Happy Happenings

Our son, Greg, arrived yesterday with three cute little kids in tow. The grandkidlets don't visit very often, so it is a super-duper treat when they do! Last night when they went to bed, they left a little gift for the fairies, a bell, and this morning they found that the fairies had left them their own fairy wings, as well as a cool castle to put together. Alas, our photographer, Brianna, is off on an adventure of her own, so posting pics may be a challenge. Happily, she's on her way to China to visit her family before the start of the next semester. She's been away for two years, so it is time for a good visit for sure. Let's see, it'd been 19 months since Tori, Juli, and Christian were last here, so we're loving having them around. Jaxon, Kade, and Sophia seldom make it out this way either, so we are grandkid poor much of the time. Brooklyn and Lilly used to get to visit fairly often,but there visits are less frequent with their Dad hard at work now, so, woe is us, we miss them and little Zaid, too! :) I know how my own parents probably felt years ago when their children grew up and left home, making visits back home with the little ones a rare occurrence. But, three of the nine are here now, so let's party on! Happy New Year's, everyone. I'll try to do some resolutions in a few days, but first things first!

Christmas Chef or Christmas Elf

Brianna and I celebrated the end of her grueling semester by kicking back in our new-to-us leather recliners and watching Julie & Julia on our new and improved Black Friday TV. Do not worry, we are not materialistic at Christmastime! No, we spend all our excess cash atThanksgiving and practice strict frugality thereafter. So, following the movie, Brianna became obsessed with the prospect of making Boeuf Bourguignon. We found Julia Child's recipe online, and straightway noticed that it called for three cups of red wine. We googled substitutions, but it was ultimately a forum friend that provided the winning one. We shall be using home-grown, homemade grape juice from the Royal Slope in WA, brought to us by our friend, JoLyn, and fortified by a hefty splash of balsamic vinegar. The meal will be prepared this very day.

That's not the vbest part of the story though. The best part is a remark innocently made by Chef Brianna. When I came downstairs the morning after our substitution search, she suggested that if we were going to omit the red wine from the recipe, she thought that we should change the recipe's name from Boeuf Bourguignon to Boeuf Brigham Young. Say it just so and the two names are very, very similar. Oh my goodness, I am still laughing like an elf over her play on words, and English isn't even her native tongue!
As for other holiday fare, I made four chocolate cherry fruitcakes last week, and cranberry jam this morning. I'll be making cranberry gumdrops when the grandchildren are here after Christmas. (Added 1/06/10: loathed the gumdrops, don't ever make them.) I think the jam would have benefited from a little more sugar, so I don't expect anyone to be as impressed with it as I am. I plan to serve it on scones. I'll whip up a batch of cranberry butter with it and then perhaps it will find a more appreciative audience. Since today is Joseph Smith's birthday, a batch of gingerbread would be nice, but no, I'll commemorate his birthday by listening to that wonderful rendition of Praise to the Man on YouTube instead.

Our family tradition is that we try something new every year, rarely doing the same thing twice. I used to feel a little uncomfortable when class members were asked to share their family traditions, until I realized that's what ours is. People ask, do you open gifts Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. I answer, either way works for us, we've done both. Do you send Christmas cards or a Christmas letter? Sometimes neither (like this year). Last year we sent our family Christmas tree picture, and at other times I write a newsy letter recapping the year's activities. Around here, just about anything goes. As long as we're with those we love and are loved by in return, we're as happy as can be. And now, to one and all, we wish you a merry Christmas, and a happy New Year!

A Christmas Story from Rebecca

The following is by my friend, Rebecca. Can you tell that she's special?

A while back, someone asked a question about knitting for a Halloween project. I had just gotten interested in knitting and had gotten excited about learning how to knit socks. Since my hands aren't that dextrous at this point, I got some thick, chunky yarn and made a pair of socks. Well, I had my knitting in my bag that I took to school, and one of my students saw it and asked about it. I told him I had learned to knit socks (more like slippers, but whatever) and showed them the one sock I had completed. Surprisingly, these 13-15 year old boys and girls were fascinated and asked if I could make them some socks. That would be about a dozen pairs, so I hemmed and hawed and finally said maybe for Christmas, but I wasn't guaranteeing anything. I guess the Lord really wanted it to happen, because I managed to whip up socks all over the place while watching TV, sitting around feeling yucky from chemo, etc. Can't do much active work, but I found I could make a bunch of stupid socks! Well, on Monday I was at school for a half-day and then am out the rest of the week,so I brought them in to my kids. I was amazed at the whole thing. Every one of them hugged me (even the big, tough older boys), thanked me, and had to put them on. One kid who is extremely withdrawn and angry actually sort of hugged me (he did the "leaning thing") and asked how I knew that blue was his favorite color. (I didn't know) They all left my room in high spirits to go to their next class. Then the complaints started coming in from other teachers. My kids were wearing their socks without any shoes because they liked them so much they wanted to show them off! Other students, ones I didn't even know, stopped by my classroom to ask if I could make THEM socks! My misfit, difficult, emotionally disabled students were the stars for the day. They skated down the halls and put their feet on their desks and showed off how much their teacher loved them. I was originally kind of bummed because I haven't been able to do much due to health issues. Heavenly Father was able to take what little I could do and turn it into a major blessing for my students.

Please Help, If You Can

Her name is Rebecca. I met her a few years ago on a forum we both joined. She has just learned that cancer has returned for the third time. The past 15 years have found her facing one major trial after another, anyone of which would have knocked most people flat. Well, now that she will be undergoing a biopsy of her bone and starting chemotherapy once again, she is very, very flat, and she needs a lift.

Please email me at bonniebeyond@gmail.com if you would be willing to send her a Christmas card, or even a gift, to help her feel God's love more strongly through the kindness of His children. Currently, the signal is pretty weak.

Thank you,
Bonnie

Glory to God

The heavens declareth the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. (PS. 19: 1)