Twas 3 Days before Christmas

Twas 3 days before Christmas

and with dawns early light.

The snow started falling

all fluffy and white.

I was busy this morning

and the day seemed a blur.

Early afternoon came

I felt chilled, I thought brrrr.

I slipped into bed

to read and get warm.

I dozed off to sleep,

but awoke with alarm.

I ran to the door to see

what ruined my dream.

There stood good neighbor Bob

with his new snowblowing machine.

Winter Solstice - December 21, 2008

Yesterday was the shortest day of the year and the longest night. From now on our days will be getting longer and the nights shorter.

It is now Monday, December 22. The house is decorated. The smell of freshly baked Banana Bread comes from the kitchen. I am listening to, Christmas in the Aire, a CD Julie sent me. Outside fluffly, soft snowflakes are swiftly falling on the snow from last week. It is truly a beautiful marshmellow world. This afternoon I am going to bake cookies, read a bit, maybe sew a seam or two , but I'll enjoy the day and just putter around. I love to putter and do alittle of this and a little of that. It will be a stay at home day. It looks like I might be snowed in.

A Little Christmas Around the House.

I enjoyed decorating this year.

I felt like I was having old friends join me.

Three years ago I bought a pre-lit tree.

Much easier.

The table setting is a little different this year.


Old Man Winter joins me each year.


The gold deer and pine trees is a favorite arrangement.


A picture of dad's taken
in American Fork Canyon.


"God bless us, every one."

Busy Santa elves.




My faithful soldier.
I need to search his battlegrounds for his boots.




" Merry Christmas to All and
to All a Good Night."

The Year I Didn't Decorate.

I was working.

To shop for a tree, set it up,

string with lights and decorate,

did not seem fun to me.

Besides,

Everything I brought up from the basement,

I would have to return to the basement.

Mike couldn't stand it.

He pulled the Fica tree over

and

presents went under that tree.

(He even threatened to put lights on it.)

Remembering our Steve

Four years ago today Steve died unexpectedly of pneumonia at the age of 43.I have been bracing myself all month for this day.

Today I feel I've handled it better than other years as I have tried to keep myself busy.
Tonight as the darkness came and at the slowing down of the activities of the day, memories of that night returned and there is a rerun of events of four years ago.
It is a deep loss in so many ways to lose a child. One that is hard to explain or understand until it has been experienced.

Sometimes I feel sadness as events happen in the lives of his children and I wish Steve were here to share in the joy of their achievements and to help and support them in their set backs.

No one can take the place of a father or mother in the life of a child. The love between Steve and his children was especially strong and close. Now there is a void where that closeness once was. He graduated to a Grandpa this month with the birth of Everett Neil. Yet, that precious little guy won't have the fun, love and companionship of Grandpa Steve. Steve would have thoroughly enjoyed and would have been a wonderful Grandpa.
This scene of an absent parent plays over and over in many homes and in many lives.

May we enjoy our life journey and truly love, help and treasure those we travel with along the way.

It is hard to understand why the journey is cut short without warning for those we are closest to.

Steve, we love and miss you.

I Am Confused

My Parents and My Church always taught me to be frugal and thrifty.

Now MY Government tells me to spend, spend, spend.

Madison and Everett Neil

As of December 8th, I am a great grandmother.

Everett Neil

9 lbs 3 oz.

19 inches long

Born - Dec. 8 at 12:45 a.m.

The Twins Are Three Months Old.

OH, how they've grown!

Dec. 2nd - Come What May, and Love It

Joseph B. Wirthlin age 91

A beloved leader left us this morning. Many looked to and loved him for his example, wisdom and wit. His last conference talk has valuable counsel as he told of his mother saying to him, "come what may, and love it." He also taught us, by some of his experiences, to learn to laugh at situations instead of getting angry, harboring resentment, feeling humiliated or embarrassed. He said, "Laughter will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable." His talk also taught us to Seek for the Eternal, The Principle of Compensation, and to Trust in the Father and the Son. The conclusion of his talk is very powerful. A very good talk to read and study.

Dec. 1st - Finding Joy in the Journey.

This evening Christmas was ushered in at the Scera Theater by a children's choir Kathryn was in. They were delightful. They sang and did actions to many of the songs of the Season. Of course Grandpa and I thought Kathryn was the hit of the show with her beautiful new dress with fur on the sleeves, her special hair do and flawless performance.

Each member of the Ward was given a plain square of fabric and markers to design a quilt block about their family. The top was sewn together and today four of us set it up and pinned it for Marilyn Steele to machine quilt. It is unique and so awesome. It will be given to the Bishop this Christmas.

Knitting on three needles has fascinated me. Today I started knitting fingerless wrist warmers. It will be interesting to see how these turn out.