Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

Christmas GNO

We had our Christmas Girl's Night Out at Loretta Duncan's home.  She and Tauna Isaac hosted.  Loretta has just done a remodel this past year (Tauna's husband, Randy, did it)....and so it was so fun to see.  Over the top beautiful.  Fun time with friends. (Tauna's Santa Rosa Chicken Salad recipe is on the cooking blog.  Yum!)

 

 

 

 

"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind.  To cherish peach and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas."  Calvin Coolidge

Family Time at Christmas Time

Last weekend we went to Brandi and Doug's for a sibling party (we were invited as well.)  It was so much fun- Doug makes great fondue.    He made a yummy cheese fondue for bread, apples and celery.  Main course was shrimp, chicken, steak, red potatoes, broccoli and mushrooms- all cooked in a wonderful ginger broth.  Dessert was chocolate fondue with fruit and marshmallows.  Such a fun time with my kids!  (the game afterwards of "What Is It" kind of got out of hand.....)

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

I love Brandi's new home.  Her decorations for Christmas were so peaceful and calm.

 

 

  
 This little guy is a Santa I made for Brandi years ago.  Unfortunately in the excitement of Christmas, his face came undone.  I had to perform emergency surgery.  Another of my many talents.  :) 

 

 

 

 

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.”

Christmas Turtles

When I was a teenager, Christmas was always a source of excitement with gift-giving between boyfriend and girlfriend.  Guys were easy- a cool ID bracelet (engraved with their name) or cologne- English Leather or Jade East (later Elsha).  Guys bought bracelets, necklaces, candy, records (8-tracks)......  but a guy always knew how to impress me.

A turtle.    Those little half dollar-sized turtles.  (Can you even buy those now?)  I had a menagerie of sweet gifts.  Dougie Poo,  Pete,  Froggie.  You get the idea.  The turtles usually lasted longer than the boyfriend.  My last turtle, Dougie Poo had a heart attack my second year of college when my dad and Uncle Dave (not to be confused with husband Dave....) flew me in Uncle Dave's plane to Rick's.  Dougie flipped over (I was hand carrying him in his bowl) and you could practically see his little heart palpitating.  I didn't do CPR but I did heavy praying and loving and praying....and he actually survived.  It was quite traumatic for me.  And I guess Dougie Poo.


So, I've had a life-long love affair with turtles.  There is just something so fascinating with how ugly they are (no reflection on old boyfriends)-


Fast forward to this Christmas.  Ryan and Marci and family (and friends) left last week for their new home (homes) in Guatemala (San Rosario- the Maya Jade).  They will be there for at least 3 months, maybe more. (yes, Marci homeschools.)

Ryan posted this picture yesterday. He said it looked like a large batch of turtles was ready to hatch!

 

He was totally right!

 

 above- Noah   below- Elijah   (just in case you thought they were the same kiddo!)

 Heidi

165 turtles hatched !!!  Boy, that will be an easy Christmas present- some girl is going to score!!!

“Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out."  a Korean proverb

Life!

I woke up yesterday morning, full of life, excited for the holidays, motivated, higher than a kite.

Last night I went to bed dejected, sorrowful, worried and just "spent."

This weekend was busy with a trip to Idaho for the funeral (we spent about 8 hours in the car )- but I came home filled and happy.  But apparently it was maybe too much emotional energy...or what?  Yesterday my sweet MIL totally lost it.  She couldn't figure out whose house we are at...she was sure it was her aunt's home in Idaho.  We have a niece, Megan and her hubby and baby girl (who is having open heart surgery tomorrow at Primary Children's Hospital) here....and then she thought they lived here and we're just visiting.  She's not sure what to do with herself and so she comes to where I am....and we talk in confusion for hours.  She even accused me of trying to trick her (always sweetly though.)

It was hard to watch (and to be with. )  I called someone in the Ward who loves mom , who actually came to visit with her yesterday and asked her how mom was when she came to visit.  She said she couldn't believe how much a person could mentally collapse so much in a week.  I was so distraught last night I had to call "my" mommy for comfort.  David and I were hoping a night's sleep would help...and although not totally back to normal (whatever that is now)- she is much better today and our conversations aren't so polluted.  She couldn't remember if the events (or conversations) from yesterday were dreams or reality. 

Whew!  It's been a challenge.  I'm just not sure if we ever dare leave her alone during the day.  I've spent hours and hours this holiday time trying to get things to make her life easier.  And of course, nothing works (chair for the shower- too short) (something wrong with the plumbing for the handheld shower- etc.)  so I'm running around even more.

Enough!

We can alleviate physical pain, but mental pain - grief, despair, depression, dementia - is less accessible to treatment. It's connected to who we are - our personality, our character, our soul, if you like.
Richard Eyre
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/dementia.html#2LwFcQoDX3hmw28H.99

We can alleviate physical pain, but mental pain - grief, despair, depression, dementia - is less accessible to treatment. It's connected to who we are - our personality, our character, our soul, if you like.
Richard Eyre
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/dementia.html#2LwFcQoDX3hmw28H.99

We are of course anxious for our niece's baby, Chesney. She is a SWEETHEART!

 How lucky we are in this day and age of medical attention.  They had no idea anything was wrong until they went in for the immunizations.  My kids are so darling.  Friday night Brandi and Doug had a "siblings" party (and we were invited)- a fabulous fondue party. (Doug is quite the cook!)  This is the year the kids do service for Christmas (instead of gifts for each other) and they did a sweet sub-for-Santa to surprise Megan and Marshall.  So awesome!

Much to be grateful for- even in the middle of the storm.

Nativity

                My heart is just racing from all the beautiful things I've learned and pondered and rejoiced in this weekend...from a wonderful funeral to forgiveness to  over-the-top experiences and feelings throughout the Sabbath....

 

but we have company (I'll tell you more about that later)....and there are so many THINGS going on (ho-ho-ho) but I wanted to share this darling, darling nativity that is a free printable for Christmas.  I love it and will incorporate it into our nativity play.

 

 

 

Visit kidsbibledebjackson.blogspot.com

Friends during the Holidays

 

 

One of my greatest blessings that I especially love during the holidays is good friends.  I'm such a lucky ducky to have sooo many great women to call friends.  And not just casual friends but if you needed a ride to the airport or were stuck in a snow drift or was "dying" for a Big Gulp at  9 a.m. or "let's run errands" or you need a kidney....they would be there.

Got to spend quality time with Brendalyn, then Elsa and Gayle H., then Penny.  Penny and I spent the day together....lunch then peds where we got Christmas toes.  Loved our time together.

 

 

 

Yesterday friend Sophia, from Cache Valley had a Dr.'s visit in town so we met up afterwards.  We haven't seen each other forever (life gets in the way)- so it was good to have a good excuse to get together.  The choices are unlimited on fun lunch places but I decided on The Copper Onion.  One of the reasons why I wanted to go there was because I believe in "second chances."  I went to the Copper Onion (on the recommendation of Brandi)- with Valene and funny Kathy.  I saw on the menu that one of the sides was  Brussels sprouts.  I said, "Who in the world would order Brussels sprouts?" and Valene and Kathy both exclaimed they loved them.  I remember eating them once as a child and gagging.  I decided that I'm a grown-up now (loosely speaking...) and I needed to give them a second chance.  I was so surprised I liked them.  I really liked them.

 

Friend Sophia said she wasn't a fan either.  Now she's a believer.  They were shredded like cabbage- and cooked in butter, lemon and garlic.  I'm a believer in 3rd chances as well!

 

Even though we were stuffed, I had to take Sophia for my favorite French dessert- at Les Madeleines-  Kouing Aman and hot chocolate.  As you gaze over the amazing treats in their bakery window, Kouing Aman is probably the least appetizing looking.  But I "force" people I'm with to try it.  And they become believers.  It isn't just good, it's an "ahhhhhhh" experience.

 

 

 

 

Kirk and Cathy have been in Georgia for two weeks.  She called yesterday practically in tears.  They got home from the airport...and her kids had shoveled their driveways, sidewalks AND decorated their home for Christmas!  Wow!!  That is an act of love.

 

So glad they are home.  They are coming for dinner tonight.   But first David and I are going Christmas shopping...a first (together).  Besides eating Brussels sprouts and sushi and Thai food (all Bucket list adventures) - I've also decided I'm taking up skiing again this year.  I've given up dreams of fitting into my old ski clothes ....and am looking for a new parka.  Kind of a tent parka....

 

On top of the furnace and carpeting for downstairs (when we had our last flood 1 1/2 months ago- we lost a hall way- and new carpet was laid yesterday) and still looking for the dishwasher.....I may have to give up Brussels sprouts.....

 

“We kids feared many things in those days - werewolves, dentists, North Koreans, Sunday School - but they all paled in comparison with Brussels sprouts.”  Dave Barry

Merry is good.

A little sadness with the holidays....

We got the news the day before yesterday that one of my sister's- in- law died.  She has been sick for a long time but cheerfully battled this disease (called Scleroderma) with faith and courage.  So we will be traveling and attending a funeral this holiday season.  My sweet niece, Cami (who comes and helps periodically with my mother in law- her grandmother)- has been with Vickie day and night for months....what a wonderful caregiver.  She certainly earned her angel wings in this service.  Thankfully, niece Mallory has also been there to help.  I'm not sure if my MIL quite understands but I spent the day yesterday trying "to guess" her sizes...and buying some new clothes for her for the funeral.  So sad for Vickie's family but so happy that she has peace and rest from this hideous disease.  Her husband (David's brother) was to rope in the World Series team roping finals in Las Vegas that day.  Thankfully he came home to be with Vickie instead. 
RIP sweet lady.