CHRISTMAS

DECEMBER 23THIRD 'O8
SINCE I'M ALONE I SHOULD HAVE STARTED THIS SOONER FOR SOMETHING TO DO.
WHEN I THINK BACK OVER CHRISTMAS PAST NOW I WONDER WHY WE DIDN'T SET THE HOUSE ON FIRE???? WHEN PRES. UKDORF TOLD OF THE CANDLES THEY USED ON THEIR CHRISTMAS TREE IN GERMANY IT REMINDED ME OF OUR CHRISTMAS CANDLES. THE LITTLE CLIPS THAT WAS HOLDING THE CANDLES UPRIGHT WE HOPED, WOULD CLIP ONTO THE TREE BRANCHES. THEN WITH MATCHES WE'D LIGHT THEM. AS I THINK BACK HOW CLOSE THEY WERE TO THE BRANCHES ABOVE HOW DID WE MANAGE TO NOT HAVE A FIRE?? THAT SHOULD BE TESTIMONY TO ME THAT HEAVENLY FATHER LOVED US ENOUGH TO WATCH OVER AND HELP PROTECT US.

WE'D HANG A CLEAN SOCK ON A STRING STUNG ACROSS THE CORNER OF THE ROOM THEN THE NEXT MORNING THE SOCKS WOULD BE FILLED WITH AN ORANGE PEANUTS AND HARD CANDY. OCCASIONALLY WE'D HAVE A BANANA IN THE TOP OF OUR SOCK. DAD LIKED THOSE CHOCOLATES THAT YOU COULD BUY BY THE POUND SO USUALLY IF TIMES WASN'T TO TOUGH WE'D HAVE A COUPLE OF THOSE MIXED IN AND A FEW ORANGE SLICES.THE SOCKS WERE THE ONES WE WORE EVERY DAY BUT HAD BEEN WASHED AND DRYED FOR THE GOOD OLD SAINT NICK TO FILL. THEY WOULD BE LAYING UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE ON CHRISTMAS MORNING. AS I REMEMBER I FELT IT WAS AS MUCH FUN TO SEE WHAT WAS IN MY SOCK AS WHAT WAS UNDER THE TREE.

MOM ALWAYS COOKED A BIG DINNER FOR CHRISTMAS. AND SHE'D TELL STORIES ABOUT HER CHILD HOOD IN TEXAS. I THINK HOLIDAYS WERE HARD FOR HER NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS HARD TO GET THE GIFTS FOR SO MANY THAT SHE'D HAVE LIKED TO GIVE US BUT ALSO BECAUSE SHE'D BE A BIT HOME SICK FOR HER PEOPLE IN TEXAS. THERE WASN'T PHONES TO CALL AND TALK TO FAMILY AND SEE WHAT THEY WERE UP TOO. MAIL WAS TRULY SNAIL MAIL THEN ALSO.

THIS MORNING I WAS BLESSED WITH A VISIT FROM ARLENES DAUGHTER DEIDRIE AND SHE ASK IF SHE COULD CLEAN MY DRIVE WAY WHAT A SWEET BLESSING SHE WAS TO ME AND WHAT A GIFT. RYAN AND KARA CAME BY TO DROP OF CHRISTMAS AND RYAN HELPED THE NEIGHBORS GET CARS UNSTUCK AND OFF THE STREET FOR THE SNOW PLOWS TONITE. THEN HE CAME AND FINISHED CLEANING MY SIDE WALK INTO THE HOUSE. I'VE BEEN DOUBLE BLESSED TODAY. WAS FUN HAVING A FEW MINUTES WITH NATHANIEL AND HOLDING CHRISTOPHER. HE IS SUCH A HAPPY BABY AND TRIES TO TELL YOU STORIES NOW. HA!! I LOVE IT WHEN THEY SMILE AND DO THE BABY TALK STUFF. I PLUGGED THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS IN FOR NATHANIEL AND HE ENJOYED LOOKING AT THEM AND DID HIS LITTLE OOH THING. THEY LEFT CHRISTMAS UNDER THE TREE FOR PENNY AND MYSELF. PENNY IS GOING TO TRY TO GET HERE TOMORROW WEDS. BEFORE CHRISTMAS I PRAY MOTHER NATURE LOOKS AFTER HER. I ALSO PRAY FOR MODERATION IN THE WEATHER FOR ANDRA ND HER FRIENDS TO GET BACK HOME TO IDAHO SAFELY.

SUNDAY WE HAD A CHRISTMAS PROGRAM FOR SACRAMENT MEETING THE CHAPEL AND OVER FLOW WAS FULL PLUS CHAIRS BEHIND THE OVER FLOW. OUR SACRAMENT MEETING LASTED ALMOST 2 HOURS. IT WAS ALL MUSICAL EXCEPT FOR TWO SHORT CHRISTMAS TALKS. WE HAVE SUCH MUSICAL TALENT IN OUR WARD AND OF COURSE IT HELPS THAT THEIR PARENTS CAN AFFORD TO GET THEM GOOD QUALITY LESSONS. SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE SUCH AS SMITHS CHILDREN WHO HAVE GONE TO SCHOOL CAME HOME AND PARTICIPATED ALSO. IT SURE SET THE FEELING OF CHRISTS BIRTH AND WHY WE CELEBRATE HIM. NEED I SAY I LOVE CHRISTMAS AND THE CARDS AND PICTURES I RECIEVE ARE SO NICE AND MEAN SO MUCH TO ME. I'VE GOT FROM SEVERAL EXTENDED FAMILY IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEY GROW AND CHANGE.

FOR FAMILY WHO READS THIS BEFORE CHRISTMAS DO HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.