The Polar Express

This past week I asked Kelly and Lindsey if they would rather have gifts from Santa or go to the North Pole, and see him there. They are getting older and I thought they might like to actually see him at his home at the North Pole. They decided that going to the North Pole would be a good experience. So we loaded up and headed to Durango to get on the Polor Express. Along with us, Jenny and her family, Julia, Jolyn, and their kids, along with Grandma Bills, all dared the winter roads with the help of the Polor Express Angel, to keep us safe, as we enjoyed a wonderful andventure. It was majical - with excitement in the air - and snow coming down all around us. Dave made it too - so I tip my hat to him for making it through the ticket line and surviving the rush - as we all headed out the door to bourd the train. It was fun! It was awesome! Everyone should go at least once in their life. We got hot chocolate, sang carols, laughed, and were blessed to see Santa and two elves. Santa gave the kids a bell, and one of the elf's, you can't see him in the picture, slipped one to me and Dave too. :) By the way, if you ever make it, don't forget to wear you pj's.

Polar Express Hot Chocolate Recipe:

What You Will Need
The recipe below makes one cup of hot chocolate!
1 teaspoon of Hershey's Cocoa

2 teaspoons of sugar

Approximately 12 ounces of milk

A dash of saltA dash of vanilla

Assorted mini chocolate bars

Candy canes or peppermint flavoring (optional)
How To Make It -
Mix Cocoa, sugar, milk, salt, and vanilla
Put the mixture in a microwavable mug, microwave for 1 and a half minutes or until warm
Drop a mini chocolate bar into the hot cocoa, stir as the chocolate melts
Add a touch of peppermint flavoring or put a candy cane in the hot cocoa for stirring
Top hot chocolate with whip cream and chocolate shavings, or with festive marshmallows
Enjoy!

Only In Blanding

We went for a ride tonight looking at christmas lights, and as we passed by the theather it was hard to overlook that three cars were parked the wrong way. I wasn't able to get all three in the photo but you can see the one car that is parked the right direction. After living out of state for so long and seeing this I could not stop laughing. Right after I took this photo a cop drove by. Then Dave and I started laughing even harder saying, "ONLY IN BLANDING!"

There that's better

Lindsey and I decided to put a Christmas stocking on Dave's foot, for the magic of Christmas on his cast adds a little Christmas cheer. Now we just need some good old fashioned wassail to help calm him down and keep him down. :)

Christmas Surgery

We drove to Cortez early yesterday morning for Dave's surgery. It took 45 minutes longer than expected - he will be down for 8 -10 weeks instead of the 6-8 weeks. Things didn't go quite as good as the dr. had expected, but all is well now that we have him home. I've been keeping him busy stringing popcorn and cranberries for our charlie brown tree. Dave's toes were cold, so I made a Christmas hat to cover his poor red toes up, since socks don't go over the cast. He liked it - hopefully it lifted his spirits. All of you who know Dave know that for him to be down a day is going to so hard on him. So, please keep him in your prayers and if you think of any other creative things he can do - sitting in this chair - we are open to suggestions.

Our Italian Ceppo

As I mentioned before I had read the Italian Christmas story called Old Bethana. Because it was an Italian Christmas story, and since Lindsey's Grandma was Italian, we decided to celebrate an Italian Christmas this year. Dave built it for us, more then likely the last thing he will build until he recuperates from his surgery this Friday. Here it is all decorated. There is a nativity on the bottom shelf which is what the Italians do, then they come together everyday in prayer near the Nativity.

On Christmas day they don't receive gifts,

instead they go to the Vatican and receive blessings

from the Pope. Then on Jan. 6, they do receive their

gifts from Old Bethana, and Faeries. However,

We have been celebrating it that Jesus gives us our

gifts for many years now.

It's the most wonderful time of the year

Christmas is such an awesome time of year. When I was little I would wish Christmas could last all year. I was very dissapointed when Christmas was over after waking from dreams that it had lasted all year. Here is Lindsey by our Charlie Brown tree. Michelle said we have a charlie brown tree, so I suppose that's what it is, she likes Charlie Brown trees and amazingly I guess I do too.

You are all in our thoughts and prayers this Christmas season. Have tons of fun and be at peace, in all you do. :)

The other side of us

This is a painting I did of one of the cutest fairies I know ;) This is on my art blog too but It went along with my blog today, I thought. I love fairies as all you know - that know me. This site on youtube is of a video I ordered - along with the book. I wanted to buy each of my daughters this book but money is so tight that I couldn't. So, I found the video and wanted to share it with you all. It has a good message in my opinion. ((((((HUGS))))))))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4CG18FPCj0

Souls Desire

I have a deep appreciation and love for music. As you may have figured out Robin Mark is one of my favorite artists. I want to share this song with you. I've added the words as well today, I love singing this song - I guess I love singing all of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNKUWKEXGUk&NR=1

Soul's Desire

You are my soul's desire,
I was wandering,I was wandering,
Wandering all my days from my Father's house
From the heights to the depths
Love was callingLove was calling
Calling out to me, just to bring me home.
Lord of the earth, the sea, the sky,
In glory and power
How can it be that I'm Your child
And You are my Father
So I, oh I, I will exalt Your name again
Most HighEvery way I can.
You put songs in my mouth,
I am praising,I am praising
Praising only You, for the things You've done
There's a flag in my hand and I am waving,
I am wavingWaving it for You, just to make You smile.
And in the morning find the stone was rolled away
Many will see and hear and trust,
In You our salvation
Many will turn and seek Your face,
From out of all nations
So I, oh I, I will exalt Your name again
Most HighEvery way I can.

There's a cry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOhEyH1eVT0&feature=related

I love Robin Mark's music and love to share what he blesses my life with.

This one is a new one by Tim Hughes called everything

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OredXBZzMVY&feature=related

No Rest

Just a quick note to say hi to ya all. Between homeschooling, college classes, taking care of everyday stuff, I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed. As I head into the -finals- weeks I've really found it difficult to reach out beyond my house. I've been working on a book which I'm actually doing for finals in my English class. I am also going to publish it as well. I can't wait to show ya all. Well, I love you and my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Home schooling Day Out

Have you ever stood on a bridge - above a river - while the wind was blowing extremely hard? It was quite an experience. It was actually sort of freaky because the noise was so loud it sounded like a train was right underneath us.

We went to Moab on Wednesday for a day out. Dave went to meetings while Kelly, Lindsey, and I, went to the River, went skate boarding, and spent the afternoon with Luke, Kelly's friend who moved to Moab. We were there to see the fire which got very close to Luke's house. We went to lunch and then we went to Moab Diner for milk shakes. It was a fun day.

We walked across the bridge but the wind chill factor was so flipping cold we hurried back before we froze. I couldn't believe it was that cold in Moab, but it was.

Autumn Poems

Autumn days are here again

In autumn when the trees are brown

The little leaves come tumbling down

They do not make the slightest sound

But lie so quietly on the ground

Until the wind comes puffing by

And blows them off towards the sky.

The winds will blow their own freshness into you,

and the storms their energy,

while cares will drop away from you

like the leaves of Autumn.

Fall poem by John Muir

Pretty Leaves Pretty leaves are falling down,

Green, orange, yellow and brown.

Here comes one colored red,

It landed on my head.

Pumpkins in the cornfields

Gold among the brownLeaves of rust and scarlet

Trembling slowly down

Birds that travel southward

Lovely time to play

Nothing is as pleasant

As an autumn day!
No spring nor summer

beauty hath such grace as I have seen

in one autumnal face
Autumn quote by John Donne

When autumn wind goes running

It does some magic things.

It gives the shadows dancing shoes

It gives the bright leaves wings

When autumn wind goes running

It curls the bonfire's tail of smoke

And shares a little whispered joke

With cornstalks who delight to prattle

It turns a seed pod into a rattle

When autumn wind goes running
Leaves in the Fall come tumbling down,

Scarlet and yellow, russet and brown,

Leaves in the garden are swept in a heap,

The trees are ready for sleep.
A fallen leaf is nothing more than a summers wave good bye

The Feast of the Archangels

Today is Monday the 29Th, the day of celebration called The Feast of the Archangels, Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel. This is a fun day to have a big dinner and enjoy family in remembrance of the Angels. I found some cool pictures of Angels since I couldn't take a picture of any ;-)

Blue Mountain

Dave and I went to the mountain to cut another load of wood. A storm started coming in, and it was so beautiful. I just thought I'de share it with you all. I was really excited that this picture turned out using my phone.

Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8lGsf0SOTE&NR=1
This is for the kids again. I am going to be doing a reading in my class at school. I'm going to be reading The Legend of Old Bethana. It is the Italian Christmas story. So I've been doing a little surfing to learn more about Italian Christmas's. I found this really cute - funny - song. Check it out, I think the kids will really like it.

How Great is Our God

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3afHcJUdGqg&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud0kaWLHEd4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM5YReFSm0I&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1llIIhBMCjU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB1fA73WGcA&feature=related

Lately our family has really been seeing the Lord working for the good of
our needs. As most of you know we were going to lose our oven, our couch, our phone, and Internet. God always provides our needs. The couch is the only thing we don't have due to angels who helped us out. I know that His Amazing Grace is sufficient for our sins and our sickness too. Then I shared my testimony Sunday of my testimony of prayer, and how grateful I was that our precious Debbie and her family had no damage to their home - or more importantly to any of them.
The links at the top are a few of my many favorite worship songs. These are the song's most church's use anymore. They still use traditional hymns as well but mostly they sings in this style.
Since I was very young I've had a very deep love for Jesus. While living in the Avenues of Salt Lake, my best friend Linda and I would go to the Catholic Cemetery, just a half a block away and sit under our favorite head stone - which was of Christ on the Cross. Sounds weird but it was so peaceful and we could feel His spirit so strong.
When you have some time or can make time I really think you will like the songs I have posted on this blog, they are only a click away.

These Are The Reasons That I Live For

I love Nature - it brings me closer to God, and I am so thankful for the beauty in our world. I love my family more than anything, and I am so grateful to our Papa God who has sent me 8 beautiful children, 10 grandchildren, and two grandchildren on the way. What more can a person want? I am so blessed by each of my children. God has blessed me with a good husband, five lovely sisters, an awesome brother, way cool nieces and nephews, and good parents who taught me well. I only have pictures of my children and grandchildren on this blog due to the fact it would take forever to get everyone on this blog.
I love you all!

Music

When I read about Wesley and his love for the cool music :) I decided to write about two songs. My favorite song was "Georgy Girl" when I was Wesley's age and a little older. I remember driving in the Avenues of Salt Lake with my mom, in our convertible, and turning the sound up when that song came on. Then I also remembered a song that Grandma Bills used to sing to us when we were little, "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine." I loved it when Grandma sang that song. She used to sing to us in Opera too so, Debbie, that's where you got it. LOL

Green Tumb

My neighbors are always telling me how impressed they are with my green thumb and how I can make things grow so well. The other day I was finally convinced that Jesus has given me a gift to grow things when I noticed this tree growing inside our bathroom window. Sometimes we under estimate our God given abilities. I love trees and I'm always thanking Jesus for the trees and flowers and so forth. I am convinced that blessings do come in unexpected places.

Why Can't we be Friends?

Our cat Persha loves to sit and watch the chickens. I'm not sure what her intent is but she seems to just enjoy their company and they seem to reciprocate those feelings.
I think that as long as the fence is between them ....
they will do just fine being friends.
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but kisses of an enemy are deceitful."
Proverbs 27:6

Friendship

Today while I was reading my scriptures, I came across the word, "friends," several times. Reading in 1 John - the letter which is believed to have circulated through the churches around Ephesus in John's later years - I felt as though John was a very loving and humble man. He starts out in each category with, "Dear Friends," which really touched me. When he goes on to talk about Loving one another, he says, "Dear Friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God - God is love...."
Then I thought of last night when Lindsey's friend and Kelly's friend were here hanging out. They were acting so silly and the joy of friendship was such a blessing to see. The love they have for each other as friends .....
and the love they have for making signs at me to show off, is a blessing, a blessing because they were being joyful together.
Now this is true friendship right here. I think our Savior
is blessed when we are joyful and silly.

Why GOD Gave Us Friends

GOD knew that everyone needs
Companionship and cheer,
He knew that people need someone
Whose thoughts are always near.
He knew they need someone kind
To lend a helping hand.
Someone to gladly take the time
To care and understand.
GOD knew that we all need someone
To share each happy day,
To be a source of courage
When troubles come our way.
Someone to be true to us,
Whether near or far apart.
Someone whose love we'll always
Hold and treasure in our hearts.
That's Why GOD Gave Us Friends!
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