Yes, December brings the joys of Christmas but I first must talk about the passing of Mom Rita's just a week and a day before she turned 100. Mom was living here in Utah with Sam and Kathy and was quickly decreasing in her abilities. On Saturday, December 5, Deon and I went to Sam's to stay with Mom while Sam and Kathy drove to Rexburg, Idaho to be in the temple with their granddaughter when she received her endowments. Deon and I were given in depth instructions as to Mom's schedule and how to dress her, to administer her medications, what and when to feed her and when to put her to bed. We were so grateful for this opportunity to serve our mom. She could hardly move when we lifted her from her bed to her wheelchair or from her wheelchair to her recliner in her room. It took both Deon and I to do these simple tasks. Mom was only eating a few bites of her food and then would want to go back in her room to sit in her recliner. She was in her bed for the night at 5 pm and didn't wake the next morning until after 10. She could communicate only a little but seemed to know who we were. As we left her, Sunday afternoon, we were able to tell her how much we loved her and to basically say our goodbyes. We knew it was only a matter of a day or two more that she would be with us on this earth. When Kathy returned home on Sunday, she noted that Mom's condition had worsened even in the 27 hours they were away. About 15 minutes after we left, Kathy called to let us know that Mom was already asking to be put to bed. It was only 2:15 in the afternoon. I don't think she got out of bed after that.
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| Mom watching Sacrament meeting with us on the computer |
On Monday, Sam and Kathy let everyone know that if they wanted to come see Mom before she passed, they should come that evening. Since we had just been there, we opted not to go but her daughter, Kathy Morgan, and several of the Morgan and Bulkeley grandchildren came to sit by her bed and tell her good bye. Deon's granddaughter, Morgan, also went to see her. We got word the next morning that Mom had passed away. The Fullers and Paul and I drove to Sam and Kathy's later that morning and had a wonderful time in the room with Mom, our own private viewing. It was a sweet experience to reminisce about the wonderful things Mom had done for our family. We couldn't be sad for her as she was now released from her body which was hardly functioning. She was also back home with Dad and Thad as well as her brothers and parents. So grateful for opportunity we had to have Mom Rita a part of our lives. She was a God send to our family when our own Mom passed 53 years ago.
Her funeral was held on Saturday, the 15th. Her body was prepared at an Alpine mortuary and then shipped to Bakersfield, California for the funeral. It had to be held via Zoom, as Dad's had been. All of the Bulkeley children and their spouses were able to attend the funeral in person. Steve, Kathy Morgan, Kathy Bulkeley, and Don gave beautiful tributes to Mom. The bishop gave some closing remarks and then Sam dedicated the grave. Deon and I gave the opening and closing prayers via Zoom. It was a wonderful affair and brought closure to all of us. She will be missed but we know we will all be together again in the eternities. Thank goodness for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the testimony we have of eternal life with families.
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| Ready for the funeral to start via Zoom |
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| At the gravesite after the dedication of the grave |
Now for the Joys of Christmas........even in 2020.
We thought we would be in Oregon for Christmas but with new COVID restrictions in Oregon being put in place, we decided to cancel our trip. Luckily the airlines are being very lenient as to flight changes so they gave us until next December to use our airline credits. The hotel we booked for Eugene was easily canceled and World Mark points returned to our account. We were sad not to be able to be with our Oregon families but felt it much safer to stay home and avoid the airport crowds, plus everything was closed in Oregon and gatherings were to be limited. With the cancelation of plans, we quickly got packages in the mail to the Millars and the Westovers and they scrambled to send theirs to us. Luckily all arrived in time for Christmas Day.
With Christmas decorations up in November, the only preparations left for Christmas was baking - tea rings to be exact. I baked 27 of them to give to neighbors, friends, and family. Every time we delivered one to someone we had given to in previous years, they raved about how much they loved them and looked forward to them each year. Paul's counselor, Todd Finney sent a text right after we delivered his to his family to show us it was already half gone. The next day he sent a text asking us if he could bribe us with $20 for another one. Paul texted back and said, "We'll have to see what Santa can do." On the evening before Christmas eve, Paul, donning a Santa hat, delivered the Finneys another tea ring. They were thrilled.
During this Christmas season a special thing happened. On December 21, we witnessed what everyone called the Bethlehem star. It was a celestial occurrence which hadn't been seen in over 800 years. Two planets, Saturn and Jupiter, came close enough together so as to appear as one giant star. It appeared just after sundown in the Southwestern sky. I loved the pictures people posted and the memes that accompanied the event.
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| From a friend in Heber |
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| From my brother in St. George |
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| A funny meme- but true |
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| A beautiful thought to help us remember that God is with us |
Part of the Christmas celebration this year was to follow the Light the World suggestions of service found on a daily calendar for December. We didn't do all of them but did try and serve others as we found a need. One day we decided to honor a dear friend who is almost 90 years old. He is responsible for taking care of his 90 year old wife who is pretty much wheelchair bound. We bought him a huge donut from a local donut shop and gave it to him with a sign, 'Donut forget how much you are loved.' He was thrilled when we delivered it to him. Another day we decided to honor a doctor in our ward who was struggling with the symptoms of COVID. We took him a tearing with a poem attached to it to let him know we were thinking of him and his family. We enjoyed giving to the food bank and to a Christmas box fund as well. We did miss not being able to go the Giving Machines as we have for the past two year to donate to people in need abroad.
We started our celebration of Christmas with Todd and Kailee and family on the Sunday before Christmas. We had our traditional Christmas dinner of ham, potatoes au gratin, peas along with strawberry Jello salad....and of course, a sugar plum. For dessert I made a mint chip dessert with a brownie crust. We loved having the them up here and being able to sense the girls excitement for Christmas. Two of Kailee's sisters and their families spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Todd and Kailee so they had a houseful which is why we opted for a Sunday celebration rather then being with them on Christmas. Kailee's parents opted not to come, also, as they were concerned about COVID, too.
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| Avery was fascinated with all the Santas under the tree |
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| The Millar traditional sugar plum |
On Christmas Eve, Paul and I were alone so I made a delicious prime rib dinner for the two of us. After dinner, we watched a couple of Christmas movies and called it a night. The next morning was our traditional tea ring and scrambled egg breakfast and, of course, the opening of our presents from our children. Later in the afternoon, Jon and Mindi and Mindi's children came up for a Christmas dinner with us. I served Chicken Oscar with garlic shrimp, rice pilaf, broccoli, and strawberry slush. It was a big hit with all of them. They stayed till about 7:30 after which Paul and I relaxed with another movie. It was a good holiday, even if we were more alone than had been originally planned. We talked with or face timed each of our family members so we felt we were somewhat a part of their Christmas, too.
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| Our candlelit, prime rib dinner |
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| Presents ready to be opened |
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| Christmas dinner with Jon's family |
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| Jon and Mindi worked on a puzzle Ryan had given us. They got it all done except the sky pieces. |
I had started the puzzle earlier on Christmas day, getting the border done and several of the dome tops of the cathedrals put together. Jon and Mindi worked until all the buildings and surrounding scenery were complete. Paul sat down the next day and finished it. He was very meticulous about how he went about working the sky pieces of the puzzle. He divided them into groups according to shapes and then tried each piece in the appropriate group until he found the right fit.
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| The completed puzzle of St. Basil, a famous cathedral in Moscow, Russia |
I can't leave Christmas without a couple of memes........
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| An appropriate decoration for Christmas 2020 |
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| An important reminder for us during Christmas |
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| Loved this.....He's always there. Only a prayer away. |
COVID 19 is still very much a reality in December. The numbers of cases and deaths are on the rise but good news came this month. A vaccine was developed in record time and approved for distribution in December. Health care workers were the first to get the vaccine followed by people in long term care facilities and the workers there. We have been told that a vaccine for those the age of Paul and I will probably be available to us in February. That's ok with us as we want to make sure there are no side effects from taking it. Two months will be a good trial.
The 2020 Presidential election is still a topic in the news and in our prayers. The evidence of fraud and manipulation of votes is overwhelming yet the courts refuse to hear the facts. Even the Supreme court of the land ruled that it would not take any election fraud cases until after January 20th Presidential inauguration. Of course, a ruling of fraud then will do no good after Joe Biden is put in as the president. Our government officials - the judges and the senate - are showing themselves as a bunch of cowards. They are afraid violence will break out if they rule against the certified election results - results that are impossible based on all logic. It is obvious that Trump won in a landslide if you take away the illegal votes and the votes manipulated by the voting machines. Our country and our freedoms must be preserved. If this election is allowed to stand with Joe Biden as the President elect, we will not even recognize America in four year. Millions of us are praying daily that God will show His hand and save our country.
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| Here's hoping!!!!! |
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| This is all we can do. Put our country in the Lord's hands |
With the new year upon us, we are all praying for a better 2021. With the vaccine, here's hoping we can return to some sort of normalcy. Let's hope we can put away the masks and actually tell when someone is smiling at us. Let's hope we can once again gather as friends and family and actually hug each other. Let's hope we can stop having to stay 6 feet apart and that we can again travel without fear of getting sick. Let's hope businesses and restaurants can open up again at full capacity so their owners can support their families. Let's hope children can begin in-person school without interruptions. Let's hope we can return to worshipping together at church - not in small groups but as a whole congregation. That's a lot to hope for but we will continue to have faith that it can all happen sooner then later.
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| Typical of 2020 |
Now, to bring a smile to our face, here's pictures of Aria and Avery.
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| Aria at her preschool Olympic games |
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| Avery pretending to be LuLu, a dog, in her fort of couch pillows and a blanket. This is a weekly occurrence at our home on Sundays. |
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