Alex; Hannah; a low key Christmas

This just in this morning from our friends who live in Fallon, but are in Utah right now. Guess who they bumped into at church today?!

Sidney, Kenna, Alex, and Natalie

And Hannah shared 2 great things with us today. One is that she has earned her Young Women's Personal Progress Award (congratulations, Hannah!) and the other is a sweet letter to her from Alex back when Alex was 7 years old.

A low-key Christmas is what you have when 4 of your 5 children can't be home for Christmas (plus 3 of their spouses and your 2 grandchildren). But, it's still Christmas and it's still wonderful.

So, Merry Christmas everyone. What a wonderful time of the year when it is easier to share the message of Christ. How grateful I am for my knowledge of Jesus Christ, His life, and His mission, and for that knowledge that has helped me to have a better life.

Monday was Christmas caroling to our neighbors. It was a little bit damp, but really not too bad. In the end, we had about 26 of us (including a few babies). We, as usual, sang "Silent Night" followed by "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and gave out our cookies.

cookie pass off

One of the houses we always go to had a lady who was so excited, because she's been waiting for years for us to come while it was also Hanukkah (Chanukah, Hannukah, and Hanukah are also acceptable spellings, though spellcheck doesn't like any of them).

Anyway, she had made latkes for us (with our choice of sour cream or applesauce) and lit the hanukkiah for us (more education for the day--it is often called a menorah, but technically a menorah only has 7 spots and not the 9 of the hanukkiah). Her mother had been in a concentration camp and she said she still has the yellow star from her mother. The plan now is for her to go in to Glen's history class and talk about that when he teaches about World War II.

Tonight is the last night of Hanukkah for this year. I personally love lighting Hanukkah candles. Jesus was Jewish and it was part of His heritage. I love the story behind it all. There is an article that I read that I really love on this topic: https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/sound-of-faith/read/articles/did-jesus-christ-celebrate-hanukkah-17683.html

Tuesday was Christmas Eve. With just Glen, Eric, and me, it was pretty quiet. Eric was working and Glen was in town, so when it was time to light our traditional bayberry at sunset, I was the only one around.

Christmas morning was a slow affair. Even with just 2 of them competing, we did the traditional German "hide the pickle in the tree," using the paper maché pickle Eric had made in elementary school. Eric found the pickle, and we were about to start opening gifts when Alex gave us a video call, so we paused to talk to him.

Eric needs to go a little lower and to the right to find the pickle

and he did!

video call!

After the call, it was time for presents. It was pointed out to us that we haven't had so few home at Christmas since 1990. Glen and I had already gotten our main gift--about 2 weeks ago we got our new dresser and nightstands put up in our room. I think they look very nice.

before

after (the c-pap machine hides in a drawer during the day now)

before

after

dresser after (I forgot to get the before, but it was pretty bad)

Heather sent us this picture of Henry using her new yoga mat and block. Too cute. He really reminds me of some pictures of Andrew.

Henry (4 1/2)

Andrew at about the same age that Henry is now

The week was also filled with playing games with the family. And crafting. And movies.

We watched "A Muppet Christmas Carol" and "A Christmas Story" here at home, Glen and I went and saw "It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" (we highly recommend it), and Eric saw "Cats" several times as well as "Jumanji" and "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker."

using alcohol inks to craft--messy but fun

quilt, 1 semester more, Christmas, feeding calves

First off, Friday was my parents' 63rd wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! Thanks for being such wonderful parents to me! I love you both!

Wednesday was the museum's last quilting meeting for this year's southwestern quilt (next year we're doing a Christmas quilt). When the week started, I was 4 months behind (meaning 4 rows behind as we did a row a month), so I spent most of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday finishing my quilt top. I love it. I hope it won't take me too long to actually quilt the thing. I have to decide if I'm just adding a small black border or if I'm adding 1' along the sides and bottom so I can use it on my bed (which is what I'm leaning towards doing).

Glen sold the 1996 manual transmission Saturn that Alex had been using. It served us well. I just hope it runs well and for a long time for the student who bought it.

Friday was the last day of fall semester. So Glen is officially down to one semester before he retires from school! We are pretty excited.

And on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Glen and Eric participated in the Live Nativity. Glen ran the spotlight while Eric, looking the part with his awesome beard, was one of the wise men (it's hard to tell, but that's his llama beside him...no camels for our wise men). Our nephew Ben was one of the shepherds. I went and saw the nativity sets display and ate cookies the first night (and watched the Nativity, of course).

Glen made the star for the Live Nativity

Eric as a Wise Man with a llama (no camels to be found) 

Ben is kneeling to the left of Joseph and Eric is kneeling front on Mary's right

Our tree, as I mentioned last week, has a new theme: silver and gold. Usually we wait until Christmas Eve and put a star up on top of our tree then, but this week I put up an angel that I had made in 4th grade in 1970 (so glad my mom was able to keep it in good condition while I was growing up so I can have it now!). I also added a few more ornaments to the tree this week.

tree topper is an angel I made in the 4th grade

with only 3 of us home this year, there aren't too many presents 

So, the last few months, Glen and I have been lax in our walking. We are trying to get back on track. It was about 30 degrees out yesterday morning went we went. I think our photo makes it look colder than it felt. But it was so good to be out and about.

it's always so beautiful on our walks

It was only 30 out but we were  bundled well

As we were walking, we happened upon the calves just as Eric and Brent were giving them their morning bottles. Brent drives the tractor while Eric drops the milk bottles into the holders on each calf pen.

part of Eric's job is taking care of the calves with Brent

We did not get to talk to Alex on Monday when he tried to call (as we were on a walk), but his email was great. Sounds like he's doing well. Besides missionary work, they made gingerbread houses, got to see the famous Christmas lights on Temple Square, and played pickle ball (though he'd rather be playing tennis). Because they cover 19 wards, he says that they've been attending a lot of church Christmas parties! He seemed to have had a great week that week.

I really love this photo Alex took. I think I'm going to have to get a print of it.

Elder Sivadon's house

Alex labeled this "My house (it's beautiful)." That it is.

Glen's turn...

It was Glen's turn to have a video call with Alex (usually it's me). Glen's report on their conversation:

Alex had an interview with his Mission President, Pres. Prier, this week. Now instead of just being the companion to the mission's IT Specialist, Alex is considered an IT Specialist himself, helping missionaries anywhere in the mission to deal with their phone and other technical problems.

They had a great Zone Conference. He was able to see Elder Cordel, his companion from the MTC, whom he loves so much.

He and Elder Sivadon got to take someone to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights (hoping for a photo in Monday's email)! He was so hoping he'd be able to do that, that's why he wanted Salt Lake as his first area.

It was also Glen's turn to be interviewed on his school's news program (if you remember, Andrew was interviewed at his school a few weeks ago). Glen's interview is from 1:57 to 3:36:

Glen and his siblings traveled about 500 miles down to Hurricane, Utah, for the funeral of their Aunt Norma (Nancy's older sister), who was 93. Sounds like they had a wonderful reunion with their cousins (and other relatives) are glad they were able to go.

Glen, Gordon, Alan, Michelle, Janice, Teresa, Duran, Kathy, and David

I subbed for Glen on Friday as he was traveling down to the funeral, which allowed me to take a new photo of his ties on the wall (just a few more ties and he's half-way through his last year teaching):

My turn:

I love this, right now. Ten days before Christmas. Most is done, so I can just relax and enjoy. Still doing a bit of crafting, but I've finished decorating. New theme this year--gold and silver tree. I love it.

Music is a big part of the enjoying the season. I shared this video a few years ago, but it's still one of my favorites, so here it is again, "What Shall I Give?" by the Tabernacle Choir:

I think I miss my eyelashes the most...

There is a quote attributed to Ozzy Osborne: Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.

As I've aged over the past few years, the thing I seem to lament losing the most are my eyelashes. I knew I'd get gray hair and wrinkles and such (though the chicken neck did start sooner than expected), but I never thought about eyelashes. It's a daily struggle especially since my left eyelid has fewer lashes than my right...getting them to balance is a chore. Who knew that mascara would play such an important part of my morning routine.

Anyway, I turned 58 years old yesterday. I had a wonderful day (and a wonderful week) filled with family, friends, and the start of the Christmas season. Thanks everyone for your calls, texts, and messages!

For my birthday, Glen gave me 2 games, Onitama and Azul Stained Glass of Sintra. Too  much fun! I haven't played many Onitama games (similar to chess), but I have lost every one. Yay me. I have a better win record with Azul.

The other day, I started decorating using the bulletin boards that are over the kitchen counter by putting up past years' cards that I had made. I think my card-making skills have improved. As cards come in, I'm replacing mine with them.

a few of these were cards I designed but didn't use, so you may not recognize them

Yesterday, Glen brought over our decorations from storage and the real decorating began. It's still a work in progress, though.

I'm sill working on this as well as the tree

We got to talk to Alex on Tuesday as well as on my birthday. Alex's companion, Elder Sivadon, is the mission's IT specialist and they wound up spending several hours of their p-day fixing phone problems, so Alex didn't have time to call home, but was allowed to on Tuesday instead. And then again on my birthday. It's so weird to think that Andrew, Eric, and Ryan were only allowed to call home on Christmas and on Mother's Day. I'm loving the rule change.

Sounds like Alex and Elder Sivadon have plenty of people to teach and had a great week. Alex is loving the snow (I wonder how long that will last, but glad he likes it now).

Another interesting thing about Alex's area is that the 19 wards they cover includes a Japanese one (Elder Sivadon's name tag is in Japanese and Alex will be getting one in Japanese, too). When they teach someone, though, they use an interpreter.

And once again, they had dinner with a family who then shared a photo with us! Doesn't Alex look good!

I love Elder Sivadon's "Hi Mom!" sign

Thursday night was the annual Christmas party with my friends. This year our talented friend, DonNell, led us in painting a Christmas gnome (she had designed the painting herself!). A few years ago we did this with cardinals. I think we all decided our gnomes came out better (it's easier doing a character than a real creature).

mine

having done the example for us in red, DonNell decided to try out green

Kara's

Terra's

if you look closely you can see footprints of where Jennifer's gnome walked away...

Friday night was Fallon's Annual Christmas Tree Lighting. It was cold, but not too cold. Fireworks followed the tree lighting. It's a great tradition we have here.

6 December 2019