Christmas Montage

Since I don't know how to put captions by the pictures yet they are as follows bottom to top.

1. Phoebe Jane announcing the performances.

2. Will & Nikki singing "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth"

3. Abby playing the keyboard with Faith, Brianne & Will intently watching

4. The Angels - Lucy, Brianne & Chloe

5. Joseph with baby Jesus & Mary - Collin, Rylie & Nikki

I really do have the most beautiful grandchildren!

Merry Christmas

This Christmas has been full of picture perfect moments. I have mentally cataloged many highlights from the fun festivities I have enjoyed this holiday season from school programs, piano & dance recitals to Christmas parties.

Our family party could not have been better. Angie & Kurt graciously opened there beautiful home for our get together. They had created a picture perfect Christmas atmosphere from the massive fresh tree with over 1,800 lights to the stockings hung by the fire. Thank you Angie & Kurt for letting us enjoy your home! Gifts exchanged, children playing, adults visiting were all great but I loved seeing my beautiful grandchildren portray the Nativity with such reverence. It truly left me in awe.

Attending the Syracuse friend party is always something I look forward to. Good food, good friends and an abundance of laughter are all part of the reason this is such an annual favorite. This year was doubly fun because we got to go to two friend parties. Thanks Tami & Steve for making it in from Issaquah, WA!

Abby & Phoebe had a piano recital the end of November and I absolutely loved being able to hear them perform. My favorite was when they played a duet. It was great! They both are very good pianists. Do all grandmothers think that their grandchildren are the best one at the recital?

I had a moment of deja vu when I was watching Chloe perform at her dance recital. I remembered watching Jenny at the basketball games & thinking that she had such grace & talent as a dancer. Daughter like mother.

I was able to attend Collin & Torin’s, Nikki & Christian’s singing programs at their schools. I LOVED going to these this year! The children are all so adorable. It is fun to see their different personalities come out as they perform. Christian kept his head down the entire program looking like he wished the audience would just go away. I was so surprised when at the very end of the preschool program he jumped right up went straight to the microphone and said with such enthusiasm & glee “Merry Christmas”.

I think there is a song that compares memories to faded photographs. Sometimes in looking back, we pick and choose what we want to remember but while this Christmas 2008 is still vivid & bright I want to say that this Christmas was indeed very Merry!

Thanksgiving Memories

Thanksgiving 2008: Grandma Bev's 82nd birthday and the first year without her. Bittersweet. I have had loss before so I know that the hard part comes the months after the loved one is gone. After all of the caring concern quiets. It comes when least expected. While stirring a batch of caramels, shopping, sitting in the front rows at church, in mom's empty home, sharing Thanksgiving with mom's posterity. I love and miss mom.

As we went around the table this year saying what we were thankful I was touched by so many who shared. Jillary said the most wonderful things about myself and each of my siblings - it was very thoughtful. Joan seemed very grateful that we returned to her home for Thanksgiving. She always makes the most wonderful holiday celebration! Velma brought birthday presents from Bev . They were treasures from Bev's home. It was fun to get a surprise. What a wonderful day spent with family. A day filled with love.

Probably the highlight of my day was when my 6 year old grandson Camden said what he was thankful for. "Heavenly Father and Jesus and my three Grandmas". Melt my heart. I never realized how mom felt about my children until I became a grandma. It is as if you can see the hope of the future in your posterity. You see all that is good and wonderful about these young people who call you grandma.

Mom lived a good life. She taught me to love. She was a good teacher & now my grandchildren continue to be my teachers. Grandchildren really do complete the circle of love.