A Different Christmas

Believe it or not, this is the first Christmas LHT and I have spent alone since we were married. It was fine. We opened presents, had a nice visit by the tree, ate a great breakfast, had a left-over Christmas Eve dinner and watched "Emma" on DVD. Dad built a roaring fire so we were nice and toasty while we watched the show. Dad spent a couple of hours during the day moving snow for everyone in the neighborhood and a few more in other neighborhoods. He wore his new Santa hat for the occasion. (I had a nice puttery day and got to visit with those who called.) We gave Koda his Christmas presents and his Christmas dinner prior to settling down to watch the television.

Earlier in the day we called Shawn and family and told them to cancel their plans, not come to Nephi and stay home. We also told Jim and Julie to stay home. When we watched the news we were glad that we had. It is better to be apart and be alive than to be together attending a funeral. Yes, all of the roads were terrible. It snowed and snowed in Nephi. I am not certain it ever stopped. Maybe for a brief moment here and there.

Oh, Holy Night!

Gordon Smith wrote: 
This is very beautiful. 

Oh Holy Night Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2008
23:56:15 -0700 
Josh Groban singing Oh Holy Night. On the video, Jesus is born, the star is
shining, the wise men come, etc.You will enjoy it. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_ypUnnqr8Y 
(Copy and paste into your browser box.)

Kimberly wrote: Mary looks like the girl from Whale Rider, is she?

Happy Christmas Eve!

It was a merry Christmas Eve at our house. Thanks to all of you for making my birthday special. I love all of you! 

Merry Christmas from Gordon and Roberta

Dear Myrna, Leonard and Family,

Loved your family letter.  Your family is certainly scattered.  The good thing is it gives you some place to go!

This last year has been a good one, just flew by too fast.

We truly appreciate your letters, notes of information, etc. that you so willingly send on and share.

We used the words from the hymn "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Henry Wordsworth Longfellow at our family Christmas party on Sunday.  They seem so appropriate, yet written so long ago...like the scriptures!

We wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a New Year of peace and joy.

Thank you again for all the info you send this way.

Love, Gordon and Roberta

I Worry!

From: Myrna

I sent individual cards with money inside to each of the children and to each of you adults. I also sent individual cards to the kids with $1 inside for a treat. I sent a package with a couple of books, a DVD and some Christmas ornaments to each family. (I haven't mailed Shawn's yet because I did not know if they were coming for any of the Christmas celebrations or not.) There was supposed to be an adult book included but I ordered them from Kimo a month ago and they still have not come. Scratch that idea. Next year I will just order from Amazon and have them shipped to each of you. Sorry about that. I love you all. Mom

From: Myrna

That is strange. I know I wrote her card because I remember what I wrote inside. LHT and I went to the post office together and he helped me stick on the stamps. Watch and see if it comes tomorrow. If not, let me know. 

I worry every time I do this. Kyle's birthday card came back to me marked "wrong address." It was the right address. So he didn't get it in time. 

Love, M

On Dec 20, 2008, at 12:25 PM, Kimberly Trauntvein wrote:

We got your Christmas cards, today, but not one for Brigitta.

Kimberly has not received Brigitta's card. I still worry after my experience with Kyle. His birthday card was returned because they said I had the wrong address on it. It was the right address. 

From: Kimberly

We don’t know which day for sure.  I think Christmas Day, but it may be Christmas Eve.  We are still trying to figure out logistics. So the ones that say “Open Christmas Day” are? 

From: Myrna

They have $25 inside for each of the kids and more for you and Shawn.

From: Myrna

All of you far away kids got money for your children and yourselves. The money is inside the cards that are marked to not open before Christmas. Even you close by folks got money for yourselves. 

All of the kids should have a card that is to open now. It has treat money ($1) inside. I forgot to put the $1 inside the cards I mailed to the adults. All you got was a dumb letter. I think, doing this stuff on a rush is not the best. Especially since I no longer have a brain. I kept holding on to the books packages waiting for Kimo's order to come in. It still wasn't there Thursday and I didn't dare wait any longer. So I mailed. 

AnnMarie, Julie, Eric and Shawn did not get their book packages mailed. Everyone got cards mailed. If you in-state kids are not planning to be here on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day, let me know and I will mail the books to you. Or we could meet you at your work and trade the packages. Next year, I am ordering from Amazon or Seagull Book and having the packages mailed directly to you. 

The envelopes marked "Open On Christmas Day," have CASH inside. If you don't want to wait for the after Christmas sales, open them ahead of time and take the kids and/or yourselves shopping. 

Some people are getting wrapped gifts. 

Next year, I may just do all money. I stand in a store and look stupid. I have no idea what sort of game systems you have nor what games the kids already have to play. I don't know what any of you are getting them either. I worry about getting Legos, for example, because you might get the same set. 

Dad starts picking up anything that resembles a gift. I mean, he was thinking I should mail all the kids skateboards. Now that would be HEAVY. Besides, who wants them?


From: Melanie

One time when you mailed all the children their envelopes for something, three of the four got them the same day. Two days later we got the other one. That was a very minor inconvenience, and we still received the card. We are fine doing it this way. Checks are better than cash, as you know, because you can cancel a check (although now a days, it is the same price to cancel the check as it is the cash you send). In the future you can send one check to all the children in my house. Send four cards, but one check and they will get what you meant them to have. 

 Mel


From: Todd

Ditto

From: Myrna

That is a good idea. Thanks, m

From: Myrna

You know, I just thought, what if that is the card that no one gets? Love, M

From: Todd, December 22

We got them all today. 

From: Myrna

Whew! That is really great. What about the rest of you? M


From: Kirsten
Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:27:23 -0700

We did, too!  Except you must be trying to bribe Whitney, or cause great envyings and strife, because her "treat" envelope had a $5....

hmmmmm

From: Myrna

Did you make it right? Love, M

I TOLD you I was nuts. I hope that doesn't mean that someone who was supposed to have $25 only got $20. M

To Siovhan From Myrna

You should get a card with your Christmas money inside. I have lost my mind, so I hope that it is for $25. If it is not, let me know. Also, a book should arrive for you. Love, Grammy

Melanie's Christmas Package

Melanie wrote: Guess what? You are going to love this. The mail came late, due to all the snow. The box came and ONE of the children's cards. I then told them what had happened to Brigitta and then the children all laughed. We wondered why, when Grandma mails them all at once, they all arrive at different times. It gives them something to look forward to.

Melanie

To Kaylene Armstrong

I was happy to hear from you. I didn't have your new address so I couldn't send out my annual card to you. Attached is the letter that went with it. 

Congratulations on your teaching. My husband, as you know, was an educator. He thinks that there is no greater job than teaching (certainly not administration).

I Found Out

I ordered "Fablehaven, Vol. 3: The Grip of the Shadow Plague" by Brandon Mull for each of you (one per family) from Kimos over a month ago. I cancelled the order yesterday. I did find out what had happened, however. The book jackets had a significant error and had to be reprinted. They just finished those and will be filling orders on Wednesday (too late for Christmas). So better luck for me next year. I haven't decided what to do about it. Dad thinks that I should just let it go for this year and start over for next. Love, M

Todd wrote: LIG (derivative of LIR)

Myrna wrote: Define? There may be many popular meanings for LIR with the most popular definition being that of Local Internet Registry. Love, M

Kirsten wrote: I think, "let it go" or "Let it rest."  he's agreeing with dad.

Todd wrote: Let it Ride


Myrna wrote: I actually have Fablehaven. I loved the book. (I own the series.) It all worked out well for us. You could sent me a good Church book, like the one by Boyd K. Packer or one from President Holland. I haven't checked to see if they are the same price. Buy one that is comparable in price. 

Subject: Christmas Cards

Kimberly wrote:
I am apologizing to any of you who may have received a square Christmas card from us and had postage due. I did not know of a new postal rule that require 20 cents extra postage on square cards. I believe I sent out 8 and I have accounted for 2--one was sent back and one was delivered asking for extra postage. I was in a panic, thinking they would all come back.

Myrna wrote:

Guess what? I didn't know that was a rule either. Did somebody forget to tell the card companies? If any of you had to pay postage on any card I sent, I am sorry. Wow, I can't keep up. However, our mail person needs to repent also. I sent a card to Reva Morgan and the mail person delivered it here. Yep, they used my return address for the delivery address. 

Christmas From Smiths

From: Gordon and Roberta
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:11:13 -0700

Dear Myrna, Leonard and Family,

Loved your family letter. Your family is certainly scattered. The good thing is it gives you some place to go!

This last year has been a good one, just flew by too fast.

We truly appreciate your letters, notes of information, etc. that you so willingly send on and share.

We used the words from the hymn "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Henry Wordsworth Longfellow at our family Christmas party on Sunday. They seem so appropriate, yet written so long ago...like the scriptures!

We wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a New Year of peace and joy.

 Thank you again for all the info you send this way.

 Love, Gordon and Roberta

Myrna wrote: Thank you. I love you both!