Christmas Eve and Morning 2025

 We were at Jeremy's this year in Indiana with he and his boys.  I went with Jeremy doing pick ups of Christmas.  We visited Sheri's sister in Michigan, and caught a movie, David.  It was a good week.

Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square: Christmas Concert 2022 (broadcast 2023), Lea Salonga and Sir David Suchet

The Christmas presentation features the orchestra, choir, Lea Salonga and David Suchet.  I have always wanted to attend a concert featuring Lea Salonga, and this may be the closest I ever come.  David Suchet tells the story of Sir Nicholas Winton.  Winton as a young man had been in Czechoslovakia.  People had fled from Nazi Germany but they could not exit; But they found a loop hole, children could leave if they had a sponsor family.  Seeing a need, when he returned to Engand Winton advertised and found families and arranged for the transportation of children.  He saved 669 children this way.  Most were Jewish.  If he hadn't acted quickly they would have perished as the border was closed and the Nazis took over and killed the Jews.  

The choir is always superb.  Lea Salonga is singing perfectly and Suchet added his personality.  Very excellent presentation.

Christmas Decorations at Lauritzen Garden, Poinsettias, Trains, Luminarias, etc.

 There are lots of neat Christmas decorations at Lauritzen Garden.  There are several different types of poisettias, on poinsettia trees.  There are scrap wood trees, trains, trolls and yule goats.  

Charity's Kids Christmas Concert

 Charity's daughters play Viola and violin, and her son provided vocals with his grade.  

Manger Scene in the Field Club Branch

 I visited the Field Club Christmas Branch party.  It was very nice with decorations, and 3-D printed toys.  Charity made cinnamon rolls which are always nice.  There was all kinds of fruit and breakfast casseroles.  The highlight was the kids presented the nativity.  Even Riley got into the act.

 The Christmas Devotional of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was presented in the small theater at the Conference Center so the music provided by the Tabernacle Choir was recorded earlier.  Even so it was very nice and added to the devotional.  Speakers included President Henry B Eyring, President Jeffrey R. Holland, President Susan H. Porter (primary) and President Timothy L. Farnes (young men)

Christmas Devotional  

Charity Concert with Omaha Sings

 Charity had her concert this past Sunday.  She performs with Sing Omaha Woman's Chorus.  They sang a new song Magnificat,  I provide a short excerpt.  They sang in a large Southern Methodist church in Papillion. In addition to Charity's choir there was the master choir which is a mixed choir, and se veral youth choirs and a children's choir.  It made for a fun afternoon.

Hard to get a good view of Charity while they were singing.

Durham History Museum: Christmas Tree and Santa Clause

 Went to museum with Charity's kids to see the tree and Santa Clause.  Santa Clause is in an auditorium underneath the museum.  We did some art and building projects, and visited the wedding dress and hockey exhibits.  These exhibits are not part of the permanent display so wanted to catch them while they are there.  Hockey was very fun.  They had a whole bunch of game like air hockey and hockey shooting cages.  All the kids took a turn, even Riley.  She was funny holding the hockey stick.  And of course putting the pucks in her mouth.

Christmas Music Review: Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration

 Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration,  Chloë Agnew, Órla Fallon, Lisa Kelly, and Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, with violinist Máiréad Nesbitt.  David Downes producer and arranger.  Manhattan Records, 2006.

For the past 20 years no one has made music like Celtic Woman.  This is an early Christmas album, in fact their second album.  Their combination of Celtic themes with traditional hymns is magnificent.  On this album their are 15 songs, inluding: O Holy Night, Away in a Manger, Silent Night, Let it Snow and many more favorites.  I enjoyed this album very much.

Light the World CHristmas Video 2025

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released the video for Light the World 2025.  This is very nice as it combines scenes from the Bible video of the birth of baby Jesus and a children's pageant.  

I was moved to tears at several points; especially when the wiseman sees Jesus.

 

Las Vegas Temple

 This is our current temple living in Northwest Arizona, Kingman.  It is also the only temple where I have worked as a temple worker.  I recently resigned as we are looking at moving this summer which takes lots of work.  You can see the temple in the distance from certain spots on the freeway which I love.  

Christmas display at the temple