First Snow 2017

This morning we woke up to a nice Christmas surprise! I know we had a small skiff of snow about a month ago, but not enough to count. So December 21 can be marked as our first real snow of 2017. A lot of us have been hoping and praying for some moisture so Hooray for snow!

Frozen

The air is cold; the lake is frozen; where is the snow?

Caroling Party

On Saturday, December 16, about 40 of our Pine Valley group enjoyed the last activity of the year when we all climbed onto a very large trailer pulled by Brother Dave Ford’s pickup truck. He and a co-worker had decorated the trailer with tinsel and light and installed speakers to enhance the caroling. It was a great way to travel around the valley singing Christmas songs. We had planned a route that included 13 stops, but ended up singing to about 18. 

The weather was cold, but we all laughed and enjoyed the ride. One of the kids on teh ride said it “extreme caroling” because of the wind and the cold, but he was laughing and having a good time too. After we sang to our last house, we returned briefly to the fire station to pick up our individual cars and then met at the Wells new home for hot chocolate and goodies. The Wells are a couple in our ward whose house burned to the ground last year and have just now completed building the replacement. They were so happy to be in their new home and we were so happy to enjoy their hospitality and see their beautiful new home.

Pine Valley Christmas Party and Book Drive

On December 2, 2017 the activities committee hosted one of the largest events of the year which is our annual Christmas Party and Book Drive.  As always, people in the branch, signed up to bring much of the food—many salads, vegetable dishes and potato dishes.  Ham, rolls, pies and whip cream were provided. We had two serving tables set up which were each two long tables long and all were crowded with delicious holiday food. Rick Peetz acted as the mc and did a wonderful job. He included in his commentary a reading of the Christmas story from Luke.  

After the reading of the Christmas story, Rick introduced our entertainment, the Stradley family. Steven Stradley played the guitar and sang and Sister Stradley played a “drum in a box” instrument and also sang. Their presentation was delightful and the participants greatly enjoy it. At the end of their short program, they introduced Santa in a cute way and both kids and adults waited to give him their Christmas list. We played a Christmas game during this time so that people would get to know each other better.

In addition to the food and the program, we had a charitable component to the evening, partnering with United Way Dixie to gather books, gift certificates or donations to buy books for needy children within the Washington County. Statistics indicate that one in every four third grader in Washington County doesn’t read at grade level so the goal is to buy three new books for every child on their pre-screened Christmas lists. The evening was a nice introduction to the Christmas month. There were probably about 120 in attendance and we hope each went away feeling the Christmas spirit.

Pine Valley Caroling Party