Christmas Advent 2013

I spent the month of December remembering the joys and purpose of Christmas on Facebook.  I am sharing the messages, pictures, and videos here on my blog so I will be able to find my thoughts again next year or any other time I want to remember.
December 1 
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." ~ Isaiah 9:6

December 2Giving Tuesday - I know I am jumping on the bandwagon but this seems so cool to me. Giving Tuesday isn't that really want the Christmas season is suppose to be about.

"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." Mosiah 2:17


December 3Love this - another wonderful direction about this Christmas season of giving and kindness.  Kindness Elves

"And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:" Luke 21:2-3

December 4
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus." Matthew 1:21


December 5
"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." Colossians 3:17

December 6
"And all these gifts come from God, for the benefit of the children of God." Doctrine and Covenants 46:26

December 7
"This is my work and my glory -to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Moses 1:39


December 8I came home from church to discover a Christmas tree on my front steps given to us by our neighbors just to be kind, thoughtful, and nice. It is fresh, smells wonderful, and beautiful. I love it, all part of the real spirit of Christmas.

December 9
"The world today speaks a great deal about love, and it is sought for by many. But the pure love of Christ differs greatly from what the world thinks of love. Charity never seeks selfish gratification. The pure love of Christ seeks only the eternal growth and joy of others." - President Ezra Taft Benson


December 10
"Lift up your head and be of good cheer; ... on the morrow come I into the world,..." 3 Nephi 1:13

December 11
"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:23

December 12
Christmas is to think beyond ones self.

December 13
"This joyful season brings to all of us a measure of happiness that corresponds to the degree to which we have turned our minds, feelings, and actions to the Savior, whose birth we celebrate." Thomas S. Monson

December 14
During World War I, in the winter of 1914, on the battlefields of Flanders, one of the most unusual events in all of human history took place. The Germans had been in a fierce battle with the British and French. Both sides were dug in, safe in muddy, man-made trenches six to eight feet deep that seemed to stretch forever.

All of a sudden, German troops began to put small Christmas trees, lit with candles, outside of their trenches. Then, they began to sing songs. Across the way, in the "no man's land" between them, came songs from the British and French troops. Incredibly, many of the Germans, who had worked in England before the war, were able to speak good enough English to propose a "Christmas" truce.

The British and French troops, all along the miles of trenches, accepted. In a few places, allied troops fired at the Germans as they climbed out of their trenches. But the Germans were persistent and Christmas would be celebrated even under the threat of impending death.

According to Stanley Weintraub, who wrote about this event in his book, Silent Night, "signboards arose up and down the trenches in a variety of shapes. They were usually in English, or - from the Germans - in fractured English. Rightly, the Germans assumed that the other side could not read traditional gothic lettering, and that few English understood spoken German. 'YOU NO FIGHT, WE NO FIGHT' was the most frequently employed German message. Some British units improvised 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' banners and waited for a response. More placards on both sides popped up."

A spontaneous truce resulted. Soldiers left their trenches, meeting in the middle to shake hands. The first order of business was to bury the dead who had been previously unreachable because of the conflict. Then, they exchanged gifts. Chocolate cake, cognac, postcards, newspapers, tobacco. In a few places,  along the trenches, soldiers exchanged rifles for soccer balls and began to play games.

It didn't last forever. In fact, some of the generals didn't like it at all and commanded their troops to resume shooting at each other. After all, they were in a war. Soldiers eventually did resume shooting at each other. But only after, in a number of cases, a few days of wasting rounds of ammunition shooting at stars in the sky instead of soldiers in the opposing army across the field.

For a few precious moments there was peace on earth good will toward men. All because the focus was on Christmas. Happens every time. There's something about Christmas that changes people. It happened over 2000 years ago in a little town called Bethlehem. It's been happening over and over again down through the years of time.

This week, Lord willing, it will happen again.

December 15"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
To virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus....

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her....

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed....

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child....
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn....

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."

Luke 1 & 2

December 16"What all of us long for in our hearts, at Christmastime and always, is to feel bound together in love with the sweet assurance that it can last forever. This is the promise of eternal life, which God has called His greatest gift to His children (see D&C 14:7)." - Elder Henry B. Eyring

December 17"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." Luke 2

December 18
Think about it, mas is Spanish for more, Christmas = more Christ.

 

December 19
I share my witness that Jesus Christ was born. I remember His birth this Christmas season.
  

December 20

December 21

December 22
"And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God." Alma 7:10

Glorious news!

December 23
What would I give for my Savior? at least thanks for all He gave me.

December 24
"Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets." 3 Nephi 1:13

December 25
Merry Christmas

A little trimming is good for all of us

I planted some pretty little purple flowers in a wooden bucket last spring. They looked so pretty trailing over the side of the bucket, blossoming most of the summer.  But these last couple of months there was a lot more green leaves and dead flowers instead purple blooms.

I hadn't been caring for my plant as I should.  Watering was infrequent, plucking of the spent flowers was rare; and the results showed such.

A week ago, I trimmed off the dead flowers and leaves.  I really chopped the plant back, even to extend of hacking it.  My intent was to be rid of the dead blooms.  I was thinking anything would look better than dead flowers hanging on.

Tuesday there was a very heavy rain, a downpour watering all my plants.  Wednesday through Saturday, the sun shone and the weather was warm.  And I even watered and cared for my plant on Saturday.

Today I took pictures.

Sometimes we feel like my purple flowers; unattended and spent.  Sometimes we cause it to ourselves.  Sometimes we are hacked back to start over.  And sometimes we are really cared for.

We can always blossom again.

Planting

Last spring, mom and I planted some purple ice plants together.  She fell in love with them as we traveled the I-15 back and forth to Moores Cancer Center for her regular infusions, labs, or chemo treatments.  They were blooming everywhere covering hillsides with their bright purple flowers.  Ice plants bloom in the spring and we were nearing the end of spring, but we purchase some anyway and planted them together.  We planted 3 or 4 flats I forget exactly how many and I reminded mom we would only be able to enjoy them for a short time, they only bloom in the spring.  

I have 3 or 4 of them still in bloom, the picture testifies of this.  I am surprised and amazed.  I seem to always look for symbols in things, one of the things I am guilty of.  My mom is still here barely - I believe her spirit is ready to rejoin my dad as soon as her body is ready to let it go.  I am surprised, amazed, and grateful because her first diagnose with AML (acute myleoid leukemia), her oncologist thought she would only live about 1 more week without treatment.  My mom, sister Katherine, and I choose to have her receive chemo therapy so we could enjoy more time together.  And enjoy we did; she bloomed at the end of spring and we had fun times together on outings, gardening, playing games, and being with each other. 

Here it is the end of summer and the last of the ice plants are ready to stop blooming, it is okay, my mom is too.  Next spring they will bloom again and I will see their bright purple flowers and cry and smile.  I do that.  

"You got mail"

Mail once was the only way of long distance communication.  Now we have email, texting, cell phones, facebook, twitter, etc.  Although these forms make for amazingly, instant, and easy communication;  I still love to receive a good old fashioned letter or card delivered by the US Postal Service.  Am I alone in this?

When I went away to  Ricks College in 1978, my mom and dad would write and send me letters weekly.  Weekly! Ricks College was only 45 minutes from my home but it was a long distance phone call and a stamp was cheaper.  I would write home too.  I think my mom still has all my letters I sent to them.  It would be a pretty good history of my life to go back and read them.

 

My dad was a note writer.  If a person did something special, something he liked, or was helpful or kind; he would write a note to them acknowledging the deed and give gratitude.  He was quite regular at it and it has impressed on my mind.

My Grandma Brinkman sent birthday cards.  Every year on my birthday I would receive a birthday card with a dime taped to it, there would also be a nickel taped to it for my sister, Katherine.  On her birthday card, the opposite would happen.  I recall the big deal we made of it when grandma upgraded the dime to a quarter.  It really wasn't much but it was the love shown and given that was important. 

 

 The mail brought me other treasures too; my "Happy Hollisters" books.  I belonged to a book club and each month I anxiously would await my new edition to see what new adventure the Hollister family were on and the mystery they had to solve. Once that book arrived you probably couldn't find me because I would disappear somewhere only to emerge once the mystery was solved and all was safe again in the world.

Christmas cards are still sent from this household.  Craig puts together an amazing, funny newsletter and I address and stamp the envelope, fold the newsletter, and stuff it inside a card with a personal wish for a wonderful, joyful holiday.  We love receiving Christmas cards every year from our friends.  This past year, was different; two weeks before Christmas my mom, Karma, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.  We had not gotten to any cards yet and with the care and help she needed the cards were forgotten.  But hopefully we are forgiven for not sending you one.

Craig picks the mail up from our mailbox now days.  It used to be my job, a job I truly enjoyed because the mail can bring you happy things; like wedding announcements or birthday cards or magazines.  But sometimes there is only ads, not our favorite thing to receive. I feel bad for those spending the money on those mail ads because more often than not they go straight to the recycle bin without even a glance at them.  Craig took over because I couldn't always be counted on due to the care given my mom and I didn't always go to work in the afternoon.  But he can be counted on to come home every evening from work.

Do you remember, when AOL said "you got mail," well at this home we count who is the winner by who gets the most mail.  We still love mail, good old fashioned mail.

Happy Birthday to me!

I know that sounds quite pretentious, but I celebrate today in thanks to my family who have inspired me and encouraged me and basically helped shape me. 

Where to start?  In no particular order but I am just going for it.

My mom, Karma Reed Brinkman - from my mom a love of sewing, a love of gardening, a love of reading

My dad, Raymond Fay Brinkman - note writing, compliment giving

My hubbie, Craig Eugene Garrett - everything, adventures, learning, confidence

My son, Anthony Craig Garrett - gentleness, unconditional love, healthy eating

My daughter in law, Janalyn Doll Garrett - fitness, inspire to try and do, healthy eating

My granddaughter, Zoe Noelle Doll Garrett - enjoyment, enthusiasm, happiness

My daughter, Aimee Kristine Garrett Berrett - friendship, cooking, encouragement

My son in law, Nathan Matthew Berrett - positive attitude, gusto (which I don't always have enough of)

My mother in law, Norine Peterson Garrett - looking for the best in others

My father in law, Eugene B Garrett - hugging, giving is better

My extended family - family is forever

 

 And there is so much more, each and everyone of you I learn and gain from.  So Happy Birthday to me because of who you helped me be.

Blooming Now

My mom loves petunias.  She plants them every year in her garden.  Even this year in her home away from home Fallbrook garden she has planted several.  Craig mentioned petunias are a great plant to have because they bloom all summer.  She inspired me to plant my own little patch and so I did in a wooden bucket.  The petunias look so cute and I love how they trail over the edge.

 

Each month in Fallbrook brings different flowers blooming.  As cute as the petunias are we have a few other flowers in bloom for June too.

 

Blessings of this beautiful world and living in southern California.