Berta was hospitalized on her 94th birthday, the 18th of December. She has had a lot of pain and we couldn't control it so there she went. They did back surgery and actually solved the pain problem. She was weakened by the ordeal and is currently in a rehab facility to see if she can get strong enough to move somewhere else. I don't think she'll be able to go home again. Sad day.
Christmas Eve was spent up at the Crawford's. Mike ended up going to the hospital as his mom had just contracted puenomia. Jess and I ate with Jerry, Denise, Morgan and Peter and also the missionaries (two of my favorites ever) Elders Holtom and Clawson. After the elders left, the rest of us acted out the nativity. Denise had beautiful costumes for all of us. Jerry was the narrator and we sang many a song along the journey. It was beautiful and touching to me. I'm so glad Jess was there to share it.
Christmas morning was nice with Mike and I being home with Jessamyn. None of us had much money to spend, so we didn't. Mike made Jessamyn a groovy, sharp knife and he made me a black-handled kitchen set. Jess was extravagant with me and got me a new fairly inexpensive camera so I would quit using hers. She is sweet! For friends and family I made magnets on cool paper that said, "Be of Good Cheer!" (Denise's favorite saying) That along with homemade raspberry jam that was put up in the summer. Desperation breeds invention!! So it was a cheap and happy Christmas. We ate our traditional Cheese Bread on Christmas morning and celebrated the Savior's birth.
