Is It Just Me Or ...

does anybody else having difficulty 'feeling Christmas?' This year has been most difficult and I can't quite put my finger on it. I am usually excited by this time of year .. but this year.. 'nothing.' I think back in my younger days of anticipation for that magical night, where we put out the cookies and milk for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph and head off to bed .. but visions of sugar plums were not in our heads. Those were the days, when mom and dad skrimped and saved that we could have a Christmas. I remember when I was really young, I was tomboyish.. and I loved cowboys and indians. You know.. before we were forced to get politically correct....Well, I wanted the Have Gun Will Travel - Palidin gun set with the derringer gun. But I woke up Christmas morning and found a Wild Bill Hickock gun instead. Disappointed? I don't think so. But I remember still, as I buckled the holster around my pj's and went into my bedroom slinging my gun.

One year, my mom cut coupons from Kellogg's Corn Flakes boxes for weeks, to send in for a Miss Canada doll. I think she was trying to mold me into a 'little girl' and got me a doll. I miss my mom. Later as I grew up, my brother and I got bikes for Christmas. I remember getting out of bed and walking into the living room .. there wasn't much under the tree. Dad seeing our disappointment, maneuvered both of us into the kitchen and there were to two bicycles. I never thought then but do now, think of the night long hours it took him to put them together. They had obviously hid them somewhere, but we didn't know. Now some 50 years later.. I remember those sweet, tender and memorable Christmases. I think mom and dad were examples of what sacrifice was, back in the day. I miss the innocence of Christmas but I love the reason for the Season. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

It's almost Christmas.. Yikes!!

Snow today! I love the season, but I am not a fan of the snow. Okay, maybe if I didn't have any daily commitments and that I could stay at home.. or ... as my imagination kicks in.. "somewhere in the mountains, by a frozen lake, in a cabin, with flakes falling gently on the evergreen boughs ... and me, curled up on a big chair, wrapped in a fleece blanket, sipping herbal tea and reading a good book and taking a moment to gaze out the picture window, to see a deer nibbling on a piece of bark on the nearby willow tree." Like that is going to happen. The thing is that this time of year goes the most quickly. One day it is Halloween, then Remembrance Day, American Thanksgiving.. then, Christmas. And you find that what you thought you had in time, has just 'disappeared.'

I don't like the commercialism, but as much as we say we aren't going to get caught up in it, you reluctantly do. The short Christmas list gradually gets longer, as you see something that you think someone would like .. so you purchase it. Then, thinking, 'Well, if I get this for this person, I can't forget this other person." Have you been there? Do you know what I mean? The ongoing saga.

Well, I have just over two weeks to cram in all I need to get done. Should I feel a sense of accomplishment when I get things done?... or failure, if I don't? Or.. better yet.. Why not just do what I can do and take time to enjoy the true meaning of Christmas... the Birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Family, and Friends and be thankful for the many blessings I have enjoyed this year.

Oh Where Oh Where Has This Little Blog Gone?

Well, what can I say? The San Diego
Temple. It is beautiful. I wished that
I had the chance to go inside but it was late .. and we were on our way back from Mission Beach, which was a stop just after attending the San Diego Sea World and SHAMU...but next time. I will go and do a session in there.

I love the Temple. I love that it is the House of our Lord and that in there, I find peace from the outside world. And yes, next time I head south to San Diego, California, I will make sure I visit this Temple. It was absolutely beautiful.


Kung Fu Panda!! This was at the San Diego Zoo. The highlight was the Pandas. They are so darned cute and looked cuddly. I saw the movie Kung Fu Panda, and I am not a fan of Jack Black, but I have to admit that I enjoyed him and the animation it was so accurate of the Panda eating habits and their insatiable appetite. This little guy just chomped on the bamboo like it was nobody's business. There were a couple of pandas and a little one sleeping in the tree. One enjoyable highlight of my trip.

Disneyland.. I love Disneyland. Several months ago, Jasmine Chan Burton was talking about taking her family to Disneyland and asked me if I would like to go. Of course. Later Jas' mom and dad, Judy and John decided to go, then later her sister Jade and her husband Mike, and then her brother Rylan and his wife Molly decided to go as well, so it became The Chan Reunion. I considered myself the "Nanny Granny." There were 9 adults and 9 children and 6 of the children were 3 and under. But it was an absolute Blast!! Disneyland really does it up with the themes and detail. As you can see the front gate was dressed for Halloween. Every ride had such detail. I went on lots of rides. Indiana Jones, Space Mountain, California Screaming (twice), Pirates of the Caribbean, Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story, Soaring over California and many, many more. We just had a really good time. We had 3 days at Disneyland, one day at San Diego Zoo .. after we drove to Tijuana for a couple of hours.. interesting adventure... San Diego Sea World then to Mission Beach and San Diego Temple, and one day at Universal Studio, where it was blistering hot. Alas, after a week, we had to return to reality. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to travel with the Burtons, Chans' and Goodmans. They are great friends ... and their children are all so adorable. Thank you guys!!

Clouds and Andre'e-Anne

Well I can't believe that the summer is almost gone. It has been weeks since I added anything on my blog. Mostly because I have been busy, and then subject matter was another concern. At the beginning of July, we got quite alot of rain...but the thing I seemed to be pretty intrigued with were the clouds. So over a couple of those weeks, I took some pictures of them.




The first one was taken from my back yard. Almost looks like a mushroom cap, and there was what appeared to be alot of hail. The other one looks like giant toes.



This last one was taken from Cardston at a family reunion of sorts. This was the storm that pretty much destroyed the corn crops. I have seen pictures of Hurricane Katrina and how beautiful the clouds are, but the aftermath was total devastation.

Now, Andre'e-Anne.. my exchange student from Quebec. I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive taking an exchange student for 6 weeks, thanks to my daughter Tami and her colleague, Trafton, but I was genuinely surprized at how well things worked out. As I didn't know how to say her name properly, we called her Andi. She did volunteer work at the Y camps here in the city. Here is a picture of her on the family weekend (August long weekend). We went to Fort Macleod and visited the fort, which I hadn't been to in about 40 years... yes I am dating myself.

This is Andi beside the buffies. The six weeks went by very quickly. Before you know it, it was the day she was leaving. My 'so long' picture. Kevin, Andi and Emilie.

Remember the saying... "Get A Horse?"

We get so dependent on our vehicles don't we? These past few weeks have been taxing on the finances, as my car, AGAIN, is in for repairs. Just over two weeks ago, my engine was getting over heated as evidenced by the temperature gauge..and that little visit cost me $98.00 or so, and then just a week and a half later, I was leaking antifreeze, which was unusual because I had just replaced the radiator early in the year. So, they told me I needed a new water pump. That will cost $680 plus tax. They couldn't do anything till yesterday, so I just added water each time I got in the car and started it. I thought I would have had my vehicle by now, but I don't. Apparently, as they were trying to remove the old water pump, a bolt broke and it took them an hour to drill it out. By the time I finish paying for this repair, I would have put almost as much into it that I paid for. Then my car would be worth $10,000.00.

Now if it were just me, I wouldn't be too stressed about it, but I have an exchange student living with me for the next 6 weeks and I have been concerned as to how to get her to her work at the Y. So, this morning, I had to pay for a taxi so she could get there. The co-ordinator, Eric, just said to introduce her to the transit system..and that was not an option as I didn't get home till late last night from my other work.

If the City of Lethbridge would just amend the bylaws to reflect that if we had a good size yard, as I do, then we could have horses as our mode of transportation. I have enough grass to feed it, and I could put it in the garage for shelter. You could 'double' on the horse and it would probably much cheaper than the rising cost of fuel. You wouldn't have to pay for repairs.. maybe only getting it's hoofs trimmed occasionally. It would be therapeutic to go riding in the evening..bonding with your horse and nature. It certainly would be an option I would seriously consider.

Kim's Tree

This is Kim's tree. It was planted in Softball Valley's Little Memorial Garden. Kim Malacko's husband Jim has been actively involved since the beginning with the development of Softball Valley (Lethbridge Softball Association) just north off Stafford Drive at Peenaquin Park. Kim passed away June 10th, 2008 after courageously battling cancer.

I had the opportunity to sub-teach Kim's seminary class this past February while she travelled to Israel on a tour. She had some difficulty, healthwise on her trip and when she got home, she was taken to the hospital where they had diagnosed her with having cancer. As a result of her diagnosis and prognosis, I was asked if I would continue to teach her class. Kim loved her class and they all loved her dearly. She had purchased little oil lamps for each of her students. Each lamp was individually wrapped with a little scroll containing her testimony. She was one amazing lady and she will be sorely missed. She has been one of the most influential examples to her students as well as myself. Here is a picture of her class with their oil lamps and giving her a thumbs up.

Really awesome group of students. They have soooo much potential and they are so easy to love.

I regret that there wasn't more time that we could have learned more from Kim and wished she could have shared her experience in Israel and her knowledge.

Kim's tree, evergreen ..... perfect choice as this
tree symbolizes immortality because it stays green all year.

We will miss you Kim.

I Bet You Thought I Forgot --- MY .......

BLOG... So who invented Blogs, anyways?

It has almost been a month since I started this blog and I have to admit that the first night, I woke up at 3:00a.m. worrying about what I would put in a blog, and who would be interested. And since then, alot has happened.. but I think I will leave that entry for a later date. However, I thought I would put a photo in this entry to try and start out, hopefully interesting.

Oh my gosh, I did it!!!! This is amazing. Okay.. so this picture is a the English Pub the Eagle and Child in Oxford. I had the opportunity to visit this pub for a nice supper with Tami and her friend Kayleigh when I was over for a visit in December 2006. I wanted to take the menu but Tami wouldn't let me.. so here is the History. "Eagle and Child takes its name from the Crest of the Earls of Derby and has been a public house since 1650. Favorite watering hole of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, as well as other fellow writers. The writers dubbed themselves 'The Inklings,' and often met for discussions (and argument) over a pint or two in the Rabbit Room of the pub they call "The Bird and Baby." Lewis wrote of the 'golden sessions' they enjoyed by a blazing fire with their drinks to hand, and the wide ranging nature of their philosophical and literary conversations. On a wall near the bar is a note to the landlord from these men, written in 1949 during one of their convivial meetings -- it bears their signatures and states that they have drunk to his health." (For the record, I wrote the history from the menu).

I love C.S. Lewis because he was very insightful as to what I personally believe. So, when we attended at this Pub, it was a special moment for me. I would love to go back there one day and read one of his short stories there, while sipping on a lemonade.

Rookie Blogger

This is all pretty new to me, but I have had opportunity in the past few months to review blogs of people I know, and I have to admit, that I look forward to hearing news of their families and activities. So, I am on board..not that my life is super-exciting, because it really isn't. So, here we go!!