Christmas

Daughter-in-law Dorothy asked me to babysit last week, on Monday.  Baby Bruce had the flu and she wanted to take him to the doctor's.  I spent that day and the following in Brentwood, taking care of kids and generally trying to help out.  All of the kids were taking turns with the 12 hour flu so I was exposed on many fronts.  By Thursday I had it.  I pride myself at resisting stuff like that so I was a bit disappointed at my body for not doing so this time.  After all, it's Christmas and there is much to be celebrated.  But succumb I did, so last week was pretty lost.

Fortunately I felt mostly ready for Christmas.  Gifts were all wrapped and I was fairly well prepared for Christmas Eve, when everyone would gather for our annual celebration of the birth of the Savior.  I put lots of preparation, hope and prayer into this special night.  It is dedicated to the spiritual side of Christmas.  I always envision a perfect family re-enactment of the Savior's birth, done by spiritually minded grandkids who really get into the story and take it seriously.  I suppose it is pretty obvious that I set myself up for disappointment.  This year I did several things to lessen it:  I gave out nativity story parts to the kids early so they could read up and practice their parts; I picked out, organized and labeled the costumes so they could find them and put them on easily; I cleared out a bigger space for the re-enactment; I made a little book of the nativity story with the kids as characters in case the whole thing turned to worms.  At least there would be something in writing as a back-up.

Granddaughter Jacqueline is narrating our Christmas Nativity Story.
A picture of Christ creating the world is on the TV screen.

Allegra and Scott are Joseph and Mary

Here are the grandkids at the end of our Christmas Eve, dressed in
their new Christmas pajamas.

So, here is the report:  only some of the kids actually prepared their parts BUT it went pretty well!  The kids played their parts, we took lots of pictures and video and generally enjoyed the outcome.  So all that work was worth it.  We followed up with a candle ceremony, where each person receives a candle, shares a positive thought and places their lighted candle on a center table.  By the end there is a lovely collection of light which we liken to the light our family can share with the world.  It is a lovely thought which I hope the children catch.  So, in summary, I felt fairly good about our celebration.

Christmas day was crazy fun yet I felt a bit of melancholy.  I often cannot figure myself out.  Sometimes I am overwhelmed with feelings that I can't explain to myself.  Perhaps my bits of sadness came because I didn't feel my best (flu hangover) or perhaps I was missing my mom.  Or perhaps a bit of both.  Or maybe there is a bit of something else that I haven't figured out yet.

This week I experienced a bit more of sickness.  Disgusting but true.  I seem to be on the mend today.  Feeling crummy has kept us from meeting up with son Ben and family at their rented cabin in the snow.  I'm sad to miss it.  But I've got to get a grip; this Saturday is New Year's Eve and the whole family will gather once again for a marathon night of food, games and conversation.  I wouldn't want to miss that.

At this closing of 2011 I feel grateful for the peace and plenty that still are a part of our lives here on this wonderful little hill in California.  In spite of struggles and losses, life is so very good.

Cracking Nuts

I think there are probably hundreds of little miracles that happen in our lives that we don't notice.  Monday a small miracle happened to me that I didn't miss.  On Monday Layne and I went our separate ways on separate errands.  Mine ended at the local gas station where I filled our Jeep gas tank.  In the process of that I managed to lock myself out of the car.  Keys were inside.  Also purse.  I tried every door with no luck.  Feeling quite foolish, I entered the gas station store and asked one of the workers if he could unlock my car.  He gave it a once over and said the only way was to break a window.  "What car insurance do you have," he said.  "Maybe they provide towing service."  "Hum," I replied.  "I'm not sure if we have Farmers or State Farm."  "You don't know who insures your car?" he asked me, thinking I was a total moron.  That's kinda how I felt too.  All the car insurance information was right there in the glove compartment.  Locked up.  Out of my reach.  But I did figure out that we have Farmers and was just talking to their help line making arrangements for rescue when I happened to look outside where the jeep was taking up a pumping space and saw what looked like our other car.  I walked outside and moved a little closer.  To my amazement there was Layne, just finishing filling up our Envoy!  There he was, without knowing I was there and in great need of help.  He was delivered to me in some special, magical way.  I was saved.  And I was grateful that somehow he was led to that gas station at that time.  It was a tender mercy indeed.

Here we are just before our last performance of Nutcracker.
Layne has lots of eye make-up on so he looks a little funny.

Layne, daughter-in-law Jessica and son Ben at our Bethlehem
Dinner.  Note the use of fingers instead of forks.  Gotta be authentic!

Ben and Jessica's youngest, Jonathan.

We have been practicing for our part in a Nutcracker production for some weeks now.  Layne refers to our rehearsals as, "cracking nuts".  I kinda like it.  Anyhow all that practicing ended this weekend with our final performances on Temple Hill, in Oakland.  Layne had a solo part again this year during the Grandfather's Dance.  His part was a little more extensive this year, which made him a bit more nervous.  But he did a great job.  The whole show was amazingly good.  I believe I have explained before that our friend Rachel Tan is responsible for this amazing effort to bring the Nutcracker to Temple Hill for free.  She and her husband have spent lots of time and money making it happen.  Rachel has three dance studios and it is her students who present the entire show.  Professional props, beautiful costumes and well rehearsed dancers make for a show that rivals any that you might pay money to see.  Both nights were packed.  Rachel's daughter played the starring role this year and did a lovely job.  I found it quite wonderful that this gift the Tans have offered to so many people is also providing their daughter with an unforgettable experience.   It's a joy to be a part of it.

Tonight our kids downstairs, Cliff and Audrey, had their annual Bethlehem dinner.  Our local family gathers for it and dons shepherds head pieces before being served with Bethlehemish food, which must be eaten with our fingers.  It's a fun experience.

So, after a weekend filled with activities, we are looking forward to a slower pace this coming week.  I think we are almost ready for Christmas.

Celebrations of All Sorts

Our neighbor, Tony, is a high energy guy, full of ideas.  He has done some nice things for us since we've been here.  So when Tony came to Layne with a Christmas idea, Layne wouldn't do anything to discourage him.  Tony wanted to place a large, lighted star somewhere on our hill.  Layne agreed that it would be a great idea.  So Tony bought all the materials needed and asked Layne to build it.  Normally Layne would attempt to get out of yet another project.  But this was Tony.  So he took on the task and now the star rests atop a pole in the field in front of our house.  I love it!  It can be seen from the highway near our road and, hopefully, adds a little sparkle to those who notice it.  All in our little valley can see it as they drive down our road.  A star is a little thing but we are celebrating it.  This never would have happened without Tony!

Our daughter Audrey had her gall bladder surgery last Monday.  She came home Tuesday.  The surgery was routine, as we hoped it would be.  Signs are good for a full recovery very soon.  It's wonderful to live at a time when so many discomforts and physical problems can be solved relatively easily.  She is out of pain and loving it.  This is a little bigger thing to celebrate.

Our star at night

Our Christmasy front door

While she was struggling with her gall bladder she asked me to teach her seminary class.  I found it surprisingly pleasurable.  Not that her students were ready and open but that reviewing the material was joyful, as I once again pieced together gospel history that I take great pleasure in knowing.  My first day with her students was the "honeymoon" day, when they are too interested in a new personality to cause much challenge.  The second day however, the honeymoon was over.  Still, they responded to some of the ideas presented.  Sometimes I weary of trying to teach teenagers.  They must be "won" before they are willing to open themselves to you.  They can be great or difficult, depending upon the situation and the day.

Our son Reed has been out of a job since November.  He's been through several series of interviews and just finished another series last week.  We've been praying for a job offer for weeks.  We are celebrating once again, as, HE GOT A JOB!  He'll begin working for Bank of the West this next week.  What a sweet relief as he has a big family to support.  As soon and the deal was sealed, he and Dorothy went shopping!

I sometimes think we, as a culture, have become too accustomed to being entertained rather than taking responsibility for our own experiences and fun.  So when I was asked to work with two other ladies to come up with entertainment for our ward social, I suggested that we have everyone participate in some way.  We dreamed up a nativity scenario that included all in attendance and it seemed to work well.  There was a happy lingering after the party was over.  One of my theories about that is that, if there is a good spirit present, people are not in a hurry to leave it.  I think that happened last night at our ward social.  It made me happy to see it.

Layne gives his fifth blessing tonight!

A Stumble in the Dark

Some of the biggest changes in life come to us in an instant.  My mother's stroke was one of those things.  She went from a vital, active woman to a very dependent one in an instant.  I had one of those moments this past week, with, hopefully, just temporary results.  I was walking downstairs early Wednesday morning, in the dark, and missed the last stair.  Before I had time to think or react I was flat on the floor, a bit dazed and twisted.  I was on the way to the garage where Layne was waiting for me, perhaps a bit impatiently.  He had no idea of my fate until I finally was able to get up and limp my way to the car.  We were preparing to leave for our early temple assignment.  Layne was very sympathetic once he saw my problem.  I limped my way through our morning temple assignment and early afternoon Costco stop.  As it turned out, I sprained my ankle, and bruised up various other body parts.  I babied the ankle as well as I could but spent the next few days wanting to do nothing except sit and sleep.  I seemed to be drained of all ambition and energy.

It is at times like these when planning ahead really pays off.  I have most of my Christmas obligations done, so those few days of idling gave me no stress.  What a happy thing that turned out to be.  Last year at this time I was a bundle of stress over things I wanted to get done for Christmas.  For me, planning ahead for things like Christmas can backfire.  It happens to me because, having accomplished my early goals, time opens up for thinking up new ones.  Then they become a whole new pressure as I attempt to accomplish them as well.  This year I'm holding myself back.  I've accomplished the goals I set and I'm determined to set no more.

By Saturday I was a new woman.  Energy returned and I began to feel a bit more normal.  My ankle is still double its normal size but it is much less painful and moving much better.  So I guess I'll recover.  But experiences like these call to my mind how grateful I should be for times when my body is all in relatively good working order.  I've been reading a book on physical fitness for old ladies and it has encouraged a more vigorous exercise routine.  I'm considering that.  I can see that it takes more effort than I'm used to
to keep an older body in working order.  This week's experience is a great reminder that it's very nice when all the parts are working properly.  

Today our daughter Audrey awoke with pain.  She has been having these pains on and off for awhile but lately it has been mostly on.  So her hub, Cliff, took her to Emergency where they confirmed what we already thought; she has gall stones and an enflamed gall bladder.  So she goes in for surgery tomorrow sometime to have the pesky part removed.

Here's Jonathan after his blessing.  Note his outfit; shirt, tie and vest.
He makes a pretty cute package, don't you think?

While she was on this hospital adventure the rest of the family headed for Palo Alto to see our newest grandson blessed.  Jonathan Galbraith was blessed by his dad, our son Ben, with an assist from son Reed and Layne.  We enjoyed lunch and a bit of bonding at Ben and Jessica's afterwards.  It was a lovely time even though shortened by the desire to visit Audrey before it was too late.  She is looking forward to the surgery and no more pain.  It is a routine procedure so there shouldn't be any problems.  I believe we are all feeling comfortable with it.

It has been a full but rewarding day as we returned from the hospital to our Christmas-laden house.  Now I must teach seminary for Audrey the next two mornings.  I can't say that I'm excited about that.