CHRISTMAS 2011 SANTA'S VISIT

Santa paid a visit to the party Friday night. He started out reading the Christmas Story from Luke and bearing his testimony.

Then he visited with each child, teen and unmarried young adult and gave them a gift, and Santa bag.

Ephraim liked the bright paper.

Jonah

Hunter

Jordyn

Jasmine

AJ

Jake & Kari

As soon as everyone saw Santa the children were allowed to open their presents.

To see more pictures visit https://plus.google.com/photos/112478456432143593582/albums/5692196559271888193?authkey=CIjgqNq5mLqMUA 

FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY 12/23/11 PART 2 A SPECIAL PRESENTATION

 Before the talent portion of the evening started Aunt Karen had a special presentation to make.

In September Aunt Karen and Cindy went to Utah to clean out Aunt Ella Mae's house and get it ready to sell, because she is now living in a Care Center.
Among her things they found a trunk with 3 handmade blessing dresses. Aunt Karen took them to Museum Quality Gown Care in Scottsdale and they were able to clean the dresses up and restore them.

This was my Mom's dress. It was hand stitched with French seams,  embroidered flowers and a crocheted edging.

The dress is about 82 years old.

This was Aunt Ella Mae's dress, it is about 84 years old.

Aunt Karen's was done in Pink. Hers is about 68 years old.

During the presentation of the dresses there were very few dry eyes in the room. Having something hand made by our grandmother for our Mothers is such a special gift.

They also found this dress Grandma crocheted for Aunt Karen. The stitch is one I don't think I have ever done before.

THANK YOU AUNT KAREN FOR HAVING THESE PRECIOUS PIECES OF OUR HISTORY RESTORED.

FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY 12/23/11 PART 1

On Friday Evening we gathered at Aunt Karen's Home for our annual family Christmas Eve party.

 

We started out with a feast that included Ham, Scalloped potatoes, meatballs, pink salad and many other delicious foods.

After we ate some of the family showed their talents.

Lyndi sang We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Amanda sang Angels We Have Heard on High, accompanied by Elijah

Brianna played a Violin solo.

The Bottomley String Quartet, Lori, Kendall, Brianna & Elijah played a song.

CHRISTMAS JARS

Every year members of our extended family give a gift to each family group in the family. This year I had chosen a crochet project and found with the expanding size of our family I didn't allow enough time to complete that project.Earlier in the fall I listened to a book called Christmas Jars Reunion by Jason Wright. This gift idea came from that book.

I put Candy Canes in each jar and ribbons around them.

The instructions:

-take the contents out of the jar.

-put jar in a prominent place

-at the end of the day put any loose change you accumulated during the day in the jar

-during the week before Christmas choose a family to give the jar to.

-leave it for them anonymously

All wrapped up pretty.

This is what 17 wrapped quart jars look like.

SANTA'S CHRISTMAS PRAYER

Debra McCullar's Photos

Santa's Christmas Prayer

The sleigh was packed,

the reindeer were fed,

But Santa still knelt
by the side of the bed.

"Dear Father," he prayed
"Be with me tonight.
There's much work to do
and my schedule is tight.

I must jump in my sleigh
and streak through the sky,
Knowing full well
that a reindeer can't fly.

I will visit each household
before the first light,
I'll cover the world
and all in one night.

With sleigh bells a-ringing,
I'll land on each roof,
Amid the soft clatter
of each little hoof.

To get in the house
is the difficult part,
So I'll slide down the chimney
of each little heart.

My sack will hold toys
to grant all their wishes.
The supply will be endless
like the loaves and the fishes.

I will fill all the stockings
and not leave a track.
I'll eat every cookie
that's left for my snack.

I can do all these things Lord,
only through You,
I just need your blessing,
then it's easy to do.

All this is to honor
the birth of the One,
That was sent to redeem us,
Your most Holy Son.

So to all of my friends,
lest Your glory I rob,
Please Lord, remind them,
who gave me this job."
Author Unknown

TOLLESON WARD CHRISTMAS PARTY Dec 17, 2011

Saturday evening the we gathered at the Tolleson Ward Building for our annual Christmas Party. There were a few technical difficulties with the grill,where the chicken for dinner was being cooked, but overall it was a fun evening, and the chicken was delicious and worth waiting for.

The Youth did several skits.

There was a piano duet by Brother and Sister Wallgren.

Kathy Jo sang a beautiful Christmas song.

The Primary children sang Joy to the World, with great enthusiasm.

The Bishop ended the program by reading a poem he wrote on his Mission.

No Christmas Party would be complete without a special visitor.

THANK-YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS

   A FUN EVENING!

TITHINGPALOOZA & BOOK SIGNING WITH BETSY LOVE AND THERESA SNEED

Saturday our ward celebrated Tithingpalooza,ward tithing settlement day. Its the day when the majority of our Ward members meet with the Bishop,so that tithing settlement takes just 1 long day instead of a lot of late evenings away from home.After my appointment I decided to go into Mesa to the Latterday Cottage Bookstore, to visit with Theresa Sneed and Betsy Love. I already had their books signed, so I was just there to say hi.

Betsy Love, Me & Theresa Sneed

It was a fun afternoon!

TUESDAY 11/29

Tuesday Morning I had to get ready to fly home. There were a lot of people I wasn't able to see this trip, I wish I could have stayed another few days, but I didn't have enough vacation time.
The flight out of Boston was bumpy, the pilot couldn't find an altitude that was good. 
My stop over was in Minneapolis/St Paul. I chose it because I thought it would be a smaller airport than New York or Atlanta. I was wrong, and had a 5 mile hike to get to my next gate.
The trip from Minneapolis to Phoenix was smooth and we arrived 40 minutes early. 
I flew on Delta for my return trip. Their planes are more comfortable than the American Airlines planes were.

MONDAY NOV 28

Monday I drove around a little more and took some more pictures.

The new town offices, This used to  be Frasier JR High when I was in 7th grade.

The Northborough Historical Society

Trinity Church, I don't think I ever went into the building when I lived there, but it is a beautiful old New England Church.

The Library, maybe the most important building in town.

I drove back to my old neighborhood to take pictures.

This is the house I grew up in. When we lived there it was about this size.

The new owners added on to the side.

Our big beautiful maple tree is still in the side yard. (some things never change)

While I was in the old neighborhood, I stopped by and visited with Mrs Santucci.

and Mr MacNamara, Mrs MacNamara was out shopping. It was nice to see old neighbors, who had been a part of my life during my growing up years.

On my way to Shrewsbury I stopped at Ward Hill. I remember before I lived in the west, I used to think it was a scary high ski hill.

I was able to spend the evening with David and Lorinda Anderson. It was nice to see them again, and to talk to Trisha when she called.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 27

Sunday Morning I headed through the fog, with directions in hand for church. I attended church in the building on Chester St for most of my life, until 1985. With the new freeway, I managed to get lost (thank goodness for a good navigation app on my phone) and was late arriving.

Lisa and Al Andre and their son Scott joined me at the Worcester II Ward meetings, this Morning. I saw some old friends from when I was in the Worcester Ward. One big surprise was seeing my old childhood friend Linda. I didn't get a picture.
I visited Worcester 1 for a few minutes, to be able to participate in the sacrament, and as I was leaving saw my old neighbor Rick.
I went with Lisa and Al out to visit Brother Gamache, who is in a rehab center. He seemed happy to see us, but it was hard to hear him.
From the rehab, we went to visit Brother and Sister Randall, who have just moved back to MA. We had a nice visit.

Mary Randall

Earl Randall

Scott, Lisa and Al Andre

THANKS ANDREs FOR GIVING UP SLEEP TO SPEND THE DAY WITH ME!