Book Club Christmas Party

Dang.....I belong to a great book club.  I love these women and I love reading.  We teach each other all the time and just have a great time.  Our Christmas party is one of my favorite.....well it is my favorite.  We have a nice luncheon like always but then we exchange gifts and trade "white elephants".  I always look forward to the "white elephant" exchange.  This year I was proud of myself for the gift I came up with.  It was a Redneck Wine Glass (canning jar on candle stick) and beans in a bag for a Redneck "bubble bath".  It was a hit!  The first gift opened cracked me right up though.  Shanna got a picture of Larry and I dancing.  So funny!!! Lorretta got a picture of us last year and used our faces to make a new one this year.  I had to have it and so I traded Shanna my gift for it! (my want to be body...right there)

The bottom of the picture said: In a desperate attempt to impress a local Book Club, Hooper resident Dawn Ropelato persuaded her husband, Bishop Larry Ropelato, also of Hooper, to audition for the 2013 premier opening of the sensational new sure-to-be-a-hit answer to "Dancing With the Stars", "Dancing With the Clergy".  Prior to the audition, (pictured above) Mr Ropelato was overheard saying: "If I had to shave my chest the least you could have done was shave your arm pits.""

I laughed so hard today my face was sore when I got home.   My head hurt too from trying not to cry too much earlier and then laughing so hard.  While I was taking a teeny break before our Ward Christmas Party Kimleighel came in and laughed at me for having a hair stick straight up.  She took care of me by licking her finger and smoothing it down!  Oh my crud......We both laughed so hard again!  I love laughing even if it does make my head hurt!

Joni.....

I do NOT like Cancer......it Stinks!!!  My sweet friend Joni passed away this week after fighting cancer for four years.  I love Joni!  Joni was a great example of living and loving.  I know Joni from bowling and she is one of the reasons I liked to go bowling.  It's the women I have met and became friends with that make bowling fun for me.  It's not about rolling a ball down a lane to hit some pins, even though that is fun when you actually hit them.  Joni was a great bowler.  She "glided" down the lane.  I loved watching her approach....it was unique and cool.  Joni was funny and always had a smile on her cute face.  Joni liked me and knowing that was wonderful.  

I sat by more "bowling friends" today at Joni's funeral.  I love the support and love we feel for each other.  I love the tribute of Joni's life given by one of her friends.  I knew Joni was fun and talented but learned she is even more so than I knew.  Joni is amazing and a true gift to others.  I am glad I got to know her and rub shoulders with her and knock some pins down together.  What a blessing this one has been to me!  I am glad she doesn't have to fight any more......she wins!  Another Angel Among Us!!!

Sylvia told me this saying today and I loved it....."Joni didn't die of Cancer.....She lived with it"  

a M of M that I REGRET!!!

Have you ever done anything that you truly regret and wish you could go back and redo?  There are many things but one in particular that I would redo if I could.  It happened on Christmas Eve many years ago....I can't remember that  but I do know the Trichelle and Justin were still young enough that they liked sneaking down and peaking at the tree and seeing if Santa brought them anything.

I being "clever" and thinking it would be "funny" talked Larry into sleeping in the hall outside our bedroom door so the kids would have to climb over us.  The kids all sleep upstairs over the garage and our room is at the bottom of the stairs. I was looking forward to seeing how "clever" the kids would be to get around us.  I wondered if they would just tippy toe around us or climb over us walking on the walls.  Neither happened.

I heard them very quietly coming down the stairs.  They saw us blocking their way to the room that Santa had visited and instead of trying to get around us they went back up stairs and to my knowledge never came down early again.  That didn't go quite like I had planned and I have regretted that decision ever since.

Justin was telling Mya the other night how him and Trichelle use to come down and sleep by the tree....that is until the "hall" incident.  That is something I will never forget and I will forever regret.  However....on a happier note I remember Braxton and Jaydan as teenagers trying to catch Santa.  They would hide behind decorations and wait.  Not sure they ever caught Santa because I usually caught them hiding before Santa came.

I hope my kids have happy memories of Christmas.  I love it but have realized I love preparing for Christmas more than I love the actual day of Christmas.  Preparing is so fun and the actual day can be a let down and even disappointing if a child is unhappy.  My kids don't ask or expect too much and so for the most part I think they have always been happy.

I love putting out the same decorations year after year and the memories of those who gave them to me.  Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year and I love it!

I know that God lives & Jesus is HIS Son!

I was resisting going to the adult session of our Stake Conference yesterday.  I don't know why except that it was exactly where I needed to be and Satan (bless his heart) knew it!  I knew I was going to go because it was the right thing to do and no matter how much  I talk about being rebellious I'm really not.  I love feeling the "Spirit" and seek after it and I did feel it last night and today.  I love that warm, tingling feeling when the Spirit touches my soul.  My entire being feels wonderful and good.

Today during the Conference I was thinking how perfect the Holidays are lined up.  In November we have Thanksgiving which prepares us for Christmas.  So many people are very mindful of their blessings in November and even write them down and share with others.  The spirit of Thanksgiving is contagious and others start recognizing and acknowledging their own blessings.  I love that and today thought what a perfect way to prepare us for the Celebration of the Birth of our Savior and Redeemer, JESUS CHRIST!!!

I love Christmas time.....I love everything about it.....the music, the lights, the parties, the decorations, the gift making and buying, the traditions of family, the LOVE spread throughout the world by everyone.  More people think of Christ and act like HIM.  We tend to focus more on others and giving to others than we do ourselves.  For a month we act more like Deciples of Christ.  We give more to others than any other time of the year.  We express our love to others.  We Celebrate Christ.  I love Jesus Christ and I can honestly say that I KNOW He loves me too. He knows me and I am certain of that.  I have felt HIM with me as I have struggled with my own little problems.  I am thankful for my challenges because I am closer to Him because I have needed Him more.  I recognize His hand in my life......He has sent me friends and given me a great family.  He knew I would need them all and He even knew that I could also and would be a blessing to them as well.  I like that it works both ways and that I am not being selfish in my relationships....for that I am thankful.

When I feel the "Spirit" I always desire to live better. I want to be more like Jesus.  I want Him to know that I do love Him by my actions and not just my words.  I am thankful for Sundays and the chance I am given to try again for another week to do His will before I am energized again.

I am thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I know it is the one true church on the earth today.  I am glad that I can see past the members and enjoy the gospel in spite of how others may act.  I am thankful for good people outside of the Church that love Christ and believe in Him. (they strengthen me)  I believe that our lives are between us and Heavenly Father and it is Him that we need to please and make happy and not anyone else.  I have found that when I keep that focus I am so much happier and free.  He loves us for who we are and even for where we are.  There are not conditions for His love......He loves each of us unconditionally and complete.  I am thankful for my Heavenly Father and His son, my brother, Jesus Christ.  My heart and soul know!!!

M&M.....Car Hop

When I was in High School I had a job as a Car Hop!  It was on Riverdale Road and was called Maddox Drive Inn.  For the most part it was fun and I made a lot of tips.  I didn't have to wear roller skates or wear a uniform and so that was nice too.  I just had to remember who ordered what so when the food came out on a revolving belt I could get the orders to the right cars.  If the order went back in we got in trouble.  For the most part I didn't have much trouble.....but there was one night that I remember being a nightmare.  

Weber State had a game and everyone decided to stop by Maddox after for a treat.  The problem with that was I think I was the only one working outside because it had been slow.  Needless to say things went back in and I was flustered to the max.  I think the owner was working the inside and instead of getting mad at me I am sure she was laughing at me running around like a chicken with it's head cut off.

When I remembered this memory I thought I'd better write it down.  Not too many people even know what Car Hops are now a days and I am sure my grands don't have a clue.  It's a fun memory of mine!

Festival of Trees

I am privileged to be on Heather Whites Committee for the Festival of Trees.  She asked me last year and since I like her so much I couldn't say no.  I am so glad I said yes.  The Festival of Trees is for such a great cause.  All the money  is donated to the Primary Children's Medical Center.  It's a HUGE event and so a lot of volunteers are needed.

By being on Heather's committee I have to make 15 felties, (snowmen made out of felt and filled with candy) 15 crafts for the Craft Boutique and 15 treats for the Sweet Shoppe.  I also have to sign up for 2 shifts to help with the entertaining.  This year I signed up for two shifts back to back so I didn't have to drive down again. (saving a little gas)

I got to work with the people that entertain.  We had a lot of little dancers and singers.  I checked them in and took them to the stage and greeted the audience and took them back and rated each group.  I also had to police a door so only people that should go through it (like the performers) did go through it.  We had plenty of help which was nice and I even got to leave and look around the last 1/2 hour of my second shift.  I was there from 9:35 am-6:00 pm.  I was tired when I got home and my back was hurting but I felt good on the inside.

I am thankful that I have the opportunity to serve with Heather and help with the Festival of Trees.  I don't like asking for help each year with the donations and so I do a lot of them myself.  It costs a little and so I think since I don't plan on quitting I will make things a head and be ready for next year.  I love serving!

Dancing with the Stars

It's the end of the Dancing with the Stars for this season and so Kathy O threw a party.  Her parties are fun.  She has trivia questions, name that tune and an award for the best dressed. (which we all vote for)  She even gives prizes.

There are a few stipulations for going to the party.  #1 you are suppose to watch the show. #2 you have to dress up.  This is her 3rd party and the other one I went to (her first) I had never watched one show and I wore a sweat shirt and jeans.  The party I missed I watched every show either on the TV or the next day on the internet and I took notes.  This year I only heard about what was going on from friends.  I just acted like I knew what was going on.  I really tried not to ask any questions and just agreed with the others. (I don't think Kathy really cared.....she would have invited me anyway)  So since I didn't watch I thought I'd better at least dress up.  Thank goodness for Trichelle and her help.

When Kathy called to invite me she said we needed to dress up and I told her I didn't have anything fancy that I could wear.  She suggested I wear one of my old Prom Dresses.  Seriously that made me bust a gut laughing so hard.  Really?  I am just a TINY bit bigger than I was in High School....however I could have wore the dress upside down.  I think it might have fit that way.  Ha ha ha too funny!

Trichelle has a few wigs and so I ran over to her house.  I chose the black wig since it was the most drastic. She braided the bangs and put in the glamorous feather accessory. Trichelle also did my make up and let me borrow her jewelry, leggings, and high heeled boots.  I did have a fancy shiny jacket and black shirt of my own.  It was fun dressing up!

We took snacks to share and we all watched the last show together to see who won this season.  The winners weren't the ones I voted for......oh wait that's right......I never voted even once!  I have no idea the names of the winners or the other contestants even though we talked about them.  I didn't do very good on name that tune either.  I knew a few of the songs but had no idea what the name of the song was or who it was sung by.  I'm glad Kathy likes me or I am sure I wouldn't be invited.  My brain is full at this point in my life....I don't care to remember things like I use to.  At least everyone else had a better chance at winning something.