Our Christmas this year was a Christmas for two. It was just Charly and I here in Arizona for the "big holiday. " That actually worked out well because I am still on a "limited activity" regimen due to my recent foot surgery. It was rather nice and relaxing to have a quiet Christmas with a lot of time to rest and do things that the two of us enjoy.
On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we had a movie marathon with some of our favorite Christmas movies as well as movies with a "spiritual" theme. Here are just a few that we watched.
One of our all-time favorites to watch on Christmas Eve is this short 1980 "oldie but goodie" starring Jimmy Stewart as a lonely janitor with an active imagination and a good heart. The part where he visits Bethlehem the night Jesus is born is very touching and both Charly and I "got something in our eyes" and needed a few tissues as we watched.
While we watched movies, I worked on a couple of knitted loom scarves.
I also did some reading while laying on the couch with my foot iced and elevated. I am really hoping to beat my 2014 total of 37 books. I am two books away and think I can do it!
Speaking of my foot, I have my second post-operative doctor's visit tomorrow (Tuesday). So far all is going well. At my last visit, the doctor said the foot was healing perfectly. I have not had nearly as much pain as my last foot surgery which took place fifteen years ago. I am very grateful for that!
On Christmas morning, we slept in since there were no little ones anxious to see what Santa brought. Here is our little tree before we opened our gifts. "Santa" was good and we both got some nice gifts.
Here is my sweetheart with his gifts. He always says I overdo it a bit of Christmas, and maybe I do, but I get excited about getting just the right gift to make my loved ones happy!
Our daughter Tiffany called before we started opening presents and we had a nice long chatty Christmas phone call with her, her husband and all four of her children. It was a nice way to begin Christmas morning.
Our daughter Tiffany sent both of us books. She knows that both of her parents love to read. Our daughter Amber sent pictures of her family and a gift card to Applebees that I know we will enjoy using.
My favorite gift this year is this Garmin Vivofit fitness monitor that Charly gave me. I won't be reaching my fitness goals until my foot is completely healed, but I know I will enjoy this.
Of course our very favorite part of Christmas Day was our skype conversation with our son Josh (a.k.a. Elder Jones) in Mexico.
We talked for about an hour and twelve minutes. The miles between us melted away as we talked and laughed and joked as though we were all in the same room together.
Josh looked healthy and as happy as we have ever seen him. What a blessing it is to have a son serving a mission and to be able to talk to him on Christmas Day.
All things considered, it has been a wonderful Christmas and we feel blessed and grateful. We know that the best Christmas gift ever is Jesus Christ! God is good and we are looking forward to more good things in 2016!
I was so disappointed in the last
“Amish Genre” book that I read, I decided to take a break from all books Amish
for a while, then my daughter gave me the book Secret Sister – An Amish
Christmas Tale as a Christmas gift. Since it was a Christmas book, and since
I opened it early by mistake (it came to me straight from Amazon and I thought
it was something I had ordered as a gift), I decided to begin reading it right
away. I am glad I did! I enjoyed this book immensely. Although it is the first book I have read by
author Sarah Price, it is probably my favorite Amish book to date.
Without giving away the much of
the story line, I will say that this is a romance book, but it is also much
more. It is not just a book about the
excitement of young love, but of a life-long romance – fed by the joys, but
enduring all of the heartbreaks that marriage and raising a family can bring
with it. I loved by the author told the
story Grace and Menno’s life together through flashbacks. Some less skillful
authors using this technique can leave the reader confused about when the
action is taking place, but Sarah Price makes clear when and why
everything is taking place. The reader
feels the happiness and heartbreak of the characters and yet is left feeling
hopeful and uplifted that there is a God in Heaven and a purpose to our
lives. I loved that this is a book
that respectfully pays tribute to lives lived in faith and devotion, instead of
seeming to take a criticize as old-school and out-dated, those who make and
keep life-long vows to God, faith and family.
In short, there was not anything that I didn’t like about this
book. It was a great book for Christmas
with a faith-filled and hopeful message for the new year! I easily gave it five out of five stars.
*****
Welcome to the week of Christmas. I am still "laying low" and trying to stay off my feet as I heal after last week's foot surgery. While I am staying home "taking it easy," I decided to join with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday.
The weather outside is:
Cold but bright and sunny. The temperature here in the "Valley of the Sun" is about 40 degrees.
On the breakfast plate this morning:
Wheat toast with homemade jam (a Christmas gift from a good friend who teaches in the room next door to mine), fresh black berries with juice and Zip Fizz to drink.
As I look out my window:
I see the the bright yellow lemons on my lemon tree. When I am more mobile, I need to pick some lemons. There are always more than we can possibly use. Right now I am:
Writing this post and carefully watching my email in-box for the weekly email from my son Josh, serving as a missionary in Mexico. We probably won't hear from him until much later in the day, but I keep a pretty close watch on my email all day every Monday.
As I look around the house:
I have been sleeping on the couch in the family room since my surgery, to avoid going up and down the stairs, so that room is looking very "lived in" today. It will probably stay that way for another week or so, until the doctor clears me to be on my foot longer and go up and down stairs. The rest of the house is fine. The living room, where our tree is, is looking festive and lovely.
On today's "to-do" list:
Don't stress about what I can't do right now. Keep my foot elevated and iced as much as possible. Read. Watch Christmas movies. Enjoy the down time ~ "this too will pass."
Happening this week:
Follow-up trip to the doctor. Wrapping the very last of the Christmas gifts that I ordered on Amazon this past weekend. Skype call on Christmas Day with my son, Josh!
Currently reading:
This early Christmas present from my daughter Tiffany.
On the TV:
CNBC - the business channel. Hubby listens to it every day he is home. Later today and tonight, I hope to watch some Christmas movies.
Menu for the week:
First we will finish off the left-overs from delicious meals that have been brought in to help out since I had my surgery.
What I am creating:
I am seriously considering making some scarves with my knitting loom. It has been a while since I have made anything like that.
Some pictures from the last few days:
Our little Christmas Tree with most of the gifts under it.
This beautiful nativity was hand made and painted for my mother by one of her neighbors many years ago. I "inherited" it when my mother passed. I still love putting it out every year.
A thoughtful bouquet of "Christmasy" flowers from a family at church.
My early Christmas present...
...helping me stay off my my foot get around a little more quickly and painlessly.
I just finished this book. It is one I had on my "to read" shelf for a while. I have read books by Richard Paul Evans before - some I liked, some not so much. This book is a modern retelling of the New Testament story of the Prodigal Son. It is a quick and easy read, that is even thought provoking at some points. The title would indicate that it is a Christmas story, and while a couple of chapters do take place on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, it is not really a "Christmas book." From my experience, some of Evans' books are downers, but this one ends on an upbeat note, just like the original Prodigal Son story in the bible. Some of the characters in the book were flat and the story line is predictable, but that's because I have read the Biblical story of the Prodigal Son many times. Despite that, Lost December is worth reading for it's message of redemption and forgiveness.
While I have been reviewing books provided free of charge by several publishers, Lost December is one I bought for myself at Goodwill several months back. I gave this book 4**** out of 5 stars.
It has been a good week and I am joining with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story to remember some of my favorite things from this past week.
My number one favorite thing from this past week would have to be the successful surgery I had yesterday on my right foot. It was a fairly quick procedure that I had been putting off for years. It's good to have it behind me know. I am home taking it easy and trying to stay off the foot as much as possible. I decided this week was the best week to have it taken care of. I have a sub in my classroom administering finals, and then two weeks of taking it easy before heading back to school January 4.
My favorite husband has been a tremendous help during this whole thing. I appreciate the way he always steps up the plate with cooking, cleaning and errand-running. I love him dearly.
Another favorite thing was the delicious full-course meal a lady from our church brought into us last night, to make my surgery day go a little easier. I forgot to take a picture of the wonderful casserole, salad and desert that this sweet woman brought in last night, but it tasted so good and was such a tremendous help. We have another meal coming in tonight and still another on Monday - all to help me be able to stay off my foot.
Still another favorite is the great service project the school I teach at does every Christmas. The students and teachers team up to provide Christmas for a lot of needy families right here in our community. This year, my very small (only nine students) first hour class teamed up with the first hour classes of two other teachers in our hall, to provide Christmas gifts for five different individuals in our community. I love seeing the teenagers get so involved in providing holiday cheer for those in need. On Wednesday, we had wrapping party to get all the gifts ready.
I love it that all of my students got involved and they were all happy and smiling as they wrapped gifts for total strangers in need.
After wrapping we took the gifts to the school library which becomes a true Christmas warehouse at this time of year. Here are some of the gifts, all donated by students and teachers to bless the lives of almost one hundred needy families. The students themselves delivered the packages to their "Christmas families" after finals yesterday. This annual project of sharing with others always gets me in the Christmas spirit!
Another favorite - the Christmas cards have started to come. I was afraid we would not get very many this year, but as you can see, the front door is beginning to fill up. It is always so fun to hear from friends and family at Christmas!
Still another favorite - this tiny little nativity I saw and bought when I was out finishing up some Christmas shopping the day before my surgery. I love nativities and have a hard time passing up a really cute one to add to my collection.
Finally, this Merry Christmas thought that the true meaning of Christmas is giving to and helping others, because God gave us all the most wonderful gift of his only son.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
As I get ready for the end of the semester, foot surgery and Christmas, this past week has been full and busy. During such a week, it is always good to stop and remember the good things that have happened and that are coming up. Here are a few such good things in my life right now.
I love Christmas cards and sending them out has been part of our family Christmas tradition as long as we have been married. Later, we added an annual family newsletter and family pictures to the cards, not only to keep in touch with our friends but also act as a kind of "family journal" of what transpired in our lives during the past year. I have noticed lately that fewer and fewer people are sending cards. Perhaps they feel that being "friends" on Face Book and reading each other's posts is enough, but to me, taking the time and care to send a Christmas card is a very special way to tell someone they are very special, so it is a tradition I plan to stick with. I have a goal to have most of our Christmas cards in the mail by December 1 each year, and this year I made my goal, but just barely. I had to use my lunch at school to finish the last of the cards so I could take them to the post office on the way home.
We are finally getting a few cards - but lately we seem to receive fewer each year. We treasure all the cards we receive and also put them on the back of our front door. We have been doing this for almost thirty years!
All the gifts to our children, grandchildren and other extended family are wrapped, boxed and in the mail. Here are all the gifts sorted by receiver and laid out on Joshua's bed. I had to make sure that I had everything for everyone before I wrapped them up.
I like to wrap presents. I put a card table up in the family room and wrapped while watching the 1970 musical version of "A Christmas Carol" on TCM.
Here is everything boxed up and ready to go to the post office. All gifts are now in the mail heading off to let those we love know we are thinking of them and wishing them a Merry Christmas! By the way, Elder Jones reported, in his weekly email today, that both of the boxes I sent to him in Mexico have arrived safely and in-tact! He will open them up on Christmas morning.
We got another new Christmas ornament in honor of Elder Jones. I have always loved fun ornaments celebrating milestones in our family. In the upper left of this picture, you can see an ornament my daughter had made for us a few years back with cute pictures of the grand kids on it!
Last Friday, I had over 100 essays to grade, but now I am down to only twelve. I don't usually like to grade at home, but I did this weekend. Overall, the essays were quite good and I am proud of my students. The grades were high. Now hopefully, they will do just as well on the multiple choice final tomorrow.
We have had a cold rainy weekend here in the desert and that continued into today. Here is a picture of our backyard during an afternoon rainstorm. You can see the plants are covered up for the expected freezing temperatures at night. Charly put some plastic chairs on the blankets to try and hold them in place.
Another picture of our wet backyard with some of our vulnerable plants covered up for the freeze.
Of course, when there is rain, there is often a rainbow. This amazingly stunning full rainbow made its appearance about seven this morning.
Although pictures don't really do it justice, I 'm glad I was able to run out and snap a few.
I also did some cleaning and tiding up over the weekend. This is our all-purpose "extra" room. It used to be my oldest son's bedroom. Now, it is the room where we dry our clothes, have two of our computers and store our painting supplies. The closet is my "gift closet." With all the Christmas gift-giving, this room got a bit messier than usual and was well-overdue to have things put-away, straightened and other-wise organized. It is still isn't pretty, but at least it's more functional now that things are tidier in here again.
Charly made dinner last night and it was delicious! Here is the simple recipe that is oh so good! Simply bake as many potatoes as you want (we used Russets), hallow them out (you can make mashed potatoes with the insides). Fill the potato skins with cheese, crumbled bacon, green onions and a whole eggs. Salt and pepper to taste. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
Here is the finished potato. It was excellent. We had ours for dinner, but it would be a fun breakfast or brunch dish as well.
This is the "boot" I'll be wearing for about six weeks after Thursday morning. I am scheduled for outpatient surgery on my foot this week. I have needed to have this done for years and I know that a couple of months from now I'll be very glad I did it. Everything points to a pretty simple and straight-forward procedure, but I always appreciate prayers, so if anyone can send some up for me, that would be great! I had this procedure done on my other foot about 15 years ago, so I know that after Thursday, pain meds will be my friend for a while. ;-)
Finally, another great thought to consider as Christmas draws ever nearer. It's best to always focus on the things that matter most.
Have a great week and a wonderful Christmas season!
It seems like ages since I have joined in with Happy Homemaker Monday, so as I sit here at my computer waiting for my son's once-a-week email, I decided to join in
The weather outside is...
Mostly sunny with a few clouds. It is about 81 degrees where I live.
On the dinner table this evening...
Leftover vegetarian pizza. One of the advantages of being "empty nesters" is that a family size pizza will last two meals!
As I look out my window...
I see the lemon tree in my back yard, laden with yellow fruit. Looks like its time for some fresh lemonade.
Right now I am...
Multi-tasking. I am waiting for my son Joshua's weekly email from Mexico while writing this post and also finishing up a paper for a college class that Charly and I am taking.
As I look around the house...
I have a card table up in the family room where I was wrapping presents last night and will continue doing so later tonight. I still have gifts to get in the mail to grown children and grandchildren who live in different states. In the living room, the trees are up, the lights are on and everything looks very festive.
On today's to-do list... Finishing that paper for tomorrow night's class (done), wrapping more presents, doing some laundry, folding and putting closes away, finishing up the last of the Christmas cards
Happening this week...
Quiz for the class we are taking, big after-school meeting, Christmas package mailing, baptism for a friend's son
Currently reading... Lost December by Richard Paul Evans. It is described as being a "modern-day holiday version of the biblical story of the prodigal son, a powerful tale of redemption, hope, and the true meaning of love." I hope I like it as well as the last book I read, 52 Little Lessons from A Christmas Carol.
On TV...
Last night I watched the Christmas Devotional from Temple Square in Salt Lake City. It had some wonderful Christmas music and messages just right to get me in the mood for this wonderful season. I would like to watch a Christmas movie tonight, maybe "A Christmas Carol" while I wrap more presents.
From the camera...
Our newest Christmas ornament.
I love this beautifully simple nativity scene at the Gilbert Temple.
This awesome surprise showed up in my Facebook feed this afternoon, courtesy of the mother of another missionary serving with Josh. That is Josh, (a.k.a. Elder Jones) over on the left end of the picture. It was sure good to see him. We don't get many pictures from him, so this made my day!
My scripture for this week:
"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord."
