49. Christmas Day, 2013 in St. George, Utah
Dear friends and family -- I hope you've had a Merry Christmas! It has been chilly but sunny here, and the snow fall 2 weeks ago is about melted.
I have really wished that I could hear from some of you who read this blog, and know what you're thinking, or if it gives you some help and encouragement some day. I checked and my e mail isn't listed.
You go down to the bottom on the right, where it says "Wayne and Pal". Under it gives some information, and on the bottom is written -- "View my complete profile" Click on that and it brings up another page. There are words under the title which say --- About --- Posts --- Photos -- Videos, etc. Click on About, and under "Tag" on the right, I have posted my e mail. But I will also put it in this entry.
My e mail I use all the time is: paralee_eckman@infowest.com
The g mail is an e mail I don't check often, and don't use. Please write me at the one i use all the time, if you'd like! I'd be happy to answer also.
This photo was taken in our living room, 2 years ago, Christmas of 2011, our most recent photo. Wayne has his "Christmas Tie" on, which he wears each year at Christmas!
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The beautiful Christmas Day just spent began last night with a ham dinner at our daughter Delsy's home. We played a game there -- one of our favorites, Six Handed Rook, which is one of our favorite family games, as we had just 6 people, Wayne and I, Delsy and Gordon, and their sons Andy and Matt. That game is really fun, and if any of you want to learn how to play it, e mail me, and I'll explain some of the rules. If you have played Rook, it's quite easy to understand. We are quite a card game playing family. Other favorites are "Five Crowns", and "Quiddler". -- Also many others! -- One we changed from another game, and now call "Boomerang!"
After the game we went to our daughter Anita's, and with her 3 sons watched the Christmas Video I recommended in the last blog, and then went around telling our "gift to Jesus" for the coming year. I stated that I am planning to take many classes at the local Family History Center, and learn -- once again --to understand the latest technology that is being constantly improved, so I can continue to get family names ready for the Temple. Over the last 15 or so years, I have had to learn periodically, as the methods have changed often.
After a great night's sleep, we woke up, opened a few simple gifts, and read the newspaper (a daily ritual). Wayne said, "I would love to have waffles this morning!" After a few phone calls to family, went to Anita's, visited them a few minutes, and then went to Delsy's and played another game -- "Catch Phrase" Fun! Then we came home, Wayne had a nap, and I figured out how to set up the new sound speakers we got for our computer.
We got a call from our daughter Pam, who had a visit with her missionary daughter, Skye, with Skype. She has been out only 6 days so there wasn't a lot of news, but she is loving it. Then I listened awhile to a DVD of our grandson Ben's concert in our Tabernacle last summer before he went on his mission to Taiwan. He has a gifted tenor voice. Later in the evening we went back to Anita's to be there when Ben did a Skype call from Taiwan. It was 7 p.m. here, and in Taiwan, it was 10 a.m. tomorrow! They are 15 hours ahead.
He now has a native Taiwan Elder for a companion, which should really help him with the Mandarin Chinese language. He is very happy, and we enjoyed that visit. They are the only missionaries in a city of over 200,000, named Pingdong, (south Taiwan). I hope many of you had the opportunity of also talking to a missionary on the phone, or on Skype. The technology available to us these days is amazing! It is so inspirational to listen to a missionary!
After coming home, we listened to part of a lovely Christmas Tabernacle Choir concert, with bells, dancers, the orchestra, etc. It was called "Christmas With the Mormons". If any of you get a chance to watch it, it is beautiful! The King Singers, 6 men who sing together, were their guests, and they were really good! It was a lovely fulfilling day. I listened to the words especially when they sang "O Holy Night", and truly felt the thrill and significance of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ those many years ago.
As a pianist and accompanist, I have played for many talented performers, and my mind has mostly been tuned to how well we were performing, and tonight I felt I really listened with my heart, and felt the words. I hope I can learn to do that more -- I have so many wonderfully talented musical friends! It is easy to get caught up in the mechanics of a good performance and forget the true meaning of the songs being sung.
My sister Mavis asked me how to receive the Latter Day Light Devotional messages on her e mail each day. I found it, and this is what you do --
It says -- (on the bottom) " to subscribe to this newsletter visit www.latterdaylight.com " Below is what was listed today. Besides giving a scripture, and a quote from a prophet on the scripture, it makes Church History come alive when it tells what happened in the Church on this date during the past years. It next gives some scripture you can read each day so you will complete some books in that year. It will be interesting to see what will be outlined for next year. It will start on January 1, 2014.
I have really wished that I could hear from some of you who read this blog, and know what you're thinking, or if it gives you some help and encouragement some day. I checked and my e mail isn't listed.
You go down to the bottom on the right, where it says "Wayne and Pal". Under it gives some information, and on the bottom is written -- "View my complete profile" Click on that and it brings up another page. There are words under the title which say --- About --- Posts --- Photos -- Videos, etc. Click on About, and under "Tag" on the right, I have posted my e mail. But I will also put it in this entry.
My e mail I use all the time is: paralee_eckman@infowest.com
The g mail is an e mail I don't check often, and don't use. Please write me at the one i use all the time, if you'd like! I'd be happy to answer also.
This photo was taken in our living room, 2 years ago, Christmas of 2011, our most recent photo. Wayne has his "Christmas Tie" on, which he wears each year at Christmas!
--------------------
The beautiful Christmas Day just spent began last night with a ham dinner at our daughter Delsy's home. We played a game there -- one of our favorites, Six Handed Rook, which is one of our favorite family games, as we had just 6 people, Wayne and I, Delsy and Gordon, and their sons Andy and Matt. That game is really fun, and if any of you want to learn how to play it, e mail me, and I'll explain some of the rules. If you have played Rook, it's quite easy to understand. We are quite a card game playing family. Other favorites are "Five Crowns", and "Quiddler". -- Also many others! -- One we changed from another game, and now call "Boomerang!"
After the game we went to our daughter Anita's, and with her 3 sons watched the Christmas Video I recommended in the last blog, and then went around telling our "gift to Jesus" for the coming year. I stated that I am planning to take many classes at the local Family History Center, and learn -- once again --to understand the latest technology that is being constantly improved, so I can continue to get family names ready for the Temple. Over the last 15 or so years, I have had to learn periodically, as the methods have changed often.
After a great night's sleep, we woke up, opened a few simple gifts, and read the newspaper (a daily ritual). Wayne said, "I would love to have waffles this morning!" After a few phone calls to family, went to Anita's, visited them a few minutes, and then went to Delsy's and played another game -- "Catch Phrase" Fun! Then we came home, Wayne had a nap, and I figured out how to set up the new sound speakers we got for our computer.
We got a call from our daughter Pam, who had a visit with her missionary daughter, Skye, with Skype. She has been out only 6 days so there wasn't a lot of news, but she is loving it. Then I listened awhile to a DVD of our grandson Ben's concert in our Tabernacle last summer before he went on his mission to Taiwan. He has a gifted tenor voice. Later in the evening we went back to Anita's to be there when Ben did a Skype call from Taiwan. It was 7 p.m. here, and in Taiwan, it was 10 a.m. tomorrow! They are 15 hours ahead.
He now has a native Taiwan Elder for a companion, which should really help him with the Mandarin Chinese language. He is very happy, and we enjoyed that visit. They are the only missionaries in a city of over 200,000, named Pingdong, (south Taiwan). I hope many of you had the opportunity of also talking to a missionary on the phone, or on Skype. The technology available to us these days is amazing! It is so inspirational to listen to a missionary!
After coming home, we listened to part of a lovely Christmas Tabernacle Choir concert, with bells, dancers, the orchestra, etc. It was called "Christmas With the Mormons". If any of you get a chance to watch it, it is beautiful! The King Singers, 6 men who sing together, were their guests, and they were really good! It was a lovely fulfilling day. I listened to the words especially when they sang "O Holy Night", and truly felt the thrill and significance of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ those many years ago.
As a pianist and accompanist, I have played for many talented performers, and my mind has mostly been tuned to how well we were performing, and tonight I felt I really listened with my heart, and felt the words. I hope I can learn to do that more -- I have so many wonderfully talented musical friends! It is easy to get caught up in the mechanics of a good performance and forget the true meaning of the songs being sung.
My sister Mavis asked me how to receive the Latter Day Light Devotional messages on her e mail each day. I found it, and this is what you do --
It says -- (on the bottom) " to subscribe to this newsletter visit www.latterdaylight.com " Below is what was listed today. Besides giving a scripture, and a quote from a prophet on the scripture, it makes Church History come alive when it tells what happened in the Church on this date during the past years. It next gives some scripture you can read each day so you will complete some books in that year. It will be interesting to see what will be outlined for next year. It will start on January 1, 2014.
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