Politics and My Birthday

It is a bit embarrassing to admit, but I've just begun to really think for myself about politics. I didn't know much about specific issues, I just knew I was inclined to one side. Tennie, who leans toward the opposite side, and who is an activist in her core, has challenged me to defend my positions, to think deeply about what I think about various issues, issues I hadn't really looked at closely before. I am really grateful for her love of people. While we still don't agree about some things, I think we agree more than not on most things. But here is what I realized. I care about people's wellbeing. I care about everyone having opportunity. I care about people who need help. But I don't want the government to take my taxes, and here is why: I don't trust that those tax dollars will go to the people who need it most. I don't trust our government to efficiently and effectively use my dollars. If the government was transparent, like a business with an annual report, and I could follow how and where monies were spent, than I would be happy to share more via taxation. But then I had to ask myself, if I'm not in favor of paying taxes, what am I doing to help those in need of help? This has caused to me to open my mind and heart in new ways. First I have to SEE those who need help.

I began to really notice the homeless people that I pass frequently. One day as I headed out on a walk, I saw two homeless men crossing the street in t-shirts. I had just checked the weather before leaving home: 26 degrees. I wanted to stop them right then and there and ask them what sizes they were and to meet me the next day for their new winter gear! But I didn't, I just kept walking. I regretted my lack of courage and action and tried to find them, but couldn't. But the seed to "cloth the naked" was planted.

Let me say here that everyone in our family has a certain amount of money each month with which to help someone in need. We can spend our allotted amount on anyone we want, or we can coordinate together and give a bigger chunk. Well, we had spent a few months worth just a few weeks before I saw these two men. That was one of my hesitations, the budget was spent, but I wanted to do something. So Geoff and I asked our ward (congregation) if anyone had any spare winter coats, and if so, would they bring them to church the following two Sundays to give to those in need. We gathered about 10-12 coats (the weeks leading up to Christmas is not the most ideal time to ask people to clean out their closets!), and one young couple had knit about 10 hats and some scarves!

My birthday was the Sunday before Christmas. We gathered a few friends and headed out on Trax to sing carols and find those who could use a little warmth. We had Candy Canes and chocolate to share too. We rode Trax to the downtown library, where the homeless warm themselves during the day. Immediately we found people who were lacking adequate warm clothing.

They were so grateful for the sweets, and those who benefited from a hand knit hat or scarf, or coat, were so thankful.

We met a refugee from Sudan with his two children, all underdressed. The dad got one of our last coats, and all got a hat. They were so kind and gracious and grateful.

At our last Trax stop before home we saw a man shivering in a t-shirt. We were out of all of our coats, hats and scarves. A few moments later, another man at the stop took off his coat and hat and gave it to the man, revealing his own thin, ragged shirt. He said he was headed home and could do without. We all stood there humbled. This man evidently did not have a lot, but he had enough compassion and willingness to give the coat off his back. This was a beautiful lesson for all of us there.

It was a small drop in an enormous world of need, but it was something. It was a start.

And it was a great birthday.

Santa is Real

I loved the years my kids believed full-heartedly in Santa (and that lasted a long time!) The idea that there is someone who brings you gifts for all of your efforts to be good, and who is magical and immortal and a giver of joy is so splendidly magical in and of itself. And then we grow up and become too good for such silly notions, and shrink the miracle of Christmas down to a finite, disappointing reality. It is just mom and dad. But it isn't true. Santa is real.

Christ, who IS Christmas, brings us so many gifts. He is all knowing, powerful, the Prince of Peace and the true giver of joy. His light in all of us makes Santa, magical and wonderful Santa, as real as ever. If we are willing to BELIEVE, anticipate, ask for and wait patiently, He will not fail us.

The woman I have been assigned to minister to (in our women's organization we are assigned to look after the wellbeing of a few women) is not an active member of the church. Her choices have led her down difficult paths. Her health is very poor, and her resources are very poor. She has become a good friend. Without Santa, she and her two children would not have a very abundant Christmas. I rallied the women in our congregation to provide Christmas for this family. Money poured in, gift cards were donated, a warm, Christmas dinner was offered, and then I took this mother shopping this past week. We shopped and wrapped and talked.

Today I dropped off the gifts while her kids were at school.

You can't really tell how many gifts are there, but there are a LOT. Some are needs, many are wants. Santa is the Spirit of Christmas, and He most definitely came to this family this year.

What gifts will he bring YOU this year?  BELIEVE.

A Creative Gift

My brother-in-law Davey always gives thoughtful, often self-made, gifts. This year I got Davey for Christmas, and I wanted to do something meaningful. I wanted to give him his own kind of gift. After thinking through a few ideas, I decided to create a simple story book, much like the one I made for Ceci during our last General Conference. His wife Erica helped me brainstorm things he does regularly with the kids and I went to work. Here it is:

A Dad and Four Kids

For Davey, Kate, Eli, Emma & Hannah

There is a lot of LOVE in this book. See how many hearts you can find on each page.

Once upon a time there was a dad and four kids.

They liked to go on hikes and explore.

They liked to make music together.

They loved to swim and play in the pool.

They liked to look for shells on the beach.

They liked to look for birds.

They watched movies.

They really liked to be silly together.

The dad would hold them when they were sad.

Sometimes the dad would read chapter books out loud.

At night the dad pulled out his guitar and sang a song before the four kids went to sleep.

It didn't matter what they did, as long as they were together.

The End.

This was a really fun, creative project for me. I don't sit and create very much. And it was an easy project because Davey really is this great of a dad, and they are always reading books together. I wanted those kids to have images of the amazing father in their lives. But the best part was being thoughtful about what to give. This caused me to slow down and really think about the receiver. 

Geoff and I decided this year to give "favorite things" as gifts. His work colleagues got our favorite book of the year (Beneath the Scarlet Sky). Our family members are getting one of our favorite things that we use all the time. This at least causes us to be a little thoughtful. And when it works, I would love to be like Davey and create something unique and personal. I'm grateful this was one of those years.

Davis Family Christmas Party

On Saturday, Geoff's family gathered for a Christmas party. It was at Em's, as usual, and she has her mother's gift for creating a magical environment! Her home was so merry and bright! All pictures are from Britt, as I left my camera at home!

We made gingerbread houses.

We decorated boxes for the Food Bank (they give out meals in them) and then had an art work show-and-tell.

Santa came and passed out small gifts for the kids. (It was Erica, and she made a delightful Santa!)

We choose names every year, so whoever had a present from someone there opened it. I made a book for Davey (more on it later), and he read it to everyone.

We sang carols around the Christmas tree, holding hands in a large circle, a Davis family tradition. It was so fun being together.

Then we did the hard emotional work of dividing up Geoff's mom's Christmas decorations. These symbolize the magical Christmases Mesha hosted and a host of happy childhood memories. All of us have a little piece of her in our homes now, which is very special.

Merry Christmas to all!

Scrooge - 8th Grade

Last night Ceci's 8th grade class put on A Christmas Carol, and Ceci played Scrooge. The script was short, and the kid's nervousness sped up the lines, so the play was a total of 40 minutes, but it was a fantastic rendition of a great Christmas story. Ceci was a great Scrooge. I put my phone away before Scrooge's transformation, and I wish I had a couple pictures of Scrooge as a jolly old man. Giving Bob Cratchet a raise was my favorite scene.

Bailey was in the play too, of course, because she and Ceci are in the same class, so her family was there, and Nikki came too. And Tennie took the train from BYU to be there.

I love school plays. I love the story of A Christmas Carol. I love supportive family. And I love Ceci who played Mr. Scrooge.

November Wrap-Up

I kicked off November going to St. George to watch my two nephews while my sister-in-law ran the NYC Marathon and my brother joined my other brother in Denver for a Bronco game. Tag and "Dooz" are easy and fun. My mom hung out with us a lot too. And it was sunny and warm. I love St. George. Here are those cute boys cheering for their mom when she crossed the finish line (we tracked her via an app).

Tennie came home to drop her ballot off. It was her first time to VOTE! She cares about issues, so this was a big and exciting event!

While Adele and I were in Greece, Ceci broke her thumb playing basketball with Geoff.

A few days later Geoff, Ceci and Tennie went to Moab where Ceci rock climbed and mountain biked on Slick Rock without a thumb! Not mom approved.

The day after we returned from Greece my mom arrived for Thanksgiving. We spent the vacation Christmas shopping and wrapping, putting together puzzles, going to movies, going on walks and eating a delicious feast. It was a celebration of GRATITUDE for the abundance and goodness in our lives. Adele had bought a fun game at her favorite store in Greece to play after our Thanksgiving dinner.

It is hard to be good at that game!

Tennie got her braces off after three long years. No pictures, though.

Geoff and I celebrated our TWENTIETH wedding anniversary! We're scheming up an adventure to celebrate it, but want warmer months. Stay tuned. On our anniversary we went to the Christkindlmarkt at This is the Place Heritage Park. It is the closest thing to a European Christmas market around!

And aside from that we had a lot of random things fixed in our apartment, so people were coming and going for a few weeks, I worked on some Christmas surprises and preparations, getting mostly ready for the holiday season, and enjoyed the transition from Fall to Winter. It was a good month, a busy month, and it passed by in a wink.

Greece - Part 2

November isn't the best time to visit a Greek Island, but we were too close not to see one, so Santorini was our pick. It was cold and often raining, and most of the restaurants and shops were closed for the season. I should have trained before going because there is a LOT of climbing that goes on there. And it was still magical.

Adele and I flew into the small Santorini airport, got in the taxi our Airbnb host sent for us, and were met at the edge of Oia by a strong local who grabbed our carry-ons and took off. We could barely keep up and tried to take in the view of the dark Crete Sea and the white-washed dwellings that were beyond adorable, all while almost running up and down the narrow pathways that go this way and that in no organized manner to our Airbnb.

For reals. I attempted a panoramic to capture it.

We were really only there one full day, which was enough because there wasn't a lot of swimming or lounging poolside going on. Boat trips weren't going out due to the weather, and shopping was minimal.  Sami and Adele disappeared for a good while for a photo shoot, and Colete and I explored around. 

It is hard to capture the charm of this place, but here are a few feeble attempts. Again, any really good ones of the town (or of Adele) are from Sami. They had a fun time doing the photo shoot.

There were lots of cats in Oia too, only the tourists feed them, and there aren't many tourists this time of year. They followed us, hung around our Airbnb and even let themselves in to solicit our compassion.

These donkeys are how things come in and go out from Oia, even cement for the buildings. They looked like they work hard.

Colete and I ventured out on the hike to Fira, a trail along the ridge of the island through several towns. As we were leaving town a dog started to join us. He was friendly enough so we didn't think much about it. After about 10 minutes we realized we had maybe missed the trailhead. We backtracked and finally found the right place to get on the trail. As we climbed up the hill to get on the trail, who should be waiting for us but that dog! She led the way from then on. We didn't make it the whole way because we got a late start and it was getting dark, but when I looked at my phone that night it said I had walked 6.7 miles and climbed 127 flights of stairs. One day on Santorini!

We're so glad we went, off-season conditions and all. What a uniquely charming place!

NOTE: a delicious restaurant in Oia is Roka. Oh yum.

We had a travel day and stayed the night near the airport in Athens, then had a long flight with two very long layovers to get home. Oh how I love home.

Another amazing shared memory for the books.