Quick Update

I had originally thought of posting a new favorite thing of Christmas each week.  That was before I left TN for my vacation home and discovered my schedule is pretty full most every day and I have very little desire to post anything when I am out having fun with all my family and friends!  So... let us leave it at this: I love Christmas more than any other season.  All of it!  The good.  The bad.  The sometimes ugly, the always pretty, the wonderful smells and home-baked goodies, then sounds and smiles and cheer.  The sorrow that is lifted by strangers (saw a woman who had been in an accident the other day crying and being comforted by another woman, likely strangers given the time frame involved), and even the hectic hustle and bustle as we try to give to those we love and cherish gifts that speak to a small degree of those feelings.  Christmas, to me, is simply the best holiday.

What have I done since being on vacation?   Well... here is the recap to date, starting on the 17th.

Tuesday, all day flying.  Arrived in Utah where my Dad picked me up, shuttled me home and after a brief moment or two off I went to see Tyler's Jr. High Christmas Choir program followed by a visit with Loren and Kari before heading to the hotel to get some much needed sleep.

Wednesday, Rachel's school Christmas program was followed by lunch with Loren and then some time to shop before heading to Kamryn's dance recital.

Thursday, Maddy and Jack's school Christmas program through the wonderful snow storm that decided to make this Christmas more memorable for me.  More shopping followed by a quick dash back to Lehi for Kamryn's Christmas program.  Dinner with Mom and Dad and then back to the hotel for sleep.

Friday, lunch with Mike and Dad in SLC, babysitting Rebecca and Karsyn followed by dinner with Mom and Dad and some shopping mixed in-between.

Saturday, movie day with the family!  We started with Jack and Maddy's basket ball games, brunch and then the movie Frozen in Lehi.  Everyone who was in Utah was there (first time that has happened)!  I wish Sean and Linzy and their family could have been there with us as well but it was great to have everyone present.  Here is a quick list: G-Ma and G-Pa loveridge, Mom and Dad, Bill and his whole family, Mike and his whole family, Tonya and her whole family, Heather, Leslie, Me, and Cynthia with her family (co-worker of Mom's who graciously accepted the tickets when Loren's family couldn't make it).  All in all there were around 23 of us filling 24 seats (sometimes the floor).  I know the people in front of our row were maybe a little put out by us all... but to see almost our entire family there was special.  Even if there was a complete fiasco at the start with the tickets (long story short they goofed, they apologized, we got 24 free tickets for the future, some free popcorn and drinks, and in the end enjoyed the movie all the same).  Dinner at Bill's wrapped up this very busy day!

Sunday, Church and a quiet evening with Mom and Dad followed by a card game with Loren and Kari and their kids before heading back to the hotel.

Monday, more shopping in the morning.  I helped make some snowmen and went to The Hobbit with Mom and Dad then spent more time shopping afterwards.

Tuesday, Frozen with the Shirks, my last little bit of shopping followed by dinner at Bill and Steph's and enjoying some of their Christmas traditions.  Finished this day with wrapping the gifts I had bought this past week and watching a Christmas Carol with Mom and Dad. 

So, here I sit in my hotel room after a very busy week preparing for Christmas day.  It is now just past 11:15 PM and I am ready for some sleep so I will wrap this post up.  The rest of my trip is quickly filling up and I am beginning to realize that while 2 weeks is a decent vacation... it would be much nicer to live closer and be able to enjoy the company of my friends and family on a more regular basis.   I am grateful to them all for letting me share this holiday season with them and if I went a little overboard in some areas...  you are all worth every bit of it.  And more.

Merry Christmas to all of my Family and Friends. 

Tis The Season

Now that Thanksgiving is done and December is approaching the midway point I can blog about what is my favorite holiday of all.  There are many things about Christmas that make the holiday special to me.  The focus of this post will be on music.

I love Christmas music.  Not the silly ones we would sing as kids like "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" or "Here comes Santa Clause".  No, the Christmas songs that I love are the more "traditional" songs.  Songs like "Silent Night", "Little Drummer Boy" and "Oh Come All Ye Faithful".

It seems that, at this time of year, more people try to be nice.  More people try to lend a helping hand.  More people turn their thoughts to feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and spending time with family and loved ones.  Why is that?  What is it that can take a society and shift its values, even if only for a few weeks?  I believe it has to do with the music.  No other Holiday is so tied to music.  Certainly there are patriotic songs around the 4th of July or some love songs around Valentines Day (hate this holiday by the way) but these are nowhere near as openly played or enjoyed.  Is it any wonder that, after listening to music that encourages people to contemplate the birth of the Savior, people are... well... nicer?

And so, if you are struggling to find a little Christmas Cheer, feeling down or a little "off" this year... try listening to the music.  The REAL music of Christmas.  Listen to the messages inside, feel the spirit that will follow, and let your focus shift. 

I really do love Christmas Music.


If I can figure out how to do it, I will get a music player gadget attached and load some of my favorite songs on it.