An Unusual Christmas

I've spent a few years trying to establish traditions with our California family, especially at Christmas.  We had certain things that we did on Christmas Eve, like acting out the nativity, and certain things we did on Christmas Day, like a big brunch and a talent night.  It was such fun!  But since we have moved to Idaho that has, of course, changed.  Layne and I spent our Christmas Eve with friends and Christmas morning alone with just the two of us.  So this Christmas had a couple of firsts:  a solo Christmas and a white one.  We drove through a beautiful snow fall on Christmas Eve on our way to our friends Roger and Marianne Wilcox.  Our Christmas offered us a beautiful view of white.

                                                        Our White Christmas morning.

                                                   Our Christmas morning selfie.

Me, modeling Audrey and Cliff's Christmas gift to me, a cosy shawl.  Love it.

I guess I didn't mind having such a quiet holiday; it was nice in its way.  Well, OK, I miss the crazy, wonderful Christmas season surrounded by family.  The good news is that Chris, Jes and family arrived Christmas night!  Then Audrey, Cliff and family came two days later!  So now our house and our holiday is full of...family!  I love it.

Grandson Miles brought his favorite Christmas gift, a motorized helicopter.  He and his dad, Chris, spent lots of time flying it outside.  It had a camera inside that could take pictures.  We were amazed when we put its chip into my computer to see the pictures it came up with.  Wow.  Then he lost it somewhere in the back field.  They looked for it into the night yesterday.  Cliff offered a family prayer that we could find it.  So, after Church today, we all lined up in the field and marched forward, thinking that if we covered enough ground someone would spot it.  We offered prayers once again. We searched for quite awhile but no luck.  Prayers unanswered.  I thought it was the perfect opportunity for Miles to experience the Lord's help and perhaps increase his faith.  But no dice.  I'm kinda mad at the Lord at the moment.  It seemed like such a good opportunity for this little non-member grandson.  It goes to one of my ponderings.  I know the Lord CAN answer prayers and CAN work miracles, but I don't know if He actually WILL.  So that compromises my faith in Him to some extent.  This is a prime example.  I knew He could inspire us to look in the right spot for the helicopter.  But He didn't.

Our whole gang, out in the back field, looking for the lost helicopter.

We are having fun together though.  Our tramp in the snow in search of the missing toy was fun.  And we did it together.  Both son-in-law Chris and brother-in-law Bob had birthdays yesterday.  We celebrated with Chris with a special request dinner and other favors.  He is such a fine man; I hope he knows how much we love having him in our family.  My greatest wish is to do right by this sweet family that God has given to us.  Chris and Jes leave tomorrow but Audrey and Cliff will be here, on and off, for almost another week.  I'm looking forward to each sweet moment.

The birthday boy, son-in-law Chris, with son Miles and daughter, Peyton.

Layne with daughter Jessica.  Do they look alike?

Three generations: me, granddaughter Gemma and daughter Jessica.

Grandson Isaiah gave me these led lighted earrings.  Have you ever seen anything like it?

Almost Christmas

We've been home from California for almost 2 weeks now.  It has been a blur of activity as we worked to get Christmas in our home and attend various activities.  I sang with my singing group for the last week of our concert performances.  Tonight we have our final performance, for friends and family.  I'm finding that I really like singing.  More than before.  I am even thinking of taking a singing lesson or two.

Richard and Carol Cadle, friends from our Fremont days, spent some time with us.  It was so fun to be with people who know our children and something of our history.  I miss that about here.  But there are lots of great people here and we are finding it pretty easy to make friends.

                                                          Richard and Carol Cadle.

                                                         Layne in Dick's crazy hat.

I really wanted to make a trip to Salt Lake before Christmas, to see our siblings and to see the Salt Lake Temple lights.  Layne was not enthused.  But I talked it up enough that he finally went along and we made a 48 hour road trip there this week.  We spent time with my sister Maryanne and hub Bob as well as Layne's twin brother Lynn and wife Camille.  I love being with family.  Bob and Maryanne took us to temple square to see the lights.  I never imagined that so many people could crowd onto the temple grounds.  It seemed like half of Salt Lake was taking in the lights!  But we pressed our way through the crowd and managed to see some pretty amazing lighting.  I loved it.  All except for the people.  Actually I like people, just not so many in one place.  On the night we chose to go.

We had a sweet time with Bob and Mar, then went to lunch with Lynn and Camille.  We loved being with them too.  I feel quite strongly that we need to spend more time with our Salt Lake family.  I'd love to drive there and spend a week or so just reconnecting with family and the many friends that have moved there over the years.  Maybe I can talk Layne into it.  Sometime.

I am more excited about Christmas this year since daughter Jessica and her family are coming.  Audrey and family will follow later in the week.  Family. Here.  At Christmas.  How could it be any better than that?

                                                               Temple Square lights.

                                                   Maryanne and me on Temple Square.

                                       Bob and Maryanne, with Layne in the background.

                                                                Lynn and Camille

The Temple Hill Nutcracker, 2014

It has been a busy, happy week.  I've lunched with friends, and we visited our Fremont neighbors.  I love seeing old friends.  I never stop loving them!  Perhaps the neighbors we were closest to when we lived in Fremont for so many years were Don and Jean Harmon, who lived right next door and had three girls close in age to our own.  Don was strong as an ox and very strong willed, with a good heart.  In recent times he has struggled with Parkinson's Disease.  Refusing medication for it, he preferred to try various home remedies.  His condition has worsened, burdening him with increasing tremors that have made it hard for him to function.  It was a shock to find that, in trying to visit them, we found them gone!  Their home was sold and now is for rent.  I could hardly take it in; we have been so used to them being there and felt it was somehow a permanent settling place for them.  According to another neighbor, Rodell Merrill, they moved to Colorado in August, to be near their daughters, who all live there.  That's a good idea, I'm thinking, but I'm sad that they didn't tell us they were leaving.  I thought we were closer than that.  I guess the shock amounts to that; we didn't know.

Our Nutcracker performances were this weekend.  So the week has been mostly filled with it.  It has been sweet to get acquainted with some new couples in our opening scene dancing group.  And there are more boys in the scene, including a couple of little brothers that became our "grandsons."  They quickly took to us, which was such a pleasant thing.  Dancing this year was relaxed and fun.  Much more so than in past years.  Perhaps because this is our fifth year and we know the dances so well.  Both of us were more comfortable than we have ever been before, making it more fun than ever before.  All the additional boys added quite a spirit to our opening party scene, as they scooted around, teasing and playing spontaneously.  The best part of the party scene is that spontaneity is OK.  It is only the following scenes that demand exactness.  Thank heavens it is not required of us.  So we had fun!

Some of our Nutcracker boys sit in the midst of the Party scene dancers.  They were full of mischief this year.

Both performances were to full houses.  Nutcracker begins the Christmas month on Temple Hill.  After each performance, people flood into the magical Christmas decorations that light the whole area.  It is like a fairly place, filling the air with happiness.  There are always old friends that we meet afterwards.  Our local family attended the Friday night performance, meeting us afterwards for chocolate milk and cookies.

Temple Hill at Christmas time.

Our Nutcracker is a quality affair.  Rachel and Cheoh Tan are the creators of it.  Rachel is a genius at creating a near professional performance by her dancing students.  It is always awe-inspiring to see what those young dancers can do.  Professional costumes and sets show them off to perfection.  She is also very good at getting the help she needs to make things happen.  Cheoh is a wonderful supporter of this very special event.  It is a blessing to all associated with it.  But it costs them, in time, stress and money.  I hope they too feel blessed by their gifts, so freely given to so many.  We will lunch with them today.  Our visit with them will probably determine whether we will return next year or not.  Layne is determined that we will not, but the magic of Rachel could possibly change his resolve.  We shall see!

Here is my dance partner, at rest.