MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011

Near the end of November we cleaned up the yard and I wove a wreath from vine and flexible bush trimmings.

Waiting for ribbon and finishing touches still to be found

I love the dogwood's red branches and the curly twists of the climbing Virginia Creepers. I twined some fake mini holly greens along the circle, and tucked in some plastic-ish  mistletoe pieces for visual variety.

We decided a theme last year - a woodland of pine cone browns, birds, snowflakes, ice and glowing greens. We hit the sales after Christmas 2010 for lots of greens and browns for nickels and dimes.

All year when we saw nice cones we would bag them and haul them home until we had a bushel box of several kinds and many sizes from tiny on up. Then we found a bag (or two) at the second hand shop and one that is huge - really huge!!!

Papa showing the scale of his huge pine cone ...
The swags are always his handiwork. This year green lights up there.

We started to get ready for Christmas the very first of the month. Outdoor lights went up on a warm day at the end of October but were not plugged in until that first day of December.

Out of storage came the boxes and bags and bows and baubles.

The house was a disaster area for weeks as we enjoyed the creative process and 'messed' around.

a roll of brown mesh on top a box of lights

Even the garage was 'filled' up - with  empty and half empty boxes as the tree and wreaths and lights were put up and extras picked over.

Thanks to Nena for bringing my antique green balls - all the way from Boise!

We went for a full size green tree - we've only done half trees for a while but this year decided to stand the bottom piece. There is no rule that says you have to use all the tree pieces - right? If you leave the bottom part in the box the 7' tree is only 4.5 feet tall (except we put it on a small table top) and you only have to decorate half as much ...

Finding our clear lights proved futile - so add 4 sets of 100 to our expenditures - at least mini lights at $1.87 total less than $10 - very inexpensive.

At last we got the tree standing, rotating, and finally the lights searched for, purchased, twisted into the branches and plugged in.

We decided we NEEDED brown mesh at $9.99 a roll and brown balls, also that price.

These were our significant expenditures for Christmas decor 2011.

Floral wire, and pliers to cut and twist it, were also needed but I had those things on hand.

David drilled a tiny hole into the end of each cone and inserted an eye screw.

Then we had to decide which ornaments and lights to use and how to arrange it all.

 I discovered that 5 or 6 in a group is better and easier to manage than 8 or 9 and they go onto the tree much more readily - just thread the wire through each hanger twice and leave an inch or so between (more for larger items, less for smaller).

The mesh was pinched into 'pouffes' (using a wire 'evergreen' twist taken from the end of a garland) and spiraled around and around the tree.

More mistletoe was placed at each pinch and a glow-in-the-dark star placed in the garland over the angel's head.

'Ornamotions' were added to the light strings where larger spaces allowed for their movement. See video below.

The angel got her lace washed (she came out of storage with something smeared here there and everywhere), new green bows, and tiny pine cone trimmings.

Bows were bunched and cones were consolidated into piled groupings of baubles and berries to be alternated with antique green balls (and other unique or fragile ornaments) along the glittering mesh filler, or hung on the wreath and scattered on top the piano - along with nuts and pears ... had to include the green and the gold pears!

With so many pears around we had to add a partridge to our pear tree also. There just happened to be a lovely one at the second hand shop the day we were there.

This small fragile gold and cream glass ornament belonged to David's mother

And birds - lighted birds were threaded among the branches and birds of glass and every conceivable medium were perched among all the decorations. We counted 97 altogether but only counted once so that may be considered an estimate.

Thanks Ginger for the new tiny nativity
and we still love our plaque - we keep it there year round.

Papa hung our crocheted snowflakes along the dark wall behind the piano on either side of the completed wreath.

We love our intarsia nativity and it was a perfect focal this year

Our usual nativity graced the book shelf for us to arrange every day. Guests also shared in the pondering that brings, as they were invited to arrange it when they came over. 

Other nativities and angels and bells and a few glittery green poinsettias filled nooks and crannies on every shelf and hook. We changed out a few pictures on the walls also. 

Our white satin stockings seemed out of place so I made a couple of new brown stockings with a sheer pine cone print quilted onto the front and soft fleece fur tops you can't resist petting. 

Hendrix and Avalin both advised us, by Skype, that the letters on them should be D and L (not P and M). They were quite concerned that we might not be able to tell which was which unless they were properly labeled!

I promptly made gold glitter letters for them. 

Our woodland Christmas showcases the abundant blessings we enjoy. "Sing praise to Him, remember him, as you picture Christmas this year."

KIDS NATIVITY

My favorite Christmas activity has always been the church Christmas party. I loved seeing the nativity portrayed, no matter how clumsy or how carefully orchestrated. It has always filled me with strong emotion.

 Christmas Eve at Ginger's 2007 

My favorite nativity play has always been seeing kids acting the parts, at church or at home.

the inevitable giggles

There is always the waiting in the 'wings' parts,

what's up with this thing getting so much attention???

even the family pets get involved,

and the babe is never the only one 'adored'.

My all time favorite nativity is a small scrapbook nativity.

Each of my children, that live days of travel apart, and many hours travel from me in many directions, took pictures of their children portraying the characters in the story of the birth of Christ. Then they compiled an album of individual pictures into a small book telling the entire story. I got the original - they got copies.

In 1982, I was homemaking leader in my Provo, Utah Ward and scared to death! I had not attended church much as an adult and had never had a 'calling' before. It was my responsiblity to arrange for monthly classes that helped women learn to use their hands and minds AND productively learn something.

Sister Roundy did not often come to church but was willing to teach the Relief Society sisters how to make ceramic figurines. We arranged for a class starting in July. Most sisters wanted to make nativity sets. I did not have the money for any.

I was expecting my 5th child.  In August I had partial kidney failure and the obstetrician ordered complete bed rest - no exertion - until the baby arrived - due in DECEMBER!!  I was BORED to tears! Sister Roundy asked if I would like to clean greenware for her. It is a tedious process. I found it interesting and engaging.  Under her tutelage I cleaned several sets while laying on our couch.

Then she gave me two of the sets.

It was a dream come true for me.
Each set had children's cherubic faces.
One, I finished with pearl glaze, I gave to my mother-in-law.
My oldest daughter has inherited it.

although you can't really see the faces here,
you can see generally how this set looked when finished

I was so thrilled with both. After the first firing on one of the sets we let each of our children help pick, and then paint, the colors onto a bisque figurine. Even the 3 year old could 'swing' a brush and was excited to 'paint' one of the animals as Papa held her on his lap and directed her brush back to the figure when ever she decided to paint anything else.

He enjoyed the process so much that he put a loaded brush into the hand of an infant son and 'helped' him paint one.  Strangely enough it almost seemed like the baby knew what he was doing - perhaps I only have a vivid imagination.

We have many various sized nativity ornaments and sets but this set has special memories. A friend came and went with tools and paints and glazes.  As I lay for months on bed rest I planned and then executed each face.  I had never painted anything besides a fence before.  I was a bit uneasy but tried anyway.

Mary

When it was all finished everyone wanted to 'arrange' it.

Joseph and donkey

We all have our own ideas of how things might have looked/happened. 

Baby Jesus

To prevent quarreling family members took turns. 

Cow and Sheep with lamb

It was arranged a new way each day and  if a guest came they were invited to arrange it for us.  

Shepherd

The kings were named for their jewels -
this one is the 'green' king

The 'blue' king with his camel

And the 'red' king in a tall turban

I have taken a few pictures the last few years.
Here are some of the interesting 'arrangements'.

by 6 year old Beckham

a fun idea from a 3 year old  ...
"they all want to be close and see him first"

a new father said, "there is no way Joseph is letting anybody near that baby!!

a mother said, "she is ignoring everybody and all the fuss"

a newly married girl said, "Mary is having 'me' time ... letting the guys talk."

Some think animals should not be too close - too many germs,

- except the symbolic lamb

How would you arrange it?
What do you think?

'MY' NATIVITY

We have many nativities.

There is one small nativity I cherish.

It was our children's gift to us in 2003.

Many of our grandchildren are pictured in it as characters in the story.

Perhaps someday they will make us a new, updated one ...

JUST ONE

Today is Joseph's 16th birthday.
He is just one of my many grandchildren.
I hope he has a wonderful day.
I hope he feels the great love so many have for him.

I am fascinated by sparrows.
They are small, nondescript birds.

This unbelievably massive flock completely covered
my front lawn but flew each time I opened the door -
I resorted to shooting through the blinds.

When I was a child I loved to 'go to town' with my mom and dad. I often had to sit in the car and wait while they did business. I didn't mind and I liked the quietness of just sitting still and observing.

Passersby were of interest but since 'town' was tiny often the only moving, living things to watch were just a stray dog or cat and the sparrows. There were always lots of sparrows.

Sparrows are usually in flocks.
It is rare to see just one.
Sparrows make me giggle.
They remind me of groups of kids or people.

There are all kinds. There are many colors and markings. There are bullies and beggars, some are greedy and many are quarrelsome. One day, as we watched some sparrows fighting over pieces of popcorn dropped along the sidewalk outside a convenience store, my parent pointed out the comparison that some people are a lot like sparrows. They are always trying to get what others have, wanting what they don't have themselves and trying to take it from someone that does.

Sparrows, although almost ubiquitous, are not a popular bird. They receive little respect.

Scriptures reference more than 20 different types of birds, mostly in the context of the Jewish sacrificial and dietary laws, but sparrows are described in a unique context.

Matthew 10:29 records, "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?" while Luke 12:6 records that 5 could be purchased for 2 farthings - is that the sale price?

Although they seem of little monetary value and may flutter in flocks too great to count Luke specifies that not one is forgotten before God.

Mathew 10:31 and Luke 12:7 instruct that we should "fear not" because even the hairs on our head are known and we "are of more value than many sparrows."

Have you ever watched sparrows?

I have marveled at this small creature’s unwitting closeness as I sit enclosed, peering through the windows in my cage of car or house. I would not harm one but I too can be unwitting.
I often watch these cheerful bits of unforgotten masterpiece, hated of men, in their plain but beautiful blends of subtle brown and grey coloring and pattern markings with small touches of black or white that show male and female. They hop, hop, hop along just through the glass or along a curb or fence - near but apparently oblivious to me.

I can be alone or with others but as I watch them I find I can not feel common or hated. I change. Their cheery pep transfuses me. God says not ONE of them is forgotten.

One I cannot tell as they flutter in flocks: one who was beleaguered in the suddenness of a spring snow; one lost in the bitterest chill of winter; one with an injured foot; or one quarreling over popcorn curls by the theatre; or one, unknowingly risking to come near enough to peck at a gnat on a glass patio door ... I am hidden by it's lace curtains (its risk is only that my movement may bring the unexpected startle of seeing).

I once asked a son
“Do you think Heavenly Father could be close like this to us?”

He cocked his head, thinking.

The sparrow too paused, cocking his head, noting the suggestion of movement mostly hidden by light diffused back from the lace veiled glass. Then both continued their morning business of breakfasting.

I have never forgotten that moment.

Perhaps God is just through a veil.

Perhaps He waits to see if I will look.

I believe He watches ... and waits for us ...

DECEMBER NEW ERA CHALLENGE

The December issue of the New Era reports researchers asked a group of students to write for 20 minutes each day about things they were grateful for; another group about what they were angry about; and a third group about random things like the color of their shoes.

The ones that wrote about things they were grateful for were happier AND healthier!! WOW! I am starting my list today!!

Page 20 challenges you to write 100 things you are thankful for.

If you think that is too many it suggests writing:

10 living people you are grateful for
10 people that have died you are grateful for
10 physical abilities you are grateful for
10 material possessions you are grateful for
10 things about nature you are grateful for
10 things about today you are grateful for
10 places on earth you are grateful for
10 modern inventions you are grateful for
10 foods you are grateful for
10 things about the gospel you are grateful for

THIS DOESN'T EVEN START!!!

What about books, pictures, music, dances, activities, sports (or equipment for them), crafts/sewing, animals and birds, mental abilities, museums, ... you get the idea ... I bet you could make a list of 1000 ...

What do you think?

I think I will try.
I WANT to be happier and healthier!

CHRISTMAS WISHES

Monday night is family night.

I often miss all my kids being together each week.
They all have their own adult (and family) lives now.

everyone look at grandma ...

One of my daughter's and her family came over.

cell phones may be grainy but they do capture moments of time

We kept Family Home Evening simple. We put a nativity puzzle together (500 piece) while Papa read the account of the Savior's birth from the scriptures and later we ate some goodies - oh yeah, and of course, some enjoyed a quick game of chess ... Papa you weren't kibitzing surely ...

We discovered that our Christmas decorations have 32 angels, 35 baby Jesus', and 98 birds including a partridge in the 'pear tree'.

Those that counted closest got first choice on the goodies.

My daughter won the angels - she counted 38 - she included her 6 kids! I should have won that one - I would have added her!

Sunday evening super fine snow powder flocked our lawn.

This morning I have evidence that I did not just dream a wonderful dream.  Their footprints remain on the flocked lawn and there is a finished puzzle on the table - those angels are not only smart - they are fast!

YES GINGER, SANTA IS

News of Santa is spreading like an out of control prairie fire.

Real Santas!!

Surely you believe -
you aren't one of those that doubt - are you?

Just in case you heard rumors that Santa is a fake, only a fictional character, or other shameful fabrications and even outright lies regarding him, let me set the record straight: He IS real!

The story below is true.
This is my 'Letter to the Editor'.
And THE truth as a story.

Letter to the Editor:

Like Virginia O’Hanlon of 1897, when she brought her father the concerns and doubts of her peers, my little girl also came to me,
a parent, with the assertions of her peers;

their larger than life doubts.

about age 5

Ginger did not know how to read or write. In 1977 she was barely 5 years old. She was not yet old enough to understand that journalists and media may possess the magic ability to pronounce realities and validate truth.  To her a parent’s word was final and authoritative.

Some of her playmates clearly possessed the knowing bitter air of adult skeptics that haven’t known many of life’s higher beauties and joys.

The letter Mr. Church, of The New York Sun, wrote to Virginia coupled with the examples and teachings of my own loving parents  provided impetus to me as a young mother to form an honest answer for myself, Ginger and anyone else who questioned Santa’s authenticity.

She came in from play upset and frustrated … or maybe it was downright anger (when we named the placid baby Ginger, we did not yet know what a peppy little personality she had).

When she stamped into my kitchen that day I was already prepared - Virginia’s questioning search, at age 8, and the detailed answer given by Mr. Church coupled with the wisdom of Virginia’s parents gave truth to a dimension of life that even then was slowly diminishing.

As the years cycle on perhaps it is some of Virginia’s embittered and skeptical peers, (and those misled and duped by them) with their fallibilities laid seasonally bare, that have shamelessly passed cynicism to ever younger and less capable shoulders.  Did they not have a Santa? Can they not feel love? Has no one ever done a kind turn for them? No smiles? No opened doors? No gentle human courtesies?

To them I suggest - If you have not found them given, even sparingly, please do not begrudge them to anyone else … especially children. Perhaps you can give, to yourself at least, the belief of something more than that lack as a reality …

Come on …

It can start with you!

Just try a simple kindness. 

You will feel wonderful. 

You might just become …

SHHHHhhh, it’s a secret … SANTA

YES GINGER, SANTA IS

Ginger came stamping into Mama’s kitchen, lower lip protruding in quivering outrage, her tiny arms akimbo with fists on her hips. “Mama – Cory said you are Santa Claus! He is wrong – huh? Mom? Santa is true! He is!” Several more children, both older and younger, trailed behind Ginger, age 5.

Their wishful eyes all fixed upon Mama, carefully, with the scrutiny that every child gives gifts on birthdays and at Christmas.

Ginger said Santa was really true. These children knew Ginger. She did not like lies. She did not like fibs. These children knew Mama.  She did not like fibs and lies even more. They knew Mama told them truth. Every child would know (in the quiet childlike way children always do) if Mama dared to speak a lie or even a tiny, tiny fib.

Mama smiled a big smile. Mama smiled her biggest smile. She knew the truth.

“Ginger, who loves you?” she asked.

“Cory, who loves you?” she questioned.

She called each child by name, “Tazmin, who loves you? Trevor, who loves you?

… And you, Elissa?  And Kati? … Tad?  Shawn? Tina? 

And you?

Their answers came like a swarm of hungry mosquitoes.

Everyone wanted to tell Mama about someone they knew that was kind and loving.

“Mommy.”

“Daddy.”

 “Me (giggle).”

“Teacher.”

“Papa-pa and’Dama.” 

Auntie, The Postman, Nanny, the doctor, the lady helping at the library, the bus driver, the neighbor next door, Cousin Kim …the list became so long they almost forgot the question – ‘Who loves you?’

“SANTA DOES!” Ginger shouted above the commotion. Mama was proud of Ginger. Ginger knew. By the sudden, sharp intake of breath Mama knew they HAD almost forgotten the question.

Or maybe they all thought she had. 

Now she truly MUST answer. 

In her most quiet voice she asked another question,

 “Ginger – WHO is Santa?”

Ginger stifled a nervous giggle, almost afraid to answer - like every child at centre stage might … “Oh Mama, you know.”

“Did you tell them Ginger?  You know the truth,” Mama coached. The lip went back out, then quivered.  Mama winked at Ginger.

“Santa is …” Mama paused at their expectant hush. They waited in gulping anticipation of finally have THE secret actually told to them. 

They knew Mama would tell.

They all knew – Mama always told.

 She told them all the important secrets they needed to know: how to tickle puppy ears, where to find the juicy berries, how to get kitty to purr, where the spring wild flowers grew, how to make snowballs and build snowmen and lots of stuff. And Mama always told the truth. She always answered honestly.

“Santa is …” Mama repeated 

but paused once more for effect. 

She enjoyed knowing such a special secret. 

“Should I really tell you?” Mama teased. 

Solemn nods clinched it. 

“Santa is somebody who loves you,” she finished, 

“somebody who is kind to you.”

“But who is he? – really? they begged.

“Who loves you?” Mama asked. 

“Who is kind to you?” 

Not quite satisfied or fully understanding they tried again.

“Who loves you?” she persisted. “Who is kind to you?”

Eight year old Thomas, eye to eye with Mama,

asked one more time, “who is Santa?”

Mama said, 

“I have a more important question to ask you,”

“WHO DO YOU LOVE?"

[ illustration shows Ginger and an older friend playing pixie –

‘Santa’ on the tag of a gift – perhaps older neighbor peeking through the curtains.]