Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas one and all!

Love,
The Schurz family

Wish List

Dear Santa,

My wish list for 2010 is long. And I don't think you, even with all your magic, can give me the things I want. But oh, I will continue to hope. And ask with fervor.

Dear Santa, will you give us world peace this year? I'm talking about serious world peace. The kind where neighbors don't call the police on neighbors because of a junky car on the lawn. A world where sisters don't yell at each other. A world where political differences don't cause people to call names. Where people with religious differences walk by each other each day and nod, or even smile, despite their disagreements. A place where guns are not used, not even around. Where kids don't grow up hearing gun shots down the street. A world where tanks don't roll by a family's house every day, with soldiers holding weapons. A place where tribes help each other instead of fight with each other. A place where angry drivers just tap the brakes and back up a little. A world where young girls and boys don't have to join gangs to feel like they have family. Where movies, games, tv shows don't glamorize war and fighting, killing and dying. Where children and spouses aren't abused. A world where we don't have to fear for our children when they walk to school, and where children don't have to be scared to go home. Where home is the safest place you could be. Where problems are solved using actual solutions, not violence.

Dear Santa, will you teach us how to look at people with love and mercy? If people have a harsh or critical word for someone around them, will you help them to see that persons circumstances and background? Will you help us to not judge others based on our own experiences, but rather take a step into their shoes? Will you help us create a world where people are celebrated because of our differences rather than criticized or judged? Will you show us how to empathize? Will you take away our pedestals? Doesn't that sound like a gift, Santa?

And dear Santa, will you put an end to hunger and homelessness around the world? Will mothers and fathers who work three jobs to live be able to pay for both the heating bill and the groceries? Will parents who work through the night also be able to go to open house at their children's schools? When a man loses his job, will he be able to stay in his home rather than find a shelter? Will people with mental issues and addictions be able to find true help so they don't have to huddle under cardboard? Will you make it so every family can be together on Christmas day? Will you fill every pantry in every country with goods for meals and snacks so little boys and girls will grow up strong and healthy? Will you provide tools for hunting and gathering and make crops grow plentiful? Will you give every school enough for books, paper, pencils, desks and teachers? Will you give every hospital enough equipment, medicine, beds and doctors? When people are sick, will you help them get the medicine they need to get better? Will you help the rich countries figure out how to help the poor countries with clean drinking water? Doesn't that sound like a wonderful world, Santa?

And oh Santa dear, it would be nice to live in a world where respect and admiration are given to teachers, grandpas and grandmas, nurses, librarians, trash collectors and lawn mowers. To delivery drivers and grocery stockers and laborers. Instead of looking up to athletes to drink and drive and beat their wives, instead of wanting to be like celebrities who throw away money and treat others poorly. Maybe you could arrange it so the paychecks of all these people make more sense, too. A world where wages are fair. Don't you think that sounds nice, Santa?

Santa, will you help women who want children have them? Will you find homes for children who need them? Will you teach us how to love, so that every single person on earth feels filled with love? Will you give us an understanding of how to respect Earth, animals and others? Will you teach us how to take care of not only our things, but the things that grow around us, the animals that live near us, the people across the street? Basically, will you give us all the gift of selflessness?

I guess some people might say I'm asking too much. For a perfect world. But you don't think so, do you, Santa? Nah, I don't think so either.

Thanks, Santa.
Love,
Terri Lynn

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

What a wonderful week it has been! Last weekend Jeff and I went on a fun date to "our restaurant" AND he surprised me with flowers one day :) That boy is on a role. This weekend was so nice, full of celebrating Christmas with friends.



Saturday was the 8th annual Christmas party with college girlfriends. This was the first year Grace hosted. She went ALL OUT! She made gorgeous decorations, centerpieces, gifts and food and drink for the brunch. It was a beautiful celebration at her house, full of warmth, laughs and love. I hope we make these annual parties last forever! Steph, Sarah, Tiff, and Grace are gifts to my heart.


We took TONS of pictures because it seemed like I looked like a giant in so many of them. Plus we had to get one where we all looked just right ;) Then there were the obligatory silly pictures!

I HAD to get one with Steph's leg like this. She is a riot!


Steph and Sarah shooting Grace for some reason!


Ah, such pretty friends! Steph, Sar, Tiff, Grace and me.


Sitting down to eat at the fancy table.


Grace's lovely paper mache'd NOEL and hand made stars on the garland. Made of book paper!


She found this frame, added the twine and uses it as a Christmas card holder. Perfect!


Festive raspberry mint water.


A wreath made of coffee filters and berries!


This was my favorite! An ugly pink and gray swan turned into a gorgeous centerpiece with book pages and sheet music and a poinsettia!


Gifts! An ornament for each guest with our names on them.

The party was so lovely it was very hard to leave!


Friday night was a Holiday Wine Soiree at my friend Jo's house. Her downtown house is absolutely adorable, lovely, cozy and perfectly Christmassy. It was a blast to sit and chat while nibbling on delightful snacks and sipping with with Jo, Staci and Ashley. What fun to have with friends!

Jo and Wes's cat George. So handsome!


The silly pictures from this night! Jo, Ashely, me and Staci.


We got dressed up for this little shindig.



Jo and Wes's tree was so full and perfect and REAL!


Ash and Stace.


The set up. Jo was the perfect host!


I am so grateful for all the wonderful friends in my life. What fun to celebrate with them. I hope your season is full of so much warmth, laughter and love as well!

Michael Buble

I love Michael Buble. His voice is amazing! Check out this adorable clip when he brings a teen up on stage with him. His facial expression is priceless!

Think About It

"The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it."

-Anonymous

The Adventure Project

A journey to end global poverty by supporting the world’s greatest social ventures.

I love this. Click here to find out more.

Bummers and Blessings

Well our week didn't turn out as we had intended. We picked Cade up last Saturday and were bummed that his plane was late because of weather. But we were blessed and glad to have him home and we had a great time hanging out together for the week! He got to play with his friend and have a sleepover. We visited my parents, went for a bike ride (sadly Cade's bike was stolen from our yard-major bummer! :( How can people do that, I will never understand. We're on the hunt for another great craigslist bargain now.) and to the movies. We picked up a Christmas tree and decorated it, too! I finished a book in about 4 days, which is fast for me. Jeff worked on projects. It was wonderful to have the time off-a major blessing! BUT, we were terribly bummed because we weren't able to visit Patsy, Jim, Jennifer, Jake and Hannah as planned :( We didn't check the weather in time to see that there were blizzard conditions on Monarch Pass on Wednesday. Now we know to check way ahead of time so we can leave early if we need to. It was so sad to miss Thanksgiving with the Schurz' and Rehard's. We were all really looking forward to the time with family and the great traditions they have. I'm still pretty sad. We're thankful that Jeff's parents and sister's family live in the same town so that they weren't alone for the holiday. We're also thankful that my parents and grandparents were together here, and we were able to join them-a wonderful blessing. We had a great day feasting and playing, watching football and chatting. We had to get up before the sun this morning to say goodbye to Cade. It's always so sad. At least we get to see him again in 3 weeks for Christmas!

In the midst of a delayed flight, a stolen bike, a canceled trip, we are so thankful for our families, our good health, the chance to be together, the roof over our heads, delicious food and wonderful life we have. We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, too, and are able to remember the blessings in spite of the bummers! Enjoy the Christmas season!

And now on to the random photos:

Clarence getting ready to read Rudolph


Setting up our new tree!


Isn't it lovely?



Clarence really wanted to go to Montrose, too :(


One of my favorite things EVER, enjoying a lit tree.


Jeff making a delicious cornbread stuffing


Cade giving Ruby some love. I think they would have been happy to stay together for days and days.


The men enjoying the day.



And is this not the funniest picture ever? Dad and Granddad TEXTING!


Jeff and Cade scoping out the Black Friday deals


Thanks for stopping by!