Christmas Eve Dec 24th, 2008

A summary of our quick road trip. We had a lot of places, to go people, to see, and things to do. Wish we had more time to stay. We started our trip with a Italian dinner a restaurant we like, Rigatoni's.

Vallerie and Victoria met us there. We missed mom's lasagna, and Vallerie's red-green-and white jello, but everything we ordered was very good.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN, ON THE RUN!!

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!

Well another storm blew in. Beautiful and cold. I think I should learn how to do these activities and modes of transportation.

Dog sledding. I love dogs, & these dogs love to do what they were meant to do!

Snow shoeing. Jennifer suggested this. Probably the most economical thing to start with. Good thing to know in snow country.

Snowmobiling. Now that's a nice ride.

I like to ride dirt bikes, and go 4 wheeling. I think I'd be good at this. It's just a little expensive for me right now.

Well that is my little "daydream" for today.

ONE of my new CHALLENGES

Well this is my new Challenge. It's very exciting, challenging, (for me), and FUN! Really. I laugh out loud at myself and other drivers around me. It's a little scary, but Scary is good sometimes. Like driving a Nascar 190 mph, skiing down hill, doing a back flip on the balance beam. I do wish I had my 1985 Bronco with me here. I love my big 4 wheel drive, with big tires on it. (too bad it needs some work done on it.) The heater works good though.
Here's a couple of things that I learned so far.
Pretend you have no brakes. (because they don't work very good.)
Remember when you turn, the car doesn't always want to, so you have to be gentle and c0ax it a little.
If you don't push off all the snow on the hood bef0re you start out it's like having snow balls thrown at your windshield. Hilarious!
In Arizona when I was growing up, we use to throw oranges, and water balloons at cars and then run in hide. (is that bad?)
You have to leave or plan on 15 minutes extra just to get out of your driveway. Especially is you have no garage or covered parking. Which I have neither.
ANYWAY- HAVING A GREAT TIME IN SLC, UT!!
WEEEEEE....

Jen's Day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEN!

Hope you have a happy day.

Jen is a wonderful, daughter-in-law.

She's smart, pretty, a good wife, and a good mother. We are so happy she's part of our family.

I want to make a snowman.

Okay--

I tried to make a snowman this morning.

The snow in Salt Lake is different than the Sierra Mountains. Greg told me that. Well it's true. I thought snow was snow. Last year in Nevada, 2 little girls made a snowman bigger than them. The snow packs different. I wanted a snowman in my front yard, but--- the snow is like fluff. It doesn't pack, it doesn't pack hardly at all. It looks like a lot- but you can blow it away.?? Maybe when it gets colder, or later this year. Oh, it's suppose to 17 degrees in the morning. "Whatever!"

ANGELS

Do you believe in angels? I do.

The word angel itself comes from the Greek term angelos, which is defined as "a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God."

I have had a couple of experiences in my life, where angels have been with me.

I didn't see them, I couldn't hear them with my ears, but their presence and strength, and protection was undeniable. The bible refers to angels many times.

Genesis 16 Hagar, Sarah's handmaiden. Genesis 19 Sodom and Gomorrah, and Lot. (just to name a few.)

I NEED A NEW HOBBY--??

Okay-

The golf courses are covered with snow. Now I need a new challenge and activity that gets me outside and moving. It's cold for this Arizona girl, but I can adapt. (I hope.)

I think I'll start by buying some long underwear and some boots.

Did I mention it's COLD?

This is for CURTISS! This is his idea of FUN!

SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

What do these pictures have to do with anything?

Read Matthew 6:25-34.

Sometimes I get anxious, or scared, and then I ponder things, take a breath, and listen or read.

Thank you Ronna for your love and encouragement.

I'll be home.......

I'm COMING HOME TO SEE MY CHILDREN AND FAMILY SOON! Happy-Happy.

TALENT--CELINE DION

CELINE DION

If your in the mood for a nice evening at home, PBS this week is showing Celine Dion's Las Vegas Concert Show that she did. Greg and I wanted to see it a couple years ago when we still lived in AZ. Anyway.... It is THE BOMB! Celine's voice is, WOW.

(I'd love to hear it live). The Show, the Songs, the DANCE. It is really entertaining, and worth an hour of your time.

So make a quick a snack , grab a cocktail, dim the lights, and relax, & enjoy some great entertainment. Did I mention it's FREE??

Check your local listings on PBS. "Celine Dion, It's a New Day.

If I knew how to put one of those little video clips on my blog, You could hear & see a preview.

but, I don't.

Simplify - a verb

Well the RECESSION HAS HIT Greg and I, in a personal way already. Companies are all making cut backs, and trying to save themselves, so...
No more Company work truck, no more company cell phone. It was nice while it lasted. At least we have another car so he can get to work, we don't have to buy one. And thank goodness gas prices have went down. (He hasn't had to pay for gas or anything with the company truck.)
So, he still has a good job, and we are so blessed.
We truly know the meaning of -
"I GET to go to Work!"
May God continue to bless our families. HAPPY-HAPPY!

Memories of Grandma and Grandpa Criswell

Christmas Memories
Here's a couple of things that remind me of Christmas Time with my Grandma and Grandpa Criswell.
My grandparents did not have a lot of material things. They were hard working, self sufficient people who influenced my life in such a positive way. I remember both my grandparents making homemade ornaments together. I still have 2 of their hand made toothpick ornaments. They would cut an old Christmas card for the background, & then frame it with stacked toothpicks with glue, and then, put a little glitter around the frame, to make it sparkle on the tree.
The other simple ornament started as a cheap satin Styrofoam ball that they turned into a beautiful beaded ornament made with beads and straight pins, & then just pushed the straight pin with the beads on it, into the Styrofoam ball.
"BRILLIANT"!
Have fun making memories with your families, all year, always.
"Simplify"

God will provide

SO, CHECK IT OUT-----Yesterday Greg and I were on the Golf course.

The parking lot at the Golf course has a Christmas Tree lot on it. Families out - picking out a $5 tree, and paying $80-$100.++ (WHAT??)

So I go to bed, and in the morning I have the biggest, most beautiful tree right in my front living room.

Can you BELIEVE it? I didn't pay a dime, I didn't do a thing, and it's the coolest tree I've ever had. God has blessed me more than I could imagine. The Crown Vic is a blessing I'm grateful for everyday also.

Joseph- I'd like to meet him someday.

While reading my daily devotional today, I realized that I really don't know a lot about Joseph. I know he was a carpenter, which is hard work. I know he loved and took care of Mary. I know he had other children, and that's about it. Here's a few scriptures about Joseph I thought I'd share.

Matthew 1:18-25

18-Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, : which is translated, "God be with us." Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called his name Jesus.

Joseph, though silent, through his example, is described as a just & compassionate man, committed to obedience of God's will.

Joseph, Jesus, and Mary

I like this.

As we approach Christmas, it's good to remember why Jesus was born. The son of God did not come to establish a nostalgic, family-orientated, commercially successful holiday. The angel told Joseph: "Mary will bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).

Christmas began with a present from God to His sinned damaged world: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 6:23).

The masterpiece of God's human creation, marred by turning away from him, can be restored when we give our hearts to Christ. -David McCasland-

Jesus came to earth to repair our sin-damaged lifes.

Day Dreaming

New Goal for self-

Next CHRISTMAS
I want to be lying on the beach in Mexico.

No stress, no pressure, no gifts.
A Mexican coffee with a peppermint stick in it, with a Mexican pastry. Sitting on the porch watching the sun come up; and the sun set in the evening.

Meditating and remembering the birth of
Christ and the sacrifice he gave for me.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Any one who wants to join me, is WELCOME.

SOUPS ON!!

So, it's about 37 degrees outside here. So what shall I do? Get warm and cozy. Here is my Sweet Older Sister's Mexican-Italian Meatball soup. So I called her up for a little advice first, and then I attempted to make it. It took me longer than normal my first time. I really haven't made meatballs before. These are good meatballs with the seasonings & rice. Then I simmered together and followed her recipe instructions and my mood, and house just got warmer and cozier and happier by the minute!

When Greg walked through the door at the end of his work day, he was a HAPPY MAN! I will definitely make this again.

IT WAS A HIT! As a matter of fact I'm going to go warm up another bowl for myself right now. For the recipe go to Ronna's Blog.

Thank you SWEET OLDER SISTER.

One of my RANTS.

How about this--- "You're FIRED!"
I wouldn't let these greedy pigs manage my snow cone stand.
I have a simple, common sense idea. Hire someone whose COMPETENT!! Duhhh.

"Out of touch Bastards"

I feel better now.

"Happiness" oil painting by- ?

Now that's "HAPPINESS"!! HAPPY-HAPPY!!

PAIN-PAIN GO AWAY!

This how I feel most days.

I have been struggling with neck and back pain for a couple of years, (like hundreds of other people) and it has got progressively worst. I have tried a lot of non-medical things to help it.

I lost weight.

I exercise regularly.

I do some light weight training t0 strengthen my core, and easy yoga.

I put ice packs and heat on it.

I've gone to the Doctor and received 3 months of physical therapy 2 times a week.

I got a couple shots in my back to help the ease the spasms. They gave me some pain medicine,

a muscle relaxer, and some arthritis medicine. TOO MANY Pills! I only take those when the pain is so bad, that I'm crying. So I keep telling the doctor that really nothing has helped. If anything my back is getting worst. So finally they ordered a MRI. Well guess what? I have 3 bulging discs. 1 in my cervical spine (neck,) and 2 in my thoracic spine, (and some sort of small cyst on my thyroid, that no one is concerned about right now.)

So, they sent me to the neurosurgeon for evaluation. He recommended surgery.

And I beg for other options. So he sent me to Intermountain Spine Institute to get a procedure done where they put a needle into your spine, and inject dye, long acting pain medicine, like used with epidurals, and a steroid. They only did the left side of my neck first. Every ones results are different they say. It could last 5 days, or 5 months. It may not give you any relief, and may have great results.

Pretty inconsistent, but I'm going in with a POSITIVE state of mind, and this is going to work for me. So as of today, my left side does feel better. So wish me luck, and maybe after a few weeks of good results, they will do the other areas.

I'm grateful for modern medicine, and remember they call it "Medical PRACTICE". So practice away Docs and make my pain go away someday!

I played Shawna's game.

I am a TINSEL TREE. For me- Christmas is no different than the rest of the year. And this means I do things my own way, and continue to surprise people.

WHAT THE HELL?!!

GREED: The Walmart Stampede

by Steven Walden Tuesday Dec. 2, 2oo8

GREED is not just the province of wealthy bankers. The stampede at a Walmart on Long Island reminded us that greed, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, can grip anyone, anywhere. From the New York Daily News account about the DEATH of a 34 year old temporary employee, Jdimytai Damour.

Roughly 2,00 people gathered outside the walmart's doors in predawn darkness.

Chanting "push the doors in," the crowd pushed against the glass as the clock ticked down to 5 am. Sensing catastrophe, nervous employees formed a human chain inside the entrance to slow down the mass shoppers. "They took the doors off the hinges," said a walmart employee, Jimmy Overby 43. "He was trampled and KILLED in front of me." ... Even officers who arrived to perform CPR were stepped on by wild-eyed shoppers streaming inside, a cop said. "when they were saying they had to leave, that an employee had been killed, people were yelling "I've been in line since friday morning." Cribbs said. "They kept shopping." "I looked at these peoples faces and kept thinking one of them stepped on him.

How could you take another man's life to save $20.oo on a TV??

Is this what Christmas has turned into?

I'm angry, ashamed and disgusted.

Just something to remember with all the bullshit commercialism.

There's a new Kid in town!

Look who I got to pick up to today.

I won't say much. Pedaling will fill you in on all the details, but I Love Her!