It's a Wonderful Memory

Today is December 28th the space in between Christmas and New Years. This week really flew by fast. On Wednesday after I left work at W.S. I stopped at the grocery store to stock up on cookie decorating goodies for that evening. I baked the sugar cookies & the table was laid out with everything they needed to create cookie masterpieces for Santa. I was ready for the arrival of my grandkids. They are each so creative and each one has their own style.. some are very methodical and precise and others are just fun & fast. Of course the one who has the most fun is the one who believes the most and that is Tyler. My grandson Logan was not feeling well so he gave me permission to create his cookies for him.. while he laid on the couch. We then watched the CD of "The Reflections of Christ". A request from my grandaughter Morgan, who wanted to watch something with the theme of the birth of our savior this year. It is a beautiful story presented by photographer Mark Mabry as they take you behind the scenes as Mark recreates and photographs the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. It was an early evening with kids off to their homes and beds to await the arrival of Santa.
Christmas afternoon we all gathered at my son Steve's home to un-wrap gifts from each other. It is a very fun tradition we have of sitting in a large circle and taking turns un-wrapping from youngest to oldest. Each one of my grandchildren know exactly who they come after and before and we go around the circle one at a time, sharing in the excitement and fun of each gift. Everyone was very happy with their gifts and we then had our Christmas buffet. We each bring something for the dinner. It is a Christmas evening tradition that we go to a movie together. I was really tired after working every day this week and knowing I had to get up at 4 a.m. to be at work by 6 a .m. so I chose not to go to the movies.
At W.S. the next morning I got to disassemble the Christmas displays & trees in the front windows and re- set them with the new visuals. My friend Lynn and I were a team on this project. They turned out great and we then continued to put up new visuals in the store. It was a fun morning, lots of energy as we all re-set the store and cleared out the Christmas displays.
"Girls Night In Party" on Saturday was really fun. There were 9 of us talking, eating and having a great time. We ended the evening with a gift exchange and I traded until I got my hands on the cute snowman that Charlie brought. I was the 3rd trade, so I knew that it was mine. score .. I love these evenings and I think everyone had a great time.
Now I need to get busy with my class schedule and get my samples prepared so I can start
sign-ups for January classes. I leave for Idaho to visit Judy the end of the month.. So I need to get busy.

The Forgotten Carols

Last night my family started a new Christmas tradition. We went to see the stage production of "The Forgotten Carols", at the Orpheum Theatre downtown Phoenix. Thirteen of us went together. Kristan and Don and their 4 oldest children, Jason & Jamie and their 2 daughters, my grandson Kelly and Morgans friend Trent. The Orpheum is a beautiful ornate theatre. After 12 years and $14 million the historic theatre has been completely renovated.

Our seats were perfect, about half way back center. The musical is the creation of singer, songwriter Michael McLean & the production has been performing "The Forgotten Carols" for 10 years. He plays a man who believes he is more than two thousand years old and leads us through the journey from the birth of Christ to modern day with music and words. We laughed and cried and were so touched by the beautiful music and the inspirational words of the presentation. At the very end of the evening Michael had the entire audience "hum" silent night as we ended the evening and it was to beautiful.

A wonderful way to remember the reason we celebrate Christmas each year.

We saw many friends at the theatre and know that we will make it a family tradition.

Today I am getting ready for Christmas Eve with my grandchildren. We decorate cookies to leave for Santa and have a wonderful evening together. Get them all ready to go home and right to bed to await the arrival of Santa and a wonderful day tomorrow.

Merry Christmas to each of you.

3 More Days

Last night I arrived at my son Jason's home a little early for our family get together and both he and Jamie were finishing up some last minute details, so I was entertained by my youngest grandson Tyler. We talked about many things and he made sure that I was up on all the facts about getting my stocking filled from Santa. We were talking about our Christmas Eve tradition of decorating cookies for Santa and he explained to me that I needed to decorate some this year too, and just where to put them; right in front of my stocking and then when I awoke in the morning my stocking would be filled with goodies from Santa. He layed it all out for me in great detail. I love the wonder in the eyes of children. Everyone had planned on going to the Mesa temple lights, but it was really raining hard so we had a family evening after our dinner. I read the story "The Light of Christmas" by Richard Paul Evans. It is a wonderful story about the light of Christmas being inside of each of us as we share ourselves, for the flame must first burn from within us. Jason shared a story of Christmas when he was on his mission in Ecuador, Steve shared the history of the Christmas tree and why it is used in our celebrations. Kristan had some fun riddles about Christmas songs. We all shared what our favorite Christmas song was. then my grandaughter Maddy ended the evening by playing a Christmas song on her cello. It was a wonderful evening.

It's Christmas Time

What a busy time I have had since my last post. Last Wednesday I had my monthly "All About Me Club", at my house and had such a fun time. Just love all the gals in the group. We created pages on "Shoes", "What's in our closet", and "Our Goals for 2009". then on Thursday Cheryl from the group had us all over to her house for a wonderful Christmas dinner. Her home was decorated so beautifully and the dinner was wonderful. We had so much fun talking and sharing for the evening. I have been working 5 days a week at W.S. and had a very important customer on Friday. Senator John McCain came in and he always is so nice. I have waited on him since his boys were little and I helped with the boys clothes when I worked at Merry Simmons Children's store. He is such a nice man and always says how nice it is to see me again. We have been so slammed at W.S. and that makes it so fun and the time goes by so fast. I go early in the morning and work on visual set ups and then work a couple hours on the floor. I love this time of year when I get to see people I haven't seen in a long time. Today I help a guy that I have waited on for about 20 years and he was so cute, said "well I guess I'll see you again, next Christmas". Church services on Sunday were so wonderful, it was the Christmas program and the entire meeting was music. We have some very talented people in our ward and they sang some beautiful solo's. It was so special and there was such a spiritual feeling in the chapel. Last night we had a welcome home party for Marissa at the Dahl's home. Everyone brought food and we had so much good soup and all the trimmings to go with. Marissa had brought home some things from the Ukraine for us to try, crackers, cookies and candy. Then she and Kristan found a Russian store here in town and bought some more goodies for us all to try. Marissa narrated a slide presentation on her adventures in the Ukraine. There were about 50 people there off and on and it was such a fun evening. I was at work this morning at 7am and changed out several displays and will be there tomorrow at 6 am to do the same. Tonight we are having a family dinner over at Jason and Jamie's home and then they are all going to Mesa to see the beautiful Temple lights.. I'm coming home since I have to get up at 4 to be at work by 6. Then I have Christmas Eve off, so I can get ready for my annual grandkids evening. We will be decorating cookies for Santa and watching a Christmas movie. Such fun times. I have been listening to the Christmas CD's that Steve and Karen make each year and of course have my very favorites:
Peace on Earth- Vince Gill, Believe - Josh Grobin, Mary did you know - Kenny Rogers,
Baby, It's cold outside - James Taylor & Natalie Cole, Coming home for Christmas - Jim Brickman & Richie McDonald & Thankful - Josh Grobin. I have my favorites on several CD's and just hit those numbers over and over. Have a wonderful day.

Last night I attended the strings concert for my grandson Zack. It was held at his school along with 2 other schools joining in the group. There were only 7 students so it was held in the music room, which was so much nicer, than the big lunchroom. It was like a private recital. They performed 4 songs and were quite good. It was comprised of 5th & 6th graders except for Zack and one other little girl who are in 4th grade. The strings teacher said at the end that she wanted to say something about one of the students participating and that was Zack. She explained how he had just started playing the cello this fall and was doing a marvelous job and was so proud of him. She had big tears in her eyes as she said how much she admired the support she received from his family and how he was following in his sisters footsteps. At the end of the evening she had Maddy play a piece.(since Maddy was her student last year).

Since I was under the weather on Monday evening, I delivered my special surprise last night. I had purchased these houses and trees when Judy was here in Oct at Hobby Lobby, so I painted the house and added the snow and added snow to the tree as well. It is their new decoration for the season. One more visit next Monday evening and then it will be Christmas.

It is still raining outside. . . our ground surely need this. Tonight I have my "All About Me Class" at my home and always look forward to this evening with the girls.

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas

This October when Judy was here I found these 2 hurricane lamps regular $40.00 on sale for $3.99. Loved them and couldn't wait to fill them and display them in my home. the one above is filled with sugar glazed fruit (after Christmas bargain a couple years ago), so the entire display was a bargain.This one is fill with greenery and balls that I filled with rolls of beautiful printed paper. I had a great time creating these decorations and am trying to figure out what I can fill them with to display the rest of the year.

It has been raining all day since last night and so I am staying put in the house and not getting out on those slick streets. Marissa arrives home tomorrow at 7:45 from the Ukraine, it is about 24 hours of travel time for her. So anxious to see her and give her a big hug. Tonight I am attending my grandson Zack's strings concert. He loves the cello just like his older sister. Will report tomorrow.

1921

87 years ago today my mom was born in Bates County Missouri to Charles and Alma Smith. She was one of 9 children. My mom was a twin and I always thought I would love to have twins or have twin grandchildren, but it never happened. She had the cutest sense of humor and was always happy. She was a wonderful seamstress and made most of my clothes growing up. I didn't inherit her skill.. She was a very warm, compassionate person who always saw the best in everyone. My children and grandchildren called her Grama Terry and when asked what they remember about her they remember; her reading to them, making them warm nightgowns and p.j.'s, never forgetting a birthday, having a chocolate cake on the counter and fried chicken on the stove when we would arrive at her house on vacation. Her greatest joy was her family and she was certainly a joy to us. This picture was taken in 1974 on a visit with our family in Arizona.
Happy Birthday Mom

A Trio of Concerts

A very busy week so far.
My Monday evening surprise gift this week was the new W.S. Majorican crystal candle holders and candles to go in them.

On Sunday evening I went over to my daughter's for dinner and to watch the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional. Kristan was finishing up dinner and the little boys were outside shooting baskets, so I joined them and wow, were they surprised that their Grama could shoot baskets. Logan kept telling everyone, "Grama's really good, she hardly ever misses". My grandaughter thought I had great form shooting and could out shoot her.. Was fun.

Monday I worked at W.S. in the morning and then I did some last minute Christmas shopping to finish up the grandsons. In the evening I attended the first of my three Christmas concerts for the week. It was at Arizona School of the Arts, where my grandaughter Maddy goes. She was in the strings part of the concert with her cello. It was amazing, they are so focused at the school on the arts and the music played was so beautiful. Then Maddy was also in the show choir part of the evening. Again the music was wonderful. She did a great job in both areas. Tuesday morning I worked at W.S. again and then on Tuesday evening I attended the Christmas Concert for my grandaughter Taylor who is in middle school. She is in the show choir and they were fantastic. Taylor had a solo and did a wonderful job. The songs were a wide variety of holiday favorites and the show choir had some special ones they sang.
Weds. I had the day off so I spent the day wrapping everything for Christmas.. Almost finished.Weds. evening I attended the High school Christmas Festival of music. Karleigh is in Matador Misses Advanced Choir and the entire concert was great. Mr. Ross the director put in lots of music from other countries, so all the kids really did learn a lot of music and words from other cultures. Karleigh has a beautiful voice. Great evening.. So I am really filled with Christmas music now.. and so very proud of my very talented grandaughter's and their involvement in their schools music programs.

Busy Week

Wow it is Sunday already. . . During this holiday season I have been working at W.S. 5 days a week, so it really does speed by fast. This week I worked early mornings, (I usually work 8 to 12) , but this week some mornings I went in at 7 and some at 6am.. I love my job and the people I work with. When I go in I work on setting visuals throughout the store, getting our scents going on the stove, the mulled apple cider going and prepare our tastings for the day. I got to re-set the 2 front windows on Friday morning all by myself and it was so much fun. One window is all about Peppermint Bark and the other is all about Popcorn. Both windows were stripped and re-set & the Christmas trees were changed. It was a 5 1/2 hour job of fun.. they look great and I have had so many people commenting on them.. Makes me proud to put in the extra effort and get great results.
On Weds. I taught my last 2 card classes for this year at Mad Scrappers. Both classes were full and I had so much fun with all the gals in my classes. We made 6 Holiday cards.

Got my home decorated for Christmas this week and laid out my gifts for the family on my bed in the guest bedroom. . . I have been collecting all year and really didn't know exactly what I had for who... I have my grown up kids finished and the granddaughters finished and have a little left to get for my grandsons.. this coming week I am working 5 days again and I have concerts for 3 granddaughters on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday evenings.. then shopping to finish up for those last minute gifts for my grandsons. So I will be keeping busy, which is good this time of year. And then there is my weekly visit to my kids with their surprise gift.

Marissa gets home from the Ukraine in 10 days and we are all so excited to see her and hear all about her wonderful 4 months living in Kieve. That's all my news for now.

A Wonderful Surprise

I just had the most wonderful surprise visit from my granddaughter Morgan. She and her mom came by to see me and she looks fantastic. She is so bubbly and so excited about her first date since the of middle of September when her life took a downhill turn and she was down and out of life for 2 1/2 months. The Dr.'s all said that the episodes would work their way out of her body and that the seizures she was having almost constantly would go away and they were right.. I can't tell you how happy I am . . .when we ask from our heart for help from our Heavenly Father, prayers really are answered when we truly believe that they will be. It's a great day. . .

Monday Evening Family Visits

I started a tradition a couple years ago to help me through the holiday season without Kent. On each Monday evening between Thanksgiving and Christmas I deliver a little Christmas surprise to my 3 children and their families. Last night was the first night and I had a great surprise for them. I delivered W.S. Hot Chocolate Pots and Hot Cocoa mix for their families. I have so much fun being able to spend some special time each week to visit with my family during this busy holiday season. I scout out and plan my surprise gifts for months before, so I can have different things that will surprise them and bring them each some holiday cheer.