The Last Day of the Year 2010

Here it is, the last day of the year 2010, tomorrow will be a bran new year and so what will this new year bring?  I think that's the question we all have with the way things are in our country this day.   Not much we can do about that, we can only do the best we can and try to do the best for our self and for our families.

The years seem to go by so fast now the older I get.  If I stop and think and count, I wonder how many more years do I have left?  I guess I better set some special goals this new year, or maybe just be more productive with plans I have.

It's just a few minutes pass 9.00 p.m.  In less than 3 hours the new year will ring in.  So what are my big plans for this New Year's Eve???  Just staying home and taking it easy and yes writing this post for my Blog.

I remember when I was a young girl New Year's Eve was a big occasion.  You would get dressed up in you prettiest party dress and go out.  Where would we go??  There was usually a church dance that we would go to.  We would dance and have snacks and when midnight was coming, we would count the seconds to that big moment. 

It always seemed like midnight was the magical hour and it was then.  You would have those paper horns and streamers, you would cheer and clap and sing.  It was fun and the New Year was here...  and the old year was gone.

When I was married those early years, some of us would get together and have a party at a home and that was fun too, and sometimes they still had a dance at church for us married people and that too was fun.

Now it just nice to be home where it's warn and cozy.  I have T.V. on and when it's time for the news I'll turn that on and see what's happening with the celebrations that's going on around our state and our country.

I did celebrate New Year's Eve day today.  My sweetheart took me to Denny's Restaurant for breakfast.  We got a late start, had to go to the post office first, so our breakfast turned out to be lunch, but that was OK, I still had my senior omelet.  Afterwards we stopped at Papa Murphy's for a Pizza, which we had tonight, we enjoyed it and it was soo' good....

We've had snow for the last few days, so it's cold and wintering outside.  I have my warm snuggles on, it's peaceful and quiet, I think I'll go fix myself a nice cup of hot chocolate and wait for the new year to ring in.  But first I'll go and give my sweetheart a big hug and kiss.  I'll tell him I Love him and how important he is to me and I'll wish him a Happy New Year..

The year 2010 has been good, but tomorrow we start anew.

Family History

Family History is important to all of us, for it tells us where we come from and who we are.  For some maybe it's not that important, but to me it is.

Oh, how I wished my grandparents and great grandparents had kept a journal, or at least a diary.  I sure would love having something like that, it would be such a treasure.  I want to know all I can about them.  I know somethings, but not very much and surely not enough.

How about pictures?  What did they look like when they were young or as a child?  How did they look when they were married?  How did they dress?  I know pictures were hard to come by so many years ago.  I do have some pictures of my ancestors and these are priceless, but I have some oldies too, that I know must be family, but no names on them.  

I'm sorry to say, when I was raising my children it wasn't that easy to take pictures then either.  It was expensive, and not very convenient.  Look at today, my goodness, you take a picture with this fancy camera, view your take and print it out on your computer, you can even take pictures on your cel phone...  Now, how about that??

How lucky we are today with having this Computer and the Internet....   We can see pictures of our love ones on their Blog, and read what is happening in their life in just seconds.  We  can even find lots of family history on the Internet.  I have found lots of interesting things about my forefathers on the Internet, even a picture of my great grandparents.  What a blessing this technology is we have today....

I was very good about keeping a journal at one time in my life, but then life got in the way.  I restarted a journal again, many times, but life always seem to get in the way.  Now I'm doing  this Blog..  I'm hoping this will be like a journal.  Maybe my thoughts and feelings, maybe my memories of my life will be put down on this Blog.  Who knows where this will go and where it will take me. 

I just wonder by writing this Blog, will my children read it?  Will any of my grandchildren read it? and if they do, what will they think?  Will they learn a little more about their mother or this grandmother and about her heart? 

What about my grandchildren and even my great grandchildren?  What do they know about me, except that I am their grandmother or great grandmother?  Do they know who I am and that I care about them??  That I love them and that they are a part of me?

My sweet husband was talking just today about how he needs to write his history.  He asked me where is family history book was, or did he need to buy a new one?  I said no, I thought I knew where it was...  So this evening I found 3 books for him.  You know, the kind that asks the questions and you write the answers. 

Our Daughter Marta give each of us a lovely book, she put together, some Christmases ago.  Mine she has titled "Reflections from our Mother's Heart."  The pages have questions at the top, on some of my pages she has printed a lovely red rose, she knows I love red roses.... I've been looking at this book for sometime thinking I should start writing in it, maybe I will start this New Year.

I gave my mother a small book like this, hoping she would write in it.  One of the questions was, "How many sisters and brothers do you have?"  I had to laugh when I read her answer, It was, "I have 2 sisters and 3 brothers"...  that was it...  I promise to do better.

I gave  my Blog the Title:  "Life's Peaceful Moments"   and the reasons that is, as I look back on my life it has been good. 

     I was born of goodly parents.
     I had special grandmother's that cared about  me.
     I have a wonderful husband that has loved me all my life. 
     I have 4 wonderful children, that have always been a blessing to me. 
     My children have spouses that love them. 
     I have special grandchildren, who have meaning in my life.
     I am bless with great grandchildren and more to come.
     I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
     I know my Heavenly Loves Me.

My memories are peaceful, and that is why I call this Blog, "Life's Peaceful Moments"

Please come along with me as I journey down my Family History path...

A Special Date for a Wedding

I think December has to be the popular month for Weddings, not June, at least that seems to be the way it is, in my family.

Today I have 3 family members celebrating their wedding anniversaries.  I wonder why they chose this date..  Maybe it was the Friday or Saturday just before New Years, the year they wanted to be married.  I just know the couples were all so in Love, that they wanted to start the new year as Husband and Wife.  I don't think that couple number 2, or couple number 3, thought, they would be celebrating this special day as an anniversary, the same as another family member, they only knew that they loved each other and wanted to be together.

Couple number 1 is my Grandson Michael and his lovely wife Kendra.  My husband and I flew across the country to be at their wedding.  It was held at the Washington DC LDS Temple.  Now this Temple holds a special meaning for me, as this is where my oldest son Mark served as a janitor, for awhile, after his mission.

But this day we were having a Wedding.  It was cold outside, we even had some rain sprinkles, but when you are in love the weather doesn't matter.  After the ceremony, pictures were taken and I'm sure, if you see the pictures today, you would not see the goose bumps on the bride or her party. 

The wedding reception was held that evening at the church, the hall was decorated beautifully, with large white Christmas wreaths hanging on the walls, with sparkling lights and with white bows.  Christmas trees with white lights were everywhere.  Music was playing and I remember Kendra singing a beautiful love song to her new husband.

Couple number 2 is my Grandson Kevan and his bride was Brooke.   Again we flew across the country to be at this wedding.  They were married in the Raleigh NC LDS Temple. 

I remember it being a nice day, the sun was out, but then, some of the time it was overcast.  Her wedding party was the family.  Her sister's and her new sister-in-law's, along with brother's and brother-in-law's.  I remember the fun they had taking pictures outside this beautiful temple and how cute and sweet all the little nieces (my great granddaughters) looked in their pretty grey satin dresses and how much fun they had playing "ring around the rosy."

Their wedding reception was held at an  LDS institute building.  They had it decorated with Christmas trees and lots of lights.  There was music, dancing and food, and they had a Christmas ornament, in their wedding colors of  purple and silver, as a remembrance for all the guest.

Couple number 3 is my son Brad and my sweet daughter-in-law Susan.  They were married in town, at the court house.

Brad and Susan had been courting for awhile, but Susan was living in Mesa, Arizona.  Their courtship was talking on the phone every night for hours and then emailing in between and trying to get together sometime, just to see each other.

They had meet at a Singles conference for the church months earlier and knew there was something special between them, but this long distance romance wasn't what they wanted.  Susan came for Christmas that year and it was then, they decided to be married before she had to go back to Arizona for work. Our son Mark was home for Christmas, and so on this day, we all went to the court house for a wedding.

After the ceremony we took a few pictures and then we all went to the Chinese restaurant where we had lunch and celebrated.  When lunch was over Brad and Susan said their goodbyes and left for a few day for a honeymoon.  Brad and Susan both had to be back at work after New Years.

This long distant lasted until March, with Brad and Susan meeting half way for a weekend every other week. This they did until Susan was out of her lease on her apartment and was finished with her job.

I remember my husband and I driving to Arizona with Brad in order to help with Susan's move.  What a joyful day it was, I'm sure, as they finished loading a Uhaul truck and began traveling those many miles to their apartment in Utah, planning their life together.

Now December 6th is another special day for weddings. 

My parents were married many years ago on this day, they would have been married 76 years.  For their wedding they just eloped.  They told no one, but the friend that drove them to Santa Ana, to a court house, for you see my father had no car.  Love has a way of winning and love is Eternal, for our beliefs are Families are Forever.

This year on this day my Grandson Jared and his sweetheart Emily decided to tie the knot.  They too went to a court house and was married by a Justice of the Peace.  You could say they too eloped, just like his grandparents did in 1934.  Jared is going into the Army soon, so they wanted to be a Mr. and Mrs.  They would like to have a party someday to celebrate this marriage, but for right now, they are happy and are looking forward to their future as husband and wife.

This is my story of Decembers weddings in my family.  I want to wish each and everyone of my love ones, a long and happy life together, as Husband and Wife.  I want them to also know, I love them all very much and they are all part of my Eternal Family.  

Happy Anniversary to all of you and Congratulation to you, Jared and Emily on your Marriage.....

Derek meets Santa

Derek is my Grandson, his mother is my daughter Ann.  He is tall with blond hair and has blue eyes.  He is married to a sweet wife and has 2 wonderful, energetic young sons.  He is always happy and kind to those he meets.

He drives a big truck for the trucking company Swift.  He is traveling on the road many days and nights, delivering the goods to stores that we might do our shopping at, but he loves being home, enjoying his family and playing with his sons.

It was around Thanksgiving time when Derek started not feeling to well, he had sort of a stomach ache.  It was the busy time of the year, with the Holiday Season, and with Christmas was just around the corner, so he was busy delivering merchandise to the many stores and not thinking to much of himself.  He still wasn't feeling too good, but kept on working, day after day.

When he arrived home after a run one evening, his stomach was really hurting.  He knew something was terribly wrong.

The first thing the next morning he went to the doctors, then straight to the hospital.  Before he knew it, he was in surgery, his appendix had ruptured.  He was a mighty sick young man.....

After surgery he was placed in a room with a roommate.

Now this roommate was a jolly ole man, with a round rosy face, white hair and a white beard. 

When Derek began to feel better, his roommate and him started to have a nice relationship.  They would talk and laugh and share about their families, work and life....  I think maybe Derek even shared some of his hopes and dreams of what he wants for a future.

Derek would tell his roommate that he looked like Santa Claus, they would laugh and his roommate would tell him that he has been called that before.

They each met each other's wife and some of their family members and became friends..

Derek's roommate was released from the hospital a day or two before him, they said their goodbyes and wished each other well.

It wasn't long after his roommate and his wife had left, that a nurse came into the room and handed Derek an envelope.  It was a Christmas card and inside the card, was written a nice message and a $100 bill.
The card was signed, 
Santa and Mrs Claus.

Derek was in the hospital for almost a week, but was very happy when he was release and able to go home and be with his family as he recuperates.  He will be able to go back to work just after New Years.

I'm sorry that Derek was so sick, it will take sometime for his incision to heal and he will have to take it easy as he drives the big truck delivering his goods.

But not everyone can say, that when they were sick and in the hospital, that their roommate was Santa Claus, only Derek can, and he has a Christmas Card to prove it too......

Sunday, the day after Christmas

Today is Sunday, the day after Christmas and what a wonderful way to step back and just reflect on yesterday. 

Our Church services start at 9 o'clock, and as I teach a Sunday School lesson each week, we must be on the road by 8:30 in the morning.

This morning when it was time to arise from my warm bed, it was dark and I felt like just turning over and pretending it was still night, but then my husband let me know, it really was time to get up, that it was dark because it was raining outside.  Raining again I thought, yesterday was such a warm, beautiful and sunny day and this morning it's raining again?

Our Sacrament services were peaceful.  Our full time Missionaries were our speakers, they spoke about service to each other and to our fellowmen.  They spoke of the gospel of Jesus Christ and what his birth means to us.  Our songs where Christmas carols with a special musical number by our Bishop's daughter with her mother playing the flute.  It gave us time to contemplate about our blessings and about our Christmas day that we just celebrated and the reason for this celebration. 

Christmas comes with the hustle and bustle of the season, but it is the time that our hearts turn to home, family and love ones.  We enjoy sharing this special time with our family and are eager for their arrival.  We enjoy sharing our Christmas dinner, the comfort foods, the special smells that trigger memories of good times past, the traditions we have, and of coarse, the sharing of Christmas gifts.  

It had stopped raining by the time church was over and as we drove home my heart was full of memories and thanksgivings for all my many blessings. 

I thought about my children, my grandchildren and great grandchildren too.  They had called to wish us a Merry Christmas and to let us know they were thinking of us.  I was thinking of them too.

Today is Sunday, the day after Christmas, and a special day.  I'm just relaxing and savoring my warm and fuzzy feelings, and hoping all my family feels the same...

Rain

Rain, rain go away,
Come again another day,
Little Lizzie wants to play,

I have commented that it really doesn't rain here.  What I mean is when it does rain, it is only like "sprinkling," it might do this for a couple of hours, or maybe over night, but that's about the size of it... 

It's been raining now for the last 3 days.  Water, Water everywhere.. 

I made candy all day yesterday.  3 large batches of fudge and 3 batches of divinity.  I had a good time licking the beaters, spoons and the bowls.  When my children were little they would enjoy licking the beaters, this was a treat for them, but now, most of the time I'm the one that takes a lick, sometimes my husband wants the bowl, but after the lick, into the sink it goes.

Today I filled red plastic bowls with yummy candy.  Put them in a plastic bag and tied them with a red ribbon.  Wrote a note on Christmas Cards to special friends, to Peggy our mail lady, Kay at our little post office, who is so helpful with packing my gifts to send, Beth and Deanne at the library and my visiting teaching sisters and the home teaching families.  I think I made about 20 all together.  

We had planned to deliver them this afternoon, but you guessed it.  It was raining and I do mean raining, like buckets of rain.  

The rain sort of slowed down a little and so we took advantage of it.  I put on my coat, boots and hat, my sweetheart was my chauffeur and we headed out to deliver our Christmas cheer. 

I think we were able to deliver about 10, the rest will have to wait until tomorrow.  The weather man says that the storm should be over by the afternoon.  I hope so, as the roads that lead to my other deliveries are dirt roads and that means, mud, mud and more mud.

Yes, rain, rain go away, little Lizzy wants to play. 

Christmas, A Week Early

Saturday the 18th we  celebrated  Christmas.  This has thrown my thinking off kilter.. I keep thinking this week should be the week after Christmas Day and New Years Day will be this Saturday.  Wrong, there's still 10 more days until the year 2011 beginnings.  That means I still have a few more days to finish what I had on my list to complete in the year 2010.

Do you make New Year resolution or Goals for the coming New Year?  I do, and I try to keep tabs on them during the year, to see how I am doing..  but, I think I will put that to the side right now, after all, I still have at least 9 more days to think about what my goals should be..  Instead, I'll just enjoy thinking and typing about my Christmas last Saturday.

My sons and their families were coming home for this special day.  My daughters live too far away in other states to come, so I mail them their gifts and make phone calls.  I will miss them.

Mark lives up north with his wonderful wife, Shelly, and his daughter, Katelyn lives a few miles past that, with her Mom.  They arrived here late Friday night, there was some snow, but lots of rain on the roads, so the traveling was slow.  They were tired when they arrived, but felt good to finally be here.  They brought their things in, got settled and then we visited, and of coarse, we had some frozen peaches to eat.  Mark and Shelly took the Blue room and Katelyn had the Red room, but she really wanted the Blue room.  She said, that was her room, for that's the room she usually stays in when she is here, and besides, her picture is in that room.

Now Brad and his sweet wife Susan only live a few miles from here, so they arrived around noon on Saturday.  My granddaughter Carey and her boyfriend Adam already had arrived at her Dad's home late Thursday night, so they all came together...

We had a fun day, I was busy fixing the Christmas dinner, with the help of wonderful daughter-in-law's and my son's and Grandchildren were busy playing games in the front room.  My dear husband was back and forth from the bedroom, to the front room and then to the kitchen, keeping track on what was going on.  The ball game was on the T.V. in each room, so everyone could keep tabs on the game and the score...

The dinner table was set with white table cloth, red napkins, a Christmas table runner, red candles in crystal candle holders, Christmas dishes and red water goblets.  Our dinner was ham with lots of side dishes and pie for desert.

We sat around our table, enjoying the good meal, talking about how good it was to be together, and memories that came to mind..  My husband, expressed his love and gratitude for his sons, as he talked about our new home.  How much our boys helped us on building this home.  Brad with the framing that went on, the installing of the rafters, the building of the loafs in the garage and work shop.  Mark with laying the wood floors in the different rooms, the tile work that both boys did in the kitchen along with Katelyn's help in "buttering" the tile.  Mark with our long road from the street into our property and then all the rock walls around the outside.  We are truly blessed to have such wonderful children that are so willing to help their parents, and to help make their lives a little better and a little easier.

We have wonderful daughters too, who have taken time away from their families to come home and give some help, especially to me, when I need it most.  What a wonderful feeling it is to know, that your children love you and are there to help you whenever there is a need.  How blessed I am, for I am a Mother and my children love me and their father.. I know this to be true, by the things they say and by the things they do, for each of us.

We finish our Christmas night by clearing the table, putting the extra food away and then it was present time.  With lights on the Christmas tree, Katelyn played Santa by passing out the gifts and everyone ooh' and aah' as we all took our turns enjoying the special gifts and thoughts that was giving to each. 

The evening came to an end, with my son's doing the dishes and with Katelyn helping too. 

Later on Katelyn said to me, "Grandma, how long do you think it took us to open up our gifts?"  I think it must have taken at least 2 hours, there sure were a lot of presents.  But it was fun.

As I went to bed that night, my heart was full.  How wonderful it is to have family, to be able to have some of them come home for Christmas.  This was the first time that Carey has been here for a number of years and it was good to have her, I missed my daughters, but I had them in my heart.  I love them all.

and so I say, as I get ready to post this blog, "Merry Christmas to all and too all a good night."

I'm Done, Christmas Shopping that is.

I'm done with Christmas shopping, at least that is what I am saying.  I thought I was pretty ready for Christmas, only had a few more things to get, you see I do a lot of my shopping during the year, but I found I still needed to go to the store today.  I left my home around 11 this morning, had my list in my hand and headed down south.  But the short day I planned turned out to be an all day er.  I arrived home just before 6 and to say the least, I was just tired....


I unpacked my car, my sweetheart came to help carry my packages in and then I took a deep breath, got a tall glass of ice water, went to my sun room and sat down, put my feet up and turned on TV.


I picked up my handwork and started to stitch.   I've been working on two Christmas stockings for 2 new great grand babies this week.  There's Coleman and Adalyn.  Coleman is the son of my Grandson, Michael, and Adalyn is the daughter of my Granddaughter, Cara.  Two beautiful new babies, straight from heaven, to bless our family.  What a blessing, especially for Christmas time....


I make Christmas stockings for all the new babies in my family.  If I was smart, I would have started them when I found out we were going to have a new baby or even when they were born, but who can make a Christmas stocking in July?   Not I..  so here you find me burning the midnight oil, so I can get these stockings finish and in the mail.. If all goes well, they will be done tomorrow....


I need to put myself in fast mode, for this Saturday my sons will be here.  We will be celebrating Christmas this weekend with them and a couple of Grand kids.  Katelyn will be coming with her Dad and Carey will be coming with her boyfriend from California.  It will be fun to have everyone here.  We will have dinner, music and open presents.  We chose this weekend because Susan has to work on Christmas day and Shelly will have her family with her this year, so if we wanted to have Christmas with family, the weekend before became the day.


I will be very busy this week, but that's OK, next year I will try to start sooner. 

My Granddaughter Tawni is expecting a baby, this will be her third and also my Grandson Kevan and his wife are expecting their first, that means I will have 2 new great grand babies next year, so who knows, maybe I will start Christmas stockings in February,  and maybe I will let my fingers do the typing on the Internet and just order Christmas, anyway, I'll turn on my music and just enjoy the busy days.  Goodies have already begun to arrive..

Are You Just Tired?

Thursday's are always a busy day for us, for you see we leave just before 9 in the morning for the Temple.  We take in the 10 o'clock session and this is something we look forward too.  It's a good way to come to the end of a busy week, it can rejuvenate a person's soul and spirit.

This morning drive was peaceful, not to much traffic on the freeway, a pleasant morning as we left, it's cold and chilly, but the morning is just beginning and the morning air is smelling fresh.  It takes us about 30 minutes to arrive at the Temple, just time to relax and put away one's earthly cares.

After our session we always go for lunch at the Golden Corral Buffet.   Now this is a treat in it's self.  I think everyone should have this eating experience, for there's no end to this food table spread.  There's a special waitress there, that we always find to sit in her section.  Her name is Alma,  she's always friendly, takes very good care of us, calls us by name and she always refers to me as, "beautiful lady."   She makes me feel good...   and I leave her a nice tip.

I've gotten to know the bakery girl also.  She's a small young mother, her name is Sandra, she does all the baking for the dessert section.  She knows I like pecan pie, but they don't always have this pie, it's usually only there during holiday seasons or once in a while at other times.  Sandra knows we come on Thursday's, so if there a chance that this pie will be served, she will always save some for me. 

After lunch we do our shopping.  We hit my special stores, and finish with Walmart, then head for home.  We usually arrive home around 4 o'clock.  Thursday's turns out to be a busy day.

Today when we stopped at the mailbox on the way home, there was a paper on the bulletin board that said, "Are you just tired?"  I think someone is trying to sell vitamin pills or something, for there was a telephone number, but I thought, yes, I am tired, I'm really tired....  and again, maybe I'm always tired...

There always seems like there is so much to do and not much time to do it.  People think that when you are retired that you have nothing but time on your hands, like you are just sitting in a rocking chair and rocking your life away.  But I've got news for them.  Life gets more involved when you are retired and time seems to go too fast.  Your family multiplies and your interest expands and there's always something to do, or something that needs to be done.  But then that's life and that's good.  Life is for the living and to be busy is good.

I was going to wrap Christmas gifts this evening, but instead I read today's paper, did my Sudoku puzzle, did some knitting on a Christmas present for my granddaughter Katelyn, and now, I'm writing this post for my Blog....

Yes I'm just tired, but like most days I am tired, it's my age you know...  but then again, I think I can run rings around others my age....  I do take my vitamins, my multi vitamin for woman, and my iron pill, maybe I better go get a bottle of Geritol.....

Mom and Dad's Anniversary

Yesterday, December 6th, would have been my parents 76th wedding anniversary.  They had a love affair that lasted for a lifetime...

Mama first met Daddy when she was the cashier at the Alvarado Theater in Los Angeles, California..  Daddy was an usher at the theater down the street, and he had heard about that cute new cashier at the Alvarado.  He knew he had to check her out.  Needless to say, he liked what he saw....

They started to date and soon became an item.... Mama said that after a while Daddy wanted to get married, but mother was 4 years older than he, and this was a problem with her.  They broke up and they both were miserable.  Soon they were back together, it seems, love had a way of winning.   

It was during the great depression, they had little money, but they were in love.  They decided to get married, they went and got a marriage license (mama said her age was 2 years younger and Daddy said he was 2 years older, which made them the same age.)  They had no car, so they asked a friend to drive them.   They went to Santa Ana, was married by the Justice of the Peace and then went back to work.  They had eloped... no one knew they were married, except the friend that drove them.   Mama went back home after work and my father went back to his family home.  This lasted 2 weeks and then my father said to my mother, she better tell her mother she was married or he would.....

Well, that was their beginning.......

After 40 years of marriage, Daddy join the church and on their 43rd wedding anniversary, we went to the Los Angeles, LDS Temple and we were sealed as an eternal family.   Daddy always called my Mother, "His Girl" and Mama always referred to my Father as, "Her Les".

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad,  I love you very much, and I miss you both very much too.



     

Decorating My Christmas Tree

Today was the day that I planned on decorating my Christmas tree  I have most of my Christmas boxes of decoration sitting on the floor just waiting for me to open.  I know it's going to be a big job, it will take me most of the day, oh how I wish I could have some help, maybe a grandchild or two.  But wait...  I do remember one Christmas time....

It was the year 1994.  We had 3 grandchildren living with us for the school year, they were Jared 8, Carey 10, and Lorena 12.  We had planned to put our Christmas tree up this day, but something came up and I needed to go on an errand.  The children were disappointed as they had been looking forward to putting up the tree, so Grandma said they could start while I was gone.  I put the tree up, got the boxes down and they could start the decorating.  I told them that Grandpa was there if they needed help, so be good and have fun and I would be back soon..  Big  Mistake... 

I was gone for a couple of hours and when I arrived home and walked into the family room, my heart sank.  Every box was empty, not much was on the tree, but all the ornaments, ribbons, decoration, everything was all on the floor, sofa and every empty space, needless to say the room was a mess and with no walking space either.

Well, Grandma took her coat off, put her things away and then, 3 little grandchildren with Grandma's help, not only put the room together but we decorated the Christmas tree and even the house.

As I was putting my ornaments on my tree, I came across many of the ones that these same little children had made that year.  One was a red paper heart that Carey had made at Primary, it had a sticker of Jesus on the front and written underneath the picture was printed, "I will keep Jesus in my Heart."  I smiled to myself as I hung it on the tree, remembering that Christmas season with those precious grandchildren and all the other things we did to celebrate the season.  I thought, yes it would be nice to have some help with this tree, wish I could have 3 grandchildren named, Jared, Carey and Lorena here with me today,  I have my Christmas music on, we would talk and sing and share and I would even fix us some hot chocolate...We would have a good time, and yes, I would enjoy it..

In another box I came across an manila folder, as it opened there was a Christmas card from my daughter Marta, dated "Christmas 1990", along with paper cutout hands.  Each hand had a name of one of my children, or a grandchild written on it.

You see, at this time we were living in Texas, we had just sold our home, moved into an apartment, and only kept what we needed, for we were only going to stay there another 2 years until I could retire.  We had shipped all the rest of our furniture, plus our Christmas decorations to Utah where we would live after retirement.

Marta knew that we were not planning much of a Christmas, so she planned a Christmas for us.  

One evening when we returned home after work, in front of our door there was a package.  I opened the package and inside there was a small Christmas tree, 2 Christmas stockings, a manila folder and a Christmas card.
    The card read:
             Mom and Dad,
                    All good wishes
            for a Happy Holiday Season
              and a Bright New Year,

     This Christmas is sent to you with loving hands, - We love you
     and miss you and pray you have a happy holiday filled with
     memories of years past..-
                Love, Marta and Dave

     Place these loving hands upon your tree and know that we
     love you very much....

For the next few days the mailman brought me more envelopes with cutout paper hands, with the names of my family written on each hand.  Marta had contacted her siblings told them her plan and asked them to send us paper hands of their family.  That Christmas I had a tree with loving hands all over it and a heart that was filled with wonderful memories of years past.

Each year from then on, no matter what my Christmas tree was like, and this year I have a 9 ft tree, it always has those loving hands.

I also have a tradition that I have been doing since 1979, and that is making a Christmas ornament for all my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren..  This year I made over 40 of them. They too have special meaning, but I'll tell you about that another day.

I've finished decorating my tree, it took me longer than I had planned, I guess that's because there's memories attached to the ornaments that go on this tree.  But that's OK, I've had a good day and I think if I do say so myself, it looks pretty good.  My heart is warm and fuzzy.  and, Oh by the way, my Sweetheart said the tree looks pretty good too...

T'is the Christmas Season

I love this time of the year.  I love the smells that are in the air, pine trees and cinnamon, and apple pie.  I love going to the stores and seeing all the decorations and hearing the Christmas music.  I love looking at all the decorations and seeing all the wonderful Christmas light.  I love the way people decorate their homes and the way towns decorate their streets and parks and the special events that happen in preparation for the holidays.  I love reading Christmas stories and watching the many Christmas movies and programs that we are able to see on TV.  I love the Christmas devotionals and the message they bring. I love the Christmas parties that we have at Church and with family and friends.  I love the special Christmas programs we have to celebrate and to remember the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  I love sharing all this with my family and my love ones.... and I love the memories that this season brings...

At the Dixie Center each year there is the "Dickens' Festival."   This is such a fun experience and something I look forward to each year.  It is always held the week after Thanksgiving.  Inside the Dixie Center, the entire hall has been transformed into an olde English street scene straight out of London. Over 165 booths resembling quaint English cottages border a network of walkways.  The shops, manned by artisans dressed in olde English attire, are filled with a variety of arts, crafts, home items, and presents.  There's food, music, and lots of entertainment, always going on... and to enjoy...

I have such a sweet and wonderful daughter-in-law, in fact I have two.  I am very blessed in this area..  but for this occasion I have a Christmas tradition with Susan.  We take off for the day, go to the Dixie Center and just enjoy strolling down the streets of olde London, were the light are low and Christmas music is playing in the air and caroler's are singing.  We always stop at this one booth and have our pictures taken, with a different hat on each year.. The pictures are free and a keepsake for us to remember...  that day, that year, that time ....

This is a special day for me and I feel very blessed that Susan enjoys sharing this experience with me.  She says she enjoys this special time and she too looks forward to it. We plan what we are going to wear and about our hats, she laughs about that and says, it reminds her when she was a teenager and would call her friends, to see what they were going to wear, and then we both laugh.  As we stroll along our way, we stop, look and share, we talk, laugh, and just have a good time.  Sometimes I think I have lost her in the crowd, but she's a little taller than I, so I don't worry, she seems to always find me, besides we have our cell phones... 

This is the beginning of my Christmas Season, although I have been busy planning and preparing for Christmas for sometime.  I have been busy with my knitting needles and crochet hook, plus my trusty sewing machine for a number of months, but today I am reminded that there is only 20 more day till Christmas day, needless to say, I must now switch to fast speed to be completely ready.

Tomorrow is Monday and the beginning of a new week.  My plans are to decorate my Christmas tree, (I already have it up and the lights are burning.)  I will also decorate my home, put my Christmas music CD's on and have a Apple Pie candle burning.

Sweet Smell of Christmas, my heart is ready......  we even had snow last week, the first of the season and more to come.  I think I'll have a cup of hot chocolate and the fireplace going, my sweet husband just brought me a bowl of popcorn...  yes,..  T'is the season for ...

A Trigger Memory

I just went into my "Blog" to see if there had been any activity on it, and to my surprise I found that I had a comment on my last posting, "Memories of Thanksgivings Past."  So of coarse, I had to click on it to see the comment....

The comment was from my daughter, who has the profile name, "They call me Grandma" on her "Blog."  As I read her comment, again my heart was warm of memories past.

As I was sitting here at my Computer reading her words, I kept on thinking on how each person has a memory of an special event that will trigger another memory and even another one and another.

Let me expound on that thought:

My daughter's comment starts:  "As I read your post it brought a tear to my eye,"  you see, my granddaughter Cara that was upset with her "friend" calling me Grandma, is her daughter... and Tawni is her sister Ann's daughter.... 

Then she goes on to say:  "That was the year that Brandon and Michael got so excited to make "smoke" by stomping on the plaster bags."  Now, Michael is her son, and Brandon is my daughter Ann's son.  The "smoke" she is referring to, is the dust that comes from plastering material that's used in building construction.  You see, some of our  family members are Plastering Contractors and these little Grandsons had found a treasure.  They were covered with plaster dust, from head to toe, they had been busy little boys.

Next she says:  "It is also the year that Derek and Kevan were babies."  Derek, is Ann's son and Keven is hers.  she goes on,  "We brought Kevan to be blessed, surrounded by family."  Kevan was just a month old and in our faith, a baby is giving a name and a blessing.  This is a very special ordinance in our Religion and because of this, it was important to my daughter to be surrounded by family.  Because she and her family were coming home for this holiday, arrangements were made to have this blessing take place.

She continues: " and Peggy, (Peggy is my Niece) wants to know what Derek's name was.  That sweet beautiful baby that you loved with the elusive name."  Let me explain,  I was sitting there holding my sweet beautiful grandson.  He was only a few months old, a sleep, snuggled in my arms and Peggy says to me "Aunt Liz what's the baby's name?"  I looked at my sweet little grandson and said, "Oh my sweet little one, what is your name?  I know it's not Brandon or Kevan, oh, what is your name?"  and then my daughter Marta said, "Mama, his name is Derek." "oh, yes, my sweet one, your name is Derek."  Derek is now a tall handsome grandson, with a lovely wife and 2 beautiful boy and I do remember these names.  Please Derek, forgive this Grandma, for a grandma moment years ago.......

She concludes her comment:  It was a gift to be in California and able to eat outside on a pleasant fall afternoon. 

This year I gathered 17 of my family around that same table (she has her Grandmother's table and buffet in her home) and served the same food. 

Traditions continue for a few more generations.....

and then she ends with:  I sure enjoy what you are writing, keep them coming.. Love, Marta...

This is what I mean by having another memory trigger by sharing memories of special times..  I forgot about the smoke that two little boy had made, but I did remember holding a sweet grandson with the elusive name and I remember years later, traveling across country in a pickup truck, taking an old dinning room table and a buffet to a daughter, so she could have and enjoy her Grandmother's table and memories..

Sweetheart, you told me when you had me start this "Cyberspace Blog," that it would be fun and I would enjoy doing it.  Well, I'm still trying and learning how this thing works, but I am enjoying it, it lets me think and lets me remember some of my Life's Peaceful Moments. So here you are, another post from your Mama..... I love you,   I love all my family, you are my Blessings.

Memories of Thanksgivings Past

I have found that as we travel down life's path, family traditions have a way of changing when life takes a turn or two....We still have our traditions, but they might take on a new twist or maybe something new might be added to them, or deleted, but then again, somethings might stay the same.

So please come with me as I travel down my memory lane of my Thanksgiving past.

When I was a young mother, my mother-in-law would have Thanksgiving dinner and most of her children would come home for this special day....

She had a small home with a Dinning room table in her front room.  She would set the table with a pretty table cloth, nice dishes and white goblets.  She was a very good cook, but the rest of us would also help her with the fixings for this meal.

As the family grew, smaller tables were added for the children and more chairs would be added around the other tables.  Some times we had a lot of people home for Thanksgiving and sometimes there might not be so many.  But no matter how many would be there, there was always the turkey, dressing, gravy, candy yams, mash potatoes, jello, green salad and string beans and of coarse the pies..

The children always had fun with their cousins, the women would clean up and do the dishes and visit, the men would watch the ball games and talked....It was family time, to see each other and share with each other.  It was always a good day and we all stayed as late as we could.

Time brought about changes and family members would move, children would grow up, marry and are now having their own children.

Some of my children were now living in different states.  But when Thanksgiving would come, if they could, they would come home.

I remember one special year, all my children would be here for Thanksgiving.

My mother-in-law was going to have everyone over for dinner.  As her family had now grown to include great grandchildren, her front room would not hold everyone, so that year we had Thanksgiving dinner outside on the drive way.

The men folks went to the church and borrow about four long tables.  They were set up end to end along the drive way.  The tables were set with table clothes, paper plates and the silverware.  We had the turkey and all the rest of the goodies for this special meal.

As I sat at the table enjoy my meal and my family, I notice my little granddaughter Cara was crying.  I asked her what the matter was and she said in a sad crying voice "My friend is calling you Grandma,"  she was referring to her cousin Tawni.  Now Cara's family was living in Texas at this time and Tawni's family was living in Arizona and this Grandma was living in California, "Oh," we were living so many miles apart, so far from each other...

Now these little cousins were only about five years old at this time, so they really didn't understand the relationship between them, they just knew they were friends this day.

Grandma in all her wisdom tried to explain to Cara that it was alright that her friend was calling me Grandma, because I was her Grandma too, just like I was "her" Grandma.  I then told her, "her Mama and her friend's Mama were sisters, just like she has sisters, and because of this her friend was also her cousin."....I guess maybe she understood somewhat, for tears were now gone and smiles were there and cousins were cousins.

This is one memory, that warms my heart, of two little granddaughter on one Special Thanksgiving Day many years ago.  These little girls have now grown into beautiful young women with special husbands and sweet darling children of their own. This Grandmother loves each of them very much.....and now they too are making some Thanksgiving memories for their hearts.....

Thanksgiving Memories

It's late Sunday night and our Thanksgiving weekend is coming to a close.

As I sit here at my computer thinking of these past few days, my mind goes back to our Thanksgivings past. 

How fast the years go by.  When you are young and just starting out, ten years will seem like an eternity, but then five times that, plus a few more years and it does turn out to some, as an eternity.  But too me, it just seems like yesterday.

When I was growing up our Thanksgiving Day was spent at my Aunt Sissie's.  We would arrive early so my mother could help my Aunt and my Nannie with the dinner and then my siblings and I would play with our cousin.  We always had a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.  My Nannie would bake the best apple and pumpkin pies.  This was a wonderful traditions that our family did every year. But when my cousin was married, they were invited to her in-law's for Thanksgiving dinner and so, a new, or should I say, another traditions started.

Thanksgiving morning in 1942 my Daddy woke me up early and told me to hurry and get dressed, for we were going to Aunt Sissie's.  Why would we go so early in the morning, it was still dark out side???  Well, you see, my mother was pregnant and her pains had started, so she needed to get to the hospital.  I was just 6 at the time and I had a little sister who was just 16 months.  Well, we hurried to my Aunt Sissie's where Daddy dropped us kids off and then took Mama to the hospital.  Mama had always said that when they arrived at my Aunt's house, when she answered the door her comment was "I told you to come early, but not this early." 

My Brother Butch was born about 6 o'clock that evening on Thanksgiving Day and every few years, we not only celebrate Thanksgiving Day with a turkey dinner and all the trimmings, but with a birthday cake too.  I asked him just yesterday if he ever felt cheated about sharing his birthday with the turkey and he said, "NO," for not everyone has so many people celebrating their birthday on their day, as he does on his special day...

Well, I just looked at the clock and it looks like the time has come to put my memories to bed. There will be another day and another time for me to take you down  my "Thanksgiving Day Memories."   Until then---

Thanksgiving Blessings

Thanksgiving Day is almost here and with it brings to me, not only gratitude, but thankfulness for my many Blessings. 

I'm thankful for the family I have and for my lovely home.  I'm thankful for a dear and wonderful husband, who has loved me all my life. 

I'm thankful for 4 great and wonderful children, for the joy and happiness they have brought to me.  I'm thankful for their spouses, for their love and kindness they give to me, but especially to them for loving their wife or husband, who is my child. 

I am thankful for my 15 grandchildren, and for the special people they are.  I'm thankful for the 21 great grandchildren that warms my heart, with their happy smiles and the hugs and kisses they so freely give me.

I am thankful that I was blessed with goodly parents, that not only loved each other, but loved us, their children.  I am thankful for the home I was raised in and for the teaching I was taught.  I am thankful for my brothers and sister, for their spouses and their children that call me Aunt.....

I am thankful for my grandparents, especially to my Nannie who instilled in me eternal truths.  I'm thankful for great grandparents that had the courage and faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to leave everything in their native land and crossed a ocean, to pull a handcart and walk hundreds of miles across a barren land for religious freedom.

I am thankful for all my extended family, Aunts, Uncles and cousins.  I have been richly blessed for how they have touched my life.

I am thankful for my husbands family, for his parents, for raising such a wonderful son, my sweetheart, and for the love he has for his siblings.

I'm thankful for the land I live in and the freedoms I enjoy.  I'm thankful for those who serve our Country so I can enjoy these freedoms.  I'm thankful for our flag that waves over this land of the free and that I can stand and say "I am a American."

And mostly, I am thankful for the knowledge I have in the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the testimony I have.  I know that I am a Child of God and that I am Loved.

Yes, Thanksgiving Day will be here, and I will enjoy this day, for you see, I will have some of my family with me, around my table as we give thanks for all of our many blessings.

May you too have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and may your blessings be many......







   

Phone Call From My Brother

It was just the other night around 8 o'clock that my telephone rang.  I answered it with a cherry  "Hello," and then I heard an familiar voice saying "Hi" this is your brother Kent....Oh Kent, it's been way too long since we have talked.  I have thought of you so often, but the time just seems to get away from me without making that phone call.  

He said he just received an email from my daughter Marta, I guess she is so excited that her  Mama is writing a blog, that she emailed her siblings, her children and other family members, telling them that there's a new blogger out in cyberspace that they should check out.  So he did, and to his surprise it was his sister....Now you must know, my brother is a Computer wiz, he does this for a living, working for large companies, writing their program, solving their computer problems and now his sister is in cyberspace doing more than just emailing.  I'm sure he was thinking WHAT IS GOING ON????/

It was good to hear his voice and we talked about "what was going on" in our lives, and now that the holiday season is upon us we should get together.  He lives some distance from me in another state, and so plans would have to be made to make this happen.

Kent's a good brother and I love him very much.  He's my youngest brother.  You see, I was fourteen when he was born.  When Mother told us children (there was three of us then) that she was going to have a baby, we were all so excited.  We all felt that Dad and her planned this new addition because my siblings and I wanted a baby in our family.  Little to our knowledge that wasn't so, but she let us believe it was true.

The joy and excitement we all felt when Kent was born.  My younger brother and sister went to stay with my Aunt Sissie, while Mama was in the hospital, but I stayed home.  I remember Daddy taking me to the hospital one night to see Mama and my new little brother.  I felt so special to be the first one to see him, I could hardly wait for the day Daddy would bring Mama and our new baby home.

I would hurry home from school each day so I could hold him and help take care of him.  If he was fussy when Mama was fixing dinner, she would give him to me and I would sit in the front room, in the old upholster rocking chair and rock him and sing to him.

He was such a happy baby and a pretty one too, (if I dare say that) he had beautiful blue eyes and lots of dark hair and such a sweet smile.  He seemed to enjoy all the fussing we his siblings showered upon him, and it wasn't long until we all started to call him "Kentie" to this day our sister still calls him that and to our Mother he was always her "Kentie."

I was married when Kent was only three and my Marta was born just before Kent was five.  He was excited at the news that he was now an Uncle, but his friends would tell him he wasn't, because he was too young to be an Uncle, but Kent would insist he was an Uncle and he was.....

It was good talking to you brother dear, I love you and I'll talk to you again real soon, in the meantime, maybe you will see this in cyberspace and know I was thinking of you.

Passport to Travel

My Daughter Marta says I should post a new entry often on my Blog... I asked her, "How often is often?" and her reply was, "at least a few times a week."....  Oh my goodness, what could I possibly write about, let alone a few times a week, that would be interesting for even me to read?????

Take yesterday for example... 

 My dear husband and I had decided to obtain our passports.   Why?  Who knows, maybe we might decide to be world travelers.  The most traveling we've done is going to see our children, although we did take a cruise to Mexico once and even flew to Hawaii for a week, but to be world travelers? 

He has talked about a cruise to Alaska, we have some friends that took this cruise this past summer and they said it was Wonderful..  I think I would enjoy that, he also says it would be fun to have our children with us, I think that would be fun too. 

Who knows, at least we filled out the papers, had our pictures taken and paid our money.   The lady at the post office who took our money, said it would take about 4 to 6 weeks before we would receive our passport book.  We still have lots of time to think about it and even dream.  Then who knows what our plans may be....

We are basically homebody people, we enjoy being at home.  Home is where our Heart is, but I think it would be fun to do some traveling, in fact when I pick my bags I'll take my Heart with me...

Welcome To My World

My oldest daughter Marta came home for a visit just recently, now I say "Home" and that's because that's where her Mom and Dad live, not the home she was raised in, but home is home where love and memories are felt and seen. 

I have two rooms that are Guest Rooms in my new home, one is the Red Room and the other is the Blue Room.  My guest have their choice in which room they would like to stay.  My husband calls the Red Room the Hot Room and the Blue Room the Cool Room, I'm not sure why he says that, but we smile and have a little laugh and a tight squeeze.  I love the Victorian Style with a nostalgia flair and my home has this feeling.

I told my daughter she could stay in the room she wished.  She looked them both over and then chose the Red Room.  After a few days she told me how much she was enjoying this room, she said it was because she had her family all around her, you see, I have vaulted ceilings in my home and in my Guest Rooms I have a shelf  running around, above the windows, of the three walls and on the shelf I have pictures and keepsakes. The pictures in the red room are of her children and her grandchildren, she felt loved, she was wrapped with warm, cozy and happy feelings, it just felt good to her.

We had a wonderful visit, went many places, saw many things, did lots of visiting with family and lots of talking and sharing.  She said to me "Mom, you need to do a Blog."  A Blog?  What is a Blog????   She told me she has been doing a Blog, in fact, she has been doing it for over a year and all her children are doing one too.  You need to do one, she said.  It's like writing a journal, just talking to yourself.  You can write about your memories, your dreams or just your thoughts and your feelings. It's fun.  She pulled up her "Blog" and I started to read. It was fun, to read how she felt about things, about events, about life and about what makes her happy.  OK, Sweetheart, your Mama doesn't know that  much about this ole PC, so you'll have to set me up and teach me a few things, and then we see what we can do and maybe your Mama will have a Blog too.

So here it is.  "Life's Peaceful Moments"  This will be my Blog.  My daughter Marta has gotten me started and my talented and artistic granddaughter Cara has done all the art work, I hope you like it, I know I do, in fact I love it, love it, love it, thank you Cara.....Sooo... Welcome to my World......