For the Christmas Card

Investing Tip

Investing for the future might need to be more practicle than ever thought. According to an email being sent around, folks should maybe think more about stocking up on canned goods and water than on hiding away gold or investing in stocks and bonds.

In advancing the email, Gordon Smith, had one more suggestion. "Add toilet paper to that list.  I never did like using the old Sears catalogues," he said.


I actually did not know what that catalogue was doing in the old outhouse I visited when I was little. I sat and looked at it and wondered where the toilet paper was. ;) Eventually, someone came and found me and then I knew what it was for. That was at an older lady's house, Grandma Kate Childs' home, where we were visiting for a holiday. She made really good cookies in her old coal stove's oven. YUM!

Hey, Do You Know?

Todd wrote: Do you know  Bill Craig or Maureen Waterman Craig From Price?

Myrna wrote: I'll ask Dad in the morning. He is asleep and I am doing news. I did know a Maureen Waterman and wonder if it could be the same one. They lived on Price hill going toward Huntington. Her mom was the best contralto Price had. She sang "You'll Never Walk Alone," in our college production of Carousel. She brought tears to the eyes of everyone.

Todd wrote: Maureen would be about your age. Elder Jones, in our ward said his great grandmother used to play the piano. Might be the same person then. Apparently, they now live up by the cemetery by the high school. Bill and Maureen that is.

Myrna wrote: The musician I remembered was named Blanche (sometimes spelled Blance, like in our yearbook the year she performed with us) Waterman. She also played the piano and accompanied our Messiah rendition. She also wrote: "Memories of Price," as Blanche Waterman. I can't quite remember, but I think her husband's name was Russell. They owned the Waterman Dairy south of Price, about one mile. I picked her up and delivered her back after a couple of our performances. I'll have to ask Cleda Richens what happened to her. She was 40 to my 20 so 71 plus 20 equals 91. She could still be alive.

Dad is still looking at my award-winning (for the illustrations) yearbook. What fun I had doing those and was so surprised to win an award. Those were some fun days. Of course, all my life has been so. Tim Trauntvein is also in that yearbook! Did I mention that was when we fell in love?

Todd wrote: Yes. I knew that part about the yearbook.

Myrna wrote: I think that the husband is dead. If this is the right man, and I am certain it is, his obituary was printed in part. "William John “Bill” Craig, beloved husband and father, on Monday, April 25, 2011, departed this mortal life, surrounded by his sweetheart and children. Bill was born on February 11, 1927 in Winter Quarters, UT to Willard Craig and Verda Rosella Willis. He married the love of his life, Maurine Waterman of Price, UT; on June 25, 1948 in the Salt Lake Temple. They have spent their 63 years of married life in Price, Utah raising their children. . .One of his joys was working in the Manti Temple, serving as an ordinance worker. He left a legacy of love, service, music, laughter and card playing."

Todd wrote: He is.

Inside the Christmas Book

I don’t like to write  “to and from “ in the front’s of books. What if I write in it and you already have that title? Then what? You can no longer exchange it for something you do not have. I do, however, want you to know that I love books. 

I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.  ~Anna Quindlen, "Enough Bookshelves," New York Times, 7 August 1991

Many people, other than the authors, contribute to the making of a book, from the first person who had the bright idea of alphabetic writing through the inventor of movable type to the lumberjacks who felled the trees that were pulped for its printing.  It is not customary to acknowledge the trees themselves, though their commitment is total.  ~Forsyth and Rada, Machine Learning

A good book on your shelf is a friend that turns its back on you and remains a friend.  ~Author Unknown

Christmas Enclosure

You are a gift from Heaven. We love and cherish you. We hope that you have a Christmas filled with joy and with love. 

Please use the enclosed $25 to buy something that you would like as a gift from us to you.

Always remember that you are loved dearly.

From Russia with Love or 007 Christmas

From Kenneth Anderson, Denmark

A RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS STORY - "FOR ALWAYS"

by Will Fish

In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools.  They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage.  About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage.  They relate the following story in their own words: "It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear-for the first time-the traditional story of Christmas.  We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.

Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger.  Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me.  No colored paper was available in the city.  Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw.  Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia, were used for the baby's blanket.  A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States.

The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help.  All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat--he looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger.

Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger.  Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at his completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately--until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger.

Then Misha started to ad lib.  He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay.  I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay.  Then Jesus told me I could stay with him.  But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift.  I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift.  So I asked Jesus, “If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?" And Jesus told me, "If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me."  "So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him---for always."

As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks.  Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed.  The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him--FOR ALWAYS.

Happy Holidays!

Howards in December Concerts

Concerts for December

December 3 Philharmonic (Megan and Kyle) 6:15

December 6 THS Choirs 7:30 pm

December 11 THS Band 7:30 (don't need to come to this if you can attend December 3, Kyle is most excited about making it into that)

Dec 18 Wasatch Choir and Band Concert at 6:00 pm - Matthew is in both

 

No word on the solos concert for Kyle and Alyssa with Hale Center theater.

 

AnnMarie

Eva Needs Michael's Address

Dear Myrna,

Is this Michael's newest adress?  

5951  Riverside Dr.   #158
Chino,  CA    91710

 I'm trying to get all of mly missionary Christmas Cards done so I can mail them early.  Some have a very long ways to go..

Have  good rest of the week.

Love,

Eva

Thanks for update about Dad

Mom,

Thanks for the update. I am glad that this will help him with his contacts and eye situation. I am glad that he was in a good mood after going so long without food...I know how his body reacts to fasting...I might not have been so happy. 

Glad that you survived that horrible traffic from Salt Lake to Provo. I don't know how Utah Valley commuters do that drive every day. 

I am so grateful that Julie can do things like making dinner for you. What a nice daughter she is. 

Love you also, 

Melanie

About Dad

That was one LONG day for both of us. The surgery was scheduled for 11 a.m. Just before we left home, they called and scheduled it for an hour and a half later. We still waited and waited. They finally took Dad in at 3 p.m. By the time all was said and done, we did not leave there until dusk. I got to drive home in the dark. :) (You all know how I love that.) But it was not bad. Poor Dad, he had gone without food since 7 p.m. the night before. Thanks to Julie, we came home to roast and brown rice which she had cooked and left in the oven for us. I tried to get Dad to eat a banana on the way but he did not feel like it. (WHAT?? You know how he loves slightly green bananas. He must feel really lousy.)

When I say it was a long day for both of us, that is because I had to impatiently (I was the impatient one, not Dad.) wait with Dad. I was perched on a little doctor's stool. They took us back to the prep room not long after we got there and got Dad ready. Then we waited and waited and waited. Of course, if it had been Dad who was the person needing the extra time we would have been thankful that the doctor gave him the time so we tried to be cheerful.

Dad looks pretty good, considering that they cut out a chunk of his eyelids. They also tightened the muscle that holds the eyes open. He has wide, wide eyes now, even though they are both black. The doctor said that by morning we can expect them to be swollen shut so, for a few more days, no one will be able to see how wide and nice they are. He has to sleep either in a recliner or on top of three pillows. He gets to wear an ice bag over his eyes for the next couple of days off and on. He gets to take extra-strength Tylenol for the next couple of days, as well. I was feeling really sorry for him until they wheeled another patient into the same discharge room we were in. It is sort of a little good-bye room with recliners that they have the patient sit in until they have their sea legs and while the spouse (or whatever) goes to get the car. The woman's whole lower jaw was swathed in an elastic-style brace/bandage and she was complaining about extreme pain. I still feel sorry for Dad, of course, but I am glad he was not in that situation. UGH!

In six weeks we go back to the doctor. And, hopefully, that should be that.

Dad's RN was a person that Auntie Helen had trained in nursing. Her maiden name was Anderson. Her first name was Alys (said Alice). She was so happy to wait on a relative of Auntie's that we got the royal treatment. She was the nurse who got him ready for the surgery and who kept tabs on him while we waited and waited. (The Primary song: "Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked and Walked and Walked" made me think of Dad. "LHT joked as he waited and waited and waited. . .")

I am just thankful that, even though I drove through the rush hour traffic of Salt Lake City, I got us home in one piece and that I did not make any driving mistakes. When they remodeled the freeway, they should have added a fifth and sixth lane I am thinking. We did the bumper to bumper traffic on the way to Provo and I was in the HOV lane. What does that tell you? At least I didn't have to worry about speeding. 

I just gave Dad his last meds of the day and fixed his ice pack so he is tucked in for the night (or until the ice melts). I am heading to bed myself. 

We love you all.