Bye Sweet, Smelly, Funny, Naughty, Snuggly, Smoochy Doug. I'm Not Sure Teddy Will Miss You!

Chewy the golden retriever has spent a lot of time with Trisa over the years.  We have been so thankful for him because sometimes Trisa has felt very lonely, but she always had a loyal friend in Chewy.  Travis eventually decided he wanted a dog that would like him more and so he tried out a few and finally landed on Doug.

When all three dogs came to visit our house Doug would chase Teddy, and Teddy would chase Chewy.  Chewy just wanted to have a ball in his mouth and a person around to pet him.

Thursday night we got word that Doug had gone back to live at the shelter he came from.  The workers were glad to see him and how healthy he looked.  They felt like they could find him a good home -- hopefully one where they will give him the attention he loves and train him not to eat things, just food.  Our family (except maybe Derek) will miss Doug and his good qualities.  Trisa's books, kindle, stuffed animals, and anything within reach will be safer without him in the house, but I think she will miss his snuggles.  He likes to snuggle.

Silly Doug

Sleepy Doug with Sleepy Chewy behind him.

Doug's cute ears.  They are a big part of his charm!

**My apologies to Kayli who no doubt read this and cried again.  She loves the dogs.  She really, really just needs to live on a dog farm where she can keep ALL the dogs.

Painting Pictures

Tia came over today and we got out some canvas and paint, looked for ideas on Pinterest, and then painted pictures.  She's done quite a few.  I think I've done one before.  It was fun and I think they turned out pretty well for novice painters!

This one's mine

Tia signed hers -- though I cut her name off a little when I cropped the picture.

A Favorite Christmas Quote......

...and maybe the inspiration I talked about yesterday.  This is from Howard W. Hunter.  I like reading it over and over to remind myself of what I want to do and how I want to honor Christmas.


Photo by Steve Halama on Unsplash

"This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.

"Christmas is a celebration, and there is no celebration that compares with the realization of its true meaning — with the sudden stirring of the heart that has extended itself unselfishly in the things that matter most."

Needing Inspiration

Christmas decorations at our house.

I have talked to a few people lately who are struggling to feel the joy of the Christmas season.  Some have challenges that seem insurmountable and others don't know why they are struggling.  Is it the weather?  Are they too tired?  And how do they all make it better and feel joy? 

Naturally I want to fix it.  I want to make everything all better.  So I'm brainstorming.  Of course, the first thing that came to mind was the quote from the movie Elf, "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear".  I think that a few people might be alarmed if I showed up at their door and sang Christmas songs really loudly at them -- though perhaps it would at least get a chuckle!

I know that sometimes I have struggled to feel thankful, or joyful, or really just to feel.  Often the only way to get better is to keep on moving forward with faith that the joyful feeling will come back.  But, while waiting, it is nice to know that people care.  The fact that you are struggling matters to those who love you.  So I am praying for those who are struggling to feel joy, and for inspiration on how I can help. 

If you are struggling, I hope that the joy and peace of our Savior returns very soon.

Dad C. Turns 80 / Family Party

Dad C. after blowing out his candles.

I think Dad blew out the candles early.  Obiously he and Derek and Kayli are amused!

Derek pointing to the sneakily blown out candles.

Instead of trying to get the whole group together it was suggested that we could get a picture of ourselves with the birthday man :-).  I took advantage.  This is me and my awesome father-in-law!

There were fun activities done in his honor.  We did a puppet show that was a little on the wild side -- at least behind the curtain (which a lot of people could see).  There were musical numbers and videos.  One of the videos made me laugh when it said, "He loves to cook 60 hamburgers and hotdogs for every family occasion."  I'm pretty sure he doesn't really love it, but he loves all of us and Mom C. and so he does it anyway.  Happy Birthday to a loving, kind, and fun father-in-law.

Christmas Nails

I rarely paint my fingernails.   I think the last time I did it myself was in high school.  But we have a friend who is a talented artist who does nails, and I wanted to support her so I called Tia and asked if she would like to get Christmas nails with me and maybe her sisters too.  Little did I know that she has been waiting for an invitation like this for a long time!  The other girls were game and so we found one of the rare times we could all be together and had Deaney do our nails. 

She made me a cute owl on each pointy finger and Christmas lights on a couple of my fingers.  Kayli went with Olaf.  Trisa did a penguin and the Abominable snowman and Tia went with a classy plaid and a couple of Christmas trees.  Laney was quick and we had a good visit with each other and with her the whole time.  It was a fun activity and I am glad I hit upon something that Tia really wanted to do, and the rest of us enjoyed.  We all love Christmas!

Tina -- A Good Sister, Friend, and Example.

Picture of Tina posted by Chris on Facebook.

My Mom said that when I was born Tina took good care of me (she was almost 3).  I remember her being my friend.  She was the "teacher" during summer vacations and we had fun with our siblings.  Tina sent me flowers at school on Valentine's Day a time or two and it helped me to feel loved.  She was my roommate who patiently (I think) listened to Air Supply every night at bedtime because I refused to listen to Chopin. 

Tina used to whip up dinner at short notice for Derek and I when we came to visit.  She and Chris were, and still are, very good at helping us feel welcome and at home.  I remember Tina coming (probably over 20 years ago) to help me learn how to can peaches -- which I promptly forgot by the next year!  But I knew where to find instructions that time!  

I have so many good memories of Tina.  One of my favorite is a couple of years ago when I was visiting in Idaho and we went to get Smoothies.  Jamba Juice was having some kind of coloring contest and so we spent our time drinking our smoothies and giggling over our art work.  Probably mostly my art work.  I don't know why we didn't win!  If the winner was chosen by how much fun the "artist" had surely one of us would have won!

I didn't really touch on all of the good things she has done for me, and I'm sure I don't even know a fraction of what she's done for her family and others.  I love Tina!

Christmas Night

Christmas Night

Did you ever wonder?  Where were you and I

When the brand new star appeared up in the dark night sky?

Did we follow the angels to the field where shepherds stayed?

Or look in on the babe who'd be a carpenter by trade?

Did we sing with choirs to herald the Savior's birth?

Or did we celebrate by dreaming of our turn on earth?

Did we speak to all our friends in joy and great delight?

Or did we kneel and thank our Father all throughout the night?

Perhaps we had some tasks that we had to do.

Telling of the birth that came to pass for me and you.

Maybe we looked on as Mary smoothed the swaddling bands.

And maybe we saw for ourselves the Savior's tiny hands.

Did you ever wonder?  Where were you and I

When the brand new star appeared up in the dark night sky?

I am not sure exactly how we spent that special night

But I know our hearts were full of thankfulness and light.

Now every Christmas morning; the whole Christmas season too.

Let us think of the Savior's hands, and what our hands should do.

And let us find within us that feeling of delight

That I'm sure we felt, upon that wondrous night.

by Sherie

I wrote this poem years ago, and I didn't date it so I don't know exactly when.  I thought it was worth sharing again.  I love Christmas!

Forgiveness Vs. Reconciliation

Today on the Christian radio station they were talking about forgiveness and reconciliation, and the difference between the two.

Forgiveness only takes one person and is someone giving up their desire to punish someone else.  It is letting go of resentment and anger, and maybe even getting to a place where we can wish the offender well.  Forgiveness doesn't require the other person to change, or even to feel sorry.  It also doesn't mean that you have to spend any time with the person you forgive, or allow them to do anything to you that will require more forgiveness.  Forgiveness is required of all who believe in Christ.  We are to forgive all who offend us in any way.

Reconciliation takes two people.  It might be restoring friendship or harmony in a relationship.  Working out difference.  Coming to an agreement.  Reconciliation is not required.  Why?  Reconciliation requires two people and each person has agency. It wouldn't be fair to require reconciliation because that would make our salvation dependent on someone besides us who may not desire to reconcile or change.  Reconciliation is a good thing if both people are equally dedicated to being reconciled!

Doing Things Differently

Sometimes I go through years and years doing some things exactly the same, and that isn't always bad.  Just lately though I have taken to thinking about some of the things I do, and deciding if I want to do it the same, or if I would enjoy something else more.  Are there better uses for my time than how I have it arranged now?

The other day I realized that I compulsively check my email because I could see the notice of how many email were waiting on my phone, and I don't like to see the numbers -- it represents something still needing to be done, or maybe some interesting email I want to read!  The solution?  Take my email off of my phone's home screen and choose one or two times a day to check, and take care of email.

In the picture above, there has been the nativity on the left and then a bunch of rather random Christmas decorations that included different sizes of trees, and different sizes of nutcrackers, snowmen, Santas and a wreath above my cabinets every Christmas for years.  It was festive, and I often have left it up through January.  This year I made the star with the lights and decided I would like to just put nativities up on that cabinet.  I like it!  It is a happy reminder of why we are celebrating in the first place.  The other decorations have just moved around a bit.

Doing things differently isn't always a good idea, but I think it is good to evaluate what I do every now and then to make sure I am deliberately using my time in the way that is good for me, and for my family.

Tia and Mike's Thanksgiving

I actually don't know what their Thanksgiving was like except I imagine there was some really good food that they ate with Mike's family.  The day after Thanksgiving Mike sent me the following pictures.

This is Mike's parent's tree.  The tree and the room are beautiful!

This is Tia and Mike working on decorating the large tree.

I believe Mike is under the tree cutting it down.  Tia is in her Christmas coat from her mother-in-law and on the right is Mike's brother Nick.

Light The World

Every year in December the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints encourages people to "Light the world".  This year it is, "Light the world one by one".  There have been many people in my life who have helped to light my world through kindness, smiles, laughter, hugs, listening, gifts, direction, concern, and love (And I'm sure I didn't list everything). 

Every time I have moved there have been people to point me where I needed to go, and to become my friends so I wouldn't feel so alone.  I have had siblings who have loved me well.  It lights my world a bit just to remember the fun we had on so many Christmases!  There have been people who are encouraging, and who believe the best about me, even when I goof up.  I love the idea of sharing the light that has been so generously shared with me with those around me!

More Thanksgiving Weekend

Crafts we made at my Mom's house.
On the left is Ray's "Snow Bird", then my "Snow babe", then
Lori's and Mom's Snowmen.

Derek and Trevor on "second Thanksgiving" on Friday.

Tonya on Second Thanksgiving.

Quinn -  same occasion

Teddy at home with Kayli

Teddy again

And again.  We photograph him a lot.

Ray helping at my parent's house.

Ray loving me taking a picture of him doing the heavy work.

Derek taking down some shelves so my Mom has more room in the "She Cave"

Dan with Lizzie trying out my Dad's awesome recliner.

Ditto the last picture.