MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Photo from Inmagine

Isn't Christmas wonderful?  It's such a magical time of the year.  Everyone is a little kinder, people smile more and are a little happier, and all the lights and decorations are so cheery.  I love the smells of the season...the Christmas trees, wood fires, cinnamon and cloves, gingerbread, the peppermint of the candy canes, and cookies and other treats baking.  I know that a lot of people get tired of all the Christmas music on the radio, but I love it.  I love all the wonderful old standards like White Christmas by Bing Crosby, The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole, Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Gene Autry, and the list goes on and on.  I also love many of the newer recordings like O Holy Night by Josh Groban, Mary, Did You Know? by Michael English, Merry Christmas Darling by Karen Carpenter, and the beautiful sounds of the Trans Siberian Orchestra. 

The traditions of the season are so special.  I so enjoyed going caroling with friends from church,  picking out the perfect tree and then decorating it with special ornaments that each held special memories, setting up the nativity under the tree and reading the story of the first Christmas in the Bible, baking and making candies for family, friends, and neighbors, hanging stockings, sending and receiving Christmas cards, the shopping for the perfect presents and then wrapping them with beautiful papers and ribbons, having hot chocolate and spiced cider as we nibbled on the homemade treats. 

Liesl and the "real" Santa when she was 3 years old

When Liesl was little, we always had a Christmas Eve gift of special new nightwear for Christmas.  I remember how excited she would get about going to see Santa so she could tell him what she wanted for Christmas.  She loved putting out cookies and milk for him on Christmas Eve, and she was always so thrilled to see they were gone the next morning.  We oooh'd and ahhh'd over all the beautiful light displays as we drove around at night to see them.  We had a birthday cake for Jesus every year with small nativity figures on top of it, and we sang Happy Birthday to Him.  When she was small, I had several different sets of nativity figures that were perfect for little hands to touch and handle.  One set was made of fabric that had been stamped with the figures.  I cut them out, sewed them together, and stuffed them with fiberfill.  She used to love holding them and giving them loves. 

Photo from Inmagine

  

Besides our nativity figures, I think my favorite decoration for Christmas was a statue of Santa kneeling beside the baby Jesus.  While all the traditions of Christmas are so much fun, it's important to remember what Christmas is really about.  We are celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, and that statue reminded us of His birth as well as the importance of love and giving that Santa represents.

Now that Liesl is grown and has a home of her own, many of the traditions of the past are no longer carried on here.  There is no need to put out cookies and milk for Santa, no annual visits to share Christmas wishes with Santa, there is no little girl to whom to give the special Christmas Eve present.  But the magic is not gone.  The smells, the tastes, the sounds are all still there, and the special feelings of love and gratitude continue to grow.  I'm so grateful for sweet memories of Christmases past, and for a loving Heavenly Father that sent His son, even Jesus Christ, to be our Savior. 

Many years ago, I saw a poem that touched me deeply.  I later wrote it in calligraphy and used it as a Christmas gift for friends.  I'd like to share it here with you now.

     He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman.
     He grew up in still another obscure village, where He worked in a carpenter
     shop until He was thirty.
     And then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.

     He never wrote a book.
     He never held an office.
     He never had a family or owned a house.
     He never went to college.
     He never visited a big city.
     He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where He was born.
     He did none of the things one usually associates with greatness.
     He had no credentials but Himself.

     He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against Him.
     His friends ran away.
     He was turned over to his enemies, and went through the mockery of a trial.

     He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves.
     While He was dying, His executioners gambled for His clothing, the only
     property He had on earth.
     When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a
     friend.

     Twenty centuries have come and gone, nd today He is the central figure of the
     human race, and the leader of mankind's progress.
     All the armies that have ever marched,
     All the navies that have ever sailed,
     All the parliaments that have ever sat,
     All the kings that have ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of
     mankind on this earth as much as that ONE SOLITARY LIFE.

May you be blessed with the choicest blessings of life and may you always remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Photo from Inmagine

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July! This is always such a fun holiday gathering with friends and family for picnics and barbecues, eating watermelon, making homemade ice cream, attending concerts and baseball games, watching parades and, of course, fireworks. Everything is decorated in red, white, and blue, and we see lots of American flags. We sing songs like “God Bless America”, “America the Beautiful”, and “The Star-Spangled Banner”. All of these wonderful customs to celebrate Independence Day, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring the independence of the United States of America from the Kingdom of Great Britain. It’s a wonderful holiday, and I enjoy it thoroughly. I wonder, though, how many people really think about the meaning of this day. It’s NOT about the fireworks, the parades, the food, or the social gatherings. It’s about the independence of our country.


Independence is defined as:  the state or quality of being independent; freedom from the influence, control, or determination of another or others; not governed by a foreign power; self-governing. Freedom and liberty are synonyms of independence.


I found this definition of liberty:  the quality or state of being free: a : the power to do as one pleases b : freedom from physical restraint c : freedom from arbitrary or despotic control d : the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges e : the power of choice.

I have been thinking about liberty and freedom a lot this past week. Partly because of this holiday, but also because of a digital scrapbook layout that I did this past week. We were supposed to do a layout about the most significant world event that had occurred during our lifetime. As I pondered that, there were many events that came to my mind. The Korean War, the war in Viet Nam, the assassination of President Kennedy, man’s first walk on the moon, 9/11, and the list goes on and on. I saw layouts done by others for all of these events and more, but I just didn’t feel like any of them were the right ones for me. Then it hit me. The Berlin Wall. I remember so well when it was announced on August 13, 1961 that the border between East and West Berlin was being closed. On that day, 27 miles of barbed wire entanglements and fences were installed through the very center of that city.

Within just a few days, the barbed wire was replaced by a sturdier structure of concrete blocks topped with barbed wire that would divide that city for 28 years. The wall not only separated the city, but it stretched over 100 miles around the city cutting West Berlin off from the rest of East Germany completely. Guard towers were also built along the wall, and anyone attempting to cross the wall from East Berlin was shot. East Berliners working in the West were cut off from their jobs and families were split. West Berliners were almost living on an island, an island of freedom in the middle of a frightening sea of Communist dictatorship. It was a very dark day for freedom in the world. Even though West Berliners lived a life of freedom, they could not visit with their family members in East Berlin, and East Berliners had all freedom and liberty stripped from their lives. Many were so desperate that they overcame their fear and tried to escape to the West. While some were successful, many gave their lives rather than live under the rule of the Communists. It brings to mind the famous quote by Patrick Henry during our own Revolutionary War that brought about our independence as a nation, “Give me liberty or give me death”.

I remember not being able to conceive of a city divided as was Berlin, and I wept for the people there who had lost so much in such a short amount of time. It made me even more grateful for the many freedoms that I enjoy in my own life. I am able to travel throughout my country and the world as I please, restricted only by the restrictions placed in other parts of the world. I am free to work, to be with family and friends, to shop where I desire. You, too, have these same freedoms. But the people of Berlin did not. Do you realize how fortunate we are to enjoy these freedoms in our country?


On November 9, 1989, more than 28 years after the border between East and West Berlin had been closed, it was announced that the border had been opened. Freedom at last! East and West Berliners alike celebrated by dancing in the street and atop the wall. I watched pictures of these people that were so very grateful to have their liberty restored as they danced, hugged, cried, and cheered, while others chopped away at the wall with hammers and chisels. I cried that day, too, but this time they were tears of joy. This was a glorious day, not just for the people of Berlin, but for all the free world.

Today there are parts of the Berlin Wall on display in cities all over the world as a reminder to us of the value of freedom. The Roman philosopher, Cicero, said, “Freedom is a possession of inestimable value”. I believe with all my heart that freedom is one of our most precious gifts. I think the people of Berlin would agree with me.

So on this day when we celebrate the independence of our country, may we all think about the value of freedom and liberty, and may we remember to thank our Heavenly Father each and every day for the blessings we enjoy in this wonderful country. Perhaps the most widely recognized symbol of liberty and freedom throughout the world is the Statue of Liberty. So in closing, I have some of my favorite images of the Statue of Liberty to share with you along with some very special quotes about freedom and liberty. Enjoy!

 

To deprive a man of his natural liberty and to deny him the ordinary amenities of life is worse than starving the body; it is starvation of the soul, the dweller in the body.

     - Mohandaes Gandhi -

 

Freedom means you are unobstructed in living your life as you choose.  Anything less is a form of slavery.

     - Wayne Dyer - 

  

 

Life without liberty is like a body without spirit.

     - Khalil Gibran -

 The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.
      - Thomas Jefferson -

A Very Special Girl!

I'd like to introduce you to Kayla. 

Kayla is a sweet, loving 17 year-old high school senior in the Seattle, WA area who has been dealing with Cystic Fibrosis her entire life.  My daughter, Liesl, is the nanny for Kayla's little cousin, Liam.  Liam absolutely adores Kayla, and he loves to spend time with her whenever possible.  This is a picture of Liam with Kayla.  You can see how happy he is just to be with her.

Liesl got to know Kayla through taking care of Liam, and she has told me how wonderful Kayla is.  While Kayla's body is weak, her spirit is amazingly strong.  She has not let her disease interfere with her very active life, nor has she let it get her down.  She is very positive and has great hopes and plans for her future.

Last year, Kayla's family learned that she is in need of a double lung transplant within the next two years to save her life.  She was put on the donor list last September.  While insurance will cover the majority of the costs of the surgery, the out-of-pocket expenses to Kayla's family are expected to be as much as $130,000.  That's a lot of money, particularly with the economy the way it is today.

The Children's Organ Transplant Organization (COTA), a not for profit national charity dedicated to helping families with their transplant-related expenses, has set up an account for funds raised in honor of Kayla.  100% of the funds raised for Kayla with go toward her transplant-related expenses. 

Kayla's family and friends have joined together to help raise the money for her surgery.  Liesl and her husband, Curtis, have also joined in this effort.  While this seemed like an overwhelming task, they have successfully raised over $80,000 in the last six months!  Isn't that fabulous?  They have been having all kinds of events in the Seattle area to raise funds, and they have been advertising everywhere possible to make people aware of this sweet girl and her need for this transplant.  In fact, they are having a huge rummage sale this coming Saturday in Mukilteo, WA to try to raise additional funds.  This is a poster that has the details about the rummage sale.



Now I know that many of you may not be close enough geographically to attend the rummage sale or any of the other events that will be held for Kayla.  If you are, however, I would hope that you would attend and help in any way possible.  They are still accepting donations of items to be sold, and helping hands are always needed at any of the events for Kayla.  If you are like me and NOT close enough to attend, there are other ways that you can help.  You can read more about Kayla and learn about other ways that you can help to save a life here:

COTA for Kayla

If nothing else, I hope that each of you will remember Kayla and her family in your prayers.  I know that I will be praying that she will have everything she needs to be able to keep smiling that beautiful smile for many, many years to come.

Memories of May Day

When I was a little girl (about a million years ago!!!), the 1st of May was celebrated in two very fun ways.  The first was hanging May baskets on people's doors.  You would put pretty flowers and small gifts in a basket and hang it on a friend's door (or leave it on their front step) anonymously.  It was so much fun, and it really taught children about the importance of giving without expecting something in return.  I remember how excited I was to leave a May basket on the door of a friend, knowing how much happiness it would bring them.  Look at these wonderful May baskets.  Aren't they beautiful?  Wouldn't you LOVE to have someone leave one of these on your door?

Picture from:  flickr.com

Picture from:  http://cutepotato.com/2011/04/29/may-baskets/

Picture from:  http://www.tseka.com/2008/04/30/may-day-valborg/

This last picture is is one that I found posted by Melissa Lester on her blog, A Little Loveliness.  You can see more pictures of her May basket and get directions for making one by visiting Melissa's blog here.

The second fun way that we celebrated May Day was by having a Maypole Dance.  Brightly colored ribbons or streamers are attached to a pole.  Dancers gather in a circle around the pole, holding the ends of the ribbons. As they dance around the pole, the ribbons are intertwined around the pole making a beautiful pattern.

Picture from:  http://www.livingneighborhoods.org/

I remember, as a small girl, standing there holding my ribbon and looking up at the top of the pole.  It was SO beautiful!  I was thrilled to be able to participate and make such a pretty design on the pole as we danced in a circle around it.  Here's what it looked like as I looked up at the top of the pole.

Picture from:  http://www.moonsmuses.com/beltane.html


And this is what the pole looks like when the dance is done.  The dancers can retrace their steps to unravel the ribbons, but they have to be very exact or they wind up with a huge mess! 

Picture from:  http://www.livingneighborhoods.org/ht-0/westdean.htm

These were such wonderful traditions.  It's a shame that we don't still do these things in our busy modern lives.  Sometimes I think it would be nice to be a child again, to be able to deliver pretty May baskets to friends and neighbors, and to dance around the Maypole.  {sigh...}

My Passion!

My passion in life, besides my family and friends, of course, is genealogy.  I absolutely LOVE it!  I start doing research and totally lose track of time.  I’ve been known to stay up all night working on it, and I don’t even get tired because it infuses me with so much energy and excitement.  I don’t even care whose genealogy it is, mine or someone else’s. 

I was an only child, and my dad was in the military so we traveled a lot.  We never saw much of my mother’s family, and I never knew anyone in my dad’s family until long after I was married.  I always longed for siblings and more family.  I wanted to know about my mom’s family and my dad’s family.  I wanted to know more about my heritage.  My parents used to share wonderful stories with me of their years growing up, but I always wanted to know MORE. 

After I was married, I started asking my maternal grandmother questions about the family in my letters to her.  She was very willing to share information and old photos with me, and I immediately became hooked.  My husband worked with a man, Joe, who was compiling a history of his family, and he started asking Joe questions about how to do research for me.  There was a genealogy club that met during lunch hour at their place of employment, so my husband joined in order to get more information for me.  I will never forget our first excursion to the genealogy library at the Los Angeles Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  They had all the U.S. census microfilms available there for you to search, and my first search was for my maternal great grandfather in the 1880 census.  I was so excited when I found him.  He actually existed!  He was no longer just a name and date on a piece of paper.  He was a real, living person, and I had a census record to prove it!  It still thrills me when I remember it even though that was over 40 years ago. 

Over the years, I have had so many fantastic experiences doing research.  I’ve met family members that I never even knew existed, and I’ve learned so much about my ancestors and my heritage.  Not only have I learned about my family, but I have learned many new skills because of this addiction that I have to genealogy.  I learned how to restore old photos so I could make the old photos I had look better.  I learned how to do calligraphy so I could make beautiful charts.  I learned how to do digital scrapbooking so I could create beautiful pages for a book that would include family photos and stories.  I’ve also learned to crochet and tat like my grandmother did, how to bake bread, can, and grow a garden the way my ancestors did, how to quilt like my great grandmother, and the list just grows and grows.

I have a favorite poem that I have done in calligraphy that is hanging in my home.  The first time I read it, it touched my heart and sent chills up my spine.  It’s called “Heredity”.

     Somebody labored years ago

            Whose name I do not even know

            Ploughed ground or sailed the open sea

            And loved a maid that I might be.

     Two centuries ago or more

            A woman at an English door

            Looked fondly at a lilac tree

            And passed that bit of pride to me.

     One stood enraptured when he heard

            The music of a singing bird,

            And now with each returning spring,

            I find I do the self-same thing.

     Could we untangle all our lives

            And learn how much in us survives,

            We might discover just how far

            Goes back what makes us as we are.

                              - Edgar A. Guest -

I was very fortunate to be able to go to Alabama in 1980 to meet many of my grandmother’s family members.  I visited the original family homestead from the mid-1800’s.  As I stood there on that beautiful spring day inhaling the wonderful fragrances of the wildflowers as a slight breeze rustled the leaves in the surrounding trees, I thought of that poem.  It was as if all those that had come before me were standing there with me, and I had a much better understanding of what makes me as I am. 

Do you ever wonder about your heritage?    Would you like to know more about your ancestors and the lives that they led?  I co-host a monthly chat at a digital scrapbooking site called Ivy Scraps.  The chat this month will be held this Thursday, April 28th, at 9 p.m. EDT.  It will go for one hour.  Jan, the other lady that hosts the chat, and I will be available to answer any questions you might have and to help you on your quest to learn more about your family.  We would love to have you join us.  You don’t have to be interested in digital scrapbooking to participate.  It’s for anyone who is interested in doing genealogy and at any level, from beginner to advanced.  Here is the web address:  http://www.ivyscraps.com/

There is a navigation bar at the top of the page that has separate tags for each area of the site.  Just click on the tag that says “Chat” on the far right, and you will be taken to the chat room.  I hope I will see some of you there.  I have to warn you, though.  Once bitten by the genealogy bug, you will be addicted for life with no cure available!                

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to all of you!  I was sitting here thinking about what Easter is all about.  It brings to mind many things:  Easter baskets, chocolate bunnies, peeps, jelly beans, chicks and ducklings, new lambs, tulips and daffodils, Easter lilies, new outfits and Easter bonnets, bunnies, festive dinners with family and friends, dyed eggs and egg hunts, new life, resurrection, and Jesus Christ. 

The last two items on my list might surprise you.  They may not be what most people think about at Easter, or if they do, they would indeed be the last on the list.  However, the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, the Only Begotten Son of God, even Jesus Christ IS what Easter is all about.  Because of His resurrection, each of us will have eternal life.  The whole purpose of Jesus' life was to bring about the salvation and eternal life of man.  He set the example for all of us by living a perfect life.  He was betrayed, reviled, spat upon, beaten, scourged, and crucified, and in return He cried out, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).  This was the message that He had come through all eternity to deliver -  to extend forgiveness to all men..  How glorious were the words of the angel on that first Easter morning when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary approached Jesus' tomb and were told, "He is not here, but is risen" (Luke 24:6)!  The Lamb of God gave His life willingly to atone for our sins and to give us the gift of eternal life.  This is the message of Easter, that through Christ all men might have eternal life.

It is difficult for me to find the words to convey how much this message means to me.  It fills my soul with so much love and appreciation for my Savior and Redeemer.  There is a hymn that perhaps best describes the depth of my emotions.

     I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
     Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
     I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
     To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine.
     I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
     Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
     No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
     Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.
     Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
     Enough to die for me!
     Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I am so very grateful to have this knowledge.  It has been a strength to me in my darkest hours.  There have been some very low points in my life in the last several years when some might have given up, but I was sustained by the love and mercy of my Heavenly Father and His son, my Savior, Jesus Christ.  Jesus died on the cross to atone for our sins, and because he died, all shall live again.  "Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:  'I know that my Redeemer lives!'" 

It is my hope that each of you is enjoying a wonderful Easter filled with love, family, and friends.  I hope, too, that in the midst of all the joyous memorable moments of today that you will take some time to reflect upon that first Easter morning and the resurrection of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

My Special Friend

I have a very special friend named Shannon.  She, her husband, Doug, and her children, Chandler and Jaycee, are actually more than just friends.  They are family.  We aren't related by blood or by marriage, but rather through love and our spirits. 

I first met this special family in 2002.  Doug was my home teacher, and he faithfully visited me every month to check on my well being.  He always brought a wonderful spiritual message, and quite often homemade cookies.  He kept telling me about his amazing wife and his wonderful children.  The night that I finally met the rest of his family, Chandler and Jaycee decided that I was their Grandma Terry, a title that I was thrilled to be given.  I have always been treated like a very special family member with lots of hugs and words of love and kindness. 

Over the years, I have been impressed with the love and kindness that this wonderful family shows for one another.  I have never heard an unkind word spoken by Doug or Shannon about the other.  I have always been in awe of that as so many men and women constantly complain about their spouses and feel quite comfortable telling the world about all of their faults.  I've also been impressed with the love that Chandler and Jaycee show for one another.  It's very unusual to find siblings that are so considerate of one another.  There is a special spirit in their home that is impossible not to feel.  They work together and play together, and they support one another through the good times and the bad.

In November of 2006, Shannon was diagnosed with cancer.  I will never forget the sinking feeling I had in my stomach as well as my heart when I first got the news.  I was so sad and depressed, but that didn't last long.  Seeing her and talking with her gave me a whole new perspective.  She had such an upbeat, positive attitude, and it was infectious.  You couldn't possibly feel anything less than positive after spending time with her.  She never once considered anything other than beating the adversary, and she succeeded.  She spent almost four years cancer free.  Last September, Shannon found out that the cancer had returned.  Since that time, she has again dug in her heels, rolled up her sleeves, put the gloves back on, and stepped back into the ring, fighting with all of  her might.  She has started chemo again, which has made her extremely ill.  She's lost her hair again, her hands and feet are extremely tender and sensitive, and her skin is flaking off in layers - all side effects of the chemo.  Through all of this, she has remained positive with such strong faith and hope.  She always sounds cheerful, and she always has that gorgeous smile on her face.  She is such an amazing example to everyone around her.  I don't think there is anyone who is not in awe of her deep faith and belief that her Heavenly Father loves her and will help her to get through whatever the future holds.

This is a picture of Chandler, Doug, Shannon, and Jaycee taken in 2004.  Aren't they a beautiful family?

This is a picture of their family that was taken just last month.  Shannon is sporting her purple mohawk, and the rest of the family is joining in the fun with their multicolored wigs.  Even in the midst of all the unpleasantness of chemo, she is still smiling and happy.  Of course, the whole family loves to joke and play around, so this picture was something to be expected.

Shannon is having her next round of chemo tomorrow morning.  I know it will be difficult and she will be very ill for the next couple of weeks because of it.  Yet I know that she will continue to have that beautiful smile on her face and emit a feeling of faith, hope, and optimism to all around her.  What an example and an inspiration!  When I start to feel down about circumstances in my own life, I think of Shannon, and I am uplifted and my faith is again renewed.  I will be thinking of Shannon tomorrow and praying for her.  If you are so inclined, I hope you will, too.