December 21, 2014
Dear Riley,
Dad and I are hardly home anymore, just enough to recognize and complain at the chaos before leaving again. That’s how it feels. So Wednesday night dad had interviews and it was a heavy night. He delivered Christmas money which came through ward members to needy ward members starting that night as well. People have been very generous.
Thursday was the Christmas sing at Cascade. I went with Josie in the morning and Dad went at 1:00. I looked down part way through the concert and the man next to us was aiming his really nice camera at Josie’s face as she sat on my lap. I was a little taken back, but he showed me photo he’s snapped and I figured there was no harm. Then I realized I was sitting between him and his wife who I know. It was kind of funny. Aleah was the smileyest fourth grader up there. No, she was!
I came home from the sing and I had such a long list of things to take care of, but I sat down and started our Christmas letter. It was so difficult to put this year into words, especially words that would uplift rather than grieve. I’ll send you a copy of our Christmas card in your Christmas package. I somehow lost my addresses for my Christmas cards. Ugghhh. I have absolutely no idea where they could be. I lost the file when my laptop was stolen, but had printed it off on plain paper accidentally at one point, so I had the paper copy which I had been updating by hand. And now it’s nowhere to be found. The cards from last year are packaged up and were where the list should be. Sigh.
Thursday evening we went to our annual Christmas party at the A’s. We couldn’t stay super long because Parker had to be picked up from special needs mutual. But we were able to see old friends and it is always good to see good people who’ve had a variety of life experiences in the 20 or so years since we lived in the same ward, still faithful and strong and vibrant in their testimony.
Friday I had to go to work to take care of payroll. They have the TV set up now and Josie watched Mulan while I worked. It was funny because the “Matchmaker” song was on and I called out to Gus that it sounded like it was in a different language. Then I went into the lounge and recognized Spanish. We don’t know how that happened because it showed that it was playing in English. But anyway, we got it changed. The interesting thing is that Josie wasn’t deterred at all, she was just as entertained. Maybe we should let her learn a new language by watching all her shows in Spanish? But she doesn’t spend enough time watching anything to make any appreciable progress.
Friday night was our work party. We have had a good year and were able to take them to the Tree Room up at Sundance. It was luxurious and wonderful. The food was amazing! That's telling you something if I am impressed. They would bring all the dishes out for the table and stand at the place it was to be set and then on cue, set the dishes in front of us at the same time, like a choreographed dance. Everyone had such a nice time! On the way out of the restaurant, we saw fellow diner Robert Redford who owns Sundance Resort. Now none of the other kids know who that is, so I’ll explain best I can for you. He’s the actor who played the mastermind villain in Captain America: Winter Soldier, the older strawberry blond guy. He’s also in and Sneakers and The Sting and many other movies you’re too young to know.
L had back surgery Friday. Major. Like she won’t be able to even begin rehabilitation for three months. For the first three weeks she is allowed one trip down the stairs and one trip up each day, separated by hours. So she is coming home to Grandma’s where she will stay for two weeks at least. But the surgeon said she really did need the surgery and he thinks she’ll feel great relief in three months time. So Christmas day up there this year will be really low key. I’m taking lazy lasagna which is not a traditional meal. So I cooked a turkey tonight with gravy and mashed potatoes, green beans, and candied yams.
Saturday morning was the Relief Society breakfast. Truthfully I was so tired of running around and I just wanted to stay home. The kids were at each other’s throats AFTER I had gotten up and made them German pancakes, so food and tender-lovin’ care weren’t the problem. But Dad had to be there so I trudged along with him. We had to take collateral from all three of the older kids to help them remember it just wasn’t worth it to fight.
The breakfast was delicious and the program was very sweet about angels among us. I thought throughout the program about all the angels who blessed us this year as I was down with Ramsay Hunt. And all the angels who ministered to me while I was in the hospital. And the angels I sensed around Eric. Then I thought about him being our angel. I cried a lot. Right after the breakfast Dad and the bishopric delivered Christmas cards. Just as they did last year, they got a 5x7 art piece. This was the Simon Dewey painting of the little baby Jesus on the hay, looking down on him from above. Dad was home again for an hour before he had to go to a special baptism.
Between the breakfast and our evening obligations, we had a war over the kettle corn for neighbors. Of course the problem began when I had Dad call the kids home from playing with A at Grandma's. You see, none of the kids felt it was fair that their play should be interrupted and they were all sure they were doing more than their share. Grrr. But they did do it, fighting along as they went.
After Dad got home from the baptism, we left for J T’s wedding reception. It was in a lovely nursery up close to Timpanogos temple. We really enjoyed it and J and his wife make a perfect pair. The now mother-in-law said that the bride had gone through the temple before the sealing, so they spent the day in the temple, just where they should. It’s a lot to take in at once, but K said H was great. It made me consider because, just like Christmas, we can become so distracted with the trappings which accompany. But the priority should be the supernal connection as men reach toward God and He extends back.
After we’d passed through the line and as we headed to the dessert table, I noticed a gentleman watch us as we passed by. Dad quickly selected a chocolate crusted berry cheesecake and then saw the lime cheesecake. Just as he directing me to take that, the gentleman I'd noticed before came and asked for Dad’s name. Immediately I recognized and called out, “U J!” He was married to the bride's maternal grandma. Crazy small world in the Church.
Today was busy as well. Surprise! But Dad gave a lovely talk after the Christmas program which was just superb. The choir sounded really good and Sister Fielding had selected such nice pieces. The text was scripture shared in cohesive blocks. I love it when they do that. I asked Dad to send you his remarks; they were poetic.
This week will fly and I am so excited to spend a few minutes speaking with you. As I wrote DJ’s card, I realized that these next two Christmases in your life you will be as the angels at Christ’s birth with the singular assignment of proclaiming Him. What a privilege! What company you should expect to keep. Always be worthy.
I love you, son. I miss you, but not the way I thought I would. I’m not crying all the time and moping around. I think of you, but then I smile because I’m so happy that you are absent to be a missionary. (But I sure do wish someone else would come and corral and drive the kids to finish a task independent of me sometimes.)
Expect a package before Christmas!
Love you like crazy!
Mom
This is how Josie came down, having previously been dressed for the day, to help set up the tree. At least she's got her hat on!
They've been driving me nuts with their bickering, and then I run into this. Instantly I forget it's ever different.
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