"Purse"onality

A few months ago I was on a "girls night out" with a few friends when I noticed the cute purse my friend Adrienne had. When I commented on it she told us that she had made it herself. I knew right then I had to make a cute purse too. So I made four of them for Christmas gifts. Here are pictures of three of them. They are so much fun to make (and easy too). Now I just need to make one....or two for me.

We Had Room In Our Inn

It has been a wonderful two days for me as we've spent Christmas with our family. Christmas Eve was spent with our children and grandchildren (although we missed Jeremy, Emily, and Mason). We enjoyed a dinner together and then Christmas crackers (they are not for eating) which is an English tradition. The little boys and Caitlin all had new jammies to open and they put them on immediately. We played a game; and throughout the evening Adam and Zach with the help of Grandpa Bear kept checking the Santa tracker to see how Santas busy night was progressing. After everyone went home the three of us that live here on the homefront took a drive up to Temple View Drive. All of the homes on that street which surrounds the Bountiful Temple, displayed lighted murals of the events leading up to the birth of the Saviour. We then drove over to the cemetery so that we could spend a moment with Ashleigh. This is the first Christmas morning that our boys and their families didn't come over first thing. But we looked forward to having a nice afternoon with them. Our extended family gathered at G'pa and G'mas where we enjoyed one of G'mas wonderful Christmas breakfasts. Tim and Margie's family drove in from a snowstorm in the north, while Archie and JuLee's family came late due to a snowstorm in the south end of the valley. G'pa shared some tender thoughts with us before we opened gifts. I am so grateful for my siblings and their families, I love each and everyone of them and am so glad our family is eternal. We enjoyed a late afternoon with our children and grandchildren. Jeff, Melissa, and Avery were still here when the storm finally reached our neck of the woods. They had to be back here first thing in the morning, so they decided to spend the night at our house. I'm glad we had room in our inn.

I didn't take one picture all of Christmas day, but this morning I took this picture of little Miss Avery while I enjoyed my first time babysitting her while Mommy, Daddy, and Aunt Caitlin fulfilled a commitment at Leger's Deli. Isn't she beautiful!!

The Story Of The Family Christmas Party

Once upon a time; but not so very long ago nor so very far away, there was a little girl who loved her family. Many of the little girls relatives lived in other kingdoms and some in distant lands. Sometimes aunts, uncles, and cousins would come to visit from afar and she was so happy to see them; but when it was time for them to leave she would cry, because she would miss them. As the little girl grew older and Christmastime came, all of her friends would excitedly talk about their family Christmas parties. She wished that she had a family Christmas party, but remember, most of her family lived in lands and kingdoms far away. As the little girl became a young wife and a mother, even her grown up friends talked about their family Christmas parties. One day the little girl decided she was going to start her own family Christmas party, even if it might be very small. Now the little girl is a Grandma; she still loves her family, and she still cries when she has to say goodbye to relatives from lands far away, but now she has a Christmas party to share with the ones she loves, and an interesting thing happens with families; they grow, and 23 parties later it isn't small at all....

Merry Christmas

My Computer Is Sick

I'm sad to announce that my computer is seriously ill. We've been in denial about it for quite some time, but the truth is now screaming in our faces each time we sit down to do homework, e-mail, blog, and attempt to get to the files where the Christmas party invite is being stored. As soon as I retrieve the party invitaton I will carefully remove all wiring connecting the computer to my home, then I will take it to the computer hospital. I don't know how long the stay will be, hopefully (but doubtfully) it could be out patient surgery. Whatever the outcome, we just want our computer healthy and back in our home where it belongs. I don't know when I'll be back in blogland, I'll take one last glimpse at your blogs before I shut down. Alhough I won't be able to check immediately, any "get well" wishes in the comment section would be greatly appreciated.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...Starting With Nativties

Several years ago I started collecting nativities. I'm not even sure how it all got started, but I now have about thirty nativities. A relatively small collection compared to most, but big enough for me. They range in size from Christmas tree ornaments to the complete Willow Tree nativity; I even have a few that are child friendly, including the Fisher Price nativity. I thought that I would share just a few of the ones that I'm displaying this year.

I made this wall hanging about ten years ago. Amongst all of the random pieces of fabric are significant ones that represent my husband and I and each of our five children. Joseph's robe is a remnant of the lining of my first Christmas costume while singing with the Echoes of the Heart; the Baby Jesus' swaddling clothes are the bottoms of Andy's white pants that he took into the mission field ( you know the ones you buy that aren't hemmed and you cut them to the right length and hem them?); the halo above the baby's head is a gold ring that my mother-in-law gave to Ashleigh on her first Christmas in 1987; the shepherds robe is from my favorite pair of Baby Gap overalls that Caitlin wore as a toddler; the shepherds scarf is a piece from Jeffrey's tie; and the ears and faces of the sheep and a couple of the hearts are lining from Michael's and Jeremy's ties. I bought this Precious Moment nativity in 1991; our first Christmas without Ashleigh. I displayed it on her bedroom dresser and then I closed the door and walked away. Everyone needs a magnetic nativity on their fridge. FYI: my fridge is not blue.
This nativity is made from miniature clay pots. One of these years I'm going to make these for the Family Christmas Party.



One of my children gave me this kit as a gift and I crossed stitched it one holiday season. The cute little wood nativity was a boutique find that I couldn't pass up.


I bought these pillows at a boutique a few years ago and I loved them so much that I searched high and low for the pattern. When I finally found it I made a couple of sets and several individual pillows of the Holy Family as gifts. I recently discovered that I have a few of these unfinished in my craft supply, so you never know when I might show up at someones home with a gift (but please don't hold your breath this year).This nativity was knitted by a mother and daughter who lived in my parents mission in England.My Willow Tree nativity that was completed with the purchase of the creche last year (with my spare change).