Christmas Decorations

I thought you might like to see some of our Christmas Decorations.

A picture wasn't taken of my big Nativity Set that I made in 1969.

The glass table in front of the couch is new. It was given to us and has quite a story.

"Merry Christmas to All and to all a Good Night"

from

The St. George Larsens

Merry Christmas

Curt just told me that it is too late to put up our Christmas Tree. He heard on the radio that Santa was already on his way. I say it's never too late to put up a Christmas tree. It was once the tradition to put it up on Christmas Eve.

Thursday at our mission they asked us to be Shift Supervisors on the Wednesday morning shift along with the two shifts (am & pm) on Thursday. It will mean that I will miss my Wednesday morning workout at Desert Palms, but I will get a lot of walking in at the mission.

I just received this in an e-mail and thought it interesting.

Have you wondered - What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come outof the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England werenot permitted to practice their faith openly. Someoneduring that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Eachelement in the carol has a code word for a religious realitywhich the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness,
Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.

'Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone

I had better go and the Christmas decorated.

Love to all

I Am Thankful For . . .

I AM THANKFUL FOR...
By Nancie J. Carmody
...the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends .

...the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.

...the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.

...my huge heating bill because if means I am warm.

...a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing
because it means I have a home.

…the taxes I pay because it means that I'm employed.

…all the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.

...my shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.

... the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear.

...the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking .

... weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive .

...the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I'm alive!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Remember - You are what you eat! - Happy Thanksgiving!

I Heard the Rain

When I went to have my hearing aids adjusted I mentioned to the receptionist that I had heard birds. She said wait until you hear the rain. Then she told me about a patient that had just gotten her new hearing aids and walked outside. She came back in crying and told the receptionist that she had just heard the sound of rain for the first time in years. She was so happy.

I woke up this morning and thought that Curt was making soft strange noises in his sleep and was dreaming, when I realized that is was thunder. I laid there in bed and watched the light show through the window in our bedroom. I got up and put in my new ears and went to our computer room and listened to the rain & hail on the aluminum roof then I went in the front room and opened the front door and listened to the sound of the rain on the driveway.

It is surprising how we take things so much for granted. This is a such a beautiful world we live in with wonderful sounds.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Give thanks for unknown blessings

already on their way.

Native American Proverb

Happy Halloween Wishes

Happy Halloween Wishes

Since this is the time for goblins and bats

Halloween spirits and ghosts and cats.

Weird happenings and witches brew

Theses are the things I wish for you.

May the only ghost that comes to stay

Be the Holy Ghost to guide your way.

May the only spirits you chance to meet

Be the spirit of love and warm friends sweet.

These are my Halloween wishes for you

May God bless you in all you do.

Have a great Halloween and enjoy the poem!

Thought for Today

I have resolved that from this day on,

I will do all the business I can honestly,

Have all the fun I can reasonably,

Do all the good I can willingly,

and save my digestion by thinking pleasantly.

Robert Louis Stevenson

I Heard Birds Today!

Yes, today I could hear birds! I haven't been able to for some time.

Friday I was fitted with "Hearing Instruments". New Term to me!

We sure live in a noisy world. For the first time in quite awhile I was able to hear nearly everything in our Sunday School class and Relief Society. Before I could hear if someone was using the microphone, but not comments of others in the class. In my right ear I have a 60 to 70% loss and poor comprehension. Left ear 3o to 40% with excellent comprehension.

I have the new open ear style that is hard for anyone to see without looking hard. I opted for this kind since I have an itching problem in my right ear. I was able to get a good price on a previously owned pair that had been reconditioned. They were used by a male so I was told "I would enjoy sports more."I've jokingly said that I'll have to stand on the corner with a sign and get donations to pay for them.

Previously if I laid on my right side I couldn't hear when Curt would speak to me. I was told today when I mentioned that I heard birds "wait until it rains!" That will really be something hear in our office with the metal roof.

Anyway - I'm happy to be a member of the hearing world, even if it is noisy and I don't hear perfectly.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Be patient with everyone, but above all with thyself.

I mean, do not be disheartened by your imperfections,

But always rise up with fresh courage.

Francus de Sales

New Beginnings

NEW BEGINNINGS - This is my new Blog on October 18, 2008.

I decided to put the picture of me as a baby for my "New Beginning". (four months old)

In our WC-PAF Users Group meeting this morning we had a presentation on Blogs. Terri, a friend, came over this afternoon to get me started. Even with all my computer experience, it's hard for a old dog to learn new tricks. I'm not sure I have everything set up right. (Any suggestions?) Terri taught a class in a Relief Society Enrichment night on Blogs and offered to help get anyone interested started. She's going to come back and get Curt started.

We'll have to see how it goes as I get more acquainted with this new technology. We've enjoyed reading Eric and Kristelle's and Amanda and Jeremy's blogs.

It has been a very busy week with our Mission all day on Thursday, preparing the Ward Bulletin for this Sunday and finishing the newsletter "PAF Express" for this mornings meeting.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

It's faith in something

and enthusiasm for something

that makes a life worth living.

Oliver Wendell Homes