Anticipating the holidays

 

December 11, 2022

Dear Family:

I’ve been writing this family letter for so many years now that even though I don’t have to write every week, it has become a habit and I can’t seem to say, “Well I’m just going to skip this week.”

I will tell you that December is extremely busy for the bands that I manage.  We had a dance gig last Friday.  This is the first time in almost 3 years that we have played exclusively for a dance.  It is so rewarding to have people come up and thank me and request the same tune next month because it is their favorite, or say, “That tune had a great groove and was so easy to dance to.”  Even the band members enjoyed playing for dancers instead of “retirees” at the retirement homes where we’ve played the last couple of years.  I have an afternoon gig tomorrow, and I’m playing piano tomorrow night with the big band for a Christmas Concert.  Then Thursday my band has a gig at the Salem Convention Center for two hours 4-6 pm where we are just playing background music.  No entertainment.  That should be easy.  I’m meeting Brad Davis at the Tualatin Fred Meyer so he can drive in the dark, not me.

Today our ward welcomed ½ of the Cook Park Ward into our midst.  The Relief Society Room was crowded for the first time.  News: Brent & Becky Pederson are now in my ward.  Their youngest is 12 now and I was shocked. This is my last week of piano lessons for December and I’m going to enjoy the down time.  Haley is recovering from her 2^nd knee replacement surgery and I think she is very brave to go through it again so soon when she knew exactly what she was in for.

I’ll share a quote from my favorite prophet, Gordon B Hinckley.  D&C 112:10: Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.  “There is no place for arrogance in our lives, no place for conceit, no place for anything of that kind.  We are very ordinary people in many respects.  We must walk our own way.  We are here to do a work, to make something of our lives, and god our Eternal Father will bless us in so doing if we will walk in humility and prayer.” Pres. Gordon B Hinckley.

I have included this message because I am having an inner conflict with someone in authority over me who appears in every way to not be humble.  I have had interaction with this person and I’ve walked away totally in wonder. Why does this person have this calling? I’ve felt put down, ignored and that my words and feelings were not important.  I’ve been praying to accept this person and to learn to not resent this person or question those who issued the calling.  I’ve had these feelings for some months and it’s not been very comfortable.  Today I finally received a peaceful answer.  It’s really not my place to criticize or try to lobby for change.  This person needs to learn humility and maybe this calling is teaching this person humility. It may take a while.  Maybe this person will never learn humility.  Maybe this person is humble and it’s not evident on the surface.  Even if this person doesn’t learn humility, it’s not my place to make sure this person learns humility.  Heavenly Father is in charge.  Not me. Thanks for listening to my bizarre thoughts. I’m letting it go.

Brian welcoming Chis, Wade and Ben to Christmas eve.

I wish you each to have a lovely time anticipating being with family over the coming holiday.    I miss the long ago days of decorating, baking, planning and having the whole family in my home on NE 27^th Ave. I miss scurrying around finding costumes, the Christmas story, cajoling our children to share a talent, singing carols together and the piñata full of candy. I even miss the chaos.  Nice memories though.  Hope you enjoy some of my memories.  

Christmas morning after all night painting the white horse.

Brian December 1968

Christmas at Glennda and Scott's house

Christmas program at Church.
Brad in the middle, Steve Willoughby on Right, Michael Case on the Left.

Love Mom, grandma, great-grandma, sister and Aunt Suzanne

Left-overs week - Short Girls Christmas Baking Day remembered

 

December 4, 2022

Dear Family:

No birthdays this week (that I’m aware of).  Marissa is Dec. 20, Tanner is Dec 27, Brian and Megan’s anniversary is Dec 29.  Haley had her second knee replacement surgery last week.  I’m sure she is suffering right now.

Side note:  The book I was referring to in my letter/blog last week, is a movie. (I’m only 10 years behind the times- it was released in 2013).   I was scrolling through Amazon Prime, there it was ‘WISH YOU WELL.”  The movie was pretty true to the book.  I’d highly recommend it.

Amy is recovered from Covid and tested negative in record time.  So far, Mike and I don’t have it.  I hope no one else at the Brad/Sheri Schnell Thanksgiving gathering got it.

Today was our first snow of the winter.  It isn’t supposed to stick and it’s supposed to be over by late afternoon.  I hope so because I have a piano recital tonight in Beaverton at Creekside Retirement Village.  Anyway it reminded me of this Carpenter song:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ChayT4uNLM    (First Snowfall of the Winter)

Last Tuesday, I got up thinking, “I need Thanksgiving leftovers”   I happened to have a Turkey tenderloin in my freezer.  I had a box of Winco “stuffing” in my cupboard.  So I started.  I had two Granny smith apples so I made a little “apple pie in a paper bag”, I made a half batch of monkey bread.  And I shared with Mike, Amy and Conner.  Amy was still down with Covid, so she ate in bed.  Now I have to share my big discovery.  I got on line and found out how to dress up boxed stuffing.  I’m sharing the recipe (I did make a half batch with only one box of stuffing.)  I’m never going to worry about stuffing again.  It turned out great.  (I did make sure to mince (very finely chop) the onions and celery.)  I loved it and you couldn’t tell it wasn’t the old fashioned stuff.  (RECIPE IS ATTACHED TO THE EMAIL)

Last week I visited a couple hours with my old friend Dorothy Nielson.  She is going to be 97 soon.  I also spent time with Norma, a sister in the ward that I visit teach-minister to).  She is in a lot of pain, and I’ve taken her to Physical Therapy several times, to the doctor several times, got her prescriptions from Safeway a couple time. Their lives are hard, they are wondering why they are still here.  My message is:  I’m getting very familiar with those who lives are nearing the end.  I will miss them.  I feel for their suffering.  I wish I could do something other than just be helpful.  I’m 78 ½.  That’s not old, is it?  I am aware that I can’t run, I have a hard time getting up if I get down on my knees, I don’t have the endurance I used to so that I can work in the yard longer than 1 hour, etc.  But I’m so fortunate that I still teach piano, still have my band that has 6 gigs this December.  I’m healthy mostly; I can still walk unassisted, unless Mike is nearby; I can see, talk, hear, enjoy people and look forward to seeing my family soon.  I’m blessed.  Most of all, I’m blessed to have all of you in my life.

If Glennda and I had our granddaughters and granddaughters-in-law around close, we might be convinced to do our “Christmas Baking Day” again.  But without Judy, we don’t feel up to it without her.  Besides, we decided that if we make all those goodies, we’ll just eat them and I sure don’t need more sweets. I hope you enjoy these photos from our "Christmas Baking Day".

Glennda and I were just talking this morning  about this wonderful time we had together 2 or 3 or 4 years ago.  (l to r; Suzie, Glennda, Don, Scott and Judy) 

By the way, at 7pm tonight they are re-aligning the ward boundaries of 4 of the Tigard wards and the Spanish Branch.  So, we’ll see what happens.  I have thoughts about it that I’ll keep to myself.  I won’t be going to the meeting because that’s when I have my recital. 

Have a wonderful week.  Remember that “Family is Everything”. We are all so grateful that Emery is better and that all the great-grandchildren are doing well.  Being with part of the family last weekend in Spokane was a dream come true and made my heart sing. 

Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister and Aunt Suzanne