Christmas 2009

These are just a few pictures of the Christmas Tree my mother designed for the Festival of Trees charity, held here in Salt Lake. The Festival raises money for Primary Children's Hospital, and helps children and families when medical expenses become catastrophic.

I have for the past 24 years been part of my mothers vision in that I help to decorate the tree. The Festival runs the week following Thanksgiving each year, and we decorate on Monday of that week. This year the theme was not specific, just Christmas in general. I enjoyed decorating this year in a way I have not for a while. Maybe that is because two years ago the stress of it all made decorating day ruff. Last year we didn't do a tree, so this year was a return to a tradition that felt like christmas and like the charity event that the festival is meant to be. Hope you like the pictures.

Fun at the Utah State Fair. With my niece, Jada.

Long time.....

So, it has been a long time since I posted a note here. Too long, most of you, my friends have probably forgotten that I even have a blog. :-) Me to a tee, huh? lol

To easy myself back in posting more, I am going to start here.

I am sad! Being single sucks! Life is too big for one person, you need two. At least!

Jesus is my Savior, and knowing that makes the sadness easier. Even when I cry, I know my life isn't as bad as it could be, so my life isn't tragic. I love my friends. Not all of them love me back, and that is OK, life isn't a balance sheet. I need to learn to receive, with a more gracious heart.

Gratitude strengthens our hearts and our faith. Choose to be happy. Be honest. Give generously with you heart and your means.

None of this is original in thought. But they are all ideas that make me happy, even the sadness stuff, because without sadness how would we understand happiness?

Love and Peace. Christian

Ok, so yes, these pictures pretty much stink!  But I took them anyway and they make me Happy!  Tonight I went to a concert at Murray Theater on State street. The theater is across the street from the hospital were I work and for a couple of weeks now I have seen the name Adele on the marquee.  Being an Adele fan, I was not convinced at first that it was "the Adele" that would be here tonight doing a gig, but it was and I am so happy and feel so fortunate that I was able to attend the concert tonight.  Adele is a 20 year old from England, and just a few months ago had her first album released.  I think she is amazing, talented and indeed worthy of each of the Grammy nominations she has received this year.  If you have not heard her music, go to your favorite music store or music web site and get her album "19".   I will try and add her song "Hometown Glory" to my blog here so you all can get a small sample of her work. Please let me know what you all think, and share some of your favorite music and artists in return.   God Bless!  Chris

Miss Tanner at the Christmas Tree

The Frogs were animated, his tongue would retract and then Hit the second frogs head in attempt to get that fly!



The alligator was animated, open mouth to closed mouth.




Hey all y'all, these are some pictures I took on the 22nd at Zoo Lights.  A couple of my friends and I took Tanner, the daughter of my good friend Shannon to see the lights at the Zoo.  It was a great night, the clouds had started moving in keeping it warmer than I had expected which was a bonus in my book.  Unfortunately most of the animals were "in" for the night but we did get to see some of the big cats, which we were told are more active in the cold.  I think I might need to back in the day light just to see them again, in better conditions.  This was a fun activity for us all, we played in the snow, we got a nice walk in and a ride on the carousel. If you live here in Utah and want a fun evening activity with the family I recommend taking the time to go up to the zoo for Zoo Lights.  The cost was $6 dollars a person, a little steep if you have more than 5 kids, but fun none the less. And, the tropical garden is open, it is a warm green house that has fun lights and pretty flowers.  :-)  

So I have been a renter in this little apartment for 5 and a half years now and I have never had a tree at christmas time.  Well I changed that this year and as you can see from the pictures, I think it was a good decision.  My windows are great, they have really deep sils and are 4 ft tall.  The tallest tree was suppose to only be 4 feet, but I think it is a bit taller, I had to bend the top over to get it to fit.  I found the group of three at Biglots, actually that is where I found every thing.  I like the way they look and I am glad I took the time to find the trees and to put them up in my home.  I have a friend at work and she has 3 trees in her front room too.  Hers are larger but having seen them and having heard the story "The Three Trees"  copying her idea on a smaller scale seemed like a good idea.  And it has been, I feel the spirit of this wonderful season in a deeper way this year.  Christmas has felt too commercial the last few years, in my book, so this has been a nice surprise for me.  I am glad to have a tree in my home this year.  Well,  Merry Christmas everyone!!  

Hello and Happy Holidays to everyone.  For the  22 years preceding this year our family holiday kick off has been to decorate a Christmas tree for a local charity called "The Festival of Trees"    Each tree is decorated by volunteers and donated to the festival, and then in a silent auction the trees are bid on and sold to the highest bidder with all proceeds going to Primary Children's Hospital here in Salt Lake City.  Each year hundreds of thousand of dollars are raised in this week long festival which then equal medical treatment for children who are uninsured or underinsured, and live here in the Intermountain West.  From cities and towns in Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming and even as far away as Arizona and Nevada.  Each year we have looked forward to decorating our tree and to seeing the myriad ideas that surround us on the other trees.  Each year it also seems that one or two trees really stand out because of the time and creativity involved in them.  Several years ago it was a wooden train that sat on 50 feet of track and was large enough to hold children. Wish I had pictures because it was an amazing feat of time and wood working. This year it was the tree in the pictures I have posted here. The tree was created by a glass blower here in Utah and comissioned by a wealthy and generous family who always lovingly  give time and generosity to charitable events like the Festival of Trees.  I hope you enjoy the pictures of this beautiful tree.  Wish I had more information about the hours involved in its production, and on the artist so the scope of the project represented better the commitment this man undertook.     Needless to say, this was THE tree at this years festival and rumor has it that it is also the top earning tree ever in the festivals 36 years.  I hope this also inspires those of you who have the time and resources to add to the generosity of the season by giving of your time and energies to benefit those who are less fortunate in your own communities.  May God bless us all and keep us ever mindful of the blessings that are ours, most especially our freedoms and liberties as citizens of the USA.