After Thanksgiving "Blahs!"

I don't know if everyone feels like me, but the day after a holiday is always the worst. How many of you actually participated in "Black Friday?" That is the one place I just never want to find myself. I start Christmas planning and shopping in the summer, so by "Black Friday" there really isn't anything I want to fight crowds for! Of course it's different when you have little ones. They are the hardest to buy for.

I have made a decision (once again) to keep Christmas simple and meaningful. Gone are the days when I had little feet waking me up on Christmas morning, so I really enjoy the spiritual side of Christmas more and more every year. I would never want to take away the magic of Christmas (ever) from a little child. Their little faces are so precious when they are all caught up in the magic of the holiday. I think that is why "The Polar Express" is one of my most favorite Christmas movies. I plan to check it out from Blockbusters and watch it again this year. Or, maybe I will add it to our library.

Speaking of movies -- has anyone seen "Australia" yet? (With Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.) Dean and I loved the movie. It was intense and full of letting go of prejudices and learning to "love one another" set in the midst of World War II in Australia. This one should get some Academy Awards! The music was astounding, also.

Well, good hunting for the Christmas bargains, and I'll return soon with more of the December magic!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving, 2008...

Thanksgiving day is upon us and I relish the memories of Thanksgivings past. Childhood memories include close family and friends gathering around a groaning table in my parents home on 26th Street in Santa Monica. Mom would always go "all out" for Thanksgiving. Her turkey was always cooked to perfection and stuffed with her own blend of herbs and spices and yummy bread crumbs. She would make her own cranberry sauce to go with the turkey. Every meal included creamy mashed potatoes and giblet turkey gravy, candied yams that only she could bake, creamed cauliflower and delicious green beans. There was always a salad served with her homemade French dressing and a jello salad filled with crispy celery and apples and other good things. The best part of each meal and the family hit was her delicious homemade rolls, which have become a family tradition, carried on by 2 of my daughters. At the end of every meal there was always a choice of either pumpkin pie or banana cream (that being my brother's favorite). We ususally didn't have room for dessert right after dinner -- we enjoyed that later in the evening.

Every meal began with a family prayer, kneeling beside our chairs as my dad offered his heartfelt prayer of thanks for family, friends, blessings and gratitude.

Those are the memories I treasure. They followed even to St. George and even in our own homes with our own families as the years flowed by. The Thanksgiving tradition, which began when Abraham Lincoln declared that the 4th Thursday in November should be set aside to give thanks for our bountious blessings is one which lifts me, personally, and brings a spirit of gratitude to begin this wonderful holiday season.

Here is a poem I wrote several years ago for you to enjoy -- yet again!

THANKSGIVING

I look to Heaven above and give thanks...
For blessings I am unable to number.

I am thankful for God's hands
Which hold us when we are down.
For His watchful eye
That keeps us out of harms way.

I am thankful for God's spirit
Which urges us on when we lose our way.
And for His patience
When we just can't seem "to get it right."

I am thankful for God's arms
That enfold us when life is too hard.
For His love
That comforts us when we are in need of love.

I am thankful for my life!
The hills and valleys,
The good days and bad.
God gave this life to me
And I shall ever praise Him.

In the words of President Thomas S. Monson, from this past October Conference, "Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows... Our realization of what is most important in life goes hand in hand with gratitude for our blessings... Despite the changes which come into our lives and with gratitude in our hearts, may we fill our days -- as much as we can -- with those things which matter most. May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and in deed."

God bless each and every one of you and may your Thanksgiving be one that will live long in your memories. I send you all my love and admiration for the kind of lives you have chosen to live and am grateful to call you "my family!"

Thanksgiving

Count down to Thanksgiving...

Just 8 days to Thanksgiving! This is the time of the year when we all reflect on the goodness of our Heavenly Father and the multitude of blessings that have come our way during the past year and throughout our lifetime! It officially opens my favorite season of the year. When I start numbering my blessings, I forget that there is chaos in the world and even immediately around me and my focus turns to higher things.

I am so very grateful for my Savior and His never-ending love for us, his brothers and sisters. He truly is our "Keeper" and watches diligently over us. It is His spirit and love that will see us through these tough times. We just have to do our part and never forget to stay strong and endure clear to the very end.

I am grateful for the restoration of His gospel on this earth and for our beloved Prophet Joseph Smith, who was solely instrumental in providing the process by which this great restoration could be accomplished. I am grateful for the powers that made it possible for Joseph to be able to translate and publish the greatest literary work man has ever known, The Book of Mormon, through great trials brought on through our enemy, Satan.

I am grateful for the leadership of the Church today, who guide us through their kind, loving words to keep us informed and on the straight and narrow path that will eventually lead us to Eternal Life. It is an honor and privilege to be so blessed to be a member of this amazing Church!

I am grateful for parents who lived what they taught and guided their 4 children through life and showed us the way that we should go. I am grateful for my Ancestors who were so diligent in their sacrifices to stay focused on the path that was initiated by Joseph Smith and carried out by Brigham Young and on down through the ages by our chosen Prophets. I am grateful for my Siblings, Darell, Christine, Patricia for their love and encouragement through tough times and their lives that have truly blessed my own.

I am grateful that I have been blessed with 2 wonderful men who have loved me (in spite of myself) and encouraged me to be the best person I can possibly be even though sometimes my rebelious spirit was not ready to listen to their counsel. I am grateful for my 6 children who continue to bless my life and amaze me in the process! I could not have chosen any more wonderful children to be associated with than these! I love and am grateful for my 14 grandchildren and my 5 step-grandchildren that bring such amazing joy into my life. Each and every one of them blesses my life in their own individual ways. I cannot think of any one of them without tears streaming down my cheeks! And, how wonderful to be blessed by the coming into this world of my very first great-grandson, Dallen, who brings joy into my life through pictures and updates from his mom, Jacki, every day that I live.

I am grateful for good health and a good home and even (yes, it's true) trials that come our way every day!


My life is truly blessed. I will ever be grateful to the first Pilgrims who celebrated that first Thanksgiving all those years ago, being grateful for a good harvest and being able to share it with the native peoples of this land. We live in an amazing land and my prayer is that it will continue to be just that. God bless us all and God bless America!

Read any good books lately?

I just finished reading the newest book by my favorite author, Richard Paul Evans, titled "Grace". If you haven't read it yet, you ought to get hold of a copy and read it. Mr. Evans does an outstanding job writing about issues that really concern him, primarily abuse and child neglect. He has done a great deal to help protect children of abuse and rehabilitate them back into society through his many philanthropic endeavors.

The book is about a teen-age girl who has been severely abused by her step-father and the young boy who rescues her. There is a great deal in the book that teaches about the value of friendship and love and truly caring for another human being. It also teaches about the hurts and fears and trauma that an abused child goes through. I have added it to my collection of all of Richard Paul Evans' books. You will probably remember his very first -- "The Christmas Box" -- which is the book that started my love affair with his books.

Get it - read it - and enjoy!

Fall is in full swing in Lincoln City...

The leaves have turned their various colors of reds, oranges, golds, and browns and the winds and the rain have blown them off of nearly all of the trees here on the central coast of Oregon. The skies are gray and rain is the order of nearly every day. We are always delighted to see a peak of sunshine when it comes. This will be the way the weather will go for the rest of the year. It is cooler now and so I don't get out much to walk, but with unpacking and arranging our new abode, there isn't much time for that, anyway. I am content to stay indoors, work and do what most Oregonians do in the fall and winter -- hybernate!

OK, back to LIFE!

Life on the Coast is full of MUSIC! There is never a shortage of venues to visit and stars to see at local events! For those of you who might just remember when we lived in Taos, New Mexico, we met an amazing Pueblo Indian named Robert Mirabal, who has made quite a name for himself for his interesting music combining the spiritual Pueblo Indian music with jazz! We went to an "up close and personal" performance here in Lincoln City at our local Tribal Casino. They always bring some wonderful entertainment. Robert has been here several times and keeps coming back because he has such a tremendous draw. We enjoyed his music, which took us back to some of the good times in Taos and the beauty of the Pueblo culture. Never mind that they live simply -- perhaps we could learn a lot from the way they live!






That amazing show was on Friday night. On Saturday, we drove about an hour south of here to Yachats (pronounced ya-hats) to attend a Celtic Festival. Our entertainment dish has been quite diverse this week-end ~ and full. We had a lovely time, learning Irish line/slide/jig dancing, and then attending a concert of amazing Celtic music. The show was about 2 1/2 hours long and full of high energy, wonderful dancing music. It was an evening well-spent. I love this place!

America has spoken...

After all is said and done, the freedom which we treasure as Americans has allowed us to express our choices for our 44th President of these United States -- and the people have made their choice. Whether we agree with the choice or not, we must be united in our support for the office which Mr. Barack Hussein Obama is about to be installed into. Let us not fall into the abyss of finger pointing and "I told you so" mentality, but let us show support for the office. And, as the above advice, which I wore so proudly throughout this election season says, let us not forget to keep on praying for those in authority over us!

God bless this great land! God bless those who lead us! If we have disagreements, let us voice those disagreements in a democratic voice, not with complaints. I so respect and admire my youngest daughter, Heather, who has the strength of a David in her convictions about democracy and echo her peace in her heart that it is God's will that we march forth into whatever the future has in store for us as Americans and as His children. If we stay close to the faith that has sustained us thus far in our lives and never falter, we will rise with our Savior into a far better world which is nigh at hand. God bless each and every one of you!

And on a note for California -- Congratulations on passing Prop 8, which my granddaughter Aubrey worked so hard for and gave her all in its support! God has answered prayers for California! And the people have spoken!