Christmas Day

Our big highlight was watching little grandbaby Charlie open his presents. He was really more interested in the wrapping paper and eating it, than he was in any toys. He got lots of cute toys and books and a walker. Also both great grandma's got him some Mickey Mouse clothes!

. . . and for the big kids we got Rock Band! This is Jerry, C.J. & Kyle rockin out! There's some pretty good old 70's rock songs on it. Chuck even got into it! You should have seem him rocking out to "Roxanne" and "Mississippi Queen" (I'm so tempted but he won't want me to put the picture of him on it) We were in our pj's almost all day. We just played and played. I must state here on our blog that I did beat Chuck at the Beatles version of Monopoly. I carried him when he couldn't pay rent after buying "Sgt Peppers Ave" (he bought it just cuz he knew I wanted it - that's my favorite Beatles song, and I owned the other 2 properties next to it! He went broke buying it, but bankrupted me soon after) I love Christmas Day!

Nine Ladies Dancing

Actually it was more than 9 ladies, but I have to write about the Chrisitan Dance Companies annual Christmas recital. They hold it every year at Mesa High, and we're just waiting for some anti-Christian to try to put a stop to it - there will be a fight to keep it. It is made up of girls (and one guy this year) from all different Christian religions, and is so incredible. The spirit of Christ and Christmas is so strong through the dance and music there. They go through His whole life beginning with his birth, and ending with an amazing rendition of "How Great Thou Art". It has become one of my holiday favorites! (see this link for a write up in our church magazine recently, my buddy Jill Adair wrote it!)
http://www.lds.org/Static%20Files/PDF/Magazines/NewEra/English/2008/NE_2008_12_11___02252_000_011.pdf

Christmas Past - First and Last

The year was 2002. We got invited to some foster family
Christmas parties where foster families got lots of presents for the whole family. It was nice, but we got way more than we needed. It's amazing to see how much the community helps out kids in need. They also had Santa which Kyle & Jenny got to meet. This was her first Christmas with us.






We also went down to Tucson on Christmas day to see Grandpa Brown in the hospital. It was such a special day. Grandma Brown was playing the piano in the cafeteria and some of the patients and their families had gathered around as we sang Christmas carols. One of my favorite things! I love it when Charlene does that! I will never forget that Christmas spending it with Dad Brown. He was/is such a special man. This was our last Christmas with him (here on earth) Special note: His parents, Granny & Papa both happened to be born on Christmas Day.

Village People!

No, not the YMCA kind. This is my village, it's tiny, but it's all mine! Thanks to Jared Arnett I now have mountains, and I'm displaying it in my armoire in the living room. There are some of my neighbors who have huge Christmas Villages and tomorrow night we are hopefully joining them on the neighborhood Village Walk. I went to see the Martin's today, and fell in love with their Norman Rockwell houses. They have actual scenes from his paintings in the windows. For years I have gone to the Bartels for "Village Therapy" - that's when you get a cup of eggnog, or hot chocolate, plop right on the floor infront of it and spend at least an hour just staring at it. I know I'm not alone in this, but I pick out which house I live in and which route I'll be walking to get to the carolers in the main square. (I know, it's a little creepy) Last year I got to see the Arnetts, it took up their entire family room. You gotta check it out on youtube. See "Arnett Christmas Village". I was kind of dreading setting mine up, but about 1/2 way through it was FUN! I know you have to have a bit of a God Complex to create these little worlds, but it's a great way to stay in touch with your inner child; escape real life "playing house" with good clean fantasy "village people"!

Anasazi Reminders

Last weekend we went to the annual Anasazi Fundraiser Dinner. It's the 4th year we've gone and it's always such a great event. This year we sat by Brian & Allison Trotter who have been our mentors in Anasazi (sorry the pix was from my phone) We were at the table next to Brooke White (who was in our ward growing up) She sang for it; "Let it Be" like she did on American Idol, and one she wrote "It's Gonna Change". It was moving! The next day was an Arbinger Seminar where we got to personally talk to Terry Warner, the founder. He reminded us of our "Way of Being", and how to do things with a heart of peace rather than a heart at war. Here is our Young Walker, Brandee with some friends at the skills expo. Kerri on the left was a trail walker. She's so awesome and is married and has a baby now. Susanne in the middle was on the trail with Brandee (dawnstar?) They were busting coals, like Brandee used to show us, and bongoing on drums. Even Kyle got into it! Great weekend!

The Iron Rod

We had a special FHE with guest appearance by Father Lehi.

All the Brown cousins came and Nana & Grandpa. We read through the scripture and then had the backyard set up with an iron rod, that lead to the white and delicious fruit (marshmellows). We had a great and spacious building on the slides. Those prideful people yelling to those at the rod even managed to get some to let go follow them. It was touching to see the ones at the rod tell them not to go, to come back and hang on. Afterwards we put our fruit into cups of hot chocolate and talked about what it means to hold to the rod. The little kids had great thoughts on it.

What a day and age we live in, where the mists are thick and the need to hold on greater than ever!