It's a Wonderful Life

We are blessed: Christmas in Tennessee and Christmas in Utah.

We had to let a few traditions go in Knoxville, but went with the most important: The Christmas Pageant, held early before we left on the 16th of December. We are so impressed with the participants. They get better and better every year. Trey took the part of the donkey for the first time this year. That’s a sign of his growing up. He turned 18 this month. Then we packed our suitcases and headed west.

Having never been away from home on Christmas, we flew out to Utah with a little apprehension, but our sons and their families made us feel like it was the most natural thing in the world to spend Christmas with them! We split our time between Lehi and Provo. At both homes we had our own private bedrooms, fantastic meals and more treats than we could count. Christmas stockings were even provided for us at both homes.

Here’s a rundown on our Christmas festivities in Utah—that accompany the pictures:

Seeing the lights and nativities on Temple Square
Going on the “Christmas Candlelight” Tour of This Is the Place Pioneer Village
Seeing Andrew in his school Christmas program
Attending the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and David Archuleta Christmas Concert at a special simulcast in the Tabernacle
Watching the Lehi grandsons while Joel and Jenica had a little two-day vacation
Touring Welfare Square with Joel and Jenica’s family
Watching the Provo grandsons while Brad and Susan went shopping and to the movies
Attending the Carl Bloch art exhibit at Brigham Young University
Enjoying two fresh snowfalls - one being at least 10 inches
Seeing the old Provo Tabernacle after the fire
Seeing Brad and Susan’s new home for the first time
Seeing new furnishing at Joel and Jenica’s home
Participating in a second Christmas Pageant with the Lehi and Provo grandsons who were also excellent participants
Christmas Eve dinner at J&J’s and Christmas Eve Advent at B&S’s
Watching the both families open their gifts Christmas morning
Christmas Day brunch and dinner at B&S’s
Many a night of getting all together either in Provo or Lehi with the families
Visiting other friends and relatives: Russ’s sisters and families, my brother Randy and his family, Cara, Will, and Lincoln (all are doing well after a very scary year), Sue and Ramon Sanft, lunching with Sue and Shahara, and visiting with DeeAnne (Barker) Higley after not seeing her for 40+ years.

We did get stuck overnight in Cincinnati on our return flight, but we had a great time and agree: “It’s a wonderful life”


View from "The Plaza" -----------------Posing after Andrew's Christmas program
at Temple Square ----------------------Both sets of grandparents


Touring Welfare Square in SLC with the Lehi Barbers (and Jonah's friend Jake)


Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

Temple Square Lights



Cara, Lincoln, and Will at their new home....................Sharlene with Sam and Andrew

Lehi Barber family and Provo Barber family touring the "Candlelight Christmas"

Christmas Pageant in Knoxville, TN

Christmas Pageant in Lehi, UT

Three things leading to Christmas........

(1)Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a month-long celebration of family and all that is good. Some of our Thanksgiving traditions were started long ago when as I child I went with my family to my Uncle Howard and Aunt Rae’s home for Thanksgiving every year. Uncles, Aunts, cousins, and our Grandma and Grandpa Brown would all be there, too. Our numbers usually reached 40+.

Some traditions that carry on are the basketball free-throw shoot out, with hard cash being the prize for the winner in all three categories: Woman, children, and men. To see pictures of the winners, go to Lisa’s blog. The other Brown tradition is the family talent show.





(2)"Fiddler on the Roof" and a trip to Market Square in downtown Knoxville. We went with Julie, Allen, Lisa, and David. We first browsed the open market shops and looked in on the ice skating in the center of Market Square. Next came a yummy dinner at Café 4. But the main event was the stage production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” We had great seats and the production was flawless.

Dinner at Cafe 4-----------------------By the lights on Market Square

(3)Empty-nesters Christmas dinner. We hosted and think it went well. Good times; good friends. After dinner, a rousing round of “White Elephant” gift exchange took place. And so now it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas---we had tiny little flakes of snow that gathered for a nano-second on our decking.

Snow (?) arrived the morning of December 7

And the winner is.................

ALLIE SEXTON has won the drawing for an item of her choice at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ammeandneb

Congratulations, Allie.

Thank you to everyone who left a comment---a thankful one, a funny one, a thoughtful one, a clever one. They were all great. And a big thank you to those who posted on your Facebook.

I'm grateful to all of you and hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving Day.

Allie with her cousin, Sam

It's your choice..........

All month, I’ve been reading blogs where people are talking about all the stuff they are thankful for. As I read, I admit, I get a little choked up and say to myself: “me, too.” I think of myself as a naturally grateful person. I don’t take anything for granted. My THANKFUL list is endless.

So I’m having a giveaway to show my gratitude for all my blessings. I think I’ve come up with a great giveaway and something a little unique.

Whoever wins this drawing gets to pick one item from my daughter, Lori's shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ammeandneb as their gift from me. Go to the shop and chose the item you’d like. Purchase it from the site and let me know what you’ve chosen. (The shop owner will let me know, too.) I will immediately put a check in the mail to you (or if I see you on a regular basis, I’ll give you cash). Items in that Etsy shop range in price from $5.00 to $39.00. So “it’s your choice.” If you don’t see anything there that you like, perhaps you’ll see something that would make a great Christmas gift to give this year. The drawing ends at 8 p.m. EST on Saturday, November 27.

To enter, please leave a comment. If you also mention this on your Facebook, your name will be entered twice. If I don’t have your address, please leave your e-mail address so I can communicate with you if you win. The check will be in the mail as soon as you’ve chosen your gift. Here's are some things the owner of the shop made for me:

Here are some cute pictures of the shop owner from her younger years:

Lori's older sisters were thrilled to have a baby sister after three brothers.

Always the center of attention

Days of California living

Photo-shoot for free

Will, baby Lincoln, and Cara

I've been thinking it's time for a giveaway and I'm still thinking about that. Meanwhile, my 'lil sis has one going on here: http://dahlquistphotography.blogspot.com/

I want to spread the word so one of you might be the recipient of her talent. If you don't live in Utah, you can use it as a gift for someone who does. Christmas is right around the corner.

The give away is for a one hour photo shoot and includes a quality CD with a minimum of 15 images. I've seen her work, and she is really good and works well with children.

Here's two really old pictures of Cara. She's not a mermaid, but I love this picture of her and Will in costume. The other picture was taken way back in 2004 when Cara was just 16 years old. She and my niece, Brandy came for a summer visit.

In mermaid costume--------In the Smokey Mountains with Russ, me, and Brandy

THIS and THAT

THIS is what we had for dinner tonight—straight from the garden. Fresh peppers, tomatoes, and zucchini stir fried with onions and garlic on top of hot brown rice. It was perfect. Hope we can keep the veggies producing a little longer.

Fresh from our garden

THAT is what I found in my rocking chair this morning. It’s the same rocking chair that I rocked all six of my own babies in, and now Afton (grandchild #18) rocks her baby doll. We decided we needed more one-on-one time with our youngest grandchildren in town, so when Lydia was just a one-year old, we started our “Tuesdays with Lydia.” (Coined the phrase from “Tuesdays with Morrie”) So naturally when Afton turned one, we started our weekly days with her. It’s heaven, a little bit of heaven on earth.

Afton rocks her baby doll

The hills are alive with color...........

I love Autumn! I used to think spring was my favorite season, but ever since moving to Tennessee many years ago, autumn (or fall) has jumped ahead in the line-up. For one thing, after 4 months of sweltering heat, it just feels extra good when the cool, crisp nights arrive. But it's really about the color. No where on earth is there more beauty than in Tennessee in the autumn. If you visit here in the autumn you might want to check out the Great Smokey Mountains. Here's a sampling of the colors in my neighborhood:

This is standing in my sideyard looking down the street.

Another view from the back yard-peering over the fence

Trees that belong to my neighbors ...........beautiful!

This is a close up of my Dogwood Tree.

Come visit us in the autumn and see the beauty for yourself. The hills are alive with color!