Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from 2Toots Grill!

DTA and I love to take our grandgirls to the 2Toots Grill! It is a kid friendly diner where lunch is delivered on a train. We had so much fun there today with Little V and Little D! (and Linz and NTG) They had such great tunes on the jukebox and we were grooving while enjoying our fries! Happy New Year!

Christmas Morning Pics

Books I Read in 2008

BOOKS I READ IN 2008

• Home to Holly Springs (Jan Karon)
• Twilight (Stephanie Meyer)
• New Moon (Stephanie Meyer)
• The Lost Mother (Mary McGarry Moris)
• Eclipse (Stephanie Meyer)
• World Without End (Ken Follett)
• The Senator's Wife (Antia Shreve)
• Peony in Love (Lisa See)
• Change of Heart (Jodi Picoult)
• Sons and Lovers (DH Lawrence)
• Where Angels Fear to Tread (EM Forster)
• The Professor's House (Willa Cather)
• A Passage to India (EM Forster)
• Death Comes to the Archbishop (Willa Cather)
• Sister Carrie (Theodore Dreiser)
• Ethan Frome (Edith Wharton)
• Lucy Gayheart (Willa Cather)
• The Razors Edge (W. Somerset Maugham)
• Where Are you Now? (Mary Higgins Clark)
• Sapphira The Slave Girl (Willa Cather)
• Of Human Bondage (W. Somerset Maugham)
• The Zookeepers Wife (Diance Ackerman)
• The Parasites (Daphne DuMaurier)
• The Bonds That Make Us Free (C. Terry Warner)
• The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Bronte)
• The Maytrees (Annie Dillard)
• Breaking Dawn (Stephanie Meyer)
• The Loved One (Evelyn Waugh)
• Far From the Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy)
• Cold Comfort Farm (Stella Gibbons)
• The Inheritance of Loss (Kiran Desai)
• The Friday Night Knitting Club (Kate Jacobs)
• I See You Everywhere (Julia Glass)
• Testimony (Anita Shreve)
• Dashing Through the Snow (Mary Higgins Clark, Carol Higgins Clark)
• A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)
• When Christmas Comes (Debbie Macomber)
• The Road (Cormac McCarthy)

More Christmas Eve Photos

Some Christmas Eve Photos!

Gifts of Christmas

One of the best gifts of our Christmas was being able to talk by telephone to MyBoy. We called him very early this morning and then chatted a few more times during the day. (His Mission President has no restrictions) He sounded so good and so happy. Last year I gave him a Christmas stocking that I cross stitched that he loved. I made up a pattern of a missionary and cross stitched that on the front as well as a flag and some palm trees. Since I knew that was his favorite gift last year, I wanted to give him a stocking this year. So this year I cross stitched a face and a name of every person he has baptized. He loved it! I included some holiday cake mixes and frosting in his box, so last night for Christmas Eve, he and his companion made a Christmas cake and took it to a family in their branch. (as seen in the other photo) What a highlight of our Christmas Day, to hear his voice and know that all is well.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Look who I am spending Christmas Eve with!

How lucky am I to spend Christmas Eve with this little doll? She loves this little walker that I have owned since 1979! She follows me around the Christmas while I prepare food for the festivities. How fun to have her spend her first Christmas with us!

Little V and the Nativity

Little V loves arranging all of our nativities. She comes up with such better arrangements than I did, the focus always being on Christ. It is such a treat looking at Christmas through the eyes of a child.

Are you serious?

Okay. As if it isn't hard enough missing My Boy during this time of year. But did my neighbors really have to park this thing in their driveway, so that every time I look out my window, this is what I see???!!!!

Cheesecake, anyone?

Tonight we ventured out in 2 degree weather to meet Grandma and Grandpa at the Cheesecake Factory. It was delicious and very fun. As I walked through the restaurant I noticed many tables where gifts had been opened and exchanged. Love that.

Little V the cookie maker!

Every morning Little V and I prepare the Christmas cookies for the day! We take our sugar cookies and I frost them and then Little V decorates them. We find other cookies in the freezer and arrange them on a Christmas plate for our enjoyment throughout the day. Little V is a great helper in the kitchen! We are having fun!

Papa and Little V

Papa and Little V had so much fun out on the trampoline! It was freezing cold outside but you couldn't stop these two from having so much fun! Little V loved jumping!

Christmas Young Women Lesson

I was asked to give the Christmas lesson in young women today. We kept the girls in the hallway for opening exercises and announcements. Then I asked them not to talk, no matter what, and I escorted them into the young women room. Waiting for them was a dimly lit room except for one light and piano music of Christmas hymns. Also waiting for them was every picture of Christ you can imagine. They all sat down quietly and I asked them to look at all the pictures carefully and decide which picture really spoke to their heart. Once they chose a picture, they were asked to share with the group why they chose the picture they did and how it strengthened their testimony of Christ. I went first. Every young woman and every leader stood and shared. It was amazing. Many tears were shed. When we were finished, I was sitting on the back row, and by myself I started singing Silent Night. Everyone joined. The Spirit was so strong throughout the whole lesson. The Lord is so good. His spirit definitely attended today.

They're Here!

Let the party begin!

I Believe!

Every December, when I was a little girl, my mother got me all dressed up and took me to downtown Richmond's Miller and Rhoads department store to see Santa. This Santa was the real deal. What a magical time and place it was! The beautiful Snow Queen always greeted me. As I walked towards Santa, he would laugh and say, "Lisa, it's so good to see you!". I would climb up on his lap and tell him everything I desired. One year, we were really busy and didn't get downtown until quite late in the month. As I approached, Santa said he had been thinking about me and was worried that I wasn't going to make it that year! Imagine! Santa had been thinking about me! After visiting with Santa, my mother and I would go to the Miller and Rhoads Tea Room and eat lunch with Santa and the beautiful Snow Queen. We ate a delicious lunch and then Santa and the beautiful Snow Queen served us reindeer cake. It was always an amazing day!

Returned With Honor!

We had our first son return from his mission in our M5 (Moms of Mighty Missionaries Meet Monthly) group so we invited him to M5 yesterday! He has returned from the Russia Samara mission and wore a fun fur hat to prove it! It was so fun to hear of his experiences and think of our boys doing some of the same things. Our next boys return in June!

Winter Wonderland!

We had a little snowstorm last night. DTA and I went out and shoveled and the snow was so beautiful and light and fluffy. Just what we need to add to our Christmas spirit!

How I Miss My Boy at Christmas Time!

Look at My Boy...this being a Christmas Eve many years ago when he is wondering if he left enough carrots for the reindeer. I adore the expression on his face. How I miss My Boy this time of year. You can always count on him to add festivity to our celebration. What a wonderful time we will have next year! I am so grateful for his service in the Dominican Republic. I wouldn't have him doing anything else. The people that he has brought unto Christ is the greatest Christmas gift ever.

I've Been Tagged!

I've been tagged by my friend, Michael
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper
.2. Real tree or Artificial? artificial -
3. When do you put up the tree? right after Thanksgiving
4. Do you like eggnog? No
5. Favorite gift received as a child? Chatty Kathy
6. Hardest person to buy for? maybe my Dad
7. Easiest person to buy for? Coco
8. Do you have a nativity scene? yes, maybe 10 of them
9. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of anything
11. Favorite Christmas Movie? White Christmas
12. When do you start shopping? November
13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No
14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? chocolate mint grasshopper cookies
15. Lights on the tree? white
16. Favorite Christmas song? Mary Did You Know sung by Kristy Glass and You Better Watch Out by Frank Sintra and Cyndi Lauper
17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home.
18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes
19. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning
21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Toys R Us commericals
22. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have photos of my kids when they were younger all over my kitchen that I love
23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? turkey
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? some specific books
25. Who do I tag? Gina, Jana, Janet, Rachel and Charisse

A Festive Evening!

Tonight we had dinner with my parents and my brother and sister in law who were visiting from California. We went to a fun restaurant and then over to historic Naper Settlement(www.napersettlement.com) for their Christmas Memories celebration which they hold every year. Father Christmas and Scrooge walk the grounds as well as hayrides, wooden soldiers on stilts and music in the air. Friends in Harmony was part of the entertainment in the Century Chapel. It was a very festive evening. A good time was had by all.

Friends in Harmony Holiday Tour, Part 2

We are on a whirlwind of a tour! Yesterday we had three performances! Eight of us had lunch together in the middle of our performances. It causes quite a stir when eight women enter a restaurant all wearing the same outfit! What a great week we have had performing...even a few standing ovations!

The Santo Domingo Temple

Tuesday, My Boy took his annual trip to the Santo Domingo Temple. I love this photo of him (lower left hand corner) and other missionaries sitting on the steps of the temple. I love seeing temples in other parts of the world and how their architecture typifies the culture. My Boy had a wonderful day in the temple. What a treat for him.

We are Daughters of our Heavenly Father....

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us and we love Him. These are all the young women and young women leaders that I have the privilege of working with every Sunday and Tuesday night and sometimes in between. I feel so blessed to work in young women. I am the oldest leader by far. They are so nice to put up with me! I love their energy, their sense of fun, and mostly their courage to live the principles of the gospel at a time when it is very difficult to do so. They inspire me! They help me feel young!

Look Who Is Spending Christmas With Me!

Littlest D is spending her first Christmas at our house! I am so excited! I haven't seen her since July. I can't wait to carry her around and show her all the lights and decorations. There's nothing like having a baby in the house at Christmas! Can't wait!

My favorite Christmas decoration is.....

My favorite Christmas decoration is the photos of Christmas past that I have hanging on the cupboards in our kitchen! How I love these! I have photos of all our children and granddaughters at Christmas time when they were young. (more photos to follow in future blogs) Thanks to a little photo shopping, I even have them of our sons in law as young children. In 2002, our four children spontaneously gathered for a group photo shown on a slant in the middle of these three photos. They recreated the photo four years later in 2006 (top). Then last year, with only Linz and Coco home, they recreated it again(bottom). These are my favorites: Linz, Coco, Kage and My Boy together on Christmas Eve! I can't wait until next year when we can recreate it again!

Friends in Harmony Holiday Tour

Yesterday, Friends in Harmony began our holiday performances. We have ten gigs scheduled for this Christmas season. We have new shirts and a new holiday program. Our selections include: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.....Away in a Manger.....Light Up the Tree.....What Child is This?.....Winter Wonderland.....Noel, Noel.....Jingle Bell Fantasy.....The Man with the Bag....Fruitcake....Christmas in About Three Minutes.....and Silent Night. Come and see us!

She Loves You, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!

Today I received a phone call from my six year old granddaughter, Little D, who wanted to discuss John Lennon with me! What a kick! Little D attends a music school and today she was taught about John Lennon and the other Beatles. She knew all about them...even knew why Ringo was named Ringo! I love the Beatles! Evidently she does too! What a fun Grammy/Granddaughter moment! I am looking forward to having more!

A photo for Thursday

The latest pic from the Dominican Republic!

The Interviewer...

Thank you so much for all the great input for the Interviewer position! Kage called me this morning with some last minute thoughts, and boy howdy did they help! I was nervous for about 30 seconds and then it just began to flow. I found that one question would lead to another and that I rarely looked at my paper. I made notes about them after they left the room except for the notation of what they thought they should be paid. Each candidate arrived very early! It was actually so much fun. There are so many different people in the world and I enjoyed meeting each one of them. One girl and I kept getting off topic and I felt like we could be best friends! So I interviewed seven today and have narrowed them down to two very possible candidates. I interview two more on Thursday and two more on Friday. I have references to call on the two. I think my only possible downfall might be that I think every person left thinking I would hire them! They are probably sitting at dinner right now saying, "I had the best interview of my life today!" Oh well....

The Mighty Mia Maids Christmas Party

Last night the Mighty Mia Maids came over to my house for a little Christmas party! We made a Gingerbread House, exchanged Secret Sister gifts, had a rousing exchange of White Elephant Gifts, ate peppermint ice cream, listened to Christmas music and laughed a lot! It was a great way to begin the Christmas Season. I love my Mighty Mia Maids!

Oh my...what have I gotten myself into?

DTA is looking for a part time employee to run his front desk.....he has put me in charge of finding him or her! I have been running an ad in our local paper and I have received 60 resumes via email. I have narrowed it down to 11 candidates. Tomorrow I start meeting with them and I am nervous! I will probably be more nervous then they! I went to google.com and researched interview questions. I have selected 17 questions. Is it appropriate to write down their answers as they are talking to me? Do you have any ideas for some great questions? This is a HUGE responsibility! Can anyone out there in blog land help me???

The Kitchen Tree

For years and years I wanted a Christmas Tree in the kitchen! Can there be a more festive experience then eating dinner by a Christmas Tree? People line up for hours to eat beside the world famous Walnut Room Christmas Tree in Chicago! Several years ago, My Boy and I were walking out of a Walgreens in early January and there stood a Christmas Tree selling for $5.00 with the sign "no box" attached to it. Knowing how much I wanted a kitchen tree, My Boy insisted that we buy it. And so we did! How I love my kitchen tree! It is adorned with ornaments that center on food! And every night I have the privilege of eating my dinner by a Christmas Tree! Divine!

It's Amazing What You Can Get Done When You Are No Longer The Bishop!

DTA has got a bee in his bonnet! Every Saturday he spends the whole day in the basement! First of all, he is re-enforcing our shelving for our food storage. Secondly, he is purging us of all un-needed items. Every Saturday there is a new pile on our curb waiting for garbage collection. A lot of it is gone by the time the garbage man comes on Wednesday, because you know what they say...one man's garbage is another man's treasure! My next door neighbor suggested I give DTA a gift certificate for a dumpster for Christmas! Not a bad idea!