Happy Birthday Willie!

At 12:07 p.m. this afternoon, my boy evolved into a teenager. He's a good boy most of the time but I have sensed the teenagerhood stage coming on. No matter what question I ask him, his first response is always, "Whaaat . . ????" (in a deeper somewhat strained and stretched voice). Then when I barely get the repeat question out of my mouth he answers the question. Hmmm . . . , does teenagerhood last six or seven years.

Christmas makes me tired . . . .

I woke up this morning with some energy (but not that much)! Yippee! For every reason out there in rationalization-ville, I am exhausted the day after Christmas and sometimes for a few days more. It's the preparation, the anticipation, the dedication, the contemplation, the prioritization, and the realization that once a year -- this blessed day occurs. And, for that I am indeed grateful!

My favorite Christmas duet . . .

Enjoy!

Christmas Eve --

It's early Christmas Eve, and I am sitting at my computer thinking of everything I haven't done. My Christmas cards are still sitting, unaddressed; I have neighbor gifts to deliver; there are still presents to wrap; I need a few things at the store; and, the list goes on. But, not being ready Christmas in a few areas is okay -- I'll get things done, they may just be later than usual, and that's okay.

I am excited for Christmas -- there's a certain 7th grader who lives with me, a beautiful little grandson, two wonderful daughters and their husbands, and of course Karl who make this year the best ever.

Merry Christmas ---

There's no place like home!

I got home from Las Vegas late Saturday night. It is always so nice to get home after a few days away. I think my boys missed me (at least the one who meows like a cat and calls me "mamacita").

A very creative "welcome home" sign hung in the doorway, and on the stove were some freshly made snicker doodle cookies (TLC recipe book). What a nice surprise!

The meetings I attended were good -- but being away for four days is a huge price to pay when you love being home more than anything in the whole universe.

My son is a STAR scout!!

Willie got his STAR scout rank at the Court of Honor tonight. Karl, Haley, and James were there to cheer him on. Yeah Willie!

Star Scout Requirements:

• Be active in your troop and patrol for at least 4 months as a First Class Scout.


• Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.


• Earn 6 merit badges, including 4 from the required list for Eagle.*______________________(required for Eagle)*__________________________ (required for Eagle)*__________________________ (required for Eagle)*__________________________ (required for Eagle)*__________________________ *____________________


• While a First Class Scout, take part in service projects totaling at least 6 hours of work. These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster.


• While a First Class Scout, serve actively 4 months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility (or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop). Boy Scout troop: Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, troop guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, bugler, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, or
  instructor.


• Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.


• Complete your board of review.
  

Meetings at Christmas Time . . . ?????!!!!?????

For the past 12 years, I have served on the ACTE (Association for Career and Technical Education) Guidance Division Policy Committee in some capacity. I did a three-year term as an elected member of the ACTE Board (2000-2003), too. This is all volunteer service that greatly helps the counseling and guidance profession and my personal role in that arena. The one and only drawback of my involvement is that our annual meetings (in person) are held in December -- can you believe it?

Willie and Karl accompanied me last year when the meetings were held in Atlanta. This year's spot was not quite as attractive -- Las Vegas -- no NBA team, no acquarium, no significant museum, etc. So, they opted to stay home. I miss them!

Keeping up on the BLOG . . .

I drug Willie and Karl downtown with me last night. We went to the Training Table for a burger and chicken fingers and then drove by Temple Square to see the lights. It was just starting to snow and it was such a beautiful sight. There's nothing like driving in downtown Salt Lake during the Christmas Season and seeing the lights and decorations through snowflakes. There is just such a quiet hush that accompanies a snowstorm.

My Grandma Huber (Ethel) told me that when she was young she loved to see the downtown Christmas lights and decorations in the snow, too. I remember her telling me that Christmas music was piped out on the streets (Main and State) that made the adventure even more exciting.

When I was a little girl, both Main and State Streets were decked in lights that hung across each street from one side to the other, from North Temple to 4th South. At each intersection, long strands of lights were strung upward to a center point, higher than all the others along the street, to form a triangle or pyramid of lights with a star securred at the tip top. Each intersection was different and Main Street and State Street were unique as well. Both sets of my grandparents lived in Slat Lake and after each December Sunday evening visit, Dad would treat us to a look at the lights on our way home to Magna. My sisters and I would banter back and forth about our favorite colors of lights and which intersections were the prettiest. (This was long before any lights on Temple Square.)

Siblings . . .

I have been doing some de-junking. (In a previous blog posting I mentioned how I feel overcome with junk!) In the process, I have found some interesting stuff. This "Peanuts" cartoon was in Haley's room. It's a classic, and I love it!

James and Haley . . .

James and Haley attended their National Guard Christmas party this afternoon. It's a formal affair and James wears his full dress uniform (he looks so handsome in it). Haley wore a soft chiffon and satin black skirt and a black sweater with a satin trim on the collar. They stopped by afterwards and I decided to take a picture. Like all my kids, they are great!

SNOW!

What a surprise -- we woke up to inches of pristine snow -- and it looks so beautiful! There's nothing like a snow storm on a Saturday morning when most don't have to hurry off to school and work. It's so peaceful, calm, white, soft, fresh, . . .

SNOW!

Lines Written After a Snow-storm

by C. C. Moore

Come children dear, and look around;
Behold how soft and light

The silent snow had glad the ground

In robes of purest white.

The trees seem deck'd by fairy hand,

Nor need their native green;

And every breeze appears to stand,

All hush'd, to view the scene.

You wonder how the snows were made

That dance upon the air,

As if from purer worlds they stray'd,

So lightly and so fair.

Perhaps they are the summer flowers

In northern stars that bloom,

Wafted away from icy bowers

To cheer our winter's gloom.

Perhaps they're feathers of a race

Of birds that live away,
In some cold dreary wintry place,

Far from the sun's warm ray.

And clouds, perhaps, are downy beds
On which the winds repose;

Who, when they rouse their slumb'ring heads,

Shake down the feath'ry snows.

But see, my darlings, while we stay

And gaze with fond delight,

The fairy scene soon fades away,

And mocks our raptur'd sight.

And let this fleeting vision teach

A truth you soon must know --

That all the joys we here can reach

Are transient as the snow.

(C.C. Moore is "the poet of Christmas Eve" -- 'Twas the Night Before Christams)

I missed the last chance . . .

I can't believe I missed my last chance to "post" during nablopomo (rats!). I intended to do it all Friday evening -- but never made it to the computer.

I have had a lot of fun posting and reading every other BLOG. I am going to try to keep up the daily (or every other day) updates as best I can. I have learned so much about all of my fellow bloggers and that's been awesome.