2012 Christmas Pictures and Loong Descriptions of Old Movies

I've already told you about Christmas, and here are the pictures to go with the story:

The first ones are of the Ward Christmas Breakfast and Santa's visit.

Even though the quality of pictures isn't that great,

I love the kids' expressions.

Irelyn really needed Mom, until she figured out how fun Santa's bells were,

and that he had candy canes hiding somewhere.

Then she got really involved!

The rest of the pictures are from Christmas Eve at 

Danny and Melinda's home.

The kids seemed to enjoy acting out the Nativity,

And Alaina was such a devoted Mary.

Justin and Phillip and Ben were Wise Men and Shepherds,

while Danny read the story.

Joseph was a caring, concerned husband,

yet with a smiling, confident attitude.

Everyone played their part well,

and Linda got to take some shots with her new camera.

And the food was great!

 I had to laugh at KittleLitty sitting directly under the lamp.

Isn't that pose so peculiar-looking?

Today, there was a Twilight Zone marathon, so we watched it off and on,

catching all of our favorite episodes, like Talking Tina, and

Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.

A little further on in this post, I'll tell you about

some of the movies we watched while being down being sick.
But first,

Drum roll please...Megan and Brooks and Family - your box is basically done.  

Tadaa!

I was so delayed by illness, but didn't go around your stuff

when ill, so it should be safe.

I hope so!

I'm so excited to get these boxes done.

I can't wait for you to get them!

 Also, I'm excited to give Melinda and Danny's kids their gift,

plus a couple of other things. :)

I went to the eye dr. this a.m., 'cause I thought the stitches were 

rubbing on my eyelid, but it turned out I had a piece of fuzz

in my eye.  Now I am experiencing blessed relief!

And I'm feeling better over all.

The contrast is amazing,

and highlights the principle of opposition.

It does produce happiness to experience opposition, pain, and illness,
so you can appreciate not having them.

Man, I'm sure looking forward to that!

Today Mark made me the most awesome ham,
at my special request.
It was just a small ham from Wal Mart,
but he let it soak in brown sugar and pineapple,
after scoring the fat.
After leaving it overnight in the fridge,
he baked it till it was nice and hot, and
thoroughly banished any thoughts I had
of ever becoming a vegetarian!
That was a great way to close out the year!

Mark did something else for me, which I am so happy about!
He got me some Honey Bee scissors,
a version of Cutter Bee scissors.
They're fairly small scissors, that actually work!
Hallelujah!

Btw, Megan, did you finish catching up on Downton Abbey?

We've got to talk!

And guess what, girls?  The Karen Carpenter Story is on YouTube,

available in a whole movie form.

Mark and I watched it today.  Then we watched some of 

The Carpenters' performances

and part of an interview.

Did I ever tell you all that Mark saw The Jackson Five 

perform live once or twice,

And he saw The Carpenters at the beginning 

of their career and towards the end.

He said that Karen was really pulled down in the latter performance.

So sad, but at least she was doing better at the very end of her life. 
Her heart had previous damage from anorexia nervosa, and couldn't operate properly.

Louise Fletcher, by the way, is outstanding

as Mrs. Carpenter.  All the performers were excellent in their roles, I thought.

The really skinny outfits Ms. Gibb wore were actually Karen's.

Richard Carpenter, the executive producer, had her wear her clothes.

Kind of creepy!

Anyway, we also watched Buckaroo Banzai in the 8th Dimension.  I love it when 

Peter Weller sings "Since I Don't Have You,"

but I want him to sing the whole song!

Mr. Weller is actually almost as much a Renaissance Man

as the character he plays.

He's a musician, actor, professor, art historian,

and sometime History Channel host.

I can't remember what all else he's done and is still doing,

but I'm impressed.
It's nice when your super-heroes have real-life counterparts.

To change the subject, aren't Google video and images amazing?!

Just look at these images that came up, among many others,
when I simply typed in the words "Old fashioned Christmas,"
and clicked on images:

Aren't they great?  There's such an abundance

of inspiring images and how-to videos on the Internet!
I love that accessibility;
many of you may not remember a time when
there just wasn't that much available to you,

unless you lived near museums, libraries, and universities.

I used to be starved for learning, growing up

and for the first half of my life.

I even had plans to start a non-profit organization,

to bring resources to rural residents.

Now that's generally a problem of the past, 

and that's so awesome!

 

Well, Happy New Year, evereebuddee!  I pray you are all getting well again.
Mrs. Cannon has to have serious spinal surgery in one week, so please keep
her in your prayers.  I get the other cataract done on the 16th, 
and I have 20/20 vision in the eye that's been fixed.
Isn't that great?  The world is still out there, I've found,
after a long while of living in a big blur.

So take care, all of you.

We love you!

xoxoxo