December 2024 - Nativity Displays, Travels, Christmas, Family & Friends

                                                                              DECEMBER 2024

Oh, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!  December is magical to us and this year our new adventures and experiences continue to bring the magic into our lives.  The secret of the magic is in the people.  Our story this month tells of our experiences with so many people that helped to make our December so memorable.  If you are reading this you are included in the people who have influenced, blessed and made our lives better.  

Two years ago Emily was in a serious car accident and she continues to get treatments to help her heal.  We started the month with another procedure on her lower back.  We make regular trips to 'Salt Lake to the various Doctors that she continues to see.  We had an appointment with a new Orthopedic who specializes in Stem Cell and it looks promising for more complete healing.  We hope she can start the treatment in January.  We are hoping 2025 is the year of healing and new beginnings for Emily.  

As soon as Thanksgiving was over, we began transforming our home into the Nativity Display.  We start with our Christmas tree and move forward from there.  It takes several days to get all of the storage bins down and unpacked.  It takes longer than it used to but that is OK - we just get to enjoy the process longer!  The parties began early this year - I think because Thanksgiving was later this year.  It is hard being so far away from most of our Grandchildren but we were able to see a couple of them in their programs.  

Preslee was selected to begin the Choir Concert with a duet and was so animated as she performed.  It was a special night for her and it was a really nice Choir concert.

Preslee & friend

The next night was our Church Christmas Party.  It was themed - A Night in Zarahemla - the story of the Birth of Jesus Christ as foretold to the people in the Book of Mormon.  

It was a beautiful evening with a simple Chicken and Pita Bread dinner and a program put on by the Youth.  Preslee was the Angel on the left.  The story was told using the silhouettes of the different scenes and it was so artistically done.  

The Ballroom Dance Team performed at an assembly in a fun Hawaiian themed dance.  Preslee is in the black top - she didn't get the memo on white shirt and therefore gets to stand out so we can see her better!

For the second performance she was asked to be the Teachers partner for one of the dances.  It is so fun watching her perform.

WICHITA KANSAS

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER

Our Granddaughter Nora was in the Angel Choir in this Community Theatre Production.  We were so pleased to be able to go and see her perform.  This was the first time for us to see this Play and I was touched by the story and the experience it was for Nora.  They would not allow any photos during the show so we took pictures at lunch at a really festive restaurant.

Nora

One night after practice Nora and her Dad were driving home.  One of the scenes the children from the Hardman family who play the Wisemen bring the gifts they are bringing to The Christ Child.  They bring a can of Spam, baseball glove and a burp.  Some of the choir cast mention that they brought the Christmas Ham that the Welfare department brought to them and were making fun of them.  At the end of the pageant the Director tries to give their gifts back to take home and they refuse saying those are their gifts for the baby Jesus.  

Nora asked her Dad, what is the Welfare Department?  He was able to explain to her about the services available to people in need and had a sweet tender experience with her.  

William

This story touches people in different ways and it was a wonderful experience for Nora.

We loved our time with William and Nora.  William turned down the opportunity to perform in the production and after he saw the show he was wishing he had been in it - he would have made a great Hardman family member.  They are both really talented and it is fun seeing them develop their talents and are growing into great young people.

Grandma & William

NATIVITY DISPLAYS

The Highlight of our Month is Hosting and Visiting Nativity Displays - it would not be December for us and this year was really special as we returned to Texas, hosted in Midway Utah and hosted our own three day event in our home.

MIDWAY UTAH

For the past 35 years Holly and Jack Zenger have been collecting over 1000 Nativities from all over the World.  Holly started a Nativity Display in Palo Alto California 35 years ago and then 25 years ago moved to Midway, Utah and continued the tradition.  About 5 years ago they opened their 22,000 sq. ft. home for a free, family friendly Christmas event.  
Last year Russ and I went and toured their home.  Both Jack and Holly were so generous and kind to us when they found out we collected and had been involved with Nativity Displays for over 30 years.  

We became friends and this year we were invited to be Hosts for a few hours.  Oh, what a delightful time we had - just the two of us in their home sharing their story and beautiful Nativities.  

The have a whole room filled with Fontini from Italy that took 52 hours and 6 people to set up.  This year they had a Black and White Room, Latin, Childrens, Unusual Materials, etc.  They are so generous to open their home for the month of December to bring the Christmas Spirit to all who attend.  

GRANBURY TEXAS

In 1995 I had the opportunity to organize the first Nativity Display for the Arlington Texas Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  We launched the idea in October and decided we could pull it together with a great committee - even though we had no idea what we were doing.  With help from Ann Arbor Michigan and Phoenix Arizona groups we were able to make it happen.  We had about 250 Nativities on Display and for the next 19 years the Display grew to about 800 with the help of my dear friend, Faye Landham.  She began displaying with us in 1996 and had 200 Nativities.  Her collection now numbers about 1400.  In 2014 we started with Faye the Nativity Display in Granbury Texas.  The Langdon Concert Hall is the perfect venue for people to come and see and feel the Spirit of Christmas.

It is so much a part of our Christmas that we flew to Dallas for a day so that we could visit Faye and visit the Nativity.  Oh the wonderful memories!  Two years ago her collection was donated to the Granbury Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Last year was a learning year and this year they captured the Spirit of it all and did an absolutely beautiful display.  I liked having it displayed a new way so that people could see ones they had never seen before - even Russ and I saw ones we thought were new but just saw them from a new perspective.  

The Highlight was spending time with Faye and seeing her delight in welcoming guests and telling them about the Nativities.  They are truly a part of her heart and soul.  We even got to get our annual picture together.  When we started this adventure in 1995 I had about 10 Nativities and never thought I would become a collector.  I now have about 100 and I owe so much of my love for sharing the Birth of Jesus Christ to Faye and her love of Jesus.  We have shared some very special times together over the past 29 years and we will always cherish our forever friendship and love.  

Faye and Linda in Faye's home

I made the most of my day in Texas and also arranged to have my hair cut with Tiffany at LA Hair.  She has been doing my hair for about 14 years and so far I have been able to return about every 3 months for her to do my hair.  So Fun!  At the end of a long heartwarming day we flew to Wichita Kansas to be with Brian and his family for a few days.  Great way to start the month of December.

OUR HOME - LINDON UT NATIVITY OPEN HOUSE

The house is decorated, cookies baked, hot chocolate steaming with peppermints and cream and ready to open our doors to share our Nativities and all the love and joy that comes with it.  The people who come are what makes it special for us and we were able to capture a few of the special friends and family who came.

I heard the door bell ring and I ran downstairs to check on everything and make sure I had taken all of the food upstairs.  I heard talking upstairs and was hurrying to get back upstairs to see who had come.  I turned around in my kitchen to go upstairs and there was my Sisters and one of my brothers.  I was literally in shock.  I was so surprised to see them standing in my living room.  They had come around to my door

and were hoping to surprise me.  Brooke came from Ontario Oregon, met up with Tad and Kris in Buhl Idaho and then they drove together to Utah. It meant so much to us to have them come and share in our Home and Nativities.  

The first two people to come - the ones I was hurrying to get upstairs to were friends from Texas that we had not see in about 30 years - Marsha Turner and Joan Birch.  They both live in Utah now and it was wonderful picking right up where we left off - friendship is like that.  Marsha gifted me 5 sets from her collection - pictures below

Our Mission continues to bless our life and it is always delightful to gather with people from the mission.  

The Lommatzsch family from Freiburg Germany are now living in Saratoga Springs and it is always a delight to have them in our home.  They even shared some authentic German Lebkuchen!

Thomas and Tamara Mogensen and James Boden and his fiance Willa.

It is always fun to meet the new people in their lives and welcome them into the family.

Zully and Michael O'Leary and 2 of their children stopped by.  They too are friends from Texas who relocated to Utah last year.  We were so excited to see them and meet their two youngest children.  

Yevheniia and Rykker Webb - friends from Cumorah Academy 

They are the cutest couple - I highlighted her story in last months Blog - we loved sharing our Christmas tradition with them and are so glad to have them in ouj lives.  

Steve and Betty Anderson - Texas friends who also relocated to Utah several years ago.  Russ and Steve worked together at American Airlines many years ago and these friendships mean so much to us.  Our first year in Texas- 1979 -  we hosted a Christmas Party for their Department and Steve and Betty were there.  So many fun memories

John and Carol Homer our dear friends from our mission.  They enriched our time in Germany and Austria by having the mission provide comfortable beds, fans, refrigerators, etc to our apartments and always helpful when we needed their help in the mission office.  So grateful they continue to be a part of our lives.

Ed and Vickie Austin - friends from Cumorah Academy and now home from their mission in France and almost neighbors to us.  What a wonderful surprise to have them come and catch up with all they are doing in their lives.  

These are just a few of the people who came and visited our home.  We are so grateful for all who came and let us share our love of Jesus Christ and the Christmas Season.  

Hand Carved in Germany

Betlehem Village - this is a gift from Faye Landham's collection.  Russ set this up for her for many years and it became his favorite.  We feel so blessed to have it in our collection.

Made in Mexico

Christmas Tree and small Nativity in our Bedroom.  We love the glow of the lights and the atmosphere it brings to our room.

EMILY'S COLLECTION
Emily has started a beautiful collection of her own.  She has some from Africa, children, several from the Deseret Book Collection and three trees decorated in her home.  She makes it very special when people enter her home.

Winter scene

FONTANINI
This whole 40 piece set was gifted to me by Marsha Turner this year.  It is a crown jewel in our collection and we look forward to adding buildings and village pieces to complete the set.  Since 1908, The Fontanini family of Bagni di Lucca, Italy has created Nativities and collectibles without equal.  Fontanini means "small fountain"

Nativities from Mexico, Peru, India

This is one of the first Nativities we received when we moved to Texas in 1979.  It was made by a very special friend, Karen Woodruff.  It is an heirloom nativity in my collection.

Most of my Nativities are gifts from special people.  This clay set was crafted by Sam Swan in Texas.  It is a true gift of Love and I cherish the craftmanship and love that it is made of.

JIM SHORE 
Marsha Turner also gifted this American crafted set to us this year.  It is a unique and special addition to our collection

Nigeria Africe
Faye Landham's mother, Melba gifted this set to us.  It was hand crafted in Nigeria and acquired on one of their trips to Africa.  There is so much symbolism in this set that speaks to me.  

THOMAS CLARK LIMITED EDITION
This was a gift from Faye Landham this year.  I have always had a special love for the characters in this set and it is a cherished gift and addition to our collection.  I hope you can see the intricate details.  

Close up of Fontinini
These are the Shepherds in the fields



Below are the Wisemen and the Roman Soldiers.  I love the elephant, camel and horse of the Wisemen.

This is the foyer of our home with this gorgeous mural.  Most people do not look up when they enter - there are so many other things to see.  We have to tell them to look UP and see the beauty of the mural.  As we Look Up in life we are blessed through Jesus Christ - the reason for the Christmas Season

In keeping with that spirit - it also would not be Christmas without SANTA and all that he embodies of the Christmas Spirit.  Russ cherishes our SANTA COLLECTION and loves including it with all of the Nativities,  

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

Once again friends made it possible for us to have a wonderful evening in Salt Lake City at the Tabernacle Choir Christas Concert.  Tii and Mary Lolotai were not able to travel to Utah and offered their ticket to us.  We did not get selected in the lottery for tickets and we have always enjoyed attending the Concert when we have been able to get tickets.  

It was so enjoyable spending the afternoon and evening in Salt Lake and taking in all of the sights and sounds of Downtown.  The Conference Center came alive with all of the Christmas music and stories.

We walked around town, had a quick dinner and then walked through Temple Square to see the lights, reflecting pool and Nativities on Display on our walk to the conference center.  It was a beautiful evening and a nice night to be on the town.  

Our friend Sharon Davey told us about an Organ Concert on Christmas Eve in Provo by a BYU Professor.  Our time in Europe increased our love of Organ music and we love going to Organ concerts.  

This concert was beyond anything we had ever heard.  The Organ in this Church is not typical of what you would see in one of our Chapels.  It was the dream of an organist many years ago and he made it possible for it to be in this Church.  The Star at the top actually spins when the organist plays jubilant songs.  In the Carol of the Birds the organ even made bird chirping sounds.  The musical selections and arrangements of Neil Harmon made it a memorable night and beautiful way to end the evening before Christmas.  

The concert ended with Silent Night and the audience joining in singing.  We want to make this a new tradition on Christmas Eve.

Organ in Chapel

On Christmas Eve Eve we made our Annual Front Runner Train Trip to Salt Lake with Emily, Logan and Preslee to see Downtown, Temple Square and Hot Chocolate.  It is always a fun adventure on the train and so much less stressful than driving.  

SANTA at Cabella's

One of the stops is seeing the historic windows in MACEY"S

The six windows are made entirely of CANDY and each window by a different artist.  I enjoy seeing the artistic talents and vision depicting scenes of Christmas.  

Give Surprise

Giving Machines

Trax Train to get around town

CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY

For over 30 years we have a NIGHT IN BETHLEHEM on Christmas Eve.  The table looked beautiful and the food was delicious.  It is a very simple meal of Chicken in Pita bread, cheese, nuts, dried fruit, many varieties of olives, stuffed grape leaves, chips and Salsa, and fruit breads and baklava.  It was not as festive with just a few of us - we miss having more family or friends with us - but it was a nice evening of gathering and sharing the Christmas story together and sitting among so many of our Nativities.  

Emily in quiet reflection

The biggest smile came from Russ opening his new BYU shirt - it brought him luck as BYU played an awesome game at the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio Texas.  What a great year for Football - Russ got to view a lot of game replays on TV with a winning season!

My Photos for the Blog will be better this next year with my new IPhone that I got for Christmas.  Now I just need to learn how to use it.

Custom made Kodiak oil tanned leather moccasins lined with shearling (real sheep's wool) that is an excellent insulator with natural odor inhibiting properties.  Our son Brian made these for Russ for Christmas.  He said, "making them was such a fun challenge.  There's nothing like turning flat pieces of material into a useful three dimensional object, especially when the object is of such high quality that it will last for years and years. " 

Russ loves the comfort and fit of these new moccasins and we continue to be amazed at the skill and talents that our Son's have in their hobbies.  

It was a very quiet day with two teenagers who did not get up until 10:00 am.  They enjoyed their gifts and spent most of the day in their rooms enjoying their new gifts.  

We delivered our Traditional Homemade Salsa and Chips to our neighbors.  What a difference it is to have them all delivered in 15 min and a 4 block radius instead of driving all over Arlington.  We do miss the visits with everyone in Texas on Christmas Eve.  I only made 20 jars this year and we have some to spare.  

NEW YEARS EVE

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST an THE HALE CENTER THEATRE

Emily was invited to attend the afternoon show and asked me to be her plus 1.  We had such a fun time together as we enjoyed the magnificent production with stirring music and set design.  Such a festive way to end the year!

NEW YEAR'S EVE DINNER

We look forward to this annual tradition every year.  Raclette (Swiss Tradition) is so delicious and a time to slow down and enjoy the process of table grilling steak, shrimp, lots of vegetables, pineapple and apples, boiled potatoes and the featured Raclette Cheese melted over the vegetables -  and whatever else you want to put on the grill.  Everyone cooks their own - so good!

We topped it off with Almdudler - a drink made in Vienna Austria and straight from Germany, Lebkuchen for desert.  

We need to make this more often and not wait just till New Year's Eve -  it is so good and easy prep and clean-up.  

We rang in the New Year with the New York and Nashville Countdowns.  

We are so grateful for the blessings of 2024 and "how merciful the Lord hath been" to us.  

I want to close out this year with some words from our Prophet Russell M. Nelson that expresses my feelings about this time of my life:

"As the prophet Isaiah prophesied, and as memorialized in Handel's Messiah, when Jesus Christ returns,  'the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.'  In that day the government shall be upon his shoulder:  and his name shall be call Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Jesus Christ will govern from both old Jerusalem and the New Jerusalem built upon the American continent.  From these two centers, He will direct the affairs of His Church.

In that day the Lord will be known as 'King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.' Those who are with Him will be called and chosen and faithful.

It is neither too early nor too late for you to become a devout disciple of Jesus Christ.

In a coming day, Jesus Christ will return to the earth as the millennial Messiah.  So today I call upon you to rededicate your lives to Jesus Christ.  

Come unto Christ and offer your whole soul to Him.  This is the secret to a life of joy!"

I learned more about JOY this year.

J - Love of and loving JESUS CHRIST

O - Love of OTHERS

Y - Love YOURSELF

This gave me new meaning to JOY to the World.  I pray we can follow Jesus and Love all of His children all over the world and as we Love ourselves we can give and do so much more for others to bring them the principles of JOY!

And that is a wrap on December 2024!