Merry Christmas

Apache Junction, AZ

A Christmas message from Bishop Gary E. Stevenson:

This Christmas, as the spirit of the season permeates our hearts, let us do something that expresses our feelings in an outward way, showing that we understand that the babe born in Bethlehem is the real Redeemer. President Howard W. Hunter gave some practical advice that helps us do that:

“This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude.  Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.”

My mother made this Nativity set for me at least 35 years ago. It is one of my most treasured possessions.

Merry Christmas and may your heart be filled with love and peace.

The Dixon’s – Jim, Sandie, Scooter, and Skittlez

Hershey’s Chocolate, Christmas Lights and Ice Cream

 Apache Junction, AZ  High 65  Low 43

Some folks are so amazingly creative. This display was at Fry’s Grocery store and was put together by one of their cake bakers.

Sunday night, we picked up Paul and headed out to look at Christmas lights. These folks had lights all synced to music an it was so fun to see them. Lots of other people were out to see the lights also.

This display had five houses all hooked up together. They were taking donations for Make A Wish and even had a snow making machine for the kids. 

I really liked the Santa at this house. But it was hard to get a picture of him with all the panes in the window. The kids were totally enthralled with him and he did look real walking back and forth across the window.

And what better way to end the evening but with a stop at Cold Stone.

Glendale Glitters

Glendale, AZ 

Scooter Update: Thank you all so much for the wonderful, caring comments. They are appreciated beyond words. She is still a very unhappy little girl. She is starting to feel better and wants to do more than she should. She was actually able to stand on her back legs to eat today. Wobbly, but standing. However, she’s not supposed to do that and we haven’t figured out how to stop her. It reminds me of Jim when he was in rehab after his back surgery. Both of them are terrible patients.

Tuesday night we made plans to meet up with Jeri and Terry in Glendale to take a carriage ride to see the Christmas lights that they call Glendale Glitters.

I had forgotten how bad rush hour traffic can be. When we worked in Washington, DC, we faced that kind of traffic everyday. Sure am grateful we don’t have to do that anymore. Except when I plan outings on the other side of the city.

By the time we arrived and met up with Jeri and Terry, we were starved. Jeri found a great restaurant. Originally we thought it was an Irish pub. (Murphy’s sounds Irish to me.) But this Murphy was German.

They even had doxies in their windows.

 

Then we ordered dinner. My plate had enough food on it for all four of us. (Thanks Jeri for the use of some of your pictures.)

They also had a trio playing German drinking music. You can just see the tuba player’s arm.

After dinner we strolled through the lights on Glendale Square and got into line for the carriage ride.

Jeri and Terry waiting for the ride. Hard to take good pictures at night.

Miss Daisy was pulling our carriage. Isn’t she pretty?

It was a fun experience and I’m glad we did it. It was cold enough that it put me more in the Christmas mood. Growing up in Montana most of our Christmas’s were really cold and white. However, I’m really enjoying these warm Arizona Christmases.

A Very Sad Scooter

Apache Junction, AZ  High 68  Low 42

A week ago, When Jim took Scooter out she stumbled coming back into the fifth wheel. But then she seemed fine. A little later she tried going up the steps into the bedroom and cried out in pain.

At this time she doesn’t have much use of her hind legs. We took her to the vet and it’s a neurological problem with her back. She is not a candidate for surgery because of her heart.

I got on the internet on Dodgerslist.com which is a website devoted to dogs with IVDD (canine back problems) especially dachshunds and started reading. We are going to use the “conservative” method of treatment which means complete crate rest for two months. We don’t know if this will work but we are praying that it works for her.

She will probably never be able to walk normally and will always look like a drunken sailor but that’s okay. Just means the rabbits are a little bit safer.

This has been a real adjustment time for all of us. It took us a few days to decide on the crate rest and during that time one of us had to be with her at all times to make sure she didn’t move. We have to carry her outside and since she’s on a heart medicine that makes her have to go to the bathroom, we make several trips a day. Now with the crate we can leave her for a couple of hours at a time. And Ginny is always just across the street to help us out.

Scooter just looks at us like what in the world has happened to me. I feel so bad for her but she isn’t in any pain which is something we can really be grateful for. Skittlez also doesn’t understand what is going on but she’s getting used to Scooter being in the crate.

Jim and Paul went to Casa Grande to Jan and Bill’s Christmas Party last Friday. I stayed home with Scooter but I heard that everyone had a fantastic time and a whole lot of good food.

Good Times and Food

Apache Junction, AZ  High 72   Low 58  Rain

As all of you know, when folks get together food always seems to be a common denominator.

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving at Jan and Bill’s. There is just nothing like a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

From left – Vern, Polly, Dave, Sherry, Jan and Sherry’s Dad, Jim, me and Jan with her back to the camera.

Bill, Vern, Polly and Dave

Our good friend Paul arrived in town Thanksgiving afternoon. He is going to be just up the street from us for the winter so we’ll get a chance to see him quite often.

After we said hi to him, we drove by our local Walmart. The parking lot was a total zoo. People were even parking across the street in the McDonalds lot. I really don’t need or want anything that bad. We drove on past and went back to the sanity of our home.

Friday morning I was watching the news and they were broadcasting from a Target store that was almost empty. Jim and I looked at each other and wondered if the Walmart would also be empty. And it was. I have never seen it that empty. We got a parking spot about four spots from the door. I wanted to find the sheets they had on sale for $25 but we didn’t have any luck in the bedding aisle or in the front of the store. Jim said he needed some kind of wire and we headed back towards automotive. Guess what we found – the sheets. Yippee.

No lines anywhere so after getting a few groceries, we were in and out.

We bought this really great ham at Frys but it was way too big for us. I called Paul and Rod and asked them if they wanted to join us for Sunday dinner. More great times with special friends. The weather was beautiful so we were able to enjoy our meal outside.

Today we met up with Dianna, Bobbie and Paul for lunch in Chandler. No pictures cause Dianna threatened my life if I pulled out a camera.

We also stopped in and visited with Aunt Happy who is doing really good. She was on her way to play bingo and was excited because she was on a winning streak.

We are keeping busy and having a great time. More friends and food are in our future.