TRADITIONS

Last Christmas John took our family to ride the Christmas Polar Express train up in Heber. It was so much fun and magical for the children. I made this pillow to go under the tree this year to remind the children of the polar express, and to remember to BELIEVE.

Sometime after our daughter Casey Collett died Richard Paul Evans wrote "The Christmas Box". I came upon the book at Christmas time. Casey was alive between October and February so that Christmas holds special meaning to me. I had heard about his book and I was very anxious to read it. It had a profound effect on me. I felt very close to Casey that Christmas and John and I rode to the cemetery, where the angle that he spoke about in the book, is placed. In deed, there is a certain feeling associated with the angle. From then on, I decided to collect his books, and just prior to Christmas I read all of them. It's a gift I give to myself to allow myself to think back at a time when my daughter was alive. She was very real, and her spirit lives with me today.

I can't ever remember not having amazing feeling about the South, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida. It began when I was a little girl - in my dreams, then in my class work. One day when I was least expecting it, I met a young man who had just returned from serving in Kentucky and Tennessee for two years. My dreams unfolded and they became my reality. I came across a Christmas cook book and ideas called "Southern Living Christmas". I was hooked, I've been collecting them since 1996. My 2008 copy should be here next week. I can't wait!

One of the most favorite things at Christmas time has always been a hot cut of coco and to be curled up in a favorite spot with one of our children reading a Christmas story. Now I get to do it with my grandchildren and I watch my children continue that tradition in their homes.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Well, it's that time of year again. I use to get so excited I couldn't stand it. I had so much fun fussing over a tree and decorations. I'm sorry to say that I am not like most people who add to their collection of Christmas ornaments and decorations each year - year after year - and use the same ornaments, memories of children and events. I choose a new style and color of ornaments each year and I have fun creating the other decorations to go along with the tree. The only tradition my children know is that it changes every year. It's nice but it's always a new surprise. I always want white lights, my children always wanted colored lights. My husband doesn't have time or desire to fuss like I do so he's not apart of it. He prefers it to be very simple. My children don't like to help because I'm to excited and want to do it myself.

I've done 37 Christmas's and now I wish I had done as my good friend Shelli did. She got each of her children an ornament for every Christmas of their lives, her sisters and cousins have all exchanged ornaments with each other every Christmas and birthday. Her tree is a major event each year. There are hundreds of ornaments. Each ornament has a story to tell.

I decided that I wanted to have a tree like hers. I tried to buy an ornament for each year of each one of my kids lives. That was 122 ornaments. I tried, but I couldn't deviate from a color theme and a style. I ended up with a Santa clause tree and decorations. It's been 10 or so years and I add to it every year.

I tell my family that it isn't the result, but the process of doing what I do that makes my Christmas. Course, I'm this way with everything, the journey is fun.

GREATEST GIFTS

You might remember me posting this a little while ago. I had to adjust it so I took it off and now it's back on. This is my memory quilt that I made with pictures of some of the children I have fallen in love with in Ecuador and also a picture of the new orphanage "Los Pequenitos De Osso". I have told the volunteers working in the orphanages that I would be happy to make them one, using their pictures. I hope I'll get the opportunity to make some. I have another blog called "thevolunteerquilt.blogspot.com". I will post the quilts I make.

LIGHT THE NIGHT AT SOUTH JORDAN

A very exciting time was had by all last friday evening. We all went over to the ice rink at the City Center here in South Jordan. A special band was playing with a dejay who introduced the ice skater intertainment and the city officals and the lighting of the great big tree that stands in the middle of the ice rink. Then santa came to visit in the big fire truck. Everybody that wanted to got to go see him.

The funest part was, we all put on ice scates and scated to music around the big christmas tree on the ice rink. It was so much fun, the kids didn't care if they fell down, they just kept getting up. When they got too cold they had free hot chocolet and cookies. I, of course, didn't go prepared enough, my feet froze. We stayed until closing, for 3 hours.

South Jordan 7th Ward "LUNCH BUNCH"

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For over 3 years now we have been enjoying the company of the sisters in our Ward once a month as we come together for lunch. This is a Relief Society activity that was started as an monthly enrichment. We encourage all and anyone to attend who would like to get to know other women in the ward. We meet all over in different restrauants. We laugh and have fun and feel good, of course the food is always great.

I wanted to post a picture and express my gratitude and love for all who come and those that will come in the future. We always have a different group of women. The most important thing that matters if that it's always on the last friday of the month at 11:30. The place changes monthly and is announced at church.

2009 Ford Fuson

Six years ago Dallin and I went on a search for the perfect car. One that we both liked and we both could drive and one that he could take over when he came back from serving a mission in Argentina. It took us a few weeks but we found one. A Mitsubishi Lancer, OZ Rally. White with grey cloth interior. 4 door, sun roof, and a fin on the back. Well, I drove it for two years, he came home and wanted something different so I drove it (and loved) for 3 more years. John took me to Henry Day Ford the other day and we traded the Lancer in for a Ford Fusion. It looks quite a bit like the Lancer, a little bigger, much nicer, much smother, much quieter, and a much bigger punch. It took me a few times driving it to get use to it, but I'm going to love it.

A 12 YEAR GEILMANN TRADITION

Twelve or so years ago my father in law, Earl P. Geilmann, started taking his whole family out to Thanksgiving Dinner. This tradition was started after his wife, Martha Evelyn, died. Earl P. died over 5 years ago and John's sister Marcia has continued to carry on this tradition. It's become one of our most favorite traditions because we don't get to see everybody otherwise. Time is going by so fast.

Thank you Marcia for your kind generosity. Everybody loves you.