It was the end of Emmi's leave and she had to head to the airport to fly back to Georgia. Goodbyes are never easy. But I know that she will be safe and protected while she is away from us. We love her so much and will miss her.
Christmas Eve and Christmas morning the kids sent me pictures. I was so happy to get them as we didn't have a big family gathering like we usually do because of COVID. We just have be patient and wait for next year when we can gather again as a family. In the mean time we have to rely on family pictures.
Lynday Ann's huge 3' tall Wooden Christmas trees that she made.
Jupiter is 500 million miles from the earth and Saturn is 500 million miles from Jupiter. They haven't been that close to each other in a conjunction since the year 1623. The next year they will be in a conjunction again is in 2080.
The news media and most everyone made reference to this phenomenon as the Christmas Star. Neal and I went outside with our neighbors and gazed on the two planets. It was amazing that you could actually seen them with the naked eye. Our neighbor had binoculars that we looked through that made them even more clear. It was fun to be able to see them.
That is what I've called the stitching projects I've done this year. I was very happy that I had some projects lined up because everything was closed down for months, including the Craft Center that I go to for my projects. This was a simple one, but I love doing it. It will be fun to get it framed.
Ron and Judy and Neal and I try to get together sometime before Christmas to have a nice dinner and exchange gifts. Judy had us up to her home and we had one of her gourmet dinners. I might add here that every dinner that woman fixes is gourmet and incredibly tasty. This dinner was no exception. This was an Asian dish called Egg Nest Dinner. I have to tell you, it was amazing. You have to love vegetables, shrimp and steak.
We had a delicious dinner, exchanged presents and played bridge until midnight. So enjoyed being with them. They are such great friends.
A text came from Jamie that we would be getting a box from Amazon and that we shouldn't open it until we could face time with them. I have to admit that I was worried that it was going to be another electronic thing that I wouldn't be able to figure out and would totally tax my feeble brain. So we called Tucker and faced time with him and this is what they sent us.
Thank you Tucker, Jamie and the girls. We love it and I turn it on every day to see the pictures. The fun thing is that Tucker sent everyone the password so that they can upload pictures on it. So every time I turn it on I get new pictures. We are loving this Photo Frame. What a great gift.
I get a text from Maren that she and Greg have been at the house to "install" something for Neal and I for our Christmas present. It was hard to stay at work all day because I was so excited to get home and see what was done. When I drove in and the garage door went up it was like the middle of the day in the garage. Greg and Maren had come and installed florescent lights above Neal's side of the garage and my side. They are on a sensor so they automatically go on when the kitchen door opens or when the garage door opens. Absolutely LOVE them. What a wonderful Christmas present. Thanks Greg and Maren so very much. Those lights come on and my thoughts go right to 'thank you'.
Emmi came into town for the Christmas Holidays. How exciting it was to see her. Such a blessing for her mom and dad and siblings to have her be able to come home. Emmi had almost every minute of every day and evening planned. One of the nights they put together gingerbread houses. I haven't seen anything quite as elaborate as the ones they put together, except at the Festival of Trees. I told them they should think about doing some for the Festival when we are allowed to have one again.
Apparently it took them a couple evenings to complete them. These are the pictures they sent me. Notice this first one is an aircraft carrier. I told Emmi she should go to a toy store and buy tiny airplanes to put on the deck.
"I invite you to strive to ever more consistently to let what God wants for you to take priority over what you want for you. Seek to recognize and understand His will and timing in your life. As you do so, you will be directed, protected, and blessed spiritually and temporally in ways that you today cannot possibly imagine." David A. Bednar
Nothing needs to be written. The pictures tell the whole story.
Oh Yes. We can all agree to that!
Monday morning we woke up to snow on the ground. Not a lot of snow but enough to cover the lawns and driveways. I wandered into Neal's office to look out the window to see just how deep the snow was. Too my surprise as I looked down at the driveway below, it was cleared! Someone had come and shoveled our driveway. Not only did the shovel our driveway but the left a message in a heart shape that brought tears to my eyes. The whole scene just screamed Merry Christmas / We Love You!
I mentioned on one of my posts that Annie was the only one of my kids who had sent me pictures of her decorations for Christmas, so Emmi took some pictures of her little apartment and her decorations. Love them Emmi. Thanks for sending them. Just proves that even if you are all alone in a tiny apartment you can bring in the spirit of Christmas and the light of Christ. Of course, for some reason, the two pictures she sent me won't transfer to my lap top. But I did get this cute picture of Emmi and her siblings when they picked her up at the airport this week. Welcome home Emmi. So happy you are here and can spend some much needed family time. We love you!
They called me and said they were going to stop at IHOP for breakfast and invited me to join them. I left work and had a great visit with them before they all headed back to Stansbury.
It was a sad time for Abby as she and Lynda Ann traveled to Oregon to the Guide Dog Campus to officially turn Lightyear over to the trainers who will finalize his training to be a guide dog for a non-sighted individual. Abby leaves for her mission the first of February so she was grateful that the campus was able to recall some of the dogs who were ready to be back on campus. Lynda Ann said that it was very sad to watch Abby telling Lightyear to be a good dog and to be brave and not afraid of new things. Annie said they drove back to their hotel in silence with tears falling off their cheeks. I was hoping to get some pictures of Abby and Lightyear but didn't have any to post as I'm writing this. They may send me some later.
They did get the chance to stop and have dinner with CJ and Justin. Annie said they had a wonderful visit with them and spent most of the evening talking and reminiscing. They had a great time and said the food from Justin's food truck was amazing!
Derek sent me some fun pictures that I am excited to post. It has been such a good feeling to be able to talk with Derek every month. It is good to hear that he is happy and doing well and that he has found someone that he is happy with and even mentioned the word marriage! Wouldn't that be exciting. This is Derek and Margo. Just so you know, I did edit this picture but for some reason my phone won't transfer the edited picture to my computer so we get the Instagram picture. Either way, I'm just happy to have the pictures.
"The older I get . . . the simpler my holiday preparations become
The closer I feel to old friends as I write or send Christmas cards . . . the more I cherish the oldest ornaments
The more fondly I remember Christmases past . . . the longer I hold on to a holiday hug
The more I realize Christmas is a matter of the heart . . . the tighter my throat gets when I sing 'Silent Night
The more I enjoy giving than receiving . . . the more I try to see Christmas through the eyes of a child
The longer I sit at night in the glow of the Christmas tree . . . the more wondrously beautiful the Christmas story is
The deeper my awe at God's infinite love . . . the more I LOVE Christmas!"
"Christ is the light; the gospel is the light; the plan of salvation is the light; that which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light growth brighter and brighter until the perfect day. As the light of the sun enters the body through our natural eyes, so the light of heaven - the light of the Spirit which illuminates our souls - enters through our spiritual eyes."
We've been busy at our house and Annie has been busy at her house. I'm sure all my children have been busy decorating their home but no one has sent me pictures except for Annie, so I will post what I have. Neal was determined to decorate the tree outside our home and finally, with the help of a neighborhood boy, he was able to get it done. And, he finally gave up on the big tree that we've had for 20+ years. He just couldn't get the lights to completely work. There is two strands in the middle that have not worked for the past two years. After 4 hours of working on them this year with no success, he finally gave in and we bought a new smaller tree that we can handle.
Last week, Annie, Mallory, Abby and I drove to Heber to have lunch with Susan and take her some flowers. She was having a hard time and Annie and I were worried about her. On the way back we stopped at the outlets to see if we could find any clothes for Abby for her mission. The problem is that finding summer clothes in Utah in the winter months is an impossible challenge. We were able to find a nice rain coat for her so our shopping wasn't a total loss. While Abby was in the dressing room and we were waiting, I noticed Lightyear looking out under the door and had to take a picture. So cute.
Just a side note. Annie and Abby are in Oregon right now taking Lightyear and another guide dog named Bacchus back to the campus for their final training to become official guide dogs and be matched up to a non sighted person. What a wonderful program. These guide dogs are amazing and the trainers, like Abby, are just as amazing.
I was cleaning out a drawer and found this book mark that Derek made me. I was looking at it and thinking about Derek and our journey together from the time he was 8 and I became a part of the family. Deedle, as we all fondly called him, became my son, shadow and little friend. As I was thinking about him, I got a notice that there was a new post on instagram and there was a picture of Derek and Margo. I had to smile. What a coincidence.
Annie sent me a text telling me that she accidently bought some body was from Bath and Body, thinking it was lotion. The next, after showering, she put the "lotion" on and then realized it wasn't lotion but instead, body wash. She didn't have time to hop back in the shower so had to just rub it in as best she could and go with it. We all gave her all kinds of flack and had a good laugh. Well, isn't there a saying that goes something like, "He who laughs last?" Anyway, the story continues. A couple mornings ago used up the last of my lotion and grabbed another tube from the shelf, put it in my make up basket. The next morning, after showering, I grabbed the bottle of lotion and put a large amount in my hand. I realized immediately that it had a different look and texture and still proceeded to rub it on me. Well, observation finally connected with my brain and I picked up the tube and realized it was body wash!! Not lotion. How funny that Annie and I both did the exact same thing. Well, I didn't have time to get back in the shower so I just rubbed it in as best I could and then put some lotion on top. OHMYGOSH!! So I had to report to Annie that she comes by it naturally. The girls all got a good laugh and Abby posted this cartoon on the family chat. Perfect Abby. And another event that just goes to prove that Annie was supposed to me mine!
I can't say enough about how important it is to say your prayers in the morning before leaving your house. I am a firm believer and have a testimony of the power of prayer in my every day life. My friend and I go walking every morning at 5:30 a.m. You would think that nothing could happen in those early morning hours. Mindy and I were in the middle of our morning walk when we heard a loud bang and realized that there had been a horrible accident on Fort Union and 9th East. A young girl was in a hurry and ran the red light crashing into a pick up truck going through the green light. She hit with such impact that it bounced her around and had her heading North instead of East and at full speed. She came across all four lanes of traffic and into the parking lot of Jimmy Johns where her car was finally stopped by some cement polls. Her entrance into the parking lot is exactly where Mindy and I walk and had we not had to wait an extra 2 minutes for a light that seemed to stay red forever, we would most assuredly been right at that entrance when she came flying through. We both had tears of relief that our walk had been delayed a couple of minutes. A.S.A.P. Always say a prayer!
The pictures don't really tell the story but this was all we could get.
I told Neal on his birthday that I'd never dated and old man. He got a chuckle out of that. I'm not far behind, so easy for me to make that comment and not hurt his feelings. We had a fun birthday celebration. We went to our 'go to' place to eat. Market Street Grill. I had called the night before and made reservations. We got there at 5:00 and had a delicious and expensive dinner for two. We didn't hurry and stayed for a couple hours as there just wasn't any hurry to give up the table. I don't know how these restaurants are able to stay in business but I guess they squeak by with the help of takeout. I did notice lots of people coming in to get food and take it home and many more who had ordered ahead and were having their dinner brought out to their car.
I had the waiter take a couple pictures.
