Toys

Toys!! That is this weeks theme for Slice of Life! 

My favorite toy growing up was all my many baby dolls. When a new dolly joined the family I would always introduce her to the old ones.  

This little doll had her own little swing!

I am sure Santa brought me a dolly for several years in a row.

I even sang to my baby dolls.

This doll could walk.

I could style this dolls hair.

David and his mommy September 1976

Then voila!!  I had a real live baby doll.  Good thing I had a lot of practice.  Truthfully, I'm not sure it helped.  

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Christmas Music

I love the music of  Christmas!! I really truly do!!  So, I thought I would share some of my favorite Christmas albums. My love of Christmas music comes from my mom.  I still have many of her old Christmas records,  (you know those big black disks, that play on archaic phonograph  machines or record players).

The Messiah is one of my all time favorites. I love that it is all scriptural and gets right to the heart of what Christmas is truly about, our Messiah, Jesus Christ.  Listening to the Messiah brings back such sweet memories of singing at the Mission in San Luis Obispo. I wrote about the experience here.

Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song) is my favorite song on this album. One year at Christmas time I was asked to sing this song in our church service.  Solo!!  I was scared, but the beautiful words got me through.

My favorite version ever of "The Little Drummer Boy" is on this album.  It is upbeat and very fun.  You can just picture that sweet little boy playing his drum for the sweet baby Jesus.

Charlotte Church plain and simple has the voice of an angel.  

Neil Diamond is just fun!! I love all the arrangements on here.

These last three albums belonged to my mom.  This is what we listened to while growing up! I think she got the first two from a Readers Digest special or something like that. 

 This was a set of several records.  It has a lot of the old fashioned Christmas carols, that I love.

I love the children's voices on this album.  The cover picture makes me giggle because if you look closely children it's the same four children over and over again.

Whenever I see this album I think...July.  I know that sounds weird, but my mom like to play this on hot July days. It is a fun instrumental album and just the thing to cool off!!

What Christmas music do you like??

Ice, Ice, Baby

Poor me!  I am a spoiled California girl!  Having spent most of my life here in sunny California I really haven't had much experience with ice.  However, the first year of our marriage we lived in Idaho!  It gets cold there in the winter, really, really cold!!  St. Anthony's Community Hospital was about seven blocks down the street from our cozy first home.  I was working as a nurse, graveyard shift.  When winter came I was mesmerized by the beauty of it all.  However, I had to learn how to drive in the snow and freezing cold weather.  One of the things to watch out for was black ice.  The ice isn't really black, rather it's transparent, so you can't see it on the road.  Even though my job was just down the street, because I went to work at 11pm, I drove back and forth.

I remember driving home, early one freezing morning on a quiet residential street when I encounter some black ice.  I tried to slow down and did a 360 degree turn in the middle of the street!!  Whee!!  I remember just sitting there, adrenaline pumping, heart racing, and grateful I was just on a wide quiet street and that I didn't hit anything or anyone.  Then I looked around to see if anyone saw me do such a crazy driving stunt.  I didn't see anyone and since I was headed the right direction, I drove the few blocks home.  Phew!!  How good to be home!!  I am grateful I don't have to deal with black ice where I live.  It's scary stuff.

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My Newest Find

This is my mother's passport when she came to America.

The passport is hard covered.

Of course being from Canada, it's in French and English.

Funny the picture in the passport is sideways!!

Luckily, I know how to flip it.  That is really her signature.

The markings on the bottom of the page on the right I found interesting.  The passport was issued in 1948 and there are notations from 1978.  They apparently have something to do with her Permanent Resident Status.  I'm not sure what was happening in 1978 or why a  change was made, or why it was necessary to make notations in a passport form 1948.  The paperwork has been sent in and I'm waiting to receive her immigration papers.  They should be very interesting.  I need to be patient though, I have heard it can take several months. 

Our Thanksgiving Trip

We drove down to San Diego to have Thanksgiving with John, Amy and little Aiden.  It was worth the drive!!  We had a great time!  We were surprised we didn't hit much traffic going down Wednesday morning. I think we made it in record time.  Which was great because we had more time to visit.  

Evan is a nephew magnet!  They are very attracted to him!!

Wednesday afternoon we visited the Mormon Battalion Memorial.  I had never been there before.  Actually I had never even been to Old Town San Diego before. 

RoseAnn (Amy's Sister), Amy, Aiden, John, Cindy, Mike and Evan at the Mormon Battalion

The memorial was awesome.  The display and video's were interesting to watch.  I liked how the portraits on the wall came to life.  You could really experience what it was like for these brave faithful men, women and little boy!

Evan at  Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

Ready, Aim, Fire!!

Mike and Cindy...but where are the horses???

A different way to ride.

A beautiful star of David on the Jewish Temple at Old Town

Evan practicing make bricks at the Mormon Battalion

That evening we meet my niece Jessie and her fiance Chad for dinner.  It was great to see her again, it had been 10 years.  Way to long.  She has grown up to be one very amazing woman.  I really admire her a lot!!  I was surprised to learn the company she works for, is the same company that raised money so that Evan and kids like him can get hand cycles.  Cool!!

Jessie and Cindy.  Isn't Jessie beautiful.

Thanksgiving day, we just hung out, played games, went for a nice walk to the park and of course ate a yummy turkey dinner.  Thank you, Amy!!

Aiden had fun with Grandpa!!

Aiden is an extremely happy baby!!

Friday we had a great visit with my brother Doug and his family.  I could kick myself I didn't get out my camera and take pictures.  Especially, since Doug was sporting a new beard.  We had fun catching up on all the exciting news about finding long lost family.

After our visit with Doug we headed to Katie, Brad and Kyle's house.  Saturday was Katie's birthday so we celebrated with her at Grandma and Grandpa Price's house.   Last few times we have visited Grandpa has surprised us, and stayed out and visited with us the whole time.  He used to get tired and go to the back bedroom to watch TV and nap. We always enjoy our visits with them. Our niece Tiffany came over too!!  I admire her a lot too.  She is busy working on a master degree, and needed a relaxing day!

Kyle and Grandma!!  He doesn't cuddle very long any more, too much to explore!!

See what I mean about a nephew magnet!!  It's the wheels!!

Grandma Price eating out of the ice cream carton.

Then sharing with Evan.  He didn't really want to be spoon fed, but how can one resist ice cream, especially if you are a Price??

The beautiful face of Tiffany!! 

Brad getting in a much deserved nap.  (p.s. Brad, Katie took the picture and Evan gave me permission to post this, I'm innocent!!!)

Katie Rose, 29 forever!!

Kyle found a cool little cubby!!  He even bypassed the cat food to get there!!

This is why little boys pants don't last long!! 

We headed home Saturday.  As fun as it is to see family, there is no place like home.  Now we are getting ready for a wonderful Christmas with all of our children home!!

Thanksgiving 2010

This Thanksgiving as in the past, my cup runneth over with blessings.  They are just too numerous to list.  So, I will share what I believe are my top two blessings this year.  

Number one, The Spirit of Elijah. 

In the Old Testament we read the following:

 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."  Malachi 4:5-6.

This Spirit of Elijah causes people to learn about those who came before and preserve their memories. Sometimes the Spirit of Elijah can help us get closer to those who are living.  I'm grateful for the opportunities I have had to search my family history and also to help others.  I'm especially grateful the Spirit of Elijah touched my brother Ron to search for information about his father.  That searching allowed me to be able to find family that was lost.  That is a priceless blessing.  

The second blessing is the The Holy Ghost.
  

This year as I needed comfort, guidance and direction, I felt the tender touch of the Holy Ghost in my life.  The Spirit helped me to know when to visit my mom , before her passing.  I was also given guidance with I was released from my Church service mission.  I just seem to feel closer to the Spirit this year, and it has been a wonderful blessing in my life.  I can feel the love of my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ all around me. 

Even though Thanksgiving is over, I am going to strive to have a attitude of gratitude for my blessings through out the whole year. I hope you do too!!

Giving Thanks

This week Slice of Life is all about expressing gratitude for someone who has done something for us.  Wow, that is hard one.  How to choose??  I have been the recipient of  many acts of kindness.  Picking just one is hard. Well here goes...

Thirty three years ago this Christmas Day an event happened that changed my life forever.  My husband's brother's family came to visit us for Christmas. We decided to attend church with them.  (we weren't members of any church, or even attended church, but I was interested)  Laurel, my sister-in-law asked me if I would mind having the missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints come to my home and share the Gospel with me. I readily accepted, and have never regretted the decision.  The Spirit was so strong in our home as those two young missionaries shared the gospel.  I often wonder what my life would be like if I had not joined the Church.  Would my marriage have survived?   I know that I wouldn't have four of my children.  I can't imagine life without them.  I'm so grateful that Laurel gave me that invitation on that Christmas Day and for her example of living the Gospel.  How does one say thank you??  While I don't consider my self a poet, I wrote a little heart felt poem.  Hopefully, that will convey my gratitude.

sisters,

not by blood,

but by spirit.

gospel shared,

truth accept.

new life begun.

my escort when,

forever family was created.

eternal thanks.

Thank you, Laurel, I love you!!