Christmas in a NUT SHELL, Or I mean a SEA SHELL

Had a Fabulous Christmas EVE!  Rockin my super hero, or super mom boots.  Felt like I could do anything. Instead I did everything!

We really do love each other.  It was a great Christmas.

Went to breakfast at Alice's Biker restaurant You can get anything you want at Alice's restaurant

Including a Suburban full of car sick kids from driving up the beautiful, but winding road.  Real place real song!

To see Arlo Guthrie singing Alice's Restaurant click

Hit the beach with the doggies!

In part of our very organized plan we were to visit  Sister Sarah Goaslind.  A family friend serving in our San Francisco Oakland Spanish speaking mission.  We had information of her being at the visitors center that day.  We had gifts in hand for her and her companion.  It was all planned out!  But no sister Goaslind.  She was not coming in until the evening:( .  I had a lot of why didn't you call comments.  And granted I was disappointed.  We left the gifts and headed to San Francisco for the day.  As you'll see it all worked out pretty good.

Side note:

Sad to say NO La Taqueria, Aaron and Josh were severely distraught to find it closed until January 9th!.  We should have just gone home after that the disappointment was so great

Drove into the city!!, Drove into the city!!, drove into the city.  Yes, it was three times we drove into the city with bustling crowds of thousands of shoppers.  As James skillfully maneuvered the rented Chevy Suburban among those thousands of bustling shoppers!

We shopped, we ate, we people watched which was the absolute best. We tried the Aquarium which was backed up to a good two hour wait in freezing weather! We crossed bridges, crossed bridges love the bridges.

In San Francisco you seriously feel you are in another country.  Rarely hearing your own language spoken around you.

Aaron was great to help James and I ease the shopping tension.  He became our relationship mediator!  He even checked in with us to see how our progress was the next day!  Better after getting out of the craziness.  We found a secret parking place.  Nordstrom's Valet service.

Found our Sister Goaslind. Great evening at the Oakland Temple visitors Center listening to our family friend

play a concert for the Christmas crowds. She is amazing! We loved seeing her as well as hearing her.

Walked the coastal path with the four remaining kids. Cold, drizzling rain, but beautiful!

 

Said Goodbye to the boys. Tortured them with one more picture (or two). And I do mean TORTURE!

Lesson's Learned

 

Lesson's Learned

I experienced several new Christmas events that broadened my understanding of the diversity and goodness around me.

The Crèche

Ever year in Palo Alto there is held a Crèche .This was a totally new word for me. Word Nativity Scene is all I ever knew.

This Crèche exhibit is held at an LDS church. There were 100's and 100's of Nativity scenes on display from people from all religions and ethnic backgrounds.  It was amazing to behold! Each exhibit decorated to match the theme of the Crèche.  I went with my friend Susan Putnam. Unfortunately no pictures allowed. AMAZING

Lesson learned?

I would have to say I have limited myself to such a narrow view of the Savior's impact on the word. And on the individual who is very different than I am in how they worship him. Yet they love him and they do worship him.

The community sing

The program above is from the HMB interfaith Christmas Community sing. This event is rotated to a different church facility every year. Although the event has become so large that there are only three facilities large enough to host this event. Luckily for James, Britt and I this year was at our chapel. The church was decorated, programs printed, cookies made (or Bought) and the show was on. About 10 different denominations participated. This experience was extremely moving. Some congregations were very small and yet they sang with full hearts reaching everyone in the congregation. Each Choir director and Priest was fascinating! There were Women ministers, and dancing, swaying choirs. There were children, adults all doing their part to worship the Savior in their own way. They wore robes, scarfs, wore pants, red and white colors, wore different colors. Played drums, tambourines, trumpets, And guitars. In the end I was sitting becoming 100 times more enlightened, 100 times more thankful for the world I'm coming to know.

Lesson Learned?

So many people are trying to be faithful and good. So many people are seeking for good things. So many people are different than me. And each one is having an impact their way, in their part of the world. And they will never know that their impact effected my world.

Thomas Wright is here. Love that boy!

I had heard Thomas may come out to look into Podiatry school in this area. He had my phone number. No call. Then several day's ago he called and said I didn't want to bother you, but can I come and stay? YES! BIG YES! Thomas is now family since he married my niece Sidney. Although I always considered Thomas as family before then. He not only is Aaron's friend, but all of ours. And we actually have a guest bed that he can sleep on! Yes, a real bed.

We picked Thomas up at the Oakland Airport. It is a good hour's drive from here. It was so fun to see a homegrown boy in my neighborhood. He kept saying I can't believe you live out here!

I can't believe you live out here! REALLY Thomas I feel the same way every day!

He walked into our house and said wow this is really nice! I thought you lived like in a tiny two room apartment or something. Well that must have come from all my complaining! Shame on me. I'm working on the being grateful part of being here. Anyway, We shipped Thomas off to bed.

In the morning I had to make a last minute run to take Seminary kids to school. Barely made it back to take Thomas into San Francisco. I did offer him the little Beamer, but he seemed to be more comfortable with me taking him. Like I know the way around or something! Very humorous. I bravely took him on the coastal Highway then into San Francisco. Dropped him off at St Mary's hospital off Fulton. Then enjoyed a pleasant ride back the fast way on 280. I must say I felt quite brave and accomplished for the morning.

James was gracious to

come home early so we could go back to the city and pickup Thomas and play. Thomas had en

joyed his day, and was considering choosing this school of Podiatry. Well, we can't really say we didn't get super supportive of that idea!!! Having them around here would be fabulously fabulous.

We drove to

Union Square. The Christmas tree on the square was brightly lit. Macy's Department story was decorated to the hilt across from the square. The weather was pleasant enough for San

Francisco. And the busy streets filled with people was energizing. I loved it! Dinner at Lori's Diner was as Thomas said "medium". But the rest of the evening was down right festive. We finished off our evening by finding a gift to take home to Sidney. That took a little leg work, well leg work for the men to keep up with me!

They were letting me do the shopping while they did the walking.

Off Thomas flew this morning. Thomas is a great example to me of a righteous young man. And it is a powerful example. He is always complimentary and gracious. A great guest.

Haphazard Holidays

Alana, Chris, Joshua, Aaron and Brittany Brundage

Aaron and Chris

Brittany Brundage, Annie, Joshua, Channing, Chelsea, Britt and Aaron

The place I call home! This is where loved ones surround me at every turn. This is where I cook for my kids and they say WOW it's been so long since I had a home cooked meal. This is where my sister and I hang and my brother's are happy to see me. This is where I can serve my mother, and show my dad how much I love him. All of these things happened on a little 10 day visit to Utah.

First I had a road trip with my sister Diana and her Husband Dan. We had two weddings. One in St George for Ashley and Jason's wedding. Lovely drive, great day. Nothing better than to meet in the temple with family to celebrate good things.

Next day off to Manti to Selina's and Boddie's Wedding. Two totally different experiences, two totally different couples. Yet ea

ch was a great event. I felt like I was temple hopping, which was actually a delightful thing. Then a drive back to Payson where I stayed with my mom so my dad could attend Selina's reception. My mom was in a very deep sleep. Seemed to boarder on unconscious. My dad had the nurse come by for the second time that day to check on her. Dad said to the nurse "just keep her alive!" I then had to gently say in reply "dad you know one of these times they just won't be able to do that." He quietly said "I know".

As my mom came to something of a conscience state dad came back to a somewhat conscious state himself. He seemed happy. He then hauled her off to watch jeopardy in the little TV room next to their bedroom. They need each other more than they ever did before. They are both great examples of my hope of eternity.

Saturday was a funeral of my dear Draper ward friend Jolene Roden. Her death was more sudden than I expected. I was very thankful I was there for the funeral. My emotions were over flowing as I entered the church. And

then my heart couldn't take the overwhelming emotion of the death and of the reunion with so many loved ones. I actually felt deep pain from the reuniting of these treasured friends. So overwhelmed in fact that I chose not to attend church in Draper for that very reason. I had to remove myself from them in order to survive.

Although through the following days that came I ran into many friends, hugged them, laughed with them, and then left them.

First order of business decorate the Lehi house. Actually first order of business WHERE DID I PUT THE CHRISTMAS STUFFFF? No tree insight. I guess I really did a good clean out when I moved. No one around to go get a tree with me. Poor poor pitiful me. Oh wait, let's try Chris and Alana! Yes, lets check down the street at my son's house. I drive up to their house. There is Chris on the roof in the snow hanging Christmas lights. Alana in the house decorating for their own Christmas. Well, OK so I cried when I saw Alana. ( Mother- in- law's really!) As my dear Alana kindly said sure we'll go with you to get a Christmas Tree. Chris finished the lights and Chris, Alana, Milo and (me) drive to out in the snow to find me a

Christmas tree. If that wasn't enough they also came and helped me decorate that new Christmas tree. Aaron and his girlfriend Brittany came in the mist of all that dumping snow. They added to the fesitvities. Not to stop there, Josh came in as well. AHHH now I'm feeling good. My kids fill that empty cup of mine every time.

Begin the Preparations for Thanksgiving. Guests 19 then 17, then 14! The storm scared of my sister Lisa from St George. And my mother just isn't well enough to leave the house.

But determined to have

a good party I cooked the biggest feast ever! Really what was I thinking?

But man I did it right. I just can't be humble here, it was good. All my kids helped out before hand. James and Britt flew in Wednesday and joined the party.

Diana, Dan, Chelsea and Channing came to add color to our day. I would have kept them forever, locking the doors and post a no exit sign. But dear Channing was licked one to many times by Alana's new puppy Milo and broke out into a terrible rash. After Channing looked at Grandma Diana with a red swollen face and said "I hurt" I knew the party was over.

Never ending party weekend. We celebrated James birthday again. For Brittany it was the third time to celebrate. We used pies for the cake, and James went out and

bought his own candles! Terrible I know, but really a girl can only do so much.

Time to leave this comfy cozy place. Time to put on a brave face and a determined heart. Take off again in so many ways. I feel ripped apart in so many ways. And yet choice in these circumstances isn't really a choice

PS

The morning after I arrived back in HBM the sun was shinning, the beauty breathtaking, the ward members warming, the outlook positive.