It Snowed For Real

This is what we woke up to this morning. It is cold enough that it has stayed all day. There is even snow behind Robinson Ranch. Isn't it beautiful? Gorgeous blue sky, white puffy clouds, snow on the mountains, and green everywhere else! Winter is here for us.

Abby is 10!

Woohoo! Abigail Caldwell is now in the double digits as of today. What a day it was when you were born. We were praying so hard for you. You were so 'determined' to get to earth that you decided to give us all heart failure and come 2 months early!!! We were in the middle of getting ready for the holiday and after we got the phone call that your mom was taken to the hospital we just all sat around in shock and worry for you both. We immediately knelt and prayed. It was hard to be away long distance and wait for updates. But come you did, and were a determined little fighter. And look at you now! All grown up! Have a fun and happy day.

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday Dear Abby--

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Thanksgiving ABC's

I just found this in my purse. I obviously forgot to post it, so back up a little bit. It's Christmastime, the time to still count our blessings, so here we go!

We went around the table and had a memorable time naming our blessings 'one by one'. The rules: 3 people for each letter. But as we got going, everyone shouted out answers. It was lots of 'good times'.

A--Apple Pie, Adrianne, Apostles, Atonement
B--Breakfast, Banana Cream Pie, BYU (of course!)
C--Christine, Cabin, Carrots, Carrot Cake, Christ, Cindy
D--Donuts, Darla, Diamonds (lots who got married this year!), Duff
E--Eyes, Ears, Everything
F--Faith, Friends, Family
G--Grandparents, Gethsemane, Gravy, Gifts, Gospel, God
H--Home, Heavenly Father, Hannah Montana, Hospitality
I--Ice Cream, Icicles, Income
J--Jam, Jackolanterns, Jewelry, Josh, Jesus
K--Kissing, Kitchen, Knives
L--Love, Life, Liberty
M--'My Marriage to Meredith' (very clever Josh), Mike, Movies, M&M's, Music, Messiah
N--Natalie, No. America, Nickels, Nativity
O--Original Pancake House, Oranges, Orangutans, Ovaltine, Ocean
P--Pineapple, Pie, President Monson
Q--Quiche, Quilts, Quiet
R--Raspberry Jam, Rice, Reindeer, Redeemer, Red Ribbon
S--Snow, Silence, Shaun, School, Sacrament
T--Turkey, Thyme, Time, Twilight, Temple
U--Unicorns, Underwear, Umbrellas
V--Vanilla, Victory, Victoria's Secret (yes, we've had a lot of weddings this year....)
W--Wind, W.O.W. (sigh...),Wicked (the musical)
X--Xrays, Xanadu, Xylophone
Y-- Youth, Yankees (what? we were tired and laughed out at this point...) Yellow
Z--Zoo, Zippy sweatshirts, Zamboni's

Winter Wednesday

Well, it has certainly turned into winter, southern California Style! It started during the night and has not stopped for even a minute all day long. The rain and wind have been non-stop. I'm looking forward to watching the news late tonight to hear about the rain totals. We sure have needed it, and I'm loving every second of it feeling like winter. We have a fire going in the fireplace, the furnace coming on when the thermostat dips down and an extra blanket on the beds tonight. Earlier predictions are that it should be down in the mid 30's tonight here. Hmmm. Duff thinks we might get some snow. I told him we needed to stay up during the night then to see it! He'd rather opt for sleep. When we picked Darla up from the groomer this afternoon, Saddleback mountain was covered with snow. We've never seen it down that low. That's one of the perks of living here: we get to enjoy seeing the snow close by, but don't have to shovel, scrape, drive in it.

And so, being in the winter mood, I'm wrapped up in a Christmas quilt, and I've got all the candles lit, all the mini-lights plugged in throughout the house, and some magic cookie bars in the oven. It smells like pine, cinnamon, apples, and chocolate and vanilla! Duff went to pick up Christine from YW where they worked with the Primary to put on a Christmas Carnival for the children. Everyone got to wear their pajamas. Sounds like a fun party to me!

Grandma's Cancer Update

I just got a call from Grandma. She and Grandpa had just gotten in the car to go home from her oncologist. He was thrilled to deliver good Christmas News. Grandma's cancer is doing very well. She is in such a good place that he doesn't even want to see her for 6 months!!!! (unless of course symptoms reappear). They were both 'flying high'with the good news.

She is convinced that it is because of the Thai Mangosteen that she drinks daily. Marci (Uncle Rodney's wife) got her started on that a while back and ever since she takes it religiously her cancer has stablized and even gotten better. She swears by it! I don't have cancer, but I've been wondering if it might be good to use it as a preventative???? You can get it at Costco.

What great news, especially at this sweet time of year! Thank you Mangosteen and more importantly, Heavenly Father.

Dreaded Dentist...

Today is the day. This afternoon. I know I'll live. Why do I get like this?


UPDATE: I did it! And did it well! I didn't have to get up and use the sink to rinse once. Not one gag either. She was even able to use the sonic-thingy which she had never been able to do with me before today. Hip hip hooray for me! I do have to go back in January for a crown, which I knew would be the case. Probably why I procrastinated going. That rationale doesn't make sense at all, I know, but it's how my thinking goes when it comes to the dentist.

IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: The hygenist asked me what I had been doing differently with my brushing because given my genetics for buildup my teeth were better than she had expected. When I told her I had switched to a Sonicare Elite, she was thrilled. SO, it really does make a difference. She said she could even tell that I was using it correctly by letting it do the work and not trying to use it like a regular toothbrush. I guess from what she said that quite a few people have a bit of an adjustment to letting the toothbrush do the work instead of brushing back and forth. So here is my endorsement for the Sonicare! It's working for me! Who would have ever thought technology could do this?

Happy Birthday Little Nick--#2

What a great name your parents gave you being born in December! You little cutie! Enjoy your day and your cake.

Happy Birthday to you--

Happy Birthday to you--

Happy Birthday Little Nick!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Caroling

We got caroled and we did some caroling for FHE tonight.

The Earls and Drassos came by delivering the Christmas cards from the ward while we were gone with the Stk. Presidency families caroling and delivering! Shaun and Darla were serenaded by them. We met at the Brennan's for sweet rolls, candy, treats, Christmas punch, oranged water and then all of our families caravaned around parts of the stake to visit widows and some who hopefully benefitted from some of our extra Christmas cheer! We had quite a bit of fun, and I don't know who got the most out of it-those we visited or us! Christine was less than thrilled at the beginning (as were majority of the 'teens' with us...), but the atmosphere was quite contagious and by then end had a great time.

What a magic of Christmas Spirit was showered upon us all! We are so blessed. Giving to/serving others is what it is all about.

Rain!

We are having a wicked rain storm! Even the drains from our backyard aren't draining to the street because the street is a river right now! I'm loving it. Cold, windy, and very festive.

Even Miss Darla is snuggling up and cozy. She needed to go out so bad, but just stood at the door and kept looking up at me before she finally decided the inevitable getting wet was necessary!

Sing Noel

Tonight was the last night for Sing Noel. It is our stake's annual Christmas program/concert for the community. Each night is a packed house. It is always a phemonenal concert. Along with the choir, piano, organ, there is string ensembles, brass sections, etc. The church is decorated all over. The chapel is transformed. Risers, stages, etc. are brought in. Professional lighting and sound equipment are used. Christine sang again with the YW choir. They have a primary children's choir also. The YW did a difficult number from the Carribean complete with clapping and stick percussion. It was amazing. The whole thing is captivating, but the last numbers crescendo into goose-bumps! The whole group of 225 people come together for the Hallelujah Chorus and a special arrangement of O Holy Night.

Good job, Christine and thanks to everyone who worked so hard for many months to put this together.

(church was very good today. Christine had a really hard time waking up this morning. She is really fighting this cold thing. So I stayed home with her and had her get in a hot shower to see how she would feel after that. Got some food in her and a cold tablet and she rallied. So we changed our clothes and headed over to the church and got there in time for Sunday School and RS/YW. So glad we did. The SS lesson was one that made you dig deep inside and see just how I was doing with prayer. I could be better. It was about the brother of Jared and his humility, faith, and the 'formula' he used for praying. The word choice in the scriptures is interesting. They don't use the word pray. The word 'cry', 'inquire', are used, indicating a lot of effort involved in talking to God. I've read these chapters my whole life. I learned new things today. After finally arriving in the promised land, they knelt on the shore and sang praises to God. Okay, this is a scripture story. But if I liken it to me, I might have been inclined to stretch my legs, run around, get some 'space', have a bath, especially after 344 days of being on a boat with no windows, strolling decks, and for sure I would've been seasick 24/7. So in my 21st century life, do I sing praises to The Father during and after I've been on 'the storm tossed seas'? Not usually. The mortal me asks for it to be easier, be taken away, fixed, be quick. Oh, yes I do ask for help to get through whatever it is, but the phrase: singing praises, implies so much more. So a lot to ponder and act on. Kim K. and I turned to each other and decided we need to do some major singing!)

Everyday Things Are Good

Christine had the dress rehearsal for their performances early this morning. So while she had to be there at 7:30 am, we headed out to get the grocery shopping done. The store was practically empty at that time on a Saturday morning. It is still frustrating to try and find things with it all changed. Before we know it, we won't have to think it through anymore.

Worked on VT records and statistics.

Mike and Adrianne came by to borrow the truck to go and get their Christmas tree. They were excited. We will stop by later in the week to see it decorated. Such fun times. They stayed the rest of the afternoon and had dinner with us. I was making beef stew and Arianne had been craving that. We lit a fire in the fireplace and enjoyed our rainy, cold winter weather. They tell us it is coming from Siberia where the temps were -80*. Yes, this damp cold feels pretty chilly for us! The news told the viewing audience to bring in our Poinsettias from the porch.

Christine's concert had a great opening night. We will go and attend tomorrow night. It is always such a beautiful program.

Off to bundle up and climb into bed.

Banners

stay tuned...No pictures yet because we have to finish the ribbon part. But Adrianne and I had a great time figuring them out. I cut, she glued. Really, really cute. I have to pick my paper now. She had a peach pie in the oven when I got there and it really hit the spot. It was a cold California winter night. Their apartment is cute and they have their decorations out. They are getting their tree tomorrow. I remember when Duff and I got our very first Christmas tree. Fun times.