Snapshot #988: Meat Pie

December 31, 2013.  San Jose, California.  The Meat Pie tradition is supposed to be for Christmas, but because we had other things going on we've saved the Meat Pie for New Year's.  It's our first attempt on our own--using Dave's Dad's recipe.  I hope our friends like it because it's going to be the New Year's Eve feast.  

Snapshot #987: Rancho San Antonio

December 30, 2013.  Cupertino, California.  Sharing my favorite places with my favorite people.  At Rancho San Antonio this morning we saw five deer feeding under a beautiful bay tree.  Can you find the blue jay in the second photo?

Snapshot #986: True Gift

December 28, 2013.  San Jose, California.  My sweetheart has gifted me the completion of several of my projects.  Here he is at work painting one of our outdoor chairs.

Snapshot #985: Hunger Bowl 2013

December 27, 2013.  San Francisco, California.  It's not very often you get to live in the same vicinity as a Bowl game for your favorite football team.   

Snapshot #984: Broken

December 26, 2013.  San Jose, California.  The disadvantages of Amazon Prime.

Snapshot #983: Christmas Day 2013

December 25, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Snapshots throughout the day.

Snapshot #982: The Light Shineth in Darkness

December 24, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I have always felt the magic of Christmas while gazing at the tree, loaded with gifts and glowing through a darker atmosphere.  This photo, in many ways, represents what I will always remember about the Christmas of 2013.  I am thankful that 'the light shineth in darkness."

Snapshot #981: Celebrate Christ

December 23, 2013.  San Jose, California.

I believe with all my heart that all good gifts come from God.

I believe that all things will some day be made whole

 through the gift and atonement of my Savior Jesus Christ.  

While prayer, I am learning, does not necessarily change 

the outcome of events in my life; it will, hopefully, change me.

I love the Christmas hymns,

"Be Near Me Lord Jesus, I Ask Thee To Stay"

At our house we celebrate Christ by decorating with nativities collected from around the world.  For a tour of the nativities scattered throughout our house this season, see below:

from Wales

 from Argentina

 from El Salvador

 from Italy

from Uruguay

 from El Salvador, Peru, Sun Valley, Wales, Jerusalem, & my grandmother.

Snapshot #980: Patxi's

December 21, 2013.  Palo Alto, California.  In celebration of a friend's birthday we enjoyed Patxi's true deep dish pizza.

Snapshot #979: Pajama Day

December 20, 2013.  San Jose, California.  After so many days of running around it feels marvelous to have no where we have to be today.

Snapshot #978: From Us to You

December 19, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Dear family, meticulous wrapping paper part of gift, which is now on its way from our house to yours.

Snapshot #977: Christmas Gift Baskets

December 18, 2013.  San Jose, California.  It has been a privilege to plan, assemble, and assist in the delivery of these Christmas Baskets.  It has helped to keep my mind reaching out to others at a time when I'd otherwise be tempted to focus inward.

Snapshot #976: Smelling Roses

December 17, 2013.  Sunnyvale, California.  Oft times I'm in a hurry, running here and there to get things done according to my agenda.  But Hazel shows me the birds in the parking lot.  She points out the horses in the pasture we just drove by.  She notices and smells the flowers in the isle at Costco.  She hears the songbirds in the park and stops to look for them.  Thank you Hazel, for these sweet little gifts.  

Snapshot #975: I Get To Be The One

December 16, 2013.  San Jose, California.  

I get to be the one who she calls Mommy.

I get to be the one to give her a name.

I get to be the one who teaches her about love.

I get to be the one who sees what she sees.

I get to be the one to kiss things better.

I get to be the one to answer her questions.

I get to be the one to sing her bedtime stories.

I get to be her security when she's scared.

I get to be the one to build her confidence.

 I get to be her mom.

Snapshot #974: Amazon Prime

December 14, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Boy am I thankful for Amazon prime.  Not only do I get a free 30-day trial, but I also get all my Christmas gifts delivered to our front door within two days for free...so I still have time to wrap them and get them sent back out again in time for Christmas.  Amazon prime, you are my magic elf this year.  

Snapshot #973: Space Planning

December 13, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I am grateful for my small network of clients that is slowly growing in the bay area.  I am currently in the midst of space planning a new corporate office for a start-up business that is expanding.  I thoroughly enjoy the creative and the problem-solving processes of space planning.

Snapshot #972: Post-Birthday Celebration

December 12, 2013.  San Jose, California.  My sweet husband bought me an ice cream cake on my birthday but we haven't had a chance to break into it, until tonight.

Snapshot #971: Oh Christmas Tree

December 11, 2013.  San Jose, California.  It's Hazel's first year to help us decorate the Christmas tree.  We have lots of nativities around the house and she is fascinated by the Mommy, the Daddy and the Baby.  I love the learning moments that we get together because of Christmas.

Snapshot #970: Terrible Twos

December 10, 2013.  San Jose, California.  It was not a good morning.  It was not a good night.  It was not a good yesterday.  Hazel has officially hit the terrible twos and I don't think I'm handling it very well.  It's 10:00 AM and already I just want to sit down and cry.  This morning's tantrum involved the violent rejection of putting on clothing...meanwhile our friends are patiently waiting for us.

Snapshot #969: Valparaiso Sings Again

December 9, 2013.  Palo Alto, California.  Dave sang last night with the Valparaiso singers at the Christmas Creche, an artistic celebration of the birth of the Christ child with more than 350 nativities from around the world.  The creche is a lovely local tradition.

Exploring San Francisco: Snapshot #968: SF Food Tours

December 7, 2013.  San Francisco, California.  For my birthday Dave drove me up to the City.  We went on a food tour of North Beach.  Yum!!!  There was WAY too much sugar and not enough real food on the tour...but it was enjoyable nonetheless.  They brought us to a cafe for hot chocolate, then a pastry shop, then a fudge shop, then a chocolate & caramels merchant, then (finally) some pasta and we ended the tour at Cine Citta with some pizza, italian style.  I just love San Francisco.  See my photo collage of our tour below: