Christmas Treasures

 

 

 

Merry Christmas Eve

Yet in thy dark street shineth the Everlasting Light.                     
The Hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.
                                                           O Little Town of Bethlehem

From an English translation of an ancient manuscript found in the British Museum Elder Russell M. Nelson quotes a dialogue between the Father and the Son.

"Referring to His Father, Jehovah‐‐the premortal Lord‐‐says: "He took the clay from the hand of the angel, and made Adam according to Our image and likeness, and He left him lying for forty days and forty nights without putting breath into him. And He heaved sighs over him daily, saying, 'If I put breath into this [man], he must suffer many pains.' And I said unto My Father, 'Put breath into him; I will be an advocate for him.' And My Father said unto Me, 'If I put breath into him, My beloved Son, Thou wilt be obliged to go down into the world, and to suffer many pains for him before Thou shalt have redeemed him, and made him to come back to his primal state.' And I said unto My Father, 'Put breath into him; I will be his advocate,
 and I will go down into the world, and will fulfil Thy command.'  Although this text is not scripture, it reaffirms scriptures that teach of the deep and compassionate love of the Father for the Son, and of the Son for us‐‐attesting that Jesus volunteered willingly to be our Savior and Redeemer."
General Conference April, 2000

I rejoice tonight  knowing that Jesus came to earth as God’s Only Begotten Son to redeem us and to exalt us.  He is the Everlasting Light of the World.  That He did this fills me with amazement and wondering awe.

Janene’s Bridal Proofs

Wow, Carolyn, you and Blaine have a beautiful daughter.  It was really exciting to get to take these images.  Ryan and Janene were fun and sweet to be with. 
Remember that some of the richness and saturation of editing is lost in the posting (I’ve used Windows Live Writer), but these are very close to what your prints would be like.  Happy deciding – I don’t think I could.  Glad that’s your happy job now!  Merry Christmasing and Open Housing – Wish we could be there.




























Neal, are you mocking the photographer?  You just don’t have what it takes to be a beautiful bride – lucky you – you already have one of your own!

Janene - Christmas Bride

Yesterday, Janene and Ryan married in the Timpanogos temple.  They had their reception the night before.  Here she is in the brides dressing room at the Wadley Farm just before we shot her bridals.  This ‘preliminary’ shot ends up being one of my favorites.

Dribbly, delicious wedding cake.
size 12-9-6-4
chocolate/vanilla marble
chocolate/orange marble  (it was orange flavor, but the color was electric green for the wedding colors!
This one served about 50.  The chef cut very large servings. (otherwise it would serve about 70)  Mmmmm.

Prima Dona’s Double Ganache Recipe

2 Cups heavy whipping cream
4 Cups chocolate chips (can use a combination of semi and milk choc. chips)
1 Tablespoon butter flavoring

Bring cream to slight simmer.  Take off heat.  Pour chips and flavoring in.  Stir constantly  until it is completely smooth. (Won’t take long!)  Cool a little before pouring over cake if that’s how you will be using it.  (Try not to stress too much about dribbling  in a lovely way.  Practice on an upside down pan, I do.  That helps calm my jitters about my one-time shot at getting it right or botching perfectly smooth fondant with globs or streams that cannot be 'fixed'.) This is also wonderful cooled and used for frosting and/or filling. (Try not to taste too much, I dare ya)

I was so focused on this eye shot I didn’t notice that her nose was being replaced with a funny curly-que plant thingy.  Makes me smile.

Ryan was there too, so we got bridals AND groomals.
Does Janene remind you of a certain celebrity whose initials are Sandra Bullock?  And Ryan reminds me of one of the stars in “Magnificent Seven”, but I can’t remember that actors name.

Silhouettes show facial detail so beautifully.  And when there is beautiful color in the sky . . .

In the Mood

Mark , and all of us are in the mood for (as Jack Schaefer said) a “plump and jolly and belly-bouncing” man to pay a visit in 10 days.  I caught Mark impersonating him skipping around the house spreading some “joy of living”.

 

Christmas note:  Jack Schaefer wrote one of our family’s favorite Christmas stories many years ago for Boy’s Life magazine.  Every several years it is reprinted there.  I’ve also seen it in books of collections of Christmas stories under the name  “A  Cowboy’s Christmas Eve” and “Stubby Pringles Christmas”.  It is a half-hour tongue-twisting, delightful read aloud that breaks my heart every year for its tender, charming message. 

Ornament Advent #5

One year the kids and I sliced oranges, dipped them in lemon juice and dried them in the oven on the lowest setting.  With a light behind them I think they resemble stained glass.

Christmas Ornament Advent #4

This tiny wooden German angel has been playing her violin since I was a little girl there in the 1960’s