holiday decor

A couple of photos that spoke to me while decorating last year:

One last good-buy to a great Thanksgiving. 

:(

That same afternoon, the Christmas carolers were ready to burst out!

Blessed

For FHE in December, the singles ward organized an activity where everyone brought preassigned goods that would be useful for someone in need; toothbrushes, tooth paste, soap, crackers, granola bars, combs, etc.  (We signed up to bring toothbrushes.)  A big room with several long tables was set up.  All the goods were categorized into an amazing array.  Gallon size baggies were handed out to be filled with a good variety of each.  We all filled many bags and collected them in boxes to be delivered.  On the way out, we were instructed to take a few filled baggies to keep on hand to be given out at a moments notice during the month.

We drove for a week or so with the baggies on the floor board in between the front seats.  It's surprising how hard we looked for just the right person in need.  The corners we had noticed them before were empty now.

At the same time, a story kept rolling around in my head about my brother Jim.  A few years ago,  he had passed a homeless man on the corner of the McDonald's he was driving into and decided then to purchase extra food to be given to the needy man on his way out.   Good idea, right?  Wrong.  As Jim held out the bag with a smile, the man sternly quipped, "I don't want food, I want money!"  Yikes.
So, while watching for needy people around, I also sized them up pretty good.  Would I be rejected?  It made me nervous.

On the access road against the freeway one day, there was a weathered man with a backpack and a sign.  I would be stopped there until the light changed, but I thought twice about offering.  I looked down at the baggie on the floor and back at the man.  He must have seen me search, because the second my window rolled down, he reached out.  I handed him the baggie with a smile and to my surprise, I heard his words, "Thank you ma'am.  Have a blessed day."  I felt warm and grateful I could help.  His response was a gift I won't forget.  I can still hear his voice, as he was the grateful one.

Last week on our way to institute, I pointed out the other long overdue-to-deliver baggie to my friend.  We talked about where we have seen people in need lately.  Mill Ave. seemed to be a good place to start. So we decided to make it our mission to find a recipient for the bag on the way home.   As we drove slowly through town along Mill, sure enough, there was an older man in a wheelchair on the corner.  He was holding a sign I couldn't read.  We went around the block to be able to turn in where he was.  It was a cold day, but a sunny one.  I pulled into an expired meter slot and made my friend vouch for me if a policeman questioned the  meter.  I grabbed the baggie and walked to the corner.  I came up behind him and on around to speak to his face.  He looked at me and before I even started to speak, he held out his tired hands to retrieve the welcome goods.  I handed them across and at the same time I said, "I thought you could use these",  he said,  "Bless you, ma'am."  His sign read, "ANYTHING WILL HELP".  But I will remember this mans' eyes.  Gratitude.

I was blessed for delivering small bags of necessities to two people who were in obvious need.  My offerings weren't bounteous, but their graciousness in accepting was overflowing.  They both blessed me.

Matthew 25:40

In A Tizzy. . .Not Pretty

I was driving north along McClintock last Sunday when I came to the odd cross walk just south of the canal - almost to Guadalupe.  The pedestrian lights above it were flashing red as I pulled up next to the intersection.  I usually slow way down at that stretch of the road anyway, because that crossing is so different than any other I am used to.  I always carefully look both ways in case of someone I don't see.  (So, if  you are following me there, caution; my brake lights will always be ahead of you.)

Stopping, I had a front row seat to watch a little family cross, complete with a baby stroller and a dog.  They made it safely across, all the while the red light above them flashed away.  Waiting for the light to change, and not sure of what to expect next, I was surprised when the driver 2 lanes down from me continued on through the red flashing lights.  (I was still waiting for pedestrians; they could have been my own children.)  I was also confused.  How could he be so careless and disregard the red lights?  It seemed nervy!  As I sat there dumbfounded, I noticed a second sign below the lights that read, "Proceed when clear".  Now I understood why the driver didn't hesitate. . .  But I have a hard time with the sign

When did going through a red light become legal?  If the city wants to prevent accidents, I think all red lights should be honored.  No exceptions.  (Maybe you should never be caught driving behind me there, because now I will probably always stop no matter what the color.  And I certainly won't be risking my life there as a pedestrian!)   Is green going to mean something different now, too?  Sorry for my tizzy.  On a red light, I vote for no exceptions.  Maybe we could stand to wait and take a breather until the detection is clear of pedestrians; then proceed on a green light. . . or a purple one.   "Proceed when clear" on a red light is an accident waiting to happen.   It tempts drivers to look for shortcuts or loopholes.  Driving shouldn't be about shortcuts or exceptions.  If the light is red, you stop.  If it's green you can go.  It's that easy.

2013

Yesterday was the eve of New Year's eve.  The bishop talked to our combined group and because it hit the spot - what with New Year's resolutions on my mind, I am writing down the basic message.

 Since he was speaking to 2 singles wards, he related that there are not many scriptures that talk about Jesus' life when He was their age.

 But we turned to Luke 2 :52. 
 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

For such a small scripture, it took on new meaning.  Wisdom (Intelligence)
                                                                           Stature (Physically)
                                                                            Favor with God (Spiritually)
                                                                            Favor with Man (Socially)

Then he held up a sketch of an equal sided square, with one of these characteristics  along each side.
He encouraged us to remember the equality. (You don't want a trapezoid or a triangle!)  Each side makes for "well rounded".  In between each category, he had assigned kids to come up and explain what they had done, or what they were anticipating doing for the new year.  It was a meaningful talk for them (and me!) especially the "social"  part.  (It's hard being college age.)

He reinforced that if we strive to better our lives in each of these categories, no matter what, our happiness will increase.  

The Day That the Lights Went Out in Chandler

The email I was writing in mid sentence poofed away at noon yesterday.
The lights didn't even flicker - just a "click" and out.  Dark.
The Christmas music that brought life from upstairs died..
Silence and dark; not a good combination.

So, this is what I learned when I helplessly stepped outside the front door in wonder:

That I was so thankful for fresh air. . . and the brightness of the sun.
I learned about myself when I realized thet my first instinct was to rap on my neighbor's door.  (I never rap on her door unless I need something; but today I needed a friend.)
I learned her name was Phyllis (not Doris . . . . ooops!)
That she was born on Christmas day in 1956.
That her handicapped son is 6'4".
That other neighbors needed a friend too, as they peeked around their corners one by one  to make polite conversation about "no power".
The neighbor next to Phyllis is Korean. She stood out with us for a minute, even though she spoke in broken English.
That my eastern Indian neighbor on the west goes to LA Fitness.  (She declied my invitation to go walking.)
That more people on the street were actually home.  I really thought I was the only one home in the neighborhood during the day.
A new neighbor, Adam, lives across the street with his 2 cute little girls (that are with him every other week end). They were the unfamiliar girls that walked Hairy the day before.  (Now I know who they belong to, and he knows who owns the hairy dog they brought home to show him.)
That the outage was a good excuse for some much needed neighborhood connecting.

 I learned that I feel safer now.


   

Disneyland 2012

This is proof that our recent trip to Disneyland is the happiest place on earth.  We watched the weather before we left for days, in hopes of sun.    When we expressed our wimpy concern for the rainy weather predicted, it was surprising how many people would rather go in the rain .   Less crowds.  So . . . we donned our ponchos, our weathered shoes, extra socks, umbrellas enough to go around,  and ran (splashed) like  crazy kids.   Splash Mountain will never be the same!

(everyone looked the same from the back!)

Some people have a drinking problem.  I have always had a "blinking" problem.

It was nice to know I was in good company:

Did you know that cartoons have a blinking problem?

We did have an awesome time!  The weather was beautiful, just wet.   We'd do it again tomorrow!

ABC Christmas Advent

1. A --Angels (Luke 2:1-9)
2. B --Bethlehem (Luke 2:10-15)
3. C --Christ (2 Nephi 25:23, 26)
4. D --Deeds (1 John 3:18, 23-34)
5. E --Everlasting (John 3:16-17)
6. F --Family (Luke 2:16-17)
7. G-- Gold (Matthew 2:1-11)
8. H --Herod (Matthew 2:12-16)
9. I --Israel (Matthew 2:19-21)
10. J --Joseph (Matthew 1:19-24)
11. K --King (D&C 128:23)
12. L --Lord (D&C 19:1; Isaiah 26:4)
13. M --Mary (Luke 1:27-38; 46-48)
14. N --Nazareth (Matthew 2:22-23)
15. O --Obedient (John 8:29; Hebrews 5:8-9)
16. P --Peace (Luke 2:14; Isaiah 9:6)
17. Q --Quickly (D&C 49-28)
18. R --Redeemer (Job 19:25; Mormon 9:11-13)
19. S --Steadfastness (2 Nephi 26:8; 31:20)
20. T --Teach (Matthew 28:18-20)
21. U --Unshaken faith (2 Nephi 31:19)
22. V --Voice (Alma 5:38; Helaman 12:23)
23. W --Willing (Mosiah 26: 17-18)
24. Y --Young (D&C 43:20)
25. Z --Zion (1 Nephi 13:37)