Merry White Wishes!!

Merry Christmas from the Cluffs!! My intention was to put this out there ON Christmas, but the illness that overtook my body the afternoon of Christmas Day kept that from happening; nevertheless, the hope from our family to yours is that the time spent with your family and loved ones remembering the birth of our Savior was happy and memorable.

The snow in Flagstaff started falling about the time the sun went down (I don't know if it never really got up on Wednesday) and we woke up on Christmas to a winter wonderland - about 8 inches of snow on the ground and it continued to snow throughout the day. It was a soft, white, beautiful snow, though (it was still COLD!!).

We went to the first showing of "Bedtime Stories" at the theater right down the street from our hotel. We don't typically go to movies on Christmas, although, Carol decided we needed to make this a new tradition. There were quite a few people at the theater when we got there and even more there when we left, but there were only about 30 people in the theater where we were. That was a fun thing to do.

We went from there to IHOP for lunch - one of the few places open. We had to wait for a table because they were packed!! They were only open until 2 and it was after 2 when we left. The employees were definitely ready to finish up and go home.

We went back to our hotel room to relax for the afternoon - took naps, did puzzles, played games. Carol's new addiction is Dutch Blitz so now we just have to make sure we make time for the relaxation part of life in the future.

With the exception of the getting sick part, it was a nice Christmas - great to have some time to relax and have no fixed schedule.

Changing Plans...

We planned to go to the Lowell Observatory on Monday night to see their Holiday Skies show. We called at 4:30 to see if they were going to be open because of the snow and they said yes. By the time we got there an hour later, they were closed!! The guy driving the snow plow up and down the hill said they had problems with employees driving on the hill so they decided it would be best to close. We took a few pictures and took a slow drive down the hill and went to WalMart instead...

We decided to go back yesterday to take a tour of the Observatory during the day, but the stars were not in our favor - they were closed because of Christmas Eve...

We were planning on going up to South Rim of the Grand Canyon on Wednesday, but the weather forecast called for the snow and chains were recommended. The low brake fluid light had come on in the van so we tried to buy chains when we dealt with the brake fluid, but they did not have any. At that point we decided it wasn't worth it to take the risk since the storm was expected (it turns out the snow didn't start until later in the evening, but we had no way of knowing that at 9:30 in the morning).

Because of the snow that fell and was on the ground most of the week, most of the outdoor activities that we had talked about doing were put on hold until another season of the year when we can make a return trip.

Greetings from Riordan Mansion!!

Well, we made our break from the Valley Christmas this week and were greeted with snow 20 miles outside of Flagstaff. This meant we have had to modify some of the things we had hoped to do, but we did get to tour the Riordan Mansion State Historic Park.

The Mansion was built in 1904 for two Riordan families. The two wings are basically mirror images of each other with a center common room adjoining them. It was built in the "arts and crafts" style and is filled with original furnishings. Both floors of the east wing can be toured and have some great furnishings. Nothing can be touched except for a Steinway grand piano, which I was invited to play as the only one in the group who could play the piano. I told Duane we could just pack that up and take it home with us.

The east wing is only open on the first floor and is filled with memorabilia and examples of what life was like for the lumber industry in Flagstaff in the early 1900s as well as what the family was like through the years. Family and education were two things that were very important to the Riordans and this is evident in their homes. The homes and the contents belonging to the families were donated to the state.

We all love historical stuff so it was very interesting to us.

Countdown Continues...

3) I get the opportunity to teach Presidents of the Church in Sunday School next year. We have had great lessons this year on preparing for exaltation and the steps we need to take on a daily basis to return and live with our Heavenly Father. What a great blessing and what great discussions we have had. The prophets of the Lord are such great men and positive examples in our lives - getting to spend a year studying their lives will be a great blessing.

4) We are going to get a project finished at home... I don't know what project it is going to be since we have so many started, but we will get one done (or maybe more than one).

5) I am going to take time to actually finish reading the books we choose to read for book club...

6) I am going to get back into the habit of regular scripture study. When I am in that habit in my life, it adds such a great peace, I need to remember that and stick with it!

7) I am going to make time for me every day (okay, well maybe not every day, but even once a week is an improvement).

8) We have season tickets to the Hale Theatre for 2009. They have some great shows coming and we get to go as a family to see "Beauty and the Beast" and "7 Brides for 7 Brothers" (among others)... I can't wait until January!

9) We also are going to see "The Lion King" and "Wicked" at Gammage. Through the Mesa Chamber, we got discount tickets. "Wicked" tickets aren't even on sale to the general public yet and we already have ours!!! Carol saw it in London so she can't wait to see it again.

10) I get to participate this week with the Chamber in wrapping gifts for a family from Save the Family. I love this annual project and the associations I have through Women's Business Council.

11) We are thoroughly enjoying the Christmas movies - the problem we run into is not getting them recorded off fast enough and running out of space on the DVR.

12) I am looking forward to finding some order in my life... filling my vessel with the spirit of organization... I used to feelk much more in control - I would like to head back in that direction.

13) I am looking forward to a Christmas that focuses on the spirit of Christ and his life - the example He set for us to follow, the peace we can have each day because of the life He lived.

HALFWAY THERE...

"Come What May, and Love It"

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin died yesterday in his sleep. He was 91. He went to his office up until Thanksgiving. He was a great servant of the Lord. His talks provided some great moments of inspiration through the years.

The talk he gave at the last General Conference was called "Come What May, and Love It." It gives wonderful counsel on dealing with adversity. One day after his team lost a football game, his mother gave him the counsel to come what may, and love it. "...in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result."

He shared the things he has learned over the years to help him through times of testing and trials...

1) Learn to Laugh - "The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable."

2) Seek for the Eternal - "Because Jesus Christ suffered greatly, He understands our suffering. He understands our grief. We experience hard things so that we too may have increased compassion and understanding for others.

Remember the sublime words of the Savior to the Prophet Joseph Smith when he suffered with his companions in the smothering darkness of Liberty Jail: 'My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

'And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.'

With that eternal perspective, Joseph took comfort from these words, and so can we. Sometimes the very moments that seem to overcome us with suffering are those that will ultimately suffer us to overcome."

3) The Principle of Compensation - "The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude."

4) Trust in the Father and the Son - "The Lord Jesus Christ is our partner, helper, and advocate. He wants us to be happy. He wants us to be successful. If we do our part, He will step in."

What great advice for all of us as we face the daily trials of life. What a great man and a great example. A great loss, but an eternal source of inspiration.

His eternal optimism (and love of football - even if it was that red team) is a great reminder that there is always something positive to look forward to. No matter what happens to throw me off today, tomorrow is another day and another opportunity to make the most of what is thrown in my path. I think I need to make "Come What May, and Love It" my new theme!!! (maybe someday I will have time to embroider that on a sampler... ha! ha!) Bless You for your wisdom Elder Wirthlin.

25 Days of Christmas!!!

It's December already - it is so hard to believe that the countdown to Christmas is on. One of the most exciting things we look forward to at our house is all the Christmas movies. We have the schedules printed out for ABC Family's "25 Days of Christmas", "Fa la la la Lifetime", and The Hallmark Channel with all those we want to record highlighted. Too bad we have to do other things in life, like go to work and go to school and sleep, we could spend all our time watching fun Christmas movies - and we must not forget the popcorn and Diet Pepsi!!!

December is shaping up to be the usual busy month, but as we move from Thanksgiving into the Christmas season we can look forward to the end of one year and the beginning of another. As I count off the 25 days of Christmas in movies, I also need to think about 25 things we have to look forward to as we count down to Christmas and turn the pages of the calendar to 2009. I know where I can start...

1) We all have two full weeks off at Christmas (that is the best news of all!!!)
2) We are going to take advantage of the opportunity and head north for a few days to relax over Christmas

Two down, twenty-three to go...