Final Weekend of 2023

 

We got home from our getaway to St. George before 2 p.m. on Friday.  I expected more traffic on the drive home, but there were fewer cars on the road than when we went down the day after Christmas.  The weather was OK (cold but not wet) and our drive was uneventful, which is always a good thing. We immediately got things unpacked and put away and now our luggage is stored away in the basement awaiting our next adventure. 

We got  home to a stack of late-arriving Christmas cards.  I enjoyed opening and reading each one, and then hung them all on the door. The cards will stay up until mid-January - the last of our holiday decorations to come down. 

We lowered the price on our condo last week, and Friday we received another offer on it. We are still in negotiations with the would-be buyers, but the offer sounds more substantial than the others we have received because the buyers do not have to sell another property before buying the condo.  Prayers that this offer goes through and we can get the condo sold! (Note:  this picture was taken last summer.  While we don't have any snow on the ground just now, the grass is certainly not that green and there are no leaves on any of the trees).

Sunday morning, we took Josh to the bus to go back to school in Rexburg.   We then went to church.   We stayed a while and chatted with some friends after the service. 

Sunday afternoon, Charly and I worked together to take down the inside Christmas decorations (all but the Christmas cards).  Our living room is now cleaned up and ready for the new year.

Our Christmas decorations are now packed away in the garage until next year.

We still have the lights on our front porch and I will take those down on Monday.  I decided to change the LED lights in the windows from red and green to blue for New Year's Eve.

After dinner, I got busy on Josh's FAFSA application for the 2024-25 school year. Since he is planning to graduate in 2024, this will likely be the final FAFSA form I need to help him with. 

Weekend gratitude:

• A great getaway in  St. George.
• Safe travels home from St. George.
• Safe travels for Josh back to Rexburg, Idaho for college.
• Overall excellent holidays!
• Josh's 2024-25 FAFSA application complete.

Coming up this week:

Monday -  Friends coming for New Year's Day dinner

Tuesday - Charly has a follow-up doctor appointment for his hand

Wednesday - Back to school

Saturday - Our granddaughter Maddie's 8th birthday

Thanks for stopping by for this final post of 2023, and thanks for reading and commenting.  I will be back soon to recap my December reading, and goals for the new year.   Here's wishing that 2024 is a good year for all! 

Until next time,

😊Deb💖

"Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book.

Write a good one."

~ Brad Paisley

Memories and Gratitude from the Week In-Between

It's time again to remember the best parts of the past week.  The week between Christmas and New Years is always a time to make memories with those we love most.  I am joining again with Susanne and friends over at Living to Tell the Story. Here are some of my best memories from the final week of 2023.

We had a very nice Christmas Day.  It was just Josh, Charly and I at home for the day.  We slept in, then got up and had a nice Christmas breakfast and opened our gifts. 

The day included wonderful gifts, walks outside on a clear, blue-skied albeit cold day, good food (including Christmas breakfast of Mari's Bacon and Egg Crescent Squares), calls and texts with loved ones not with us, and time to relax, read, chat and enjoy a lovely day.   I am grateful for a very nice Christmas Day!

The day after Christmas we went to our daughter's home on our way to St. George. We took their Christmas gifts and had a brief visit before getting on our way to Southern Utah.  

Everyone liked the gifts we gave them.  We had a nice visit, then our daughter gave us some delicious homemade cinnamon rolls to take with us. I am always grateful for time with my daughter and her family.

St. George was beautiful as always.  This is the view from the deck of the condo we were staying in. I love the desert in the morning.  I am so grateful that we were able to travel to St. George to relax, recharge and spend some time after Christmas. 

Charly doesn't like Mexican food much, but Josh and I sure do, so we had a delicious mother-son lunch together at a great Mexican restaurant in St. George. I am always grateful to spend time with my son Josh. 

Josh fixed dinner for the three of us one night while we were in St. George.  He found a recipe he wanted to make, shopped for the ingredients, then meticulously followed the instructions step-by-step.  

He made some delicious, authentic chipotle burritos. I am grateful that he is learning a lot of useful things in while he is a college student, including how to cook!

Friday morning, Charly, Josh and I went to one of our favorite places in Southern Utah, Snow Canyon State Park.  We went on a hike together, and enjoyed our time in this wonderful place.  

It was a perfect day for hiking. I am so grateful we were able to get outside and walk on this scenic trail. Here are some pictures of the beautiful red cliffs from the Whiptail Trail today. 

Back in the condo, I made Quiche for dinner. This was my first real attempt at Quiche and it turned out to be quite yummy.  I'm always glad that we stay in a condo with a kitchen so we don't have to eat out every meal.

Tomorrow, we will head back home, then the next day, Josh will head back up to college in Idaho. I am so grateful that we have had a great family holiday and that we have been able to have this winter getaway in St. George!  May 2024 bring good things to all.  Happy New Year!

Until next time,

😊Deb💖

"Write it on your heart that every day

is the best day in the year."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Christmas Eve and A Little "Sunday Stealing"

 

Hello and Merry Christmas from our home to yours!  This morning, we were up and off to church for our special Christmas Eve worship service which was very special and added so much to the Christmas spirit for me.  

Josh came to church with us, but took off his white shirt and tie before I could get him to come in for a picture.  It was so good to have one of my children in church with us today.  I know that both of my daughters and their families were also in church, even though they weren't with us.  3 John 1:4 is true for me - "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

Charly's oldest and best friend, Craig, was in church today with his wife.  These two men were inseparable growing up, and pretty much until they got married. We both attended each other's weddings, and they were married just a few weeks after Charly and I. Craig lives in Texas but was in Utah to visit his mother who is in our church congregation.  We chatted with Craig and his wife for a while after the service.  It was so great to see them and catch up.  We hope to meet up with them again before they go back to Texas. 

Before we left for church this morning, I put a roast and vegetables in the slow cooker, and we will enjoy that later as our Christmas Eve dinner.  In the past, we have bought KFC for our Christmas Eve meal because my husband loves their fried chicken, but because Christmas Eve is on a Sunday, we opted not to get KFC. For us, honoring the Sabbath as part of our Christian faith means refraining from shopping, eating out or purchasing food to go whenever possible.  

What will the rest of our Christmas Eve look like?  I expect it will be quiet, low-key and relaxing.  Earlier, I took a little nap and made a red velvet cake with the help of Duncan Hines (box mix). We may watch a movie after dinner.  Last night, Charly and I watched Family Switch on Netflix and enjoyed that, so we will probably watch another movie tonight.   

Each of us usually opens one present on Christmas Eve.  We save the rest for Christmas morning. 

I also need to finish up some cards for Letters Against Isolation.  These will go out to Meals on Wheels in Albany, New York. 

And now, just for fun, I decided to join in with my blogging friend, The Gal Herself, over at One Gal's Musings for Sunday Stealing.  

1. Who did you spend time with this year? 

I spent a lot of time with my husband, but also enjoyed seeing a lot of our Utah daughter and grandchildren this past year.   We also met up with friends for lunch at least once a month.

2. Anything change with the pets in your life? 

We don't have any pets right now, but hubby and I are both thinking we would like to get another kitty or two when I retire. 

3. What was your job like this year? What do you do? Did any roles or assignments change? 

I still teach high school English and work specifically with 9th and 11th graders.  I've been doing this for 22 years now.  Not much has changed, except that the students become more challenging to work with.  Thanks, I believe, to smart phones and a sense of entitlement that seems pervasive in today's teens - "Gen Z."  My biggest career aspiration at this point is to teach another 18 to 24 months then retire. 

4. What was the best book you read this year?  How many did you read? 

I have read 71 books so far this year.  There are several "best books" that come to mind, including These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant, I Can Only Imagine by Bart Millard and A Christmas Memory by Richard Paul Evans.  These three books are all very different but all excellent and uplifting.  

5. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you? 

My 64th birthday this year was on a weekday (October 9) so there was no special celebration, until the end of the month when our daughter had a special birthday dinner for both Charly and I.  His birthday is on October 6. On my birthday itself, I got phone calls and texts and gifts from my husband, friends and family.  It's always nice to be remembered.  

6. What political or social issue stirred you the most last year? 

I found the October 7th attack on Israel by Hamas to be, in my mind, an abhorrent act of pure evil.  There are few things that would stir me to join in a protest demonstration, but if I could have joined the March for  Israel in Washington D.C. in November, I certainly would have. 

7. Who was the most interesting new person you met? 

This was a hard question for me to answer because no one really stands out.  There is a very nice 91-year-old woman in our church congregation named Doris, who is so kind and lovely, I'm thinking it would have to be her. 

8. What changed in your home? 

Our actual home changed, when we moved out of our condo this past summer and back into a 70-year-old brick bungalow that we purchased in 2016 and had used mostly as income property.  We put our condo on the market (still not sold) and commencenced to to some major remodeling in the house we now live in.  We had some great contractors who took both of the bathrooms in the home completely down to the studs and replaced the cabinetry and fixtures and then retiled everything. We also had a dark, dingey and useless "rec room" in the basement transformed into a light and large 5th bedroom. In addition, we got all new appliances upstairs in the kitchen. It has been a major transformation and honestly has cost us major $$$, which we hope to recover when we sell this place in a couple of years.  It's a great old house, but we aren't thrilled with the neighborhood and hope to move to a yet to be determined area when I retire. 

9. What have you learned throughout the year? 

This answer is probably a work in process, but I think I am learning not to be so tied to a particular outcome, especially in interactions and relationships with others. Life is up and down, half good and half bad and we can give love to others without any regard for their actions, choices and responses.  

10. What was your favorite outfit for warm weather? Cooler weather? What do you wear when you dress up? Any new clothes or accessories you really love? 

I usually wear jeans and a t-shirt with a flannel or denim shirt over the top for warmth.  When I dress up, usually for church, I wear a skirt and sweater, and I love wearing boots in the winter.  I like the way boots look and feel.  I have several nice pair of boots that, in my opinion, look great with a solid color skirt and sweater.  A new accessory that I got in the past year was a beautiful blue sapphire cross necklace that my birth mother bought me when I visited her last may.  I really love it, and while I don't wear it daily, it is a new favorite. 

11. Did you make or give up on any efforts to be healthier? 

Yep, I finally got the "dreaded colonoscopy" taken care of - thanks to encouragement from my husband and cousin who assured me that it wouldn't kill me, and actually could save my life!  I am glad it is done for a number of years, and that no big problems are brewing "down there."  I am also trying to make sure that I eat more servings of fruits and veggies each day and I am cutting down on red meat.  I have exercised daily for years and continue to do that.  Recently, I am also doing a food diary and really watching and attempting to cut my daily calorie intake. 

12. Fave meals, snacks, desserts, restaurants etc? Eat out or eat in? 

When I don't cook, we usually get take-out and eat at home.  I love Chinese food, especially orange or Mongolian chicken. We do have a favorite place in Utah County we love for Chinese food.  My go-to favorite is pizza, but I also love a good roast, which is what we are having for our Christmas Eve dinner!

13. Did you learn any new crafts or techniques? What was your favorite thing you made? 

I haven't been very crafty this year, but I have enjoyed doing some drawings on cards I made for Letters Against Isolation. 

14. What are your hopes and dreams for the new year?  

I would LOVE to get our condo sold.  We are lowering the price January 1, and with interest rates edging downward, we are hopeful.  I also want to attend my son Josh's college graduation and see him employed, self-supporting and settled in his own apartment.

15. What was the best new/new-to-you thing you a) bought b) made c) acquired in some other way? 

We got all new appliances here in our house last summer.  I have a new fridge, range and dishwasher.  They are all very nice and it's fun to have brand new appliances, but I LOVE my new Maytag dishwasher. It is hands-down the best dishwasher I have owned. also I have a new slow cooker which I bought when the lid to my old one cracked. 

That's all for this Christmas Eve.  May everyone have a lovely Christmas Eve and Day doing whatever it is that you find fun, relaxing and rejuvenating.

Until next time,

🤶Deb🎄

Almost Christmas Gratitude

This past week has been very busy and I didn't get time to post on Thursday, like I usually do, but that doesn't mean I don't have much to be grateful for.  I am linking late with Susanne over at Living to Tell the Story to remember some of the good things that took place in my life this past week. 

😊 Charly saw the hand specialist and got a custom hard splint on his hand.  A new x-ray of his hand showed that everything is healing up as it should.   I am so grateful that he is on the mend.  I am also grateful for all of the doctors and health care providers who have helped him through this mishap. 

😊 My California blogging friend Susan over at Susan's Sayings sent me a package with a Christmas card and these sweet ornaments.  I love them!  They are now hanging in a special place on our Christmas tree.  Thank you, Susan!  I am grateful for you and for all of my wonderful blogging friends!

😊 We were able to go to another of our granddaughter's basketball games this past week. It was fun to see her play, and she even made a basket!  I am grateful we have been able to several of her basketball games that were in our area.  I am so grateful for my grandchildren and being able to be part of their lives!

😊 Josh has been home this week and I have enjoyed having him here.  Even though I had to work the entire week until about mid-day on Friday, we were able to spend some time together.  I am so grateful for Josh and all of my children. 

😊 Friday was a teacher work day at school, and since my grades were complete and my lesson plans for the new year ready, I was able to leave school in time to go to lunch with Charly and Josh at our favorite all-you-can-eat place.  I am grateful that I was able get off early and sit, relax and enjoy some good food with my husband and son.  

😊 Christmas cards continue to come in.  I always put them on the back of the front door to enjoy and remember all of the friendships (including blogging friendships) that they represent.  I am so grateful for all of my friends, even those who don't send Christmas cards.  Each friend (traditional and blogging) holds a special place in my heart.  

😊 Of course, for me, as a Christian, the most important part of this busy season is remembering the reason for it all - the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.   I am so grateful for my Savior!

That's all for this late post of gratitude.  May you all have a very Merry Christmas and may 2024 be a good one for all of us. God bless! 

Until next time,

🤶Deb🎄

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

~Isaiah 9:6

 

The Weekend Before the Weekend Before Christmas

Here are the highlights of our weekend.  It's hard to believe that NEXT weekend is the weekend before Christmas.  Time goes so quickly

I got to school Friday morning just as the sun was coming up. We have late start days every Friday and we are supposed to have various meetings then, but this Friday, there was a staff Christmas breakfast, which I did not attend because I was busy writing a college letter of recommendation for a student.  The deadline for her to get her letter submitted was Friday, so I had to get it done. She is a great student and a very nice young woman and I did not want to disappoint her. 

I only get a prep hour every other day this year because I am teaching an extra class.  I got a prep hour on Friday and it was a good thing that I did.  It is the end of the term and I had a lot of grading to get finished. While I worked, I watched a Hillsdale College online class lecture.  I have taken a lot of the free Hillsdale College online classes and find them so interesting. The one I am currently doing is a history of ancient Christianity and I am learning so much!

When I got home from school, Charly and I went grocery shopping.  Charly usually does the shopping by himself, but since he has a broken hand from his fall, I needed to go with him and help with heavier items.  

The lid on my slow cooker cracked last week, so I threw it away and got a whole new crockpot at the store.  I use my crockpot a lot and this one was a fairly large one that was a decent price, so we got it at the grocery store instead of making an extra trip to another big-box store. 

After dinner, I went up to the church to help decorate for the Christmas breakfast, which was scheduled for Saturday morning.  Charly and I are both on our church "activities committee" so we were asked to help decorate, but Charly didn't go because his hand is broken.  This is what the large church cultural hall looked like when we got to the church.  The tables were set up, but there were no decorations. 

This is what it looked like after the ten members of the committee had worked for about an hour.  I thought it looked very nice and festive - just right for a church Christmas breakfast.  Charly and I were going to attend the breakfast, but after Charly's fall, we decided not to.  He is still very sore and honestly, as our grandson told him, he looks like he got in a fight with a bear. 😂

Saturday morning, we went to the community/recreation center in our area and joined up for a year so we can use the facilities to exercise and workout.   It isn't too far from our home. 

It has a great walking track and lot of work out equipment as well as exercise and yoga classes that are included in our membership.  This will be a much safer place for us to walk - with hopefully no more falls for either Charly or I. 

Saturday night, I finished wrapping/gift bagging presents and put them under the tree.  

Josh came home from Christmas early Sunday morning.  His bus arrived in downtown Salt Lake City at 7 a.m..  This is what the city looked like as we arrived to pick Josh up. The Christmas lights were still on and it was quite beautiful.  As you can see in the pictures, there is a lot of construction going on in downtown Salt Lake City.  

Josh came to church with us a little later on in the morning.  We attended the main worship service, then we came home.  We didn't attended Sunday School.  We were all tired from getting up earlier than normal, and Josh hadn't slept at all since he had to catch his bus at 2 a.m..

We all napped a little after lunch, then I baked some sugar and gingerbread cookies.  I was going to make some cookie plates for neighbors, but I wasn't super thrilled with how the cookies turned out.  They tasted pretty good, but don't look like much. I think I will probably do something else for the neighbors - maybe a card and a box of chocolate mints.  

Our Sunday dinner was this chicken crockpot meal.  I got the idea and directions over at Mari's blog, My Little Corner of the World.  This meal was a real hit with all three of us!

After dinner, we went to an open house at the home of an elderly man in our church congregation who has built a large organ into one room of his home. This man made his livelihood traveling across the country and around the world building and repairing organs in churches.  His wife recently passed away, and now he has been diagnosed with cancer, but he still plays the organ every week in our church services, and invites everyone in the congregation to his home every Christmas.  It was nice event, and it was well attended because this man is well-loved in this area. 

Weekend Gratitude:

• Charly continues to heal.
• Josh got home safely. 
• We are just about ready for Christmas.

Coming up this week:

Tuesday - I'm taking a day off to go with Charly to a couple of medical appointments. 

Tuesday - Our granddaughter's basketball game

Friday - Final day of the semester at school. 

It's been a very busy weekend, and honestly, I'm ready to call it a day.  I plan to shower, get in my pjs, read a bit, then I'm off to bed. Thanks for stopping by to share my weekend before the weekend before Christmas.  Have a good week!

Until next time, 

🤶Deb🎄

"Christmas isn't just a day,

it's a frame of mind."

~Miracle on 34th Street