Christmas Season Smiles part 1

Merry Christmas dear Blog friends

My Christmas trees are decorated.

I did not do as much this year but my favorite decorations are out.

Somehow they seems extra special to me this year. When I was so sick with sepsis and organ failure earlier in the year, I wasn’t sure that I would be here to enjoy this wonderful season this year. I also think living with a blood clot in my chest makes me appreciate each day more than I did before. Each day is precious… especially during this season.

We have attended some wonderful Christmas programs this December.

EJ’s Jazz Band put on a great community Christmas concert. Claire was invited to be their guest soloist. We were so proud of both of them.

Today Claire sang like an angel at church. I can’t seem to post a video on here but I did on Facebook if you want to hear her.

Mindy played her flute and Ernie lead the music. My heart was filled with happiness as I listened to my loved ones praising God with their beautiful music. They are so talented…. and they don’t get it from me.

I’ve heard beautiful choirs and madrigals sing….

….And a pipe band play at the Upland Nativity and Arts festival put on annually by our church for the community.

I’ve attended this Nativity festival with my friends Randy and Mary…

…I was totally awed by the beautiful displays…

…and the effort of love it is for our church to put this festival each year.

The joy of Christmas fills my heart. I’m so thankful that I am well and can enjoy every minute of  this wonderful season. I hope that you are enjoying it too.

I have lots more to post but will save it until next time.

Merry Christmas my friends.

Hugs, Lura

Belated Thanksgiving smiles

I know it is the middle of December and way too late to do a Thanksgiving post. Since my blog was out of commission in November and I couldn’t do it then, I  considered not doing a Thanksgiving post at all. Then my sweet Erin commented that she knew I had cute pictures to post… so bear with me…. I’m going to do it….. late or not….. Better late than never I guess.

       Patrick and Erin                                                        David, Marla and Evan

We were blessed this year with our whole family coming to our house.

          Ernie and Mindy                                                   Dathan and Lynell

We had our 4 children, their spouses and…….

……13 of our 14 grands.

The only one who was missing was our dear Jalen who is serving as a LDS (Mormon) missionary in Chile.

We started off Thanksgiving morning early. Lynell and I got our 24 lb. bird  in the oven.

Mindy came over early to put their bird in the smoker.

Both the house and the yard were filled with the delicious aroma of turkeys cooking all day. I love that. I think turkey cooking smells like “happy”.

The girls all pitched in to help prepare the food…

…. and set the tables.

We munched on appetizers while we waited ….

… for the turkeys to get done and be carved by Ernie and Grampy.

We gathered together to offer our prayer of thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father for our many blessings and ask Him to bless our food.

After everyone got hugs….

It was time to hit our buffet line….

… fill our plates….

… and sit down at one of our…

pretty tables to….

… enjoy the good food and good company.

Of course we made room for desserts even though we were stuffed.

Our 9 year old Davey told me that this was the best Thanksgiving ever!

Bless his heart…. I agree with him.

All that eating wore us out….

Some played games or took a dip in the hot tub… but most of us ended our wonderful day resting, watching football and visiting….

Grampy was not too tired to be up to mischief … and I caught him in the act.  He could not resist tying Justin’s shoe laces together.

Have you heard of eating until you drop??? Sweet Ellie actually fell asleep while eating her last piece of pie.

We were all thankful that we could spend this holiday together. The memories of it will always fill my heart with joy.

I hope that your thanksgiving was filled with joy and happiness too.

Hugs, Grammy Lura