Getting Ready for Christmas!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go - and at our house, too!  Come on over and let's share the spirit of the season.

A warm welcome waiting for you.

   We love being with family and friends any time of the year,

but it is especially fun to share special events

and Christmas togetherness.

 * * * * * * * * * * * *

Rebecca's Baptism

Rebecca Graham, 

daughter of Beth and Todd and our granddaughter, 

turned 8 on November 24th

and was baptized on December 2nd.


Rebecca planned the service and asked me to give the closing prayer,
and her mother gave the opening prayer.
Rebecca asked her cousin Sarah, and her Aunt Shannon, to give talks.
The bishop's counselor gave the remarks following the confirmation. 
Rebecca's sister, Megan, played nice arrangements for the music.

Rebecca was baptized and confirmed by her father,
and Sam was invited to be in the circle for the confirmation.

Following the baptism, family and friends

came to our home for a luncheon

 planned by Rebecca's parents.

Here are some photos taken on this special occasion.

 Rebecca with her family.
(Ethan, Amanda, Todd, Beth, Joshua, Jared, and Megan)

We love Rebecca and are pleased
to be with her on this happy day.
(Gramma Narene and Grampa Sam with Rebecca) 

Ryan and Tani

Doug and Shannon with their children,

Mason, Isaac, Brynlee, Jacob, and Corban


 

Amy and Judd Ireland with their sweet daughter, Claire

Granddaughter Sarah with her

husband, Derek Lontine,

and children, Paul and Anna.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

We were pleased to have Brittney and Matt

and their children, Robert, Monty, and Joe,

spend a couple of days with us

following Thanksgiving;

and we're hoping to see them when they

come from San Antonio to spend Christmas in Idaho.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Once a month we enjoy having a get-together 

with Empty Nesters,

senior-age friends living near us. 

Empty Nesters meeting in our home on

the first Monday in December.

We always enjoy being with those who can come,

and we miss any who are unable to come.

One of our dear friends, Dana Ellertson,

was in the hospital with serious complications following gallbladder surgery.

Sadly, she passed away on December 8; 

and we attended her funeral on December 15th.

(Trudy and Jim Sumsion, Karen and Lynn Haskell,

Phyllis and Bob Brock, Jolene and Bob McCarthy,

Hal Smith, and Sam)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

We wish we could be closer to all members of our family,

but we do appreciate those who live close enough to see more often.

Grampa Sam helping Ethan (Beth and Todd's) with a math problem.

Maggie (Curtis and Marla's)

stopping by for a visit and to take some pictures
around our home and yard for a class.

Trent (Scott and Kristine's) also stopped by for a visit after
finishing his finals for the semester.
He and Jessica will be spending Christmas in Ireland
with Jessica's family.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

I enjoy the Christmas season and the reason for the season:

The birth, the life, and the resurrection of the Savior

and His unconditional love.

I love the music, 

the decorations,

 the cards and letters,

the special food and traditions,
the time shared with family and friends.

Christmas and Confections,

a concert followed by refreshments at Mountain Maple High School.

I was invited to attend with my friend, Christy Smith,

whose granddaughter was in the choir.

Sam and I enjoyed seeing the Christmas Carol

with friends, Bob and Jolene McCarthy,

at the Angelus Theater in Spanish Fork.

I also went with Christy to the production of

Handel's Messiah

performed by very talented local musicians

in the auditorium at Spanish Fork High School.

Lots of years ago, I enjoyed being part of a choir

in St. Johns performing this special music. 

 I love nativities reminding us 

of why we celebrate Christmas.

This is a very special nativity scene,

as the stable was made by Sam's father

who made about a hundred of these for

family and friends.  Some he made from various kinds of wood,

but we chose one made from old barn wood.

The nativity figures were given us by Scott and Kristine.

Sam and I were invited to the Graham's

for Family Home Evening last Monday

and enjoyed the pulled pork supper.

After eating, Rebecca, Joshua, and Ethan

decorated sugar cookies.

We appreciated being included

at another special occasion,

the 1st birthday of Trevor and Megan's Sadie.

It was held in the home of Megan's grandparents 

in American Fork.

Sadie had help from Paul and Anna

opening her gifts,

and she gave a cuddle to the bunny we gave her.

(Paul, Grampa Sam, Sadie, and Trevor)  

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Judd and Amy with Claire stopped by to say
"goodby," as they are moving to Louisville, KY
where Judd has been offered a job with GE.
We will miss them, but it will be nice for
Amy to be close to her family there.
I'm glad we have our family reunions to
bring us together at least every other year.

Brent and his three sons drove to Ann Arbor

for the Michigan-Ohio State football game on November 25.

Our family has been Michigan fans ever since

the days when Sam and I lived there with our four oldest children

while Sam was getting his doctorate at the University of Michigan.

The score was not favorable this year to the Wolverine fans,

losing 31 to 20; but Brent and his sons enjoyed their trip.

(Seth, Sam, and Weston)  

* * * * * * * * * * * *

  We do look forward to hearing from friends and loved ones 

during this Christmas season 
 and to having a house full of family here to celebrate with us.
  
Merry Christmas