Merry Christmas 08 to all

Welcome to my new blog readers and my regular blog buddies.

Thank you for stopping by my blog.

This year I am trying something different. Instead of putting our family pictures in my Christmas newsletter, I decided to put them in this Christmas post. In my Christmas letter I asked friends and family to come to my blog. I hope that some of you have done that. If you have stopped by please leave me a comment so I will know that you were here.

( All that you have to do to leave a comment is go to http://google.com/ and register with them. You can set up a free account by giving them your email, a user name and a password..... go ahead.....do it.....because I would LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!)

I am planning to use this blog more and more instead of using snail mail. It will save photo paper, ink and money. You could say that I am being "green" or just saving "green". At any rate I am sending love and best wishes to you.

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I wrote you a Christmas poem. I would like to share it with you.

The house is decked out

with lights on each tree

With flowers and presents
and much greenery.





We have new decorations
and the old ones so dear
are out of their boxes
and up for the year.

Each table is set

awaiting the feast

of turkey and dressing,

of ham and roast beef

There'll be yams and potatoes

and gravy galore

and veggies and salads

and desserts and more.

But the sweetest things

that this season does bring

is not the goodies or bobbles

or pretty sights seen.
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It's not the gifts or the parties

or good shows on TV

that are the best part of Christmas

for you and for me.
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The best part of Christmas

is the feeling of love

That we have for family and friends

and our Savior above

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It's the thought of Angels

and Shepherds

and the bright star they saw

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and a wee Babe and His mission

that fill us with awe.

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As we reflect

on our abundance and cheer

Let us remember

The reasons we're here

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Let us love one another

and try with our might

to keep His commandments

and do what is right.

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May the spirit of Christmas

we are feeling today

linger all year

and in our hearts stay.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours.

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In my Christmas letter I said that I would put my family pictures on my blog. Below I will put pictures of each of my kids and their families and give you a little update on them.

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(My regular blog buddies that already know all about my kids and are probably sick of hear about them can skip that part of this post but please read the last message I have for you. I have something important to tell you.)

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Erin and Patrick

Erin and Patrick have been married 2 and 1/2 years. They are a darling couple. They live in Utah. Patrick is in sales and does very well. Erin has taught sign language levels 1,2 and 3 at a high school for the past 10 years. She recently gave up her teaching job because they thought they were adopting a baby. Unfortunately, the birth mom moved out of state the week before the baby was due and gave her baby up to another family. We are all heart broken but we have faith they will be blessed with a child soon. If you know of a pregnant mom considering adoption please tell her to go to Erin and Patrick's adoption blog and get in touch with them. They will make wonderful parents.
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David and Marla

Grace 6, Davey 3, Emma 8

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David and Marla have been living in a lovely home in Kentucky for the last year and a half or so. It is a beautiful place to live ... and visit. We had a delightful trip to see them when Emma was baptised in Nov. Marla is expecting a little boy in May. We can hardly wait!! David does well in his job and keeps moving up the corporate ladder. Emma and Grace love school. They are precious girls not to be out done by Master Davey who is every one's darling and is the prince of the house.

Mindy and Ernie

Claire 7, Austin 3, EJ 9

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Mindy and Ernie live only about 20 miles from us here in CA. It is wonderful having them close enough that we can be an active part of their lives. Ernie is the band director of an award winning top rated high school band. As you can imagine, music fills much of their time. Claire and EJ started taking piano lessons this last July and are doing very well.... which is not surprising since both their mom and dad were music majors. Claire also takes voice lessons. Practising, concerts and performances takes up a lot of their time. We love attending them. I still get a thrill when I hear Mindy play her flute. Mindy works part time as a speech therapist at the same elementary school that EJ and Claire attend. We get to take care of Austin a couple of days each week while Mindy is at work. We love it!!

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Lynell and Dathan

Jalen 14, Lonica 9, Justin 17, Jordan 20, Johnny 12

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There is never a dull moment at their home. I am always amazed when we visit how Lynell can keep up with all the comings and goings. Johnny and Loni are always going to the gym or the dance studio for lessons. Johnny is an amazing little gymnast. We have gone to several of his meets and hold our breath as we watch him flipping and flying through the air and swinging around the high bar. Loni is just as amazing on the dance floor. She wins one competition after another and has a room full of trophies to prove it. All of the boys excel in sports such as soccer and football. Jalen does well in Karate as well. Jordan is working and going to college. Dathan is a project manager for a big construction company. He builds Albertsons, Walmarts, etc. Lynell teaches dance at a studio two days a week and keeps busy with her photography business.

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John and I are thrilled to be retired and able to travel and visit these kids often.

Our Family is the highlight of our lives. We feel very thankful and blessed to have them.

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We love the Lord and enjoy this season when we celebrate His birth. I hope that all of you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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Blogging Friends please read:

Unfortunately, I'm afraid that this will be my last post for a while. My laptop is not feeling well. I thought that it was just a cold or a minor illness but it looks like it is more serious now and will require hospitalization. A while ago it started telling me that it's battery was getting low and I should plug it in. The problem is.....it was plugged in!!! I called Dell who promptly sent me out a bandaid (a new power cable.) That was suppose to fix the problem. Well..... the cable arrived this afternoon. I excitedly plugged it into my computer.....and......nothing..... nothing.... nothing happened!

It is still telling me I have no power..... I have about 2 minutes battery time left. In fact, it keeps turning off as I have been working on this post. I don't know if it is fainting or dying. Now Dell tells me that I will have to ship it off to the Dell hospital and it will take weeks to get it back....urggg!!!! So.... while I will sneak onto John's computer to read your blogs and read any comments I get ( I can't go too long without checking for comments you know!!!)... I probably will not be making any posts. I know that you will all miss me....haha.

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As the song says..."God be With You 'til We Meet Again"

Have a very Merry Christmas.

Love, Grammy Lura