Happy New Year's Eve

Here we are on the eve of the year 2010.

It is time to say...

to

This year has passed so quickly for us.
While there were some difficult times this year,

most of the year was filled great experiences and blessings.

Our greatest blessings came through our family of course.

No parents were ever blessed with sweeter children.
Lynell, Mindy, Erin and David bring us great joy.

and so do our 13 grandchildren.

...

Here is a review of our highlights of 2009.

...

In February I got to go Idaho with my dear blog friend, Marie.

We drove to Utah to meet Marie and her friends Dick and Lenis drove us to Idaho.

It was great to meet Marie....and...

It was exciting to watch her daughter win

2 gold metals and 1 bronze metal in the special olympics.
...

April brought us a thrill and an answer to years of prayers
when our little Calan was born....

And Erin and Patrick where chosen by his birth mother to adopt him.

It is impossible to express the joy this sweet baby has brought to our family.
Our whole family joined together in Oct. when his adoption was finalized.

...
In May we were blessed with another new grandson when our son

David's wife, Marla, gave us little Evan
This was baby number 4 for David...

And grandchild # 13 for us....

...which is not an unlucky number since we feel lucky for every grandchild
we are blessed with.
...
In May John and I had a good time on the cruise we took to Canada.

We enjoy every part of cruising.

... Especially the great food....yummy
...
But then cruising wasn't the only place I got fancy food...

no...no...no..

I had many elegant tea parties with my princess Claire.

I also got to make Claire a beautiful confirmation dress.

Most of our family joined together to attend her baptism.
It was a joyous occasion.
...
We also celebrated with our other royal grandchildren.

Lonica won the Queen's Trophies for her 2 solo dances this year...

...and was named Utah dancer of the year.
...
Meanwhile, her brother Johnny was making a name for himself

in the Gymnastic world.

He got 3 gold metals and 2 bronze metals at the Utah state competitions.
He is headed for the Olympics one day

...

His older brother, Justin joined the army. He is training to be a medic and is stationed in Texas until next March.
He is doing very well and we are very proud of him.
...
We have been taking care of our little Austin from Sunday evening to
Tues. every week again this year.

Grampy has appreciated all of the help Austin gives him with chores.

And I love the cuddle time.
This will be the last school year that we get to watch Austin because

he will start Kindergarten next September.
Grampy and I will miss having Austin 2 days a week.
He is our buddy.
...
My Granddaughters are not my only royal grandchildren.

Our E.J. was a great Prince Charming.

It was fun watching him find his Cinderella...
...and..

We feel blessed that Claire and E.J. live close enough to us that
we can attend all of their performances.

That pretty much summarizes our wonderful year of 2009.
We have had great fun his last week of 2009 spending Christmas with family.
It has been especially nice spending time with Justin who got to come home from

his army training for Christmas.

Then my sweet hubby totally surprised me by giving me pearls

which I have always wanted. Wasn't that sweet!
...
So here we are tonight, together with family, playing games, singing karaoke, eating good food..(Loni and I just made Marie's Eggnog cake and it is delicious)

and counting the many blessings that have been ours this year as we wait to ring in 2010.

This has been a special year for us. We feel thankful for our blessings.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010

TO ALL OF YOU.

May the new year be full of good things for you and yours.

Thank you for being my blog friends. Your visits and comments bless my life too.

(Just today we were excited to meet Hiroko from The Sweet Ecape...which I will tell you about on another post)

Hugs, Grammy Lura

My Christmas Poem for you

Merry Christmas to all of you.

...

I wrote this Christmas poem last year.

I would like to share it with you again.

(I wasn't creative enough this year to make up a new poem...I put in new family pictures but the rest are the same. That is justified because my house looks exactly the same as it did last year...I am a creature of habit and decorate the same way every year....so please pretend this greeting is new to you....Maybe I will use it every year as a new tradition...is that O.K.?)

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.
...

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.
The best part of Christmas
is the feeling of love

That we have for family and friends
and our Savior above
...

It's the thought of Angels

and Shepherds




and the bright star they saw





...
and a wee Babe and His mission
that fill us with awe.
...

As we reflect

on our abundance and cheer

Let us remember

The reasons we're here

...

Let us love one another

and try with our might

to keep His commandments

and do what is right.

...

May the spirit of Christmas

we are feeling today

linger all year

and in our hearts stay.
...
Merry Christmas from our home to yours.

...

I put our new family pictures taken in October on my last blog post.
Scroll down if you would like to see them.

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
Hugs, Grammy Lura