.  This picture was taken on the 4th of July this last summer at Marianne's house.


Today is my sister Marianne Brugger Dittmar's birthday.  Marianne has been my best friend my whole life.  We have had each other when we moved all those time growing up and we always knew we could rely on each other.  Our daughter's are really extensions of our own family's.  We love each other's daughters as our own.  We have been taken for twins most of our life.  In fact just a few years ago, someone thought I had moved back to Utah!  I am not as kind as my sister or as quiet.  She is much more Christlike and has always been one of my heroes.  I have spent most of my life in her shadow because she is light years ahead of me spiritually and in so many other ways.  I am so grateful she is my sister.  She has kept me balanced and anchored when I have needed her.  The Lord truly blessed our house when Marianne was born.  I love you, Marianne.

The Peach Keeper

I have not done a book review in months but my daughter Pam got me hooked on Sarah Addison Allen's books this summer.  I have been waiting for my copy of The Peach Keeper all summer long and finally received it Thursday.  I had a hard time wrapping my head around one of the main female characters being named Paxton simply because growing up one of my male friends had that name, but pretty soon it fit her and went with the flow.  Ms. Allen's books grab me and hold me to the end - which is what I love about reading them.  They are mysteries but not so caught up in the mystery that they are even considered that genre.  It is really a book of friendship, service and love but more than that Christlike friendship, service and love.  It just takes the novel for everyone to figure out that life is happier when you serve in a  Christlike way.  I think that is why I liked this book so much- it ended on such an upbeat and beautiful note.

First Day of Seminary

This morning at 6 a.m., we started seminary for the year.  The course of study is the Old Testament.  The Church gives only a selected part as mandatory reading but a special award if anyone chooses to read it through in its entirety. I wonder if anyone in my class will choose too?

The dynamic is a little different.  Three replaced three, so we are right at the same number we had last year but one less young man.  It looks like it will be an excellent year - as always.  The Church has amazing young people and they really do seem to shine in Early Morning Seminary.

Tropical Storm Lee

I  am currently sitting here with my head pounding from a sinus headache.  My allergies are so bad from all of the mold from Hurricane Irene and now Tropical Storm Lee.  Hurricane Katia is brewing off the coast and though we won't get the full force of her, we may get a bit of rain along with waves and rip tides.  Why are we getting all of this weather and Texas is literally burning up?!  Every rain drop that falls here, I wish it was falling on Texas - anywhere!

We Are Safe!

Hurricane Irene hit us with more wind than rain.  She quickly was downgraded to a Tropical Storm but the winds were still sustained in the upper 50 mile per hour range.  We lost a lot of trees and one member of our ward had a tree go through her shed.  Another member lost shingles off of the their home and one lost the roofing cap of their garage. There was no loss of life but at 10 a.m. Sunday morning we lost power which meant we were without telephone too.  Clyde and I read a talk from the Conference issue and read next weeks lesson for Sunday School.  Then we played a couple of games in which Clyde trounced me in Scrabble - twice!  We do have a battery powered radio, so we were not completely cut.  Just hearing what was going on in the world made easier and time go more quickly.  The interesting thing to me is I could not read.  I read hours every day!  But Sunday I could not concentrate.  It was really weird.  Yesterday, once things calmed down, I was fine and could have read all day.

We have a little two burner camp stove so we were able to have some soup.  We lost milk and some leftovers from our refrigerator but nothing from our freezer.  I packed it with everything I could find that I could fill with water just before the storm.  Sunday morning I cranked it up to the coldest setting.  I actually kept most things fairly cold in refrigerator until yesterday morning but the milk wasn't cold but cool so I didn't dare keep it.

Yesterday morning Clyde and I went out visited about 10 families in the ward because cellphones and landlines were not working.  We were able to see damage firsthand and find out from people that did have cellphones that were working how other members of the ward were doing.  While we were out, our power came on.  We got home about 4 - tired but knowing we had visited with people that needed to be seen and others that knew what was going on.  Plus we saw our home teaching and visiting teaching families.

So all is well.  Except for cleaning out our refrigerator - which was long overdue, there is not damage to us.  We do have ward members that are still without power though and it it looks like it could be this weekend before they do get power.

Hurricane Irene - She's Bearing Down

Irene is still a category 1 because she is so big.  We just now getting the rain and the humidity - even with the air conditioning on it is very oppressive.  That is very unusual for this area.  Ordinarily it is not this humid.  We are bracing ourselves for up to 90 mile an hour wind gusts but sustained winds of between 60-70 miles an hour.  We are still in our apartment.  We are not in an evacuation area so we will just hunker down and ride it through.  I don't know where we would have gone to get a way from this anyway.  With Pam no longer in Pennsylvania, all of our friends are within the arms of the storm. 

I am sure that we will be fine.  There is not church today because of the storm.  All of the weekday anchors and weathermen are handling this because it is such a big deal - including the national media anchors.  Last night there was no other news on the national news stations but Hurricane Irene.  She eclipsed all other news events for 30 minutes. 

We are prepared for the inevitable power outage that will come this.  I am clearing out the refrigerator of things that don't have to be refrigerated or could live without refrigeration for a few hours.  If we do have a power failure I will pull out the eggs and fruits and vegs and add ice to the refrigerator to keep the things in the refrigerator longer. 

In something totally unrelated.  Our neighbor across the hall has lived there almost as long as we have lived in this apartment.  He has been gone most of the week, which is so unusual for him and his precious motorcycle has been left out in the elements.  Yesterday some friends came to get the motorcycle to take it to their garage for the storm.  It turns out Brian has had a massive heart attack and is in a coma in a hospital in Providence.  That leaves your Dad and me the only people in our stairwell to wait out this storm.  I thought I had better let everyone know we are fine in case there were power outages since our landline depends on electricity because of the way it is hooked up through our cable line.  Clyde will go over and use a his second counselors cellphone if the power outage goes on too long.