Fun Times

I just wanted to make a post about our fun times this month too. We have had so much craziness going on this month. It may not have been the best of stuff but we make the best out of everything. We have had some way fun things happening too.

We have been able to take time and go see the lights downtown at Temple Square. We went on a date night with our friends, Tyler and Nikki Johnson. It was way fun. We went downtown then went to Village Inn.

For the last few years, we always went and did gingerbread houses with Pauls family. This year we decided not to do them. I was ok with that since I get impatient in the middle of it, but it was always something we still looked forward too. Since they didn't I went over to my moms when Halle and Uncle Joe made one. It was actually a team effort but they did it for the most part.

Halle and the finished product.
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas From Heaven Part 2

Merry Christmas From Heaven Part 2

Seeing that I have already posted this poem before I'll just add to the first post. This one is dedicated to my mother-in-law , the Osborne family, and the Birell family, and all of Aunt Carol and Aunt Gayles family, friends, and loved ones. I know that Aunt Carol and Aunt Gayle are going to be spending Christmas together with Grandma and all the others who have passed before them. Its just one big family reunion this year.

We all have someone we have loved and lost. This post is in memory of our loved ones we have lost. As much as I love this time of year, there have been years where it is harder for me because it seems to me that most people I have loved and lost in my life has been around Christmas time. I've had a grandmother who passed on Christmas Eve a couple of years ago and a grandfather a few years before two days after Christmas, But come on, who really wants to be bummed and grieve during the holiday season? When I think about my loved ones I like to celebrate who they were to me and think of good things and their life, not just their death. I've also been thinking about and missing my brother who passed away a few years ago lately and found this Christmas poem that really helped me the year he died. I felt like I should share it.

Merry Christmas From Heaven

I still hear the songs
I still see the lights
I still feel your love
on cold wintery nights

I still share your hopes
and all of your cares
I'll even remind you
to please say your prayers

I just want to tell you
you still make me proud
You stand head and shoulders
above all the crowd

Keep trying each moment
to stay in His grace
I came here before you
to help set your place

You don't have to be
perfect all of the time
He forgives you the slip
If you continue the climb

To my family and friends
please be thankful today
I'm still close beside you
In a new special way

I love you all dearly
now don't shed a tear
Cause I'm spending my
Christmas with Jesus this year

Copyright 1990 (can't read name)

I really hope you all have a great holiday season! Merry Christmas!
Love the Gardiners

Decembers Ups and Downs

I just wanted to give a quick update on Paul and I. This month has been very crazy. For the most part its been good. There have been a few things I'm disappointed that didn't turn out, but we make the best of it right?
At the beginning of the month we were close to having an opportunity to be able to move to Eagle Mountain and it was a job for Paul. I was so excited and anxious for something new, but unfortunately it fell through. The decision to go through with it felt totally right and we were looking forward to something new, but there have been a few things come up that I'm so glad we didn't go and am thankful to be around the family with everything that has happened.
We had a very fun family Christmas party that Lynette put together and I'm very thankful she did. She put a lot of work into it and we had a good turn out. I'm so glad that I took the opportunity to talk to Aunt Carol and visit for a few minutes. That was the last day we saw her before her stroke and we had to go to the hospital to say goodbye. It was also fun to see other family members that we havn't seen for awhile. It was nice to have a good reason to see the family. What I mean by that is that it wasn't a funeral that brought us together. Unfortunately that is the next family event for the Platt family.
I had my annual work Christmas Party. It was at Tuscany again. Same room, beautifully decorated and so much fun. I love the people I work with.
We welcomed a new cousin in my family. My cousin Jessica had her 2nd baby. I can't wait to meet her. My friend Kelsee also welcomed her 3rd early this morning. Congrats to the new babies.
Paul is still looking for a job. It sucks but i'm proud of how he has dealt with it all. Last but not least tomorrow is Paul's last final. He just finished extra credit today and will most likely pull of all A's his first semester at the U. I'm so proud of him. I also can't wait to have finals week over so I can have my hubby back.
I hope everyone is enjoying their December and this wonderful holiday season.

Another Angel

This last week, Heaven took one of the very best back home. This is very weird to me, it's like de ja vu. It has only been five months since Aunt Gayle left and now she is reunited with one of her very best friends, Aunt Carol.
Carol is another one of my mother-in-laws sisters. She is a very sweet lady and always had something nice to say. She was somebody who made you feel very special. She loved you for you. When I first met her I was impressed with her fashion. She always looked nice wherever she went. She liked bright colors like me, especially red. She was very easy to talk to and had a wonderful sense of humor. She loved everyone she met. I'm happy to know that she is not only being united with her best friend (sister) but I know there is a wonderful reunion going on with her mother and brother Normand along with her husband, grandkids, and great grandkids that went before her. Carol you will always be loved and remembered and truly missed. I'm glad you aren't in pain anymore and i'm thankful for the chance Paul and I had to say goodbye. Love you.

Off To A Great Start

The Holidays are off to a great start! The first Saturday of December my mother-in-law put together her family Christmas party. I think it was a huge success! It was nice to get together with the family and celebrate Christmas. The last time the family was brought together was for the death of Aunt Gayle. At least this time was a happy reason. The party was held at the church. She put together a good brunch. We had some fun games and Uncle Jim (the oldest in the family) read The Night Before Christmas. Sarah and Lynette also put together a book of memories of Aunt Gayle and presented it to Uncle Max and the Osborn family. It was fun to get together and see family we don't usually see. I even got to know some of the cousins better. I didn't take many pictures since our camera batteries died on us, but this is what we do have. Stacey took some so when she posts them hopefully I can add them to the blog. Hope everyone has a Happy Holiday!