Christmas traditions - #4

Tradition #4 is attending the BYU Celebration of Christmas concert. We have attended most years over the last decade. One year we were in attendance and little did we know that our son Andy desperately needed to reach us. Rick had a new cell phone (just when they were coming out) and we were requested to turn off all cell phones for the concert. He complied like they requested and unfortunately, this was the day that Andy broke his arm very badly while snow boarding at Park City and we couldn't be reached to help him. The rescue guys wouldn't give him any pain meds until they had cleared it with us, so he was writhing in pain all the while we were enjoying the concert, for more than a couple of hours. That wasn't a good memory, but I always think of it when I go to the annual concert.
I digress...
The concert this year was wonderful. Truly wonderful. It fills your soul and is so moving. A group of friends attended from our ladies Dust Busters group (along with a few others - including Rick who didn't want to miss the concert.) The concert is so well done and I enjoyed hearing each of the the groups sing the following numbers:

Combined all choruses- Sing We Now of Christmas to open

BYU Singers

• In the Bleak Midwinter
• Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella

Men's Chorus

• A Babe is Born
• Ding! Dong! Merrily on High

Concert Choir

• A Newborn Child
• Susses Carol

Women's Chorus

• Still, Still, Still
• Il est ne le divin Enfant

BYU Philharmonic

• Trepak, from the Nutcracker
• Fantasia on Greensleeves
• Sleigh Ride

The finale was a special guest performance by solo opera soprano singer - Jennifer Welch-Babidge (one of Gary and Nancy's friends through UFO) singing O Holy Night with the Philharmonic and the chorus accompanying her and singing as backup. They also sang the Hallelujah chorus from Messiah and finished with the beautiful Carol of Joy by Eileen Berry. Below are the moving words to this beautiful Christmas carol:

Green leaves all fallen, withered and dry,
Brief sunset fading, dim winter sky;
Lengthening shadows, dark closing in;
Then through the stillness, carols begin.

O fallen world, to you is the song!
Death holds you fast, and night tarries long.
Jesus is born, your curse to destroy;
Sweet to your ears, a carol of joy!

Pale moon ascending, solemn and slow;
Cold, barren hillside shrouded in snow.
Deep empty valley, veiled by the night;
Hear angel music hopeful and bright.

O fearful world to you is the song!
Peace with your God, and pardon for wrong.
Tidings for sinners, burdened and bound,
Carol of joy, a Savior is found!

Earth wrapped in sorrow, lift up your eyes!
Thrill to the chorus filling the skies.
Look up, sad hearted! Witness God's love;
Join in the carol swelling above!

O friendless world, to you is the song!
All heaven's joy to you may belong!
You who are lonely, laden, forlorn:
Now unto you, a Savior is come!

If you are interested in listening the the concert, it will be rebroadcast on Sunday, December 21 at 5:00 pm and it is available over the internet as well on Classical 89.1 FM radio that evening.

Christmas traditions - #3

What is a Christmas creche? Creche is French for "crib" or "place of safety," like the manger in which Jesus was placed. Now, universally and reverently, the word creche is used to describe the sacred scene. Key figures encircling the baby Jesus in the manger crib are Mary, Joseph, beasts of burden, either one angel or a host, a sheperd with a lamb about his shoulders or a flock of sheep around his legs, and exotic Wise Men and their gifts. You'll see that it is a gathering of good company to brighten the celebration of Joy! (from the book - The Christmas Creche by Elaine Cannon.)

I love the Christmas creche. I love what it symbolizes and I love seeing how different cultures and countries create their own art to represent the moment when Christ was born.
I began collecting creches many years ago and now I have a wonderful collection. It is one of the few things I "collect" and I love getting each one out at Christmas time. I decided some years ago to only display this collection in our living room, leaving all the Santa decorations for the family room. The display has created a wonderful environment in the living room and I enjoy just sitting there, relaxing and pondering - while listening to beautiful Christmas music. Here is a little tour through my collection. If it came from somewhere special, it is noted:
Top of curio cabinet - from Hawaii (given by Colleen)
Top shelf - from Peru (given by the Mejia family)
Middle shelf - from Mexico & New Mexico (from Claire) & nut carving from Florida (Victoria)
Bottom shelf - store bought



















I made this set when we were first married. We did it in Homemaking meeting over several months. We cleaned the green ware, glazed it and fired it. The little sheep with the broken leg has been on MANY adventures (inside family joke...) The creche use to be housed in a wooden stable which fell apart last year. I'm looking for another one.














Under our tree I have a native American set from New Mexico (far left), a Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus from Portugal (from Dave), a complete set from Zimbabwe (from Dustin) and a complete set from Venezuela (from Jord.)














I have various sets here and there and a few that are kid friendly so that the little ones can have fun playing with them and telling the story of what happened on Christmas all by themselves.














Jordan made me this wonderful stitched wall hanging a couple years ago (with the pattern provided by Lee.) I LOVE it! It looks great on the wall in the living room.














On the mantle I have Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus sets from the following people/places: etched glass made by Janet and Dave, olive wood carving from Israel, ceramic set from Venezuela (from Jord), and two store bought ones give from neighbors. Over the mantle is a beautiful copy of a painting by J. B. (a ward member and family friend.)














I bought this large set one year from Costco and I have really enjoyed it. One year R accidentally bumped into it when it was sitting in a different location and sent the Baby Jesus flying across the floor, breaking it into many pieces. We were able to glue them back together and "resurrect" the baby Jesus. He lives on to this very day!














I started collecting the pieces to this Willow Tree set several years ago. I recently got the wooden manger to add to it and completed the set. It's also one of my favorites.














This is a little curio shelf that belonged to Rick's Gram. One the top is a small set from Portugal (from Dave), second down is a very nice set from Peru (from Margie), a set from Japan (from Susan), a complete clay set (from Colleen), and a set I made with YW years ago, by a little pillow made by Lee.



















I hope some day to get a set from Argentina and one from Mongolia. A Lladro piece from Spain would also be very nice. I enjoy my Christmas Creche display very much at Christmas time!

Christmas traditions - #2

Years and years ago I got these advent calendars for Christmas. They were pretty simple and cute, and the kids really enjoyed advancing them each day. They would get up in the morning and try and be the first one to check off the current day, marching ever forward towards Christmas day. I made this wall hanging one at a Homemaking meeting.



















My friend Ginger made this darling nativity advent calendar one year for us when we were first married. It's been our favorite calendar of all. It was always fun to see the nativity scene being built each month. I would usually get in a panic when the wise men started arriving, because that meant that Christmas day was very close (and usually I had MILES to go before I would be ready for Christmas day.) I've copied the pattern and would be happy to share. I've helped many people make one of their own. I made one for Lauren and Ellie last year and I intend to make one for each of our kids and their families eventually. It helps keep the focus on the reason we celebrate Christmas. This picture shows the completed calendar - as if it were Christmas day - with the baby Jesus arriving last!



















As I recall, Lee make this cute Christmas tree count down for us one year. It's so simple, yet fun to do. Now that our kids are gone, I just get up in the morning and advance each one myself. I think Rick may even take a turn now and then. I think advent calendars are fun and a great way to count down until Christmas. I noticed that Tanner had one in his bedroom made out of a paper chain. The school days were one color and the weekend and holiday were another. Even big boys like Tanner like to keep track of where we are in the month!

Happy 1st birthday little Ellie

Someone very sweet has her 1st birthday today....HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLIE. Grandma and Grandpa love you very much and we look forward to seeing you in a few weeks. She is a blonde haired, blue eyed beauty who is a joy to be around. And she is walking all over the place and really enjoying life.

Christmas traditions - #1

Every year for as long as I can remember since I've been married to Rick, we've attended an annual production of Handel's Messiah. We usually attend a performance at the beginning of the Christmas season and it really helps us get in the Christmas spirit and remember the reason for the season.

We've attended the production at the LDS tabernacle on Temple Square, at Abravanel Hall and at the Provo tabernacle. This year we saw the production with Dave and Courtney at Abravanel Hall on Sunday night, performed by the Utah Symphony. Wow. It is always so moving and brings tears to our eyes. We have a CD copy of the performance and we love to listen to it throughout the Christmas season.

In case you many not be aware, all the the words for Handel's Messiah come from scripture. Here is the text for the entire production if you want to treat yourself and read through it.

In many parts of the world, it is the accepted practice for the audience to stand for the Hallelujah Chorus. Tradition has it that King George II rose to his feet at this point. As the first notes of the triumphant Hallelujah Chorus rang out, the king rose. Royal protocol has always demanded that whenever the monarch stands, so does everyone in the monarch's presence. Thus, the entire audience stood too, initiating a tradition that has lasted more than two centuries.

If you want to learn more about how Handel came to write the production, read here.

"What did happen is that upon Handel's reading of God's word he was overcome in his spirit by its power and began to write "MESSIAH" in his study beginning, August 22nd, 1741. Several sources close to him [2] record that Handel was so caught up in God's Spirit during the three weeks that it took him to write "MESSIAH", that he actually locked himself within his study, refusing food [3] and writing music amid periods of crying and moaning in that same Spirit. Handel's servant testified:
"He was praying, or he was weeping, or he was staring into eternity" -late summer, 1741
Another servant's testimony is that at the end of this three week period Handel burst out of his study with tears in his eyes and the MESSIAH script in his hand declaring, that he had a great vision, and had seen God seated upon His throne;
"I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself seated on His throne, with his Company of Angels."