A REMEMBERING Christmas

This Christmas holiday was another one of those joyful occasions when family gathers together.  It is always fun to see children and grandchildren enjoy being together.

We opened gifts as usual but there was something added to our gift opening that was unique and special for us this year.  

I wanted our children and grandchildren to remember special moments with their loved ones so I asked each to text, email, or write a memory of a certain person or people before they opened each gift.  It's important to share these memories and hold them close to our hearts. It helps build a connection that can last forever.  

I knew it would be fun to read, but it was even more special than I had hoped it would be.  What a wonderful Christmas gift it was reading these memories.  I asked for memories of Terry, his parents, and my parents.

Among the gifts were some "homemade" gifts made by my mother and father.  This is a train he made for us years ago (when Gregory was born).  The kids played with it for years until I put it up on the library shelves for safe keeping, coming down only a few times for a grandchild's request.

Dad and mom made more this year after asking each of their children how many they would like.  I ordered one for each of our children and gave it to them for Christmas.  

I also received a homemade Christmas gift from my parents - a shuffle board.  There will, of course, be much more fun in the future.  

In this picture one of the grandchildren spilled their mini m&ms onto the board.  This brought a cheerful noise and created another fun activity.

There were many fun activities during the holiday - like playing in the snow.   

We also enjoyed going to the theater to watch a movie.  Something we have done a few times in the past.  

This year we saw FERDINAND at the Lee Theater in Ephrata ..., with pizza.  :)   

This story is about Ferdinand - a bull in Spain who would rather sit under the cork tree and smell flowers than fight in the bullfights. 

I bought this book for Terry many years ago.  It was a fun story for Terry and I because of Terry's service to the Spain, Barcelona mission (1976-78). Unfortunately I'm not sure if our children really remember us reading it to them much.  I did pull it out and read it to those here at the house the day before we went to the movie.

It was a cute movie, though a bit different than the book.  Because of the connection with the book I felt like Terry was a part of this fun family adventure.  I am sure he would have enjoyed it too.  I am anxious for the video to come out so I can own it.


This Christmas we remembered fun moments from our past and it will be a fun Christmas to remember.  I have invited all to continue to send me memories for the next few months, if not forever.  When I asked for these memories I knew it would be great to receive them, but it feels more like I gave myself a special Christmas gift. I enjoyed reading every word and recalling the special moments each talked about.

There is joy in remembering.

I Believe in Christ

President Thomas S. Monson said;

"To catch the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas, 

we need only drop the last syllable and it becomes 

the Spirit of Christ."

I started putting up Christmas decorations this past weekend because I needed do do something exciting and fun.   I needed to feel the Spirit of Christ.

I got the trees all up and the lights on them all and started to decorate them.  Usually my large real tree is the one that holds all the random ornaments from years and years of collecting, but this year I just wanted to make it my nativity or Christ tree.  So I left the majority of my ornaments in the box and began to decorate it with things like angels, nativities, stars, words, etc that remind me of Christ.

It was perfect!  Exactly what I needed to do, the way I needed to do it.   I needed to remind myself of the important things about life - about The Plan of Happiness.                         I need to feel closer to my husband so putting up Christ decorations made me feel closer to him and to Christ.  Both were much needed!

I decorated my "Terry Tree" and then, feeling more nostalgic I created a hanky tree to remind me of Christmas Eve in Seattle, and Christmas Day in Seattle.   I also put up the wreath with hankies (also from Seattle days).

I spent Friday and Saturday close to Christ and to memories of Terry and the miracle that makes eternity possible.    

(FYI - I love Elder Donald L. Hailstorm's message about miracles, HERE)   

"We are living a miracle, and further miracles lie ahead."

When I got done and things cleaned up, I sat down with my scriptures to read thru the block of scriptures for the seminary lessons this week.  I left Christmas music playing and was enjoying the candle light and tree lights all around me.   The lights are one of my favorite things about Christmas.

I don't mind if my house lights are not turned on in the evening because I always have a candle light going and night lights around the house.  It's a beautiful glow and I do enjoy it.   There is another Light I enjoy - the Light of Christ in my life - I could not live without it.

Today is the third anniversary of Terry's passing so my mind has certainly been preoccupied with that thought for the last few weeks.  As I sat there in the quiet solitude of the evening a thought came to me:


I do fine for a while then I hit a low.  Seems I should not do that so often since I am reading scriptures and studying daily...,  and I know the gospel is true and I believe in Christ.  When I recognize I am at a low point again I just need to continue to pray and fast and study and endure, because there will be a moment when something clicks, something helps.  Little moments adding up to lift me out of my low point.


Having this thought reminded me of a story I told in a sacrament meeting talk for Easter this year, about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I love this story and it was very personal to me.  I tell the story here and continue with the thoughts I shared after it.



"A woman walking along a road fell into a pit so deep she could not climb out. No matter what she did, she could not get out by herself. The woman called for help and rejoiced when a kind passerby heard her and lowered a ladder down into the pit. This allowed her to climb out of the pit and regain her freedom.

"We are like the woman in the pit. Sinning is like falling into the pit, and we can't get out by ourselves. Just as the kind passerby heard the woman's cry for help, Heavenly Father sent His Only Begotten Son to provide the means of escape.

Jesus Christ's atonement could be compared to lowering a ladder into the pit; it gives us the means to climb out." But the Savior does more than lower the ladder, He "comes down into the pit and makes it possible for us to use the ladder to escape."

"Just as the woman in the pit had to climb up the ladder, we must repent of our sins and obey the gospel principles and ordinances to climb out of our pit and make the Atonement of Jesus Christ work in our lives. Thus, after all we can do, the Atonement makes it possible for us to become worthy to return to Heavenly Father's presence."


Using this same analogy - too, at times, have felt like I was in a pit, unable to climb out on my own. This most recent time, I did not fall in because of devastating sin, but because of debilitating loneliness, sorrow, and despair. I even somehow felt betrayed because I didn't get what I was praying for.

Then in my darkest moment, Jesus Christ lowered a ladder and climbed in beside me and helped me find my way out. (In reality, He had probably lowered the ladder much earlier than I had seen.)

He did it in a way that gave me opportunity to accept or reject His help. He was there to help me, but I had to take that step upward and out. He was holding His hand out to rescue me, but I had to take hold and not let go.

There have been countless times that Christ has climbed in beside me and helped me escape whatever was holding me back. Each time I felt the peace He offers us. Sometimes the answer is simply PEACE.

We should never let our sin or sorrow or frustration and disappointments block the way and keep us from reaching out to Christ in faith and taking our Savior's hand, accepting the Atonement of Jesus Christ so that we may enjoy our lifetime of moments leading to eternity.

Well, my day has come to an end, and its been a great day.  I love my family.  I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I love the Savior and our Heavenly Father.
I do miss my husband, and I do feel a bit homesick..., but I'm Fine!  :)

Memories On My Mind

There has been a place in my heart for Owl City music since our personal Hello [to] Seattle in 2010.  It's definitely a personal thing.

Today I was listening to some Owl City music and found a couple new songs I hadn't heard before - or at least I don't remember them right now.  They hit a chord in my heart and I just had to share.  If anyone reads this - I hope you enjoy - otherwise, I have them here To Remind Me!

Paperman "Owl City: I Found Love" (Disney Short)

This was so fun to watch ;)  I too FOUND LOVE!
FYI - I do believe in true love!

And I believe in miracles!

 The lyrics of this next one are great - my dad's a hero to me!

Owl City - Not All Heroes Wear Capes (Acoustic)

I love my mom and dad!  No Cape Needed!

I see their strength and their goodness and their love for the Savior and I feel their love for me. 

They are awesome!

I've been a bit nostalgic the last couple days and it has sent me back to my blog searching for some posts about Seattle and about Terry.   I had music playing in the background, which included this awesome song that fit so perfectly with what I was reading at the time.

Owl City - In Christ Alone (I Stand)

Before I go, and, in keeping with the Owl City theme, I found a Christmas song in this earlier post :) Veggie Tales (:  



FYI - I must add this disclaimer - this is not a paid advertisement for Owl City.  :)

I suppose he could pay me if he wanted, but I just felt like sharing a few of my thoughts, and today they included his music.

And, since he is not paying me, I am free to say that not every Owl City song strikes a chord for me, but some do, and I am grateful for talent and sharing talents that bless the lives of others.  And he has talent.  I can select the songs I like and skip over those I don't quite care for.  

I do love good and inspirational music!

Now I will share one more thing I found today just to cheer and delight -

What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus?

Claustrophobic!   

Okay, you've probably heard it before, but it is cute ..., right?  ;)

Have a wonderful day!