YES! I am actually going to write a post that is not about Elder Brenchley! ;)
*Matt & I were in charge of our ward Christmas party this year.
It was on Friday night, the 12th.
But, I worked on getting it ready all day Friday.
And Thursday.
And Wednesday.
And the whole month before.
We had an awesome committee, though, who contributed a TON!
{Thanks Christensen's, Derrick's, Evans', Floyd's, Becky & Gina}
Some of the HIGHLIGHTS:
~"Neighborhood Trivia" was projected up on a movie screen up front as people arrived.
First, the "clue" would come up on the screen for people to read, and then a while later, the answer (person's name) would go up on the screen.
(THINK: movie theater before the movie starts.)
(THINK: movie theater before the movie starts.)
It was a great "mixer" to get people talking to start the party!
The ones from our family were:
The ones from our family were:
This woman had a leg hair growing contest with a guy – and WON!
This person drove 140 m.p.h. in a blue Mustang GT – and lived to tell about
it.
This [non-native Japanese] married couple both know how to speak Japanese.
This person played on an ALL-GIRL baseball team (with pink uniforms) in a
BOYS’ league.
This person has a purple belt in Karate.
This person cracked his head open doing a flip off the couch.
This 6 YR. OLD likes to eat tomatoes, green peppers,
avocado, cauliflower, & green salad!
This missionary has now picked up the “Southern” patterns of speech.
(Can you guess them all?!?)
~A "Green Screen" Photo Op
~A "Green Screen" Photo Op
(THINK: weatherman on the news)
People literally just posed in front of a green screen......THEN......
it turned into THIS:
~Dinner with food from Mo' Bettah Steaks
I broke tradition and did away with the chili & soup (not my favorite) they'd done in the past! I'm such a rebel! But, that's one of the perks of being in charge!
PLUS, this menu had the "gluten free" crowd in mind.
~Entertainment/Musical Program
{The Primary sang, "Stars Were Gleaming"}
Katelyn is 3rd from the left (fuchsia pants, turquoise vest). Brookelle is 5th from the right (pink camo pants, navy shirt).
We also have this TREMENDOUSLY talented Sister Missionary serving in our area - she plays the ukelele, she sings, she plays the piano, she does it all together!
(Too bad [for us] she is returning home this week.)
(Too bad [for us] she is returning home this week.)
She performed, "A Hallelujah Christmas." Have you seen/heard this song?!!?
I've been watching/listening to it on YouTube ever since the party!
You won't be able to get it out of your mind, I tell ya!
*On Saturday, we spent the whole day in bed recovering from the ward party.
HA!
NOT!
I WISH!
But, we had the Fowers Christmas party at our home that night.
We barely got all the dishes & small appliances from the night before washed up & returned, then started cleaning up our house before the people started to come!
{Scenes from the evening}
One of the highlights from the evening was when my Aunt Louise shared experiences
from her mission to Australia back in the late 60's and her news reporting career at KSL television.
(She started at age 22 and was the 1st and ONLY woman reporter at that time in the Salt Lake area! She was just the 2nd woman in the nation to do it, and the ONLY woman on the air at that particular time.)
Many of the youngest generation did not know any of this family history, so it was great to have her share it!
She brought a few clips of her news stories she reported on from the past, too. They were fun to watch!
She is also a talented musician, and we always gather around the piano and sing a Christmas song that she wrote, "Waiting for the Child."
She's written other songs, too. You can see one of her pieces on YouTube here:
and here:
(That's my cousin singing the song!)
*On Sunday, we finally rested & recuperated all day.
(HA! again.....In my dreams)
Our darling niece, Megan, recently returned from her mission to Madrid, Spain on 12/9....
YES! I cried at the sight of the reunion between missionary & parents - THIS one AND strangers I don't even know!
{COUSINS!}
Megan had her "Homecoming" (reported on her mission at church) on Sunday - at 9:00 in the morning!!
We got to attend that and hear her testimony (in Spanish - don't know what she said!) and her contagious enthusiasm for the Gospel!
We went to my brother's house afterwards for food and visiting and stayed well into the afternoon.
*We had Tithing Settlement with the Bishop later Sunday evening.
GOOD THING we discovered those missing checks so everything really could be "settled." ;)
*I realized I have 9 days to get ALL the Christmas stuff done, now!
THE LIST for this week started rolling through my mind at extraordinary speeds!
