Pomegranates, Pitas, and a Christmas Pageant

"A Night in Bethlehem" is a favorite family tradition in our home.  Yes, it was a bit too fancy to be authentically ancient, but I just acquired new Christmas dishes and I just HAD to use them. The third Sunday of each month has an honored spot as Family Sunday.  The kids would be going their separate ways after today. We were all together with the exception of Jenni, Mark, and their babies... we felt incomplete...  Lucky for Randy and me, we will be flying there in a week! 

Our meal is at least Mediterranean and homemade grape juice is served.

The handsome fellow sitting next to Emily is her friend, Clint Jarvis from Idaho.

He had a way of making Kylie smile!

Give me a kiss!

The story of Christ's birth is retold in a family pageant.

And it came to pass... that there went out a decree... And Joseph went...into Judea...with Mary.

And she brought forth her firstborn son... and laid him in a manger; because there was no room in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them... and they were sore afraid.

"Fear not:  for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy."

(Yes, we got the giggles!)

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Rejoice and Be Merry - A Party with the Prophet

Each year in December, the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square celebrate with a memorable Christmas Party at the Grand America.  Always an amazingly delicious dinner -- good entertainment too.  Over 500 members attend, each with a guest of his/her choice. 

I spent the day sewing a new skirt for the occasion, but when I saw Audrey and Emily all dressed up in their festive red and black, I changed my mind and dug out my Christmas red dress.  I will save my new skirt for another occasion.  I couldn't be left out, you know.  

Audrey has chosen her sister as her guest for the past two years; I of course, have taken my sweetheart.

It is great to be in the presence of the prophet and to hear him speak.

He and others thank us for our service and sacrifice as members of the choir and orchestra. How can it truly be a sacrifice when this is such a blessing and joy?  Another highlight occurs at the end of the evening when we all join in singing "Silent Night".  This gathering produces a pretty awesome sound if I may say so myself.

The Carols of Christmastime

Music is well said

to be the speech of angels.

--Thomas Carlyle

It is certain that Christmas and music go hand in hand.  It would be strange to experience one without the other.  Yes, my days have been more than busy, but hopefully this effort has brought smiles to faces and joy to hearts

First Presidency Devotional 

This event involved a very reduced Orchestra at Temple Square because of the necessity to fit us up by the choir.  Audrey was thrilled to have been selected to join me for this world-wide broadcast for the second year in a row.  It is this event, first thing in the month of December, that helps me feel, "Yes, Christmas can come now."  It is fun to realize that members all over the world are coming together to listen to the words of prophets of God, all of us under the same bright star.

A Kurt Bestor Christmas

And on to the bit more secular...  But still enjoyable!  This year marked Kurt's 20th year of Christmas concerts at Abravanel Hall, twelve or so of which I have played.  I'm not certain just how many more years I will be asked to perform; I think Kurt likes "young ones" on his stage. No matter how old I am, though, Kurt will be slightly older!  grin.

Christmas Bells

Choices, choices.  This year the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Christmas Concert conflicted with Kurt's Concerts.  I'm so torn and disappointed when this happens.  One pays blessings, the other pays "dough." I went for the dough and really missed out on four amazing performances at a filled Conference Center.  What a wonderful free gift to the community.  So, while I was performing Kurt's Concerts, Audrey was a block away performing with the Choir.  Randy and I attended on Sunday morning to hear her.  I cried the whole way through.  Wish I could have played both... Maybe next year.

Audrey with Meredith, Kathy, and Emily

Larry Miller Christmas Carol Sing-a-Long

Kathryn with stand partner, Aubrey

Located at Energy Solutions Arena, this event is free to the public.  This year Larry Miller furnished free hot dogs, drink, ticket to a Bees Game, free popcorn at the Megaplex Theater, and a free ticket to the 2009 Nascar Race.  Live links to troops in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afganistan, aloud families to sing with their loved ones serving there.  A very emotional Larry Miller spoke to his gathering about his love of Christmas, music, people.  He was just recently released from a 2-month stay in the hospital after a very severe heart attack, and kidney failure.  It is apparent that he feels very blessed to be alive.

Civics Go 'Round

Audrey went car shopping hoping to find a used car for about $5000.00.  After a very discouraging but educational couple of days, she declared, "I don't appreciate dishonesty by car sales people called Hector or Hildibob or any other name for that matter!!!"   She asked if she could just buy my 2002 Civic (which by the way has quite a few miles on it at this point, but has been a VERY dependable and good car.  No accidents here!)  That meant that now I had to shop for a car.  It was very easy.  I knew exactly what I was looking for:  a 2009 blue hybrid civic with leather seats and a navigation system.  Audrey was so excited that on our way home from Idaho the day after Thanksgiving, she called all the dealers from Twin Falls to Sandy and we actually found ONE at the Larry Miller Honda Dealership in Murray.  We dropped by and an hour later, I drove home in a brand new Civic.

Audrey gave me a healthy down payment and away she went in her first car.

My navigation system is a kick!  I talk to it and it actually talks back!  I feel like I'm the Knight Rider or something.  Only problem is, we don't always understand each other at this point.  I asked it to play my IPOD and it replied, "FAN #8"  and actually BLASTED me with cold air. Our communication will improve with time, I'm certain.  

Over the River and Through the Woods...

"Forever on Thanksgiving Day, 

the heart will find the pathway home."

--Wilbur D. Nesbit

Yes... for Thanksgiving we went to Grandmother's House.  (of course it was Grandpa's too!)  

We had been planning this for quite some time.  Thanks to great efforts on Randy's siblings parts, all four children made it a day to remember.  Sarah and her family drove from Sacramento, Tim flew from Seattle, and Denny from Hawaii.  

While the turkey cooked, the boys played "show and tell".

And we played basketball.  We toyed with the idea of changing the game to rimball.  Those of us fifty and older had a bit of a time making any baskets at all.  We felt points should be given to anyone who could make the ball just hit the rim!  Ben was a hot shot!

We each took on a food assignment.   Grandma stuffed the bird; Tim cooked it.  Sarah brought vegetable trays, Eric made his famous candied yams (secret ingredient - coconut.)  Katie made rolls, Dez and Mike brought vegetables and raspberry butter.  Audrey whipped up the potatoes and gravy, Emily made the jello salad, and I baked pumpkin and apple pies. What a great way to prepare a Thanksgiving meal!  

Such a delicious feast!

Somebody needs to teach these boys how to smile.

I think I'll add these next two photos to my collection of classy Ute fans.

Go Cougars!

A Stud and a Babe

Randy and Audrey drove my new car to Rexburg to hear Emily perform "A Stud and a Babe" for BYU - Idaho's "Best of the Best" variety show.  Four hours there, the first one-half hour of the show, and four hours back.  They didn't mind the drive -- there's plenty to play with in my new car.  I hope Emily knows how loved she is!  I would have been right along with them, but I had a Symphony conflict.  Lucky for me (and for you), Randy videotaped the event.  You're sure to get a giggle out of this one.

Check This Guy Out!

Performed at the Rose Wagner Theater with vocal artist Dan Beck for the release of his new album, "Love Like That".  I'll have to admit that his voice is one of my top picks of artists I've played for this year.   Check out his music under my "Sights and Sounds" gadget to the right.  Tell me what you think.

Be Grateful

A long time ago in a faraway village lived a man who everyone did their very best to avoid. He was the type of person who believed that there was only one competent person in the world, and that one person was himself. Consequently, he was never satisfied with anything. His shoes never fit right. His shirt never felt comfortable. When his food wasn’t too cold, it was too salty, and when it wasn’t too hot, it was too bland.

If a field wasn’t sowed by himself, it was not sowed well. If he didn’t close the door, the door was not closed properly.

In short, he made a career of frowning, lecturing, criticizing, and mumbling about the incompetencies of every other person in the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, the man was married, which made matters all the worse. No matter what his wife did, in his eyes it was wrong. No matter what the unfortunate woman cooked, sewed, or cleaned—or even when she milked the cow—it was never satisfactory, and he let her know it.

She tried very hard to be a good wife, but it seemed the harder she tried, the less she pleased him. Finally, one evening she could take no more.

“I’ll tell you what we’ll do,” she told him. “Tomorrow I will do your chores and you will do mine.”

“But you can’t do my chores,” the man replied. “You don’t know the first thing about sowing, hoeing, and irrigating.”

But the woman was adamant. And on top of that, she was filled with a righteous anger that frankly astonished and frightened the man to the point where he didn’t dare disagree.

So the next morning the wife went off to the fields and the man began the domestic chores. After thinking about it, he had actually convinced himself he was looking forward to it. Once and for all, he would demonstrate to his wife how things should be done.

Unfortunately, not everything went according to plan. In fact, nearly everything the man touched turned into disaster. He spilled the milk, let the pig get into the house, lost the cow, burned the dinner, and ultimately set the house on fire, narrowly escaping with his own life.

When his wife returned, she discovered her husband sitting on a pile of ashes, smoke still rising from his clothes. But the woman wasn’t the type to rub things in. She helped him up, wiped the soot from his beard, fixed him a little something to eat, and then prepared a bed of straw for them to sleep on.

From that day forward, the man never complained about anyone or anything else for as long as he lived.

“The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life”

--Robert Louis Stevenson

Trick or Treat!

When witches go riding,

and black cats are seen,

the moon laughs and whispers,

‘tis near Halloween.

~Author Unknown

How did you dress up for Halloween?

Audrey and friend, Natalie, dressed up as kitty cats for the festivities at BYU.

Emily as a prehistoric chick in a cave? I thought you were a gypsie!

Presto Change-o! ARRGH! Here she is with friend, Clint.

Lily was Cinderella, Daddy David, her handsome prince, Katie was her Fairy Godmother (Bibbitty Bobbitty Boo), and Kylie, her magical pumpkin carriage.

Evylee dressed as a cow complete with pink bows in her ears, Desiree was a doll (as usual), and Michael came as... himself.

Randy dawned his retro wig. Due to a playing engagement at the tabernacle, I had to keep things pretty subtle. I hung ghosts in my ear lobes and called it good.

Oh, and I wore festive socks.

Look! Sadie wore festive socks too!

Hardworking mechanic Jenni with Sadie Bug, our little Lady Bug

Payton and the Renton Kid Crew!

Payton as the handsome groom with his beautiful bride, Sophie.

Once in a young lifetime

one should be allowed to have as much sweetness

as one can possibly want and hold.

~Judith Olney