Donna's Journey

I have opened the blinds and the sun floods into all the family’s main living rooms. The sun has melted most of the snow. By this afternoon I know the snow will be gone, with the last rays of this year.

What a date yesterday was. First, we went to the Mt. Timpanogas Temple and did sealings. We joined a family and a French girl, we were doing her family file, all French names. Her mother was French and father Italian. I thought this was romantic.

We came home and I showered, blow dried my hair, put on my make up, and packed. After all, I wanted to look my best for the events that followed. We drove to Park City. I had already learned the book by Bruce Thorton, I had read his work before, I had read the introduction. I started to read chapter one, oh my, he was translating what the Greeks had literally said, and I blushed, I had to put the book down, for today. I know this chapter clears a lot of misinformation that popular culture would have us believe, but it is not for me, especially today, so I tucked it under the seat and enjoyed our drive.

Ok, this part was hilarious. We slipped into our winter gear, while in the car, as it was 18 degrees outside. The snug fit had us laughing and tugging. We had bought these gore tech close 8 years ago, just never tried putting them on in the car. Zippers were not co-operating, feet were in the air, a funny sight, to be sure. We realized that God’s promise had been manifest, that we would surely, “eat in plenty, and be satisfied, “ So, this coming year we need to be a little wiser in healthy choices, the right exercise (if I ever hope to complete this Journey to Zion), and proper rest. Anyway, it was a 10-15 minute battle to get prepared for the sleigh ride. We took a sleigh ride up a hill to the restaurant. We had a delicious prime rib dinner and then a sleigh ride back down the mountain.

We drove to Salt Lake and went to temple square. We walked through the light displays, watched as couples had their pictures taken, and stood on the North East Steps where we had taken our picture 29 years ago. We decided to have a friend reserve time next 29 December and take a picture of us on those steps for our 30th anniversary.

Then off to the hotel, where we had spent our wedding night 29 years ago. We had one of their honeymoon suites. A key with our name and anniversary date engraved on it. A bottle of sparkling grape juice in a silver chiller, dainty plates with tuxedo dipped chocolates, mint truffles on our pillow cases, and a beautiful view of the city lights, to the north.

I woke early and we thought about the years past and then what the future might bring. I chuckled inside as I thought of the turn of conversation as we discussed international events and their possible ripples. Could we be in such a romantic place and discuss such things? That was but a brief part of our stay;) Then I fell back into dreams. He let me sleep in, good, there was a late check out.

We went to IHOP for breakfast. Yum. Then we drove to Barnes and Noble and returned a game that we bought for Christmas, that was missing pieces, when we opened it. We got a replacement game and checked for missing pieces. As we headed home he shared with me the book he wants to write this coming year. We drove by Dear Lizzie’s in Alpine, as we discussed this new class I am doing for Love of Learning girls. I had more ideas, as we bounced thoughts off each other.

I arrived home to a clean house and children preparing for their New Years Eve, Eve dance, and a list of callers wanting into my Bonnie Belles. I prepared a spaghetti supper, dropped the kids off at the dance, did the shopping to prepare for the Lord’s day, and then turned attention to contacting those who wanted to be part of our group, and placing announcements appropriately about the fees and commitments.

The youths arrived home from the dance and we had family devotional.

Yes, 29 Years ago at 9:00 am we entered into a covenant marriage in the Salt Lake Temple. It was my sister-in-law’s 11th wedding anniversary (which means today is her 40th!). She spent her evening hostessing my wedding reception at her home in Sandy. It snowed that day. Funny thing, another Roger Goff was scheduled to be married at the same our we were, and they started to take us to the his sealing room, we saw our family and they checked their records and took us to be with them. There were 139 weddings that day in the Salt Lake Temple. There are 12 sealing rooms, so they were pretty much performing marriages all day. My mother flew in from Hawaii bringing rare magenta colored orchids for my wedding cake, maile leis entwined with tiny white orchids for Roger and me, carnation and other leis for the parents, white shell leis for my bride’s maids Kristy, Laurie, and Dena, torch ginger and bird of paradise bouquets. My other sister-in-law baked and decorated my wedding cake, of white velvet cake, with a simple pearled edge. We had homemade Mexican wedding cookies, homemade Fernwood Chocolate Sandwich Mints, and Brazilian punch for refreshments. I had wanted a garden wedding and also a winter wedding, I got both! 29 years later, would I do it again? Would I? Absolutely! Now the shocker, we knew each other 5 days before we decided to marry, one week from the day we met, we formalized the proposal. We were married 42 days later. Of course, this is another story for another time.
Today, I arose early, my group for love of learning girls, on my mind.

I studied I Nephi 2, studied further the meaning of lowliness of heart.

A few days ago I was presented with an itinerary for today. The kids will make us breakfast. We will go to the Temple. We are scheduled to stay at the hotel we spent our wedding night; Little America. He got the Romance Package which is for honeymoons and anniversaries. Then he will wisk me to the mountains, to Park City for sleigh ride and dinner at a lodge. Then back to Salt Lake City. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? He said something about possibly tubing! Usually we go to the temple, out to lunch, and sometimes to a movie. This year is our 29th on the 29th a special day.

I have done my morning exercises. I will now read Bruce Thorton’s Greek Ways: How the Greeks Created Western Civilization. Might as well, everyone yet sleeps.

James Henry Goff click on his name to see his picture!

Welcome to our world.  James Henry Goff entered mortality at 8:40 pm California time, weighing in at 9 lbs. 2 oz.  and measuring 21 inches.  We are so happy he is here!

I love this time of the year. Time to wind up projects, and purge, making way for a new year. If I am not completing projects and holding on to things that I do not need, then I am sending a message that I cannot take care of what I have, then how can He bless me the way He would like?

I woke this morning and took care of my 3 Bs; Being, Body, and Brain. I wanted to spend my most productive time to do those things that take the greatest effort and produce the greatest amount of results. Not using my high energy time for clearing spam from my computer or life.
For my Being I finished studying the Book of Mormon, for 2006, and took Moroni’s challenge in Moroni 10, pondering, praying, reaffirming and feeling peace. I wrote the date I completed the Book of Mormon, in the back of my scriptures. I have a space for when I complete the Old Testament, New Testament, Doctrine and Covenants, and pearl of Great Price. I want to date it each time I finish. Mind you, sometimes I stop and follow a thread, do research, etc. But I usually come back eventually and pick up where I left off. My Being is my eternal self, my spirit.
Then I took care of my body. Get that blood pumping! I did my morning exercises, which has been interesting since I started having these asthma like bronchospasms, triggered by saw dust and fireplace smoke. I am not back to where I was but am moving there fast.

Then I took care of my Brain. I started studying a book I bought myself for Christmas; Teach Your Self New Testament Greek by Ian McNair. I had slipped in my Greek since I took Greek lessons a few years ago. I am liking this book, A LOT! It is using modern language techniques and not the teaching Greek through grammar approach.

After I did my 3 Bs, I took off cleaning and tidying. Jennifer and I tidied the kitchen, loaded the dishwasher and I cleaned the sink. i made my bed and moved Christmas trimmings from my bedroom, emptied the trash and relined trash cans. Then I made mirrors sparkle. I got laundry moving through its paces. Then I sat down and went through today’s mail.

Off to run errands, after I change laundry loads…I’ll be back.

Hope you had a Joyful Christmas.

Ours was great. I spent the afternoon with my daughters watching North and South a BBC production, based on the novel North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. She was seven when Jane Austen died and she wrote a biography on Charlotte Bronte. This is a keeper and a classic. I would say, right up there with Pride and Prejudice.

Merry Christmas my friends.

A delightful Christmas Eve!

No word on the new grand baby yet!

My son Adam, his wife Ki, and my two grandsons, Valor and Zane, came down to spend the day with us.  Julia sang in the Singles Ward, and Adam amd Jennifer went to hear their sister sing.  I arrived early to warm up in choir practice, only to discover that our practice was the prelude.  I was able to sing and enjoy, until all of the sudden I got a tickle in my throat, that yeilded a cough, and I knewI was going to have an uncontrolable coughing spell. I was mortified.  What to do.  I slid behind the ladies to my right and out the side door, just a few feet away.  Once in the hall, the coughing hit and I could almost not catch my breath.  I hurried to the water fountain with tears coming.  I drank and then went into the ladies room until things subsided.  I went to go back and they were singing the number we had practiced.  I slid in next to my husband on the bech and watched the others sing.  Yet, before the sacrament was passed, I had to leave again.  I spent most of the service sitting in the foyer and experiencing through open doors.

The children sand Christmas Bells are Ringing and they all had jinglr beels on stick they played as they sang.  The also sang, This is the Season. A couple were leaving on a mission to Texas and spoke in sacrament meeting.  The young Women’s president accompanied, on the pian, 1 girl on cello, 7 girls on violin, and one young Women’s leader on violin for a medly of Christmas hymns.  Their little orchestra stretched across the whole front of the chapel, in front of the podium, they were pretty good, it was beautiful.  Brother Rupper red the Christmas story from Luke.  I set the and was able to silently recite it, as I had at the recital a week ago.  I still remembered!!!  Then as we sang silent night, Brother Williams accompanied on the piano, Sister Shupe on the organ, and Breanne on the flute.

I came home and worked to get dinner on the table.  After our traditional Christmas Dinner, we had a birthday party for Jesus.

ki helped my daughter start a blog.  Zane had a blessing, as did I.  After Adam and Ki left, I retired for a 30 minute nap.  I woke to a doorbell.  Arringtons had come to Carol.  It is too cold form me to go out with a cough.

I look forward to a easy Christmas day.  While we start with a breakfast, then open presents, one at a time, and then spend a restful day reading, playing and napping.

My niece Ailee and her husband came over tonight. They moved into their new home in Lehi, back in May, and we have not been in touch. It was so good to visit with them. They leave for Moloka,i in Hawaii, Sunday, to visit her parents, my sister and her husband.

I look forward to those days between Christmas and New Years when the purging and cleaning of the house prepare us for a New year ahead. I studied Moroni 8 today. It is a comfort to the heart to know that my grandson is whole in Christ through his atonement.

I took some of the children to he BYU Bookstore Annual Christmas sale. It snowed. Roger made pumpkin bread and fudge while we were gone. I came home and made a red velvet cake for our “Annual Birthday Party for Jesus Party, for Christmas Eve. Showing Jennifer how it is done. Later, in the evening, Roger, Jen and I drove to Barnes & Noble in Murray. Adam met us there and helped bring gifts from my sister in law from Salt Lake. She had surgery and could not drive. While we were in Salt Lake, Julia made melt in your mouth caramels.

I made dinner and then helped James make and wrap his presents.

I placed a Prime Rib in the oven to slow roast until tomorrow afternoon. It will be for our Christmas Eve Dinner, that will be part of the Birthday for Jesus, Sunday.

Goodnight.

I need to write shorter posts.