Christmas

Keeping with my song lyric theme I open this one with an old Karen Carpenter song: "Greeting cards have all been sent. The Christmas rush is through, but I still have a one wish to make a special one for you" So Happy Christmas to everyone a Joyeux Noel.

Someday Steven and I will be in Utah for Christmas, we're so an old married couple. We ask each other "What do you want for Christmas?" "Nothing." is the reply. Of course being in retail, he will receive some clothing. Last year he gave me a sewing machine, so I have all I need or want.

I know to many who will read this blog my not understand, but the love Steven and I have is all I need. The only thing that would make this Christmas happier is if we could spent it with my family in Utah. During the last few months, I have thought about Steven and I. For whatever reasons the love we have together, most people don't care about it or want to ignore it. It seems they want us to go away. At the end of the day my love for Steven remains true and I really don't need to have a church or government to approve or recognize it, because it's true and in the end the truth makes me free.

Christmas time is about family, love and looking beyond oneself. Christ taught, in as much as ye have done unto these the least of thy brethren, you have done it undo me. I have in recent days been remind of a poem Longfellow wrote, "I heard the Bells" the last two stanzas are:

"And in despair I bow'd my head:

'There is no peace on earth' I said

For hate is strong, and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

with peace on earth, good will to me."

I hope I will always be an instrument of peace.

Black Friday

Last week at this time I was getting over Black Friday. I was sick all last weekend! The Outlet Mall, where I worked opened at 12 Midnight! (Thursday night/Friday morning)I worked 12 am till 11am, yup 11 plus hours, then I was back at the Gap Outlet at 11 hours later at 10pm and worked till 7am Saturday morning. Putting the store back together and pulling clothes fro the backroom.


Since, Thanksgiving commences the Holiday season, I pulled out my top three CD's to lesson on my 45 min commute to work. They're Barbara Streisand, Josh Groben, Julie Andrews. I first put in Josh's CD, while I listened, all those Christmases from long ago come back. That will be a later blog.

However one song that I have forgotten Josh singing played - Thankful- I replayed it and I thought how much this reflects my life with my hopes. We all get caught up in our own lives and we forget to see each other for who they are. I have tired to live to be able not to judge people, because I do not know about their own life experiences or what might have happened just before I met them.

So I share once again Lyrics from a song my boy Josh sings.



Someday we forget
To look around us
Somedays we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.

Look beyond ourselves
There's so much sorrow
It's away too late to say
I'll cry tomorrow
Each of Us must find our truth
It's so long over do.

Even with our differences
There is a place we're all connected
Each of us can find each other's Light.


So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more
There's so much to be thankful for.



So I hope each one will find their truth and look beyond themselves and connect with the light that shines in everyone and see the joy which is all around.

DAD

So my first entry into this thing is about my Dad.

Yesterday - It's been twenty five years since my father's death. It is hard to believe, because it seems like only yesterday, that I received the news and walked the streets of London thinking about Dad. While the 'hurt' is gone I still miss him, his hugs, his laughter. However I do still feel his love all around. I often think of a picture taken at the SLC Airport as I was leaving for France on my Mission. Dad and I are hugging and the smile he has on his face. In less than a year he would be fighting for his life.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and for the past 25 years, my thoughts turn to my Dad, and for the last 8 to Mom who died on the 19 November. I pause remember, cry, and give thanks to our Heavenly Father for wonderful parents. Realizing that they are 'watching over me from above.'

I heard Josh Gorban sing the Song "To Where You Are." I immediately thought of my parents. Here are some of the Lyrics:

"Who can say for certain?

Maybe you still here.

I feel you all around me,

Your memory clear.

Deep in the stillness

I can hear you speak.

You're still an Insperation,

Can it be?

That you are mine,

foreverloved

And you are watching

Over me from up above.

Are you gently sleeping -

Here inside my dream?

And isn't faith believing

All power can't be seen?

As my heart holds you

Just one beat away

I cherish all you gave me

Everyday.

Forever loved,

Watching me from up above.

And I believe that angles breath

And that love will live on and

Never leave.

Fly me up to where you are

Beyond the distant star,

I wish upon tonight

To see you smile,

If only for awhile.

To know you're there.

A breath a way's not far

To where you are.

I know you're there

A breath away a way's not far

To where you are."

Dad, Mom thank you for all you gave me.