Christmas 2007

I am so disappointed at how commercialized Christmas has become, especially when it begins on Halloween! Somehow the true meaning of Christmas has passed us by and it seems to be about presents and decorations. How many people go into debt each year to provide Christmas gifts and then spend all year paying it back to do it all over again?

I know that some of my friends are disappointed in me that I have asked that we not exchange gifts, but I honestly don't NEED more stuff. I want to celebrate birthdays and the birthday person one on one. One friend and I usually donate some time to the YWCA helping with whatever and then we have dinner together. We weren't able to do it this year due to many work commitments this year.

The coolest thing I got to do this Christmas was to do a last minute Sub for Santa. A friend of mine called me about 3:30 on Christmas Eve and told me about a family that she knew that wasn't going to have Christmas for their daughter because money was tight. We threw together stuff that we had that was new or gently used and wrapped it up and filled stockings with treats. It was such a good feeling to know that this child was going to have something to open on Christmas morning.

I just read a book called "The Christmas Jars" by Jason F. Wright. (Rising newspaper reporter Hope Jensen uncovers the secret behind the "Christmas Jars"--glass jars filled with coins and bills anonymously given to people in need. But Hope discovers much more than she bargained for when some unexpected news sets off a chain reaction of kindness and brings about a Christmas Eve wish come true.) It is going to be one of my new traditions for 2008.

I went to my Farnsworth Family Festivity on Christmas Eve and had a wonderful time dispite the snowstorm we had...I think a good time was had by all.

Christmas Day I had told my mom that I would cook a turkey dinner since I was away at Thanksgiving. So I got all the stuff and invited a couple of friends to join us. For years I have cooked BIG (25-30 pounds) turkeys when it was my turn to cook for Thanksgiving (we have now gotten smart and there are two smaller turkeys), but I haven't done a small one until now. It was just under 13 pounds. Got the stuffing made and the turkey in the ovening thinking about 4 hours to cook. Made the cranberry relish recipe that I got from the Heller side of my family. Check the turkey at 1:30, looked good.

Called the friends and said dinner would be at 2:30...oops turkey was done 15 minutes later and before I had had a chance to take off the roaster lid to brown it properly. Well the stuffing pan won't fit it with the turkey, darn, so I have to pull out the turkey and put it on the washer as I have no room in the kitchen. I'm now racing to start the mashed potatoes. After I have peeled them I am cutting them into small pieces so they will cook faster and I stab myself in the finger with the knife. OUCH!!! Managed not to bleed on anything until I get the bandage. OUCH!!! Next is the green beans with mushrooms and almond slivers in butter.

All in all it turned out okay and everyone thought it was pretty good (at least I think so?)...I even made homemade gravy for the first time all by myself (with a little telephone assistance from my aunt Linda). Mom went home and my friends and I watch "Little Miss Sunshine". I really enjoyed it!

I hope your Christmas was blessed with family, friends, food and fun!!

Okay folks, that's all for now!! I hope you all know how loved you are and how much you mean to me!

Oh, Sweet Charity -- "It's for the Children"

Every year the Primary Children's Medical Center has a fund raiser called The Festival of Trees. Trees of every size are decorated and donated to raise funds for the children. There are all sorts of wonderful things there, a gift boutique, centerpieces, gingerbread houses and wreaths.

I go every year on opening night because it's less crowded and you get to bid on things. I take my mom and we wander around. We both found things to bid on...she a centerpiece and I a small ceramic angel that started at $10. I made the first bid and came back a short while later and someone had bid $15, so I went to $20 and left. I came back and the bid was $25, so I bid $26 and left again. When I came back "she" was there raising the bid to $30, so I bid $31 and spoke with her telling her how much I liked the angel and it had blue in it which is my favorite color, etc. So she pats me on the arm and says I can have it and isn't wonderful what they do for the children. So I get it!

On December 10th, I was doing a little shopping to finish up what I needed for my sorority group party. I had run into the dollar store and what was the first thing I saw...a shelf filled with my precious angel..."It's for the children", I kept repeating as I called my friend and laughed hysterically. I can't believe someone donated something from the dollar store!!! And I paid $31 for it...