PHS Christmas

The PHS Marketing/Business Development department had our annual Christmas party on Dec. 14th at Stoney River Legendary Steakhouse. Steve and I have talked about going there, but it's a little pricey, so we've never made it. It was nice to go with my PHS friends on the company's dime!

(Top Row: #1 Skip Gardei & George Parsons. #2 Briana Lutes & Me. #3 Skip Gardei & Jon Walker. 2nd Row: #1 Scott McDaniel, Briana Lutes, Doug Devlin, Lauren Balmer.  #3 Cheryl Long & Lea Matthews. 3rd Row: #1 Our legendary steak dinner! #2 Holly Rawnsley, Melanie Taylor, Rose Laycox. #3 Pat Booker & Janet Vogelaar. Not pictured: Michael Miller & Wendy Baker)

The evening included a delicious steak dinner and an array of desserts, and a game of "Dirty Santa" where you exchange 'white elephant' gifts, and then can steal from your neighbor, etc. It was very interesting! I received a set of wine glasses, a bottle of wine, and an adult card game. Was I ever happy when it was stolen! So then I ended up with a little stuffed, dancing puppy with ears that wiggled and danced to Christmas music. MUCH more my style!

This a great group of people, and I spend a good portion of my days and years with them, so it's good to love my work, and enjoy the folks I work with.

And as a parting gift, they gave everyone a $20 gift card for the next visit, so Steve and I might make it there yet!  :o)

Then yesterday we had departmental open houses on all 4 floors of the building. We had refreshments, music, and tours of each floor so people could meet everyone, get a layout of where everyone "lives," and enjoy some holiday cheer! Part of that activity was a "TACKY Sweater Contest," and I actually WON the contest, and a $50 Gift card to Macy's!  Not a bad return on a $6 sweater bought at a thrift store! (Not to mention the flashing necklace I was wearing with it -- you can't see very well in the photo...) They said they were giving us Macy's so we could buy something 'not so tacky.' hahaha (fun)



Prize Winning "TACKY Sweater!"



Christmas Music Weekend

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...!"
Truly, I love the music of Christmas! I love to sing it around the house, in the car, it's in my mind throughout the day, and I also like to sing it for other folks! This weekend has been a wonderful opportunity to do just that.

With my ole' pal, Jerry Bridges -- who I've known since we moved here in 1988, and sung with, and done many projects with over the years -- we did a couple of fun music shows this weekend. First, through a contact who heard me sing for the Republican Women of Williamson County, they asked us to sing at their church Christmas dinner party. It was at the Richland Country Club, and what a fantastic place that is! SO beautiful, and decorated perfectly for the season.



Jerry Bridges and I at Richland Country Club

We sang a variety of Christmas songs off our CD, and Jerry did a medley of some of the big hits he played on, wrote, and/or produced ("Puppy Love" by Donny Osmond, "More Than I Can Say," "Good Ole' Boys" by Waylon, "Luchenbach" by Waylon & Willie, etc.) Those were fun to sing, too!

We also sang a new gospel song Jerry wrote, called
"Greater Hands" -- the chorus goes like this:
     Greater hands, stronger hands
     Help me do the best I can
     When I'm to weary to understand
     I put my faith...in greater hands.
(It's under consideration for recording by both Martina McBride and Reba McEntire!)

The next night we did basically the same program for Jerry's congregation at Berry's Chapel Church of Christ, and they were also a delightful audience!



Jerry and I at Berry's Chapel

Such fun to sing with Jerry again. We haven't done it much in recent years, and it was great to be back at it. We were even talking about recording another project soon, so...we'll have to see!

Then tonight, I'm singing at our Ward Christmas party, and tomorrow night our stake is providing the "angel choir" for the Live Nativity presentation involving multi-denominational musicians and people acting out the people in the nativity. Should be fun!

Fa-la-la-la-la!

Wonderful Life, Wonderful Cause

Today we went to a showing of "It's A Wonderful Life" on the big screen at Belcourt Theater in Nashville. This movie presentation is sponsored by the Wonderful Life Foundation, which was started 5 years ago here in Nashville by Robbie and Angie Cook when their 2 1/2 year old son was diagnosed with a brain tumor and began a 5-year (so far) journey of chemotherapy and survival.

When they realized the costs involved in this process, and met many other families going through the same challenges, they began the foundation to help earn money to help with medical expenses and provide Christmases and support for these struggling families. They host the movie at the theater, then throw a big party with fabulous food and music at their Nashville home, and invite attendees to contribute anything they can, small amounts or large. The entire event is provided by sponsors and personal donations, so that ALL the money donated at the event goes to the families.


Steve and I at the "after party" at the Cook's home with Becky
Pinney, Diane & Jesse Hubling, and Barbara (Becky's sister)


My friend, Becky Pinney, introduced us to this favorite movie opportunity in 2008, and we enjoyed it so much we went again this year. It feels great to celebrate the wonderful life we live by giving to others who have overwhelming challenges, and makes us even more grateful for the healthy children in our lives.

After we left the party, we went to dinner at Sportsman's Grill, and had a delicious dinner, visited, talked, laughed and just had a wonderful evening.

The fact that this just happens to be my favorite movie, shown at my favorite time of year, and it allows an opportunity to spend time with some of my favorite people --  is all an added bonus!

NOTE: Robbie & Angie Cook own "Knobstoppers," a hugely popular company that makes wine bottle stoppers, candles and decor out of old vintage doorknobs. They are really cool looking!

The after party at their home showcased their whole house decorated with this cool stuff. The chandeliers  and other lighting are made from old spoons, serving trays, old-fashioned key panels....SO COOL looking! They had their living room wall decorated with vintage silver trays of all shapes and sizes.

And they just started doing pastry paper/doilie things, and linens, and all kinds of kitchen-type magnets, magnetic boards. Just some really cool stuff. And some of the proceeds from their business also benefit the Wonderful Life Foundation, so besides the COOL-factor, it' a great reason to support their efforts.

Check out their websites:
http://www.knobstoppers.com/
http://www.cakevintage.com/

Indoor Soccer

When Sam said he wanted to play Indoor Soccer for the first time a few weeks ago, all I really had to hear was "indoor..." because the weather was so cold at the last outdoor soccer games, that was all that mattered!

But there are several differences between outdoor and indoor soccer -- the main one being that they don't stop the game or the clock for anything! You score, you keep running, you can touch the walls of the arena, the ball is still 'live' even if it goes out of bounds and touches the walls. You just keep playing! It's very intense, and fun to watch. They play a 30 minute game, take a 30 minute break, then play another 30 minute game against the same team.

Today's games were both very good, exciting, intense, and fun to watch! Sam's team won both of them in the last couple of minutes of the games, and the parents were going wild in the stands. Soccer at it's finest!

Thanks, Sally

Yesterday, I sang in our ward's Sacrament Meeting. I did a song called, "Shepherd of My Soul," by Sally DeFord (Susie Kartchner accompanied me...again). The song is beautiful; the lyrics are so tender, and so meaningful. Every time I sing it, it touches my own heart, and many listeners express their appreciation. The lyrics are below...

Who is this Jesus -- whose voice the winds obey?
What manner of Man is this?
Who, with a word, can calm the angry seas
Or still the tempest in my breast?

Who is this Man -- who opens sightless eyes
And gives my longing spirit light?
At whose command the multitude is fed?
Who fills me with the bread of life?

   He is my Shepherd; he calls me by His name
   And bids me rest safe within His fold.
   And I will stand as witness of His everlasting love
   My Lord, my God; the Shepherd of my soul.

Who is this Jesus -- the world has set at naught?
This Healer whose pow’r I know?
At whose command the lame rise up and walk?
Whose mighty hand has made me whole?

Who is this Man -- who seeks me when I stray?
Who hears my every anguished cry?
Who bears my grief, who suffers all my pain
And returns to me unmeasured joy?

   He is my Shepherd; he calls me by my name
   And bids me rest safe within His fold.
   And I will stand as witness of His everlasting love
   My Lord, my God; the Shepherd of my soul.

Thank you, Sally.

Sentimental Ole' You

I just love spending time over Thanksgiving weekend putting up our Christmas decorations. I love putting our traditional ornaments on the tree. We add something new every year.

We have special ornaments from when I worked the Olympics in 2002, from when we went to Cirque de Soleil last year, one of the Nashville Temple dedicated in 2000, one we made last year from pieces of my parents quilt on their Golden Anniversary, and one from DisneyWorld in 2006, one from the Virgin Islands when Steve and I went there in 1998 with Ambest...the list goes on and on. Not to mention the many, many ornaments that have pictures of the kids over the years, or things they have made. And Steve and I made clothespin reindeer for one of our very first Christmas trees right after we were married, those are on there too. And...my mom gave me the metal twirly icicles I used to love putting on our tree as a little girl. I love putting those on there each year now, too! I enjoy every memory as we hang it, and look at it over and over again for the next few weeks!

I just love putting on my favorite Christmas music (Ronnie Milsap, the Carpenters Christmas Portrait, Barry Manilow, Perry Como, Manheim Steamroller, Andy Williams, Martina McBride, Bing Crosby, Liberace, Michael Buble' -- we have a million!) and letting music fill the house as we decorate. 

And we all help put up my angel collection, and set up my "It's A Wonderful Life" village, and put garland and decorations on the stairway & mantle, and decorate outside...it's just so festive!

My favorite Christmas movie (well, my favorite movie of all time), "It's A Wonderful Life" is all over my house at Christmas. We have the book, several ornaments, and of course, the huge village made up of buildings, trees, cars, snow, and trees. Because, as we all know, it really is a Wonderful Life!!

Thankful

I am so thankful.

We have been blessed with such bounty, good health, hearts full of love for family and friends, the gospel to guide us and fulfill us, work that provides for our needs, and freedom to enjoy it all. We are blessed.

Randi and her boys came over for a couple of days for Thanksgiving, and we had a great time! While the miles separate us from the rest of our family, we are grateful for technology that lets us talk to them, and blog photos and updates for them! So here goes...



Play time!



Being Together

Sam & Andrew made cookies (ok, from frozen
cookie dough, is that a problem?)
They were delicious, and gone in a flash!



Grayson Chillin'



Thanksgiving Feast!



Precious Bryson loves his mama!



We were SUPPOSED to be watching "Elf..."
but it turned into a free-for-all wrestling match!



The knock down, drag out battle that ensued during "Elf..."



Happy Thanksgiving to all! 

Piano Man

Sam LOVES to play piano! We LOVE that he LOVES to play piano!

Last Sunday afternoon, he was doodling on piano, just playing some songs he was working on for his lessons, and also decided he wanted to "write another song." So we printed off some staff paper from on-line, and he's in the process of composing another work of art. (His teacher says they're actually very good!)

When he was on a break from that, I sat down and started playing and singing "Jesus Once Was a Little Child," in the most plain, simple, by-ear version you can play, with a very basic 1-2-3 chord left hand accompaniment. Not sure when or where I learned that, but it came out like I have known it for years, so I must have.

So after playing it a few times, I asked Sam if he wanted to learn the left hand. Of course, he said, "Sure!" So after working on it together for about 20-30 minutes, he could play it perfectly! It was so fun to play as a duet, which we did several times.

I just LOVE that he LOVES piano!

Tennessee Family

We have been the "black sheep" of our families for the past 22 years, having moved away from home with the intent of returning after a 'few' years -- I guess we just didn't really define 'few.'  As it turns out, this has become HOME, and we love it in Franklin! I don't see us ever returning to Utah long-term.

Part of what makes Tennessee so FAB is that we have some dear friends who we spend lots of time with, including the Bennetts (Gordon, Michelle, Hannah & Spencer), and the Thomas' (Ed, Connie, Bret & Beth).

We get together every chance we get, and enjoy good food, good times, good conversation and good company. Since some folks are travelling for the holiday, we shared a little "pre-Thanksgiving" get-together last weekend. Thank heaven I did not provide photo documentation of the decadent desserts Michelle made: carrot cake to die for, brownies, AND cheesecake -- wait, I thought she was my FRIEND!

Our friends have become our Tennessee family, and we are truly blessed!

Stitched With Love

Steve, "POPS,"  has made a cute cross-stitch for all five grandsons, with their "vitals" including date of birth, weight, etc. They have varied in detail, colors and theme, but all have hours and hours of love poured into them, and will hopefully be a keepsake the kids will have forever.

He finished the one for grandson #5, Bryson, a few weeks ago, and we finally got it framed and gave it to him a couple of weeks ago.

SO CUTE!!

LoLo's 2nd Birthday

Hard to believe that grandson #3, Cielo (LoLo is what Andrew calls him, so it's what we all call him) is already 2 years old! We had a little mini party for him on his birthday, November 13th, that included fun presents and Chuck E. Cheese!! A good time was had by all...(what is it about chaos, over-stimulation and mediocre pizza that kids love so much?!)  :o)

Happy Birthday, LoLo!! We Love You!

Autumn Splendor

PHS is having our Christmas luncheon at Belmont University in Nashville this year. A couple of us were at a meeting there last week looking at the space, and reviewing the menus; as we came out different doors from where we had entered, these GORGEOUS trees greeted us. They were absolutely breathtaking! They were just as bright and vivid and beautiful as the photos show them to be.

God truly does bless us with great beauty to enjoy and appreciate!

Saving Face

So, Sam (10 years old) thinks he needs an e-mail address, a phone, a laptop, and a Facebook account! Obviously, we do not agree on any of the above. But those are the things on his Christmas list anyway, and he was telling me the other night that "when" he gets his Facebook account, he knows exactly what he's going to use for his profile picture.

HA! What a cutie...