THE MADNESS HAS BEGUN

Our Thanksgiving was sooo quiet! I awoke to an email from Joan filled with the hustle and bustle of her family's busy-ness. It made me emotional and teary-eyed, since we were alone. To get over my blues, we went for a long walk on the absolutely coldest day of the year. Just keeping myself warm shivered the blues right out of me. With only the two of us, our meal was quite simple, and I worked on Christmas projects all day. Dad, as you can see from the picture, was most studious. By the end of the day, my arm was a little stiff from keeping it in the "telephone" position all afternoon, since we had so many calls from family.

The following day, we began the madness of Christmas decorating. At first, I questioned, to myself, why we are doing our usual decorating because we'll be alone again for Christmas! We even did some Black Friday shopping--of all the dumb things!! I think we needed to get out and be doing. The pictures you see of the living room are the new framework for the Christmas village. Dad spent all weekend building and setting up the framework. I explained that I have to finish up my gifts before I can start something new.

In case you're wondering about the top corner picture, I thought I'd show you that Dad and I can move into the electronic age as well as anyone else. Today we purchase an electronic transponder, so that we can "Breezeby" the toll booth at the bridge. Times they are a'changing.

We hope all of you are as well and happy as we are. Love, Mom

PRESIDENT BUSH PARDONED THE TURKEY...

He pardoned the turkey and set him free. Although the little episode on tv was pretty funny, it did set my mind to thinking. I thought back to an experience I had a number in 1996 or 97 about this time of year. My mother had had eye surgery and needed us girls to care for her. I remember packing LOTS of projects for Christmas because Mother's recovery required that she sit all day long with her head down to allow her eye to heal. I should have had a clue when I arrived, because Joan, who had spent the first week with Mother, suggested that we go to breakfast immediately if not sooner!! She confessed that she'd had a horrible, horrible week with Mother, and she couldn't wait to get home. I thought Joan was exaggerating, but.... I spent one week listening to Mother tell me story after story after story about those people she didn't like, held grudges towards as she chain smoked. To be fair to Mother, she had a difficult, difficult life, and some of her anger and resentment was probably justified, but, she was now 75, and the family members she talked about had been dead for many years. I think she also may have known that she had COPD and was dying. She talked about things we children had done, clerks in stores who had been rude to her, her sisters who called her silly childhood names and "stitched tiny quilting stitches" just to spite her. For six days, I listened, and I decided that the only person for whom she didn't hold a grudge was my dear, sweet husband. At the last, she was spent; she had released all the rage, resentment, and grudges she had held for many years, and she sent me home. The last years of her life were lived, I think, in relative peace of mind and spirit. I remembered this incident as I watched President Bush pardon the turkey and send him on his way. It seems to me that Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to pardon those whom we feel have wronged us. To shrug off the angers, resentments, hurts, and grudges that are weighing us down. Although some grudges and resentment may take us years and a firm faith in the strength of the Atonement, we could begin the journey on this holiday. To set such people free in our mind is to set our mind and spirit free. Just a thought.....

I thought all of you would enjoy a picture of our first Christmas dinner. We were in a rented house in Bremerton, and the whole family gathered at our house. You'll recognize Grandma and Grandpa Kennedy and Grandpa Whitby. On Grandma's right is Grandpa Johnny, and on Grandpa Whitby's left is his brother, Uncle Jack--the one who baked the biscuits for McDonald's when he was in his 80's. Various cousins are at this table as well. Notice the Kennedy coat of arms on the wall. Right between Grandpa Kennedy and Grandpa Whitby, you can see a red candle. The candle was part of a huge Christmas centerpiece that Dad had sent to me at school, "so that everyone at school would know that you are loved." Indeed I am.

May Thanksgiving be a time for rendering thanks and for forgiveness and for the freeing ourselves of burdens. Love, Mom

OHIO STARS AND FIRST SNOW

I hadn't planned to write another blog so soon, and don't expect it to be a trend!! But...my heart is so full of reminiscing and musing that I thought I might as well write while I'm in the mood.

Today, when we attended the Tongan Ward, we sat in front of a man who had the most fantastic voice. There are no words to describe what the music experience is in this ward called the Rose City Ward. Everyone, large and small, sings--in their parts--in strong, beautiful voices. It sends shivers up and down my spine. I can never sing, not so much because I can't read the words because I know the English equivalent, but because I have a huge lump in my throat. This man stumbled through the hymns sung in English, but he had the voice of an angel for the Tongan hymns!! I felt that I had experienced the "tender mercies" which are described in this verse: "But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance" (1 Nephi 1:20). I felt "delivered," reminded of my deep love for the Savior for me!! It was not enough that I would experience one tender mercy but I was given two!! Our new Sunday School teacher is Brother Kalamafoni, who is the patriarch of a large family and large extended family. People joke that everyone in the Rose City Ward is related to the Kalamafonis. Most of the single adults who are supposed to be in class, especially the young men, hang out in the hallway and are often late for class. Not today!! Uncle Freddy had the hall cleared out in two minutes. All the young men stayed in their seats and read from their scriptures when he asked. Brother Kalamafoni gave a lesson on the events in the Garden of Gethsemane which was, once again, awe inspiring. He was articulate, well-prepared, and very humbled as he explained to his family his concept of the Atonement. I felt priviliged to be in his presence.

The tender mercies of the Lord come one after another lately--when one is sensitive enough to look for them.

Today we saw our first snow in a long, long time!! California has many wonderful features, but snow isn't one of them. We were driving home in the driving rain when we noticed that the closer we got to home, the more snow was mixed into the rain. There was a skiff of snow on our rock wall once we arrived at the house. In my mind's eye, I could just hear little Kennedy kids beginning to speculate: "Will there be school tomorrow?? Can we go find our hats and gloves?? So fun!

You can see the picture above of Dad in his rain gear. I don't know whether you can tell by the picture, but he's become quite a cut-up!! Not only that, but he's become quite handsome as well. His wrinkles are along his smile lines and his eyes! He's witty and funny and quite a wit. I tease him that all the ladies flirt with him, and he says with a wink, "They do?"

I'm working on Christmas gifts as is usual for me this time of year. Above is the Christmas table runner I'm currently working on.

All is well here. Love to All Mom

SANTA'S WORKSHOP IS OPEN

Beads, baubles,threads, stitches, toys, all stacked around the corners of my sewing room. Outside my window, the rain splatters on the tarp covering the wood.

So many of us practice rituals; we do what we've always done because it's worked for years. I am doing what I've always done, and it's sooo silly. Always, in early November, I begin to think about Christmas. I begin to list each child, what I want to get for them, etc. At some point, I lay pieces of paper with each child's name on the floor in the hallway and stack the presents for that child and his/her family on the paper. (See the picture below.) I am always careful, as was my mother before me, to make sure that all of the gifts are equal in value. Hence, Santa's Workshop is open for each year, and I am busy making or purchasing gifts. In the early years, I had to do the making, purchasing, wrapping in the wee hours of the morning or late hours of the evening, hiding gifts in various and sundry places as I worked. What's so silly about my current ritual is that I am still getting up at 3am to work on gifts and working late into the evening, and I'm RETIRED!! I have several days a week that are unemcumbered--I don't have to squirrel away in my cozy little sewing room at all hours. It's the anticipation!! The thrill of working on a gift that is for someone I love!! The secrecy of it all!

On my mind also is the companionship and memories of old friends. Melverda Lamaroux passed away a week ago; so many memories of Melverda crowded my mind when I heard of her passing. I heard the news while I was tying a quilt with one of my oldest friends. We had chatted and shared thoughts on everything from sewing to retirement to our children. We didn't need to be anyone other than ourselves. We've nothing to hide from each other nor any need to put on airs. Just laughter and sympathy to share.

Another ritual, it seems, is that usually some major something or other decides that our life has been way too smooth and comfortable, so it goes on the fritz or just plain dies. One year it was our oven which fizzled and died a week before Thanksgiving. Another year it was a very sick child, who chose Halloween night, to spike a fever and proceed to become deathly ill. This year it is our car!! For a couple of days now, when the car idles, the heat falls below zero. As our mechanic says, he's eliminated the "little" stuff, so it must be the big stuff. Ugh.

Our mission time has settled into another ritual. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays are spent in Portland. We're beginning to know our way around Portland, and a few waitresses know what we're going to order before we do. We haul an amazing amount of stuff around in our trunk--overhead projector, small tv, ice chest, plastic bucket for refreshments, etc. We've taken to wrapping ourselves in blankets, parking in a far corner of the church parking lot, and taking a short snooze before our evening classes. We're becoming acquainted with our students and earning their trust. Tuesday evening, we spent the good part of an hour talking with a girl who thinks that her world has stopped revolving because her boyfriend has dropped her for another girl. More than the mere breakup, she's questioning the role of inspiration and personal revelation in her life because she felt that she had received an affirmation that he was the right guy. It's so hard sometimes to see their hearts broken, especially when you know a breakup when she's only nineteen, is just a little blip. Tom told a story in one of our classes which has brought lots of trust, since most of our Tongan guys are diehard athletes, and reaction. He explained his irrational behavior when his favorite sports team is losing; he's angry and despondent over a mere game. Now, though he can tune into BYU Classics, a show which broadcasts only games which BYU has won. He explained that now he can just sit back and relax because he knows the outcome of the game. He then used the analogy that God is the same way--He knows the outcome of the game.

Ritualistic or not--it 'tis what it 'tis and brings comfort on these chilly days! Love, Mom

MOONS, MUSINGS, AND THE MUNDANE

This is the second quilt I've done in this style. The difference is that these cows are black and white. The second quilt is for the baby of a young couple we know in LaJolla.

Carter's little afghan. I started this on the flight home from Portland, Maine. If you look closely at the right hand bottom corner, you'll notice that, with 6 inches to go, I ran out of yarn. I'll just have to make a trip to Michael's.
This has been a day for making moons and musing. I had two quilt tops which illustrate the nursery rhyme, "Hey, Diddle Diddle" to be finished by Wednesday, so they can be tied, so I've spent the day in my sewing room finishing them up. I cut out both quilts at the same time, but they're quite different. One has red and white cows jumping over a yellow moon and the other has black and white cows. One is sort of "campy;" the other more subdued. On Wednesday, two of my friends and I will spend the morning tying the little quilts. Good times and conversation will be shared, and our blessings for the little ones who are to be gifted with the bright quilts will flow from our busy fingers. Life is good. I've read of many cultures, including the Amish, who deliberately make an error in their fancy work to let out any evil spirits that may reside there. I never have to deliberately make a mistake; I usually spend much time covering up my mistakes!!

These last few days have been somewhat nostalgic for me. I'm not sure why--maybe it's because the rains of autumn have begun, and the smell of wood smoke wafts through the air. I think my nostalgic musing began when I watched two YouTube clips with our Institute secretary which are emotional to say the least. They are clips of the first and second place winners in the British equivalent of "American Idol." The first place winner is a Welsh man with bad teeth who sings opera. The clip is overwhelmingly emotional because the man loves what he's doing. The second is a six year British girl named Connie who sings "Somewhere Over the Rainbows" with the purity of an angel. I had seen both clips before, but I felt totally drained after watching them. Then, I read this statement in a book: "Yet at Sarah's age, one wanted consanguinity. Perhaps a last chance to mend broken bridges and certainly a longing for people who knew what your parents had been like, and what you were like when you were young." My therapy for the blues was found in the stitching of the little quilt. As I sew, on any stitchwork, I envision the person for whom I'm creating the work. I think of their influence of my life, of my love for them, and I often pray for the person. They say that doing fancy work lowers one's blood pressure. I agree.

On the other hand, Tom has been outside all day. Raking leaves, winterizing the various trees and bushes, and eating popcorn at Les Schwab while they put the snow trees on the pickup. The mundane sameness of every day tasks brings comfort as well.

Musing.....

Pictures:

1. Jaime and David watch the show. David showed us several pictures of his restored Firebird. 2. Julirae's baby is due in 10 days. 3. Joe's little girl accompanied her mom and dad's fiddling performance with her own "fiddle." Quite a performance. 4. Aunt Joan had managed to surprise Garth with a delicately quilted western wall hanging for his new study. Grandma Whitby would have been proud of the excellence of Joan's work.

Blogs, for the most part, at least the ones that appeal to me, are about families. It surprises me that so many men maintain the family blog. What better way to share pictures, family news, etc. than an internet blog which friends and neighbors can view?

My thoughts have been on the events of this past weekend which were all about family!!

Friday we traveled to Bremerton to visit with Grandma Kennedy. The weather was gorgeous, and we became engrossed in a book on tape. We were a bit fearful that we would have to drive to Port Angeles, so we could finish the book--a Mary Higgens Clark thriller. We're so perverse. We had a wonderful visit with Grandma, Aunt Betty, Aunt Marian, and Cousin Barbara. Grandma insisted on preparing us a fine meal all by herself. The meal was punctuated with laughter, jokes, and many reminiscenses of times past. In the evening, Grandma and I talked well past our bedtime. Grandma is frail, a bit tipsy, but she has a fighter's spirit.

Saturday morning, with a new mystery tape in the cd player, we drove over Snoqualmie Pass to attend Uncle Garth's retirement party. As we listened to the tributes to Garth, we caught some of the references to ditch banks and water quality and appreciated the fine tributes which were paid to Garth. It was fun to visit with family once again!

The weekend left us in a reminiscent mood. Our trip home was filled with sharing and reminding each other of times past.

There truly is nothing more important than family. Many times throughout Garth's program, his deep love for his family and Aunt Joan was mentioned. We all can possess much in terms of material goods, but, by far, our wealth is in the love of our family. Reminiscing....Mom