Christmas Day Family Party

We had fun gathering at the Burbidge’s home this year.  We all met at 5pm.  Trisha fixed yummy Chicken noodle soup and sliders.  After dinner we played the gift exchange game.  Fun to see what everyone picks out.  After our game we watched the new Wonder Women 2 movie that came out Christmas Day.  Buck ordered it ahead of time so we could watch it in their movie theater room.  Fun for all the family to eat pop corn and watch the movie.  Another Christmas with the family.  We missed the Towner family and Cole this year.  We are very blessed.  Everyone has been healthy and able to gather is a big blessing with the virus going around.  

Noriega Family 

Our Saydee bug with her slipper and Christmas $ from us.

Our Aubrey Girl- 

Our Karlee’s J

Karlee, Aubrey, Saydee best cousins 

Grandpa Symes holding our baby Cora she is standing up by herself and will be walking soon. 

Jacob and Boston with our gift- a floating UFO and Christmas money for spending.  We give each grand child $50 or. Values gift adding up to the amount.  

Christmas Morning

We got up early and drove out to the Chaudhry family to spend Christmas morning with them- they weren’t up when we arrived at 8am.  We had to roust them out of bed.  Michael came to the door.  Little Ashtyn was hard to wake up.  Fun to see them all open their Santa gifts.  Michael got a new snowboard. Little Ashtyn got a new doll House.  We gave her a Barbie set she will love to play with.  After a couple of hours we went over to the Thomas family to see what Santa brought them.  We gave them our Christmas gifts-we surprised our adult children with a generator this year.  They have all liked it. Shan & Ryan love their new generator it was a big surprise for them!  

Tasha & Bridger with their new generator

Christmas Eve

It’s here !!  Craig and I drove around to see the Christmas lights.  We then came back to exchange our gifts.  A quite evening for us.  We watched a Christmas movie and ate pop corn.  We were at the ER last Christmas Eve.  So nice to not be doing that this year even through we were just there last Saturday. Trying to figure out what is going on with Craig this year.  I love my dear hubby so very much.  I surprised him with a new razor-he was needing one. His other one broke-  I also gave him a new winter shirt and two pairs of causal pants.  He gave me some pretty earrings. Gift card for a pedicure and massage and $100 Bill which was a nice surprise for me.  

 

Stacy facetimed us last night with the kids opening a gift from us. They were all

So darling.  Fun to see how much they liked their gift.  It brighten our night talking to them.  Little Enzo really loved his Pal Patrol set we gave him.  Stacy did good picking out gifts for the kids for them to open on Christmas Eve from Grandpa and Grandma Symes. 

Snow Skiing

The Burbidge family came up Monday night to go snow skiing on Tuesday-  fun to have them for a few days.  We all had a great time skiing.  

Trisha and Her Momma Debbie yes I can still snow ski at 63 almost 64 yrs old. 

Burbidge Family and Grammy snow skiing - we all had a great time.

Boston - this was his first time and he did really well.

Trisha and Grammy on the ski lift- it started snowing on us- lots of snow.  I only skied half day.  I couldn’t last any longer. I’m not as strong as I would like to be. It is getting harder but I did it.  We all left to today to head back to the valley.  Craig has a doctor appt. this afternoon a follow up from his ER visit.  Trying to figure out why his blood pressure keeps jumping up so high.  

Wee Morning Hours At ER

Saturday night Craig and I were watching a movie- when he suddenly like felt he was going to pass out- very light headed.  He got up pacing the floor and shaking his arms.  We took his blood pressure and it had peaked to 232/124 that is off the chart extremely too high!  I told him we were going to the ER again - I would not be able to sleep worrying about him. Dewayne  Gifford in our ward is a  EMT and can over to check him out before we head out it had dropped to 190 which is still way to high.  We drove down Logan Canyon which isn’t fun for me at night.  I knew my blood pressure was going to be up when we arrived.  It is almost an hour drive there and back.  We sat in the ER in the wee morning hours. We didn’t leave until after midnight.   They did the same routine as before but this time did give him some medicine for the high blood pressure.  We arrived home about 5:30am.  We were both very tired  and fell asleep for a few hours.  We had to miss church.  We just rested the rest of day.  We were having ward members for dinner but cancelled.  Friday we spent the afternoon handing out our 48 ward Christmas gifts.  Fun to visit with the members I have not seen for months.  Saturday I made an eggnog bread a recipe.  I have wanted to try and passed it out.  Veronica was so thrilled when I dropped off the bread and sparkling cinder.  Fun to see her reactions made it worth taking the time to cheer up her day. Glad we got our gifts handed out.  Today spending time with my hubby- fun to reflex- our lives since we met 49 years ago.  We got out our old photos and posted some on facebook.  We have enjoyed seeing what people post we have known over the years.  We are going to lunch at Codeys.  We plan to watch for the once in a life time Alignment of Saturn and Jupiter tonight that will appear like the Christmas star when the Savior was born.  Sure hope the sky is clear tonight.  The Burbidge’s family are coming up tonight to go snow skiing tomorrow.  Excited for them to come spend the night with us. Enjoying the day with my hubby and so grateful the life we have shared together, we are so very blessed!! 

Our Dating Anniversary

December 21st is our dating anniversary today.  My sweet husband remembers every year and surprises me with something special.  Today he posted a sweet message on Facebook with fun old pictures of us when we met 49 years ago.  

49 years ago today I  met and fell in love with the love of my life.  Crazy how at such a young age we fell  in love. It was perfect timing. The stars were aligned just right- just a Jupiter and Saturn align just right this night. So grateful for my beautiful wife. Our love was transformed from longing to belonging 49 years ago today. 

Love ya Forever your husband Craig

Craig and Debbie in high School  debbie 10th grade and Craig a Sr. 1972

Craig with his beloved first car a Firebird 

Craig & Debbie at a family outing 

Easter 1972

One of our favorite pictures married 5 years 1882

Dinner At Cafe Sabor

We stayed at our Draper home from Sunday evening after Lincoln’s birthday till Wednesday afternoon. Craig had to get back for a Bishopric training meeting.   We made it up just in time for him to attend 8pm- Craig had his stress test at 2:30pm-  everything seemed to be ok.  We will have to wait for him to meet with Doctor Romney to see what the results are.  He has felt better today.  He blood pressure is up high so he has got to figure out how to get it lowered.   I enjoyed our short time in Draper.  Monday we went to the gym to work out- feels good to go back to our old gym.  We went Christmas shopping.  We bought 5 generators for each family as an emergency preparedness if we were to lose power.  We are giving money to each of our 20’grandkids this year.  Tuesday I was able to finish up our Christmas shopping and wrapped what few presents  I bought.  Went to the $ store and got all my Christmas cards.  I ran into Sharae Pettit there.  Fun to see her. And chat a bit.  Wednesday it was nice to tidy up our home and enjoy my Christmas decorations.  I got things all tidied up and ready for Craig to return for his test.  We had to head out fast in order to get back in time for his meeting.  It has snowed all day today and feeling like Christmas.  Only 9 more days!  We are going to Trisha home Christmas Day for our family Christmas party.  Stacy and her family aren't coming this year - staying in California.  They are going to Hawaii on January 2nd and don’t won’t to risk getting sick before their trip-  they were just here a month ago.  We took Robert Vaugh a single man in our Ward  to dinner tonight to Cafe Sabor.  He is very lonely so it was nice to spend time with him.  Fun to go to Sabor and see our local friends for dinner.  We just heard tonight a Bishop in our stake had two of his sons in a car accident this morning and the oldest- a senior was killed- the other still in the hospital.   It is so sad especially this time of year.  Prayers of comfort for their family this night.  

Lincoln 11th Birthday

Today is our Lincoln’s 11th birthday the years have gone by all to fast.  His parents both posted such sweet tributes to their oldest son.  Lincoln is a great joy in all our lives and so very proud of him.  Natasha invited us over for a dinner tonight.  It was fun to hang out with their family for a few hours. 

Thomas family in their Sunday Best.  

Love this picture of baby Cora and Annie’s shoes.  

At the ER again /Saturday Morning

Craig was having severe pain on his right upper chest again last night and not feeling well today.  We just drove back up to lake last night.  He wanted to attend his church meetings this weekend so back to lake. Cant keep my hubby still in one place.  We were just heading back to Draper after church tomorrow to have a COVID -19 test and to attend a birthday dinner for our Lincoln -  his birthday is the 13th - Natasha invited us to dinner.  Craig talked to a doctor on call this morning and she told him to go to the ER again- we first went to the instacare and they referred us to the ER which I knew going there was a waste of time for us- so we are now at the Logan ER.  They were good about getting him in fast and getting thing going. They did an ekg- that looks good -  they are going to test his stomach possible bleeding ulcer and checking the small veins around his heart.  So we are going to be here for a while- the one test we are waiting an hour.  His blood pressure was 191/110 so it is very high when we first came in.  He does have something going on, just trying  to figure it out. Process of elimination-  trying to rule out the heart at this point. After he ate dinner last night he started hurting really bad.  So makes us think something with his stomach.  I thought his gall bladder but he isn’t hurting on that side where the gall bladder is-  the nurse is taking him for a Ct scan.   Sure hope we can figure something out today.  He for sure is fighting something?

Thomas Grand Kids Dance Recital

I went to the dance recital last night to see our little Annie perform two dances and Lincoln and Winston perform their hip-hop dance- they all did such a great job so fun to see them -love these little grandkids so much they bring such joy into our lives

Craig At The ER

Can I drove down to Draper on Monday afternoon. Tasha invited me to attend the children’s dance Christmas recital on Tuesday night so I wanted to be there and support them. We ran a few errands working on engraving flashlights for Christmas presents for the young men’s and possibly our grandkids. That evening Craig was not feeling well- had lightheadedness coming on and his blood pressure was very high 199/110 is extremely high. He felt he should go to the emergency to be checked out. We headed over to the hospital at about 9:30 PM and were there till midnight. They didn’t find anything alarming while there they have scheduled some other heart test to be done this week so at least he’s got things going- it’s hard to get into a doctor and he needs to see a good cardio doctor- they gave some recommendations. On our way out we ran into Eric and Anita Towner. He was having a lot of the same symptoms funny to run into them. I called to check on Eric the next morning and he is doing better -he had his kidney that flared up, which Craig's kidney has been temperamental to- it’s odd they have similar symptoms. He does have a stress test scheduled for this Thursday. We’re supposed to keep track of his blood pressure each day a couple of times for the next week, it was still high last night 157/99 just have to keep a close watch on his symptoms.  

Fun Weekend

We had a fun weekend with the Burbidge family. They came to the lake for the weekend. It was fun to sit up late Friday night and visit. Buck and Trisha helped us put some lights on the house along the garage and Craig and I wrapped lights around one of the pine tree trunks so we have a few Christmas lights this year. I taught Gospel doctrine Sunday I was a little nervous starting out but things went well- we only have 25 minutes  from start to finish with our class time- so it is very short to cover much material.  I did receive a nice compliment from one of the sisters in the ward.  

Merry merry merry Christmas to you!!! Love your hair btw!! Makes your eyes sparkle!! Thanks for a truly outstanding gospel doctrine discussion on Sunday!! Luv you guys!!.  So nice of her to send me a text.  I’m trying to invite the spirit in my lesson time and pray that hearts are touched- our spirits are strengthen in gospel knowledge.  The Burbidge family head home early afternoon.  All alone again sad when they left.  

Christmas Lighting

Craig and I went to the Garden City Christmas Tree lighting the first time here at lake, they had fireworks- hot coco and Donuts- it was fun to visit with the locals and enjoy the beginning of the Christmas season.  I spent the last two days decorating the cabin for Christmas this year.  It turned out pretty.  We starting hanging some lights outside too.  Buck and Saydee are coming up t night to help us hang some light outside tomorrow.  It will be fun to have some lights at the lake this year,  

Loved the fire works 

My decorating is down!! Turned out pretty this year. 

The fireplace mantel turned out pretty, the first time I sagged the garland on it.  

I set the table pretty this year.  Love the Christmas Red and brown tones at our lake home.  

Tommy’s Birthday

December 4th is my baby brother’s birthday today.  I do love him- just feel we have grown apart over the years. I’m 12 years older than him which is a huge age difference.  The years have gone by all to fast- it seem like yesterday when we brought him home from the hospital as a newborn.  My mother was serving as the Denton ward relief society president.  A young teen had become pregnant and wanted to have someone in the church adopt him. My mother was asking around for a family interested.  As she prayed about it she felt she should be the  mother to adopt the newborn baby.  We didn’t no if it was going to be a boy or girl.  Delivery day came- the hospital  called and said we could come pick him up.  He was only one day old when we brought him home with us.  My mother said -   Oh I’ve wished we had pictures of that day you three kids were looking over the seat at him and I said oh he’s so beautiful and Heavenly Father gave you to us -Debbie said mommy “he’s smiling “ I was a second mother  to him- loved caring for him as a baby.  We all enjoyed him very much. As he learned to talk and walk he was our entertainment in the evenings as family- he gave us lots of laughter.  Tommy has been a great blessing in my mother’s life.  He has always been there to help and care for her.  I’m glad he has been there to support her after the passing of John Wallace who raised Tommy-  John and my mother married in 1975 - and he adopted all my siblings.  I was already married and raising my own family. 

Picture of Tommy and I at dinner a favorite Mexican restaurant 2016 when our mother was turning 80 years old- I flew to Texas to be there.  

This picture was taken last fall October 2019 with my two brothers John Wesley, Mother and Tommy and me in the back.  We are getting older now- Tommy just had their first grandbaby this week December 1st-  they are starting a new season as grandparents. 

Christmas Decorating

Trying to get in the Christmas mood at the lake-  I have been slow getting out my decorations. It is a lot of work.  So see how it turns out this year.  I like to create new looks each year with the things I have collected.  So today dragging it out- turning on the Christmas music and work my magic this year.  

Tribute to My Mother

I want say how thankful I am for my mother.  I love and appreciate the life she has given me.  She has taught me much over the years.  She is strong and has endured much over her 84 years.  I love her Whit and humor.  She is a ray of sunshine.  She is hard working and very talented, she makes everything around her more beautiful.  She loves her pink roses and gardening and past this on to me, something we share -the love of digging in the dirt and planting flowers.  She is caring and gives love to all she meets.  I know you are getting tired and your body has aged with aches and pains daily- yet you keeping going with a smile on your face- I just want to say I love you mother ❤️🌹

She replied back : Thank you so very much my beautiful baby girl , my first born it was such a special day when I first saw you counting your little toes and fingers and thanking Heavenly Father for such a perfect little baby girl , you have always blessed my life ... my love for you is so deep in my heart forever♥️

My Beautiful Mother- she looks awesome for her age and has always taken great pride how she looks each day of her life, puts a smile on and keeps going!!

We had a great time last October 2019 at our girls weekend retreat- we had some good laughs- with my sister Michele and my mother.  

December 2nd - Wednesday

Stacy posted the sweetest tribute to her mother on facebook.  Our Stacy is very gifted in showing her love and appreciation to her parent’s.  Ever since she was a young girl learning to write she has written love notes to her parents.  She is so thoughtful - I really appreciate  the love notes to me and her daddy over the years.   It makes us closer to one another....

I love my Mom and I am grateful for her example. She has taught me, how to do my hair and to be my best self, to take pride in what I do, to love myself and others, how to forgive, to be creative, to keep a house clean, how to make yummy potato soup, to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, to read, to study the scriptures, to work hard for what I want, how to decorate a home, to love God, crying helps, to laugh each day, to be happy, family first, to be a good sport, and to serve others. #

Fun picture we took by Natasha's Christmas tree this year at Winston’s baptism day last Saturday- so grateful for Stacy and her little family, they were in town to share in this very special day in our family, another child of God accepting God into his life and beginning the covenant path to God.  I so enjoyed our short time as mother and daughter.  

I liked this post my mother has shared on Facebook yesterday about the meaning of Christmas and wanted to share in my blog.  Day two of the Christmas season and striving today to bring light in the world to others- Craig and I are going to take our popping in handouts we made last month to several of the new families that have moved in the ward recently.  I also want to stop by the Garden City food bank to check it out to see where I can help. I need to finish packing away my fall decorations.  And start putting out a few Christmas decorations for our home here at the lake.  Last night I found a Netflix’s serious called Mr Cluas- he is a decorator who takes on decorating projects to bring the Christmas spirit in their home or business.  I so enjoyed the creating process that goes into the projects and then seeing it come alive.  Decorating brings me great joy.  I wasn’t going to do much decorating here at the lake but after watching last night up till 1am - put me in the Christmas spirit to start creating something of beauty.  See where the day ends up.  It is a special time of year to reflect on the many blessing in our lives and give Thanks to God for the life we have been blessed with. Each day is truly a gift from God. Craig was very thoughtful today in posting on his Facebook page a tribute to his son-in-laws - I wanted to share: 

Light the World

December 1st 2020 the Christmas season is here!  Now I need to get in the Christmas spirit.  Doing things for others is what makes me happy.  I spent time with my hubby today helping him to feel better. He is really depressed about his knee.  He has no energy and had a hard time catching his breath today while riding his bike.  I told him he needs to call the doctor and make an appointment with the cardiologist. He needs to be checked he’s been coughing at night too and I remember his dad doing the same thing with his heart condition.  Managed to get 40 minutes on the elliptical trainer today which felt good and listen to the book of Moroni. I’m teaching Gospel doctrine this Sunday so I need to start preparing I get so nervous the week before I teach. Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten my mind and calm my spirit and help me to remember what I need to prepare for. After my work out my mother text me needing help with her health insurance she was in tears. She just needed to change her address for her prescriptions to be mailed. With her moving to Tommy‘s house she’s had to change all her doctors and update her address.  It’s not an easy task and it is very frustrating I can understand so I helped her two hours later we finally got it done. From there I had to clean up my messy kitchen.  I cooked dinner last night for a sister in the ward that had surgery three weeks ago.  Veronia had to have an emergency surgery and they cut her stomach open so it’s not an easy surgery to recover from- she was very grateful that I called and offered to bring dinner last night. Craig wanted me to fix lasagna so I made some for both of us- it did turn out really good.  I made a yummy peach crisp. She text me later and thanked me for such a yummy dinner. I enjoy cooking for the members in the ward and giving compassionate service for those in need. I’m getting a reputation of being a very good cook for all the yummy meals I have been fixing.  I was too tired to clean up last night so here I am cleaning up the dishes this afternoon. I then had to sit down and start studying my Gospel doctrine material for Sunday I have enjoyed reading the Scriptures today. I was finally able to start tackling the project of putting my fall decorations away. I’ve been able to gather them all up and pack them away- just need to put them in the lower garage tomorrow it’s cold and dark outside now.  It officially the Christmas season. I’m listening to Christmas music while I take the decorations down to make room for Christmas decorations.  Not sure how much I’m going to decorate at the lake this year it’s only 3 1/2 weeks away and I’m babysitting a whole week for Natasha so I’ll be gone. I would like to spend more time at our Draper Home this year. I did put my Christmas tree up and started decorating there after Thanksgiving while we were there for the week so it will be pretty and Christmasy when we go back down to our Draper Home. This has been a full day. I printed the calendar for lighting the world with suggestions each day of what we can do to give light to those around us.  Suggestion today was to donate money -to give to someone in need. I called Sister Madsen to find out about the Garden City food bank to see what I can do to help there. She said they are short on supplies this month people haven’t been donating as much she was going to Logan tomorrow to a food bank there to pick up food that they donate and see what they are lacking she would let me know so that I could help out. The food bank is open tomorrow from 1 to 4 so I think I’ll go down and just check it out and see what it’s like- I’ve never actually been there. Stacy’s been so good at posting on her Facebook page#GiveThanks she posted the sweetest post -

I am grateful for my Dad. He has taught me, to work and play hard, to let my light shine, how to save, to serve others, hugging always makes it better, to be honest, how to vacuum, how to organize a garage, how to mow the lawn, how to waterski, to be smart, how to make warm pudding and enjoy life. #givethanks

I am grateful to be their Mother. These kids teach me every day the most important lessons. #givethanks

I’m proud of her the wonderful mother she has become.  

Such a darling picture of Stacy with her kiddies.  Love them all so very much.  This has been an eventful day- My brother Tommy and Richelle are celebrating the birth of their first grandbaby born December 1st, 2020.  They are naming her Sadie Wallace.  I know they are really excited for a baby girl in the family after they had three boys- The blessing of life- after just burying Richelle’s mother on Saturday and now the birth of their 1st grandbaby hopefully will help to heal the sorrow they have been feeling.  

My Nephew Seth Wallace with his new baby girl - Sadie Wallace 

She looks a lot like her daddy Seth and looks like she has red hair too!! So precious- this has been a day of lighting the world with the birth of a new born added to our family tree.