In addition to the Christmas Box

In addition to the Christmas box you will each receive from Dad and I, as usual, I have sent a book and a DVD via Amazon. The two items will not be gift wrapped. I think you may just want to put the packing box under the tree as is. Sorry about that. I did not want to pay them $3 each to wrap. The other things I am sending from here will be gift wrapped.

Melanie and Amy, should I send you the $25 for your Elders or should I send the cash to them? Is there something you would rather I would get for them? I do have a decoration and a couple of small things I am sending. Please let me know. You can even facebook me if you would like.

By the way, I left a period out of the Christmas letter. Have a laugh. I even ran the thing through Grammar Check and Gramps and neither caught it. UGH. I certainly must be Navaho, because I always have an error in everything I do. Of course, they make their error on purpose so as to not challenge the Great Spirit. I just do it accidentally. :(

Melanie wrote: Mom, 

I think that a little cash for them is always good. Ben's dinner appointment fell through the other day, so they were "forced" to choose fast food as an option in between their appointments. I sent Ben a small tree that he can use to put ornaments on. I am sure he will love what you send. 

I can't think of anything that he needs. Other family members have asked me, and I have told them what he requested, and they are helping out by sending those things to him. 

Thank you Mom. 

Merry Christmas, 

Mel

From Myrna: What things did Ben request?

From Melanie: Socks, pens, stamps, money. 

From Myrna: Socks, what size and color. They can go with the money.

From Melanie: Black socks. Calf high. Plain. He prefers the athletic style, as his feet are often sweaty. He wears a size 10 1/2 - 11 shoe. Thanks! Mel

From Amy G: Feel free to just send the $25 to Michael.  I'm sure he could use it.  At this time, could you send it to his new address?  Here it is:

Elder Michael Trauntvein

202 Matthews St.

Los Angeles CA, 90033

Thanks! Amy

From Amy G: Actually scratch that.  I just found out that his new address is not a complete address.  It needs either a North Or South to it.  So, just send it to the Mission Office and mark the envelope/box that it's for Christmas.  As long as they get it by the 14th, (which they should since you live in Utah) he will get it in time for Christmas.  The mission home address is:

Elder Michael Trauntvein

170  W Duarte Rd

Arcadia Ca 91007


Myrna wrote: I forgot to buy the socks when we were in Provo, so I sent his Christmas package and will send the socks later. Sorry about that. Nobody in Nephi has anything but white athletic socks or colored ankle socks. Drats. The fun of living in the sticks. :)

To Eva

I think that Tim/Leonard is doing well. He is healing nicely and the bruising is all gone now. I cannot believe how little time it took. He looked like an owl with his eyes rimmed in black for a couple of days and then it just started fading away. It is just two weeks on Monday since he had the surgery and he looks just like a regular human now. He can wear his contacts again and they are staying put so, I suppose, it was all worth it. We hope and pray that Richard's doctors will find the best treatment for him so that he can be healed. He certainly has had a struggle.

Myrna's Tooth

Myrna wrote: Do you remember the tooth I had pulled, fixed and put back? I went to get my teeth cleaned this a.m. and the one root of that tooth is being reabsorbed by my body. I suppose the best thing to do would be to have it pulled. I don't want to do that here, so I would like to have Jared do it when we come to visit. Probably not when you have your surgery but at some point. It is OK and is not bothering me. It was only tender when they stuck the probe into it. It is like 9 centimeters. It likely won't bother me anytime soon, but there is some slight infection there. Dr. Peterson did not give me an antibiotic because he said it really would only clear it up for it to come back. It is a low-grade infection. He said there is no rush, it will not blow up in the next six months.

Kirsten wrote: I think he'd be fine to take care of it while you're here for my surgery.  It shouldn't be that big of a deal.  Though you'd need to be on an antibiotic for a few days first.

This was written, entirely, by Regina Kelly.

MARY SPEAKS

Blow gently, wind, do not disturb the hay,

Sing to my Son a zephyr roundelay.

Come softly, softly as the dark night, sheep,

For here your gentle Shepherd lies asleep.

Blow gently, wind,

Come softly, sheep,

My Son, my God,

Here lies asleep.

Stand closer, child, stand closer to your Lord,

For this is He for whom the Jews implored;

For this is He whom all the ages seek,

A gentle King, this Babe who lies asleep.

Stand closer, child,

Come softly, sheep,

My Son, my God,

Here lies asleep.

By Regina Kelly

The word Christmas is a contraction of Christ's Mass, derived from the Old English and referring to the religious ceremony of mass. It is often abbreviated Xmas, probably because X or Xt have often been

used as a contraction for Christ. The English letter X resembles the Greek letter X (chi), the first letter of Christ in Greek transliterated as [Christos]). Xmas is pronounced the same as Christmas.

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!