There is Magic in the Air . . . Magic Everywhere December 2019 Festival of Trees

"Christmas, my child, is love in action.  Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas." 

~ Dale Evans

Monday, December 2nd, we drove up to the Mt America Expo Center in Sandy, Utah to decorate our tree for the Festival of Trees 2019

 It was a beautiful day for the set-up for the Festival of Trees.  The weather was perfect for the drive up and no wind, which is beneficial for everyone carting in loads of boxes, trees, ornaments, lights, tools and all the set-up gear.

Carolyn waiting to check in

First, we have to check in to get our packet and block assignment - we were in E-516.  Actual tree registration was done many months ago in order to get a spot at the Festival.

When you walk into the festival, there is a buzz in the air, creative energy flows freely from all the artistic, loving, thoughtful people there setting up trees, gingerbread houses, quilts, centerpieces and those setting up the Gift Boutique, food and entertainment areas.  It is just exciting to walk through those doors and feel that pulse of enthusiasm and energy.

Sharon, Carolyn and KD wrapping the ribbon

The trees all have to be stabilized with re-bar and have a sturdy stand. Every decoration has to be wired onto the tree.  The trees are placed over a large plastic tree bag, so on Saturday evening at the close of the festival, the Festival Board, family and friends, can wrap those trees and decorations up in the bags, and tie them securely.  They box up all the decor around the tree and deliver hundreds of trees through the night and the following day to those people and businesses that have purchased the trees during the auction that occurs the day after set-up.. 

Ardis is manning the tools - scissors and wire cutters

KD and Victoria

There is a wonderful camaraderie during the set-up day.  People chatting with the people next to them, borrowing a forgotten needed tool, giving recommendations and ideas of how to improve the set-up and display, information on where to get the best deals . . . 

Sharon, KD, Carolyn, Victoria and Ardis

Ardis and KD add some finishing touches around the tree

 Sandy made the tree skirt - it's actually reversible, with a white musical fabric on the back side, but I didn't get a photo of the other side before placement. 

 It's
Our finished tree!  We are so excited and now are keeping our fingers crossed that someone will love it too and bid on it tomorrow night.

Vicky, Sharon, Carolyn, KD, Sandy and Ardis

This is absolutely the best way to start the Christmas Season.  The Festival of Trees runs from December 4-7th at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy Utah.  All the money goes to Primary Childrens' Hospital to help children in need get the healthcare, surgery, or therapy they need to get well.  It is such a worthy cause.  I hope you will go and see all of the beautiful trees, gingerbread houses, centerpieces, quilts that were made for the Festival of Trees.  And make sure you stop by the Gift Boutique as well and pick up some fun neighbor gifts! 

Just a quick report ~ our lovely Christmas Carol tree sold Tuesday at auction and we are so excited and grateful!  We also made 266 craft items for the Festival Boutique and we are hoping each of those will be purchased as well.  This wonderful event raises millions of dollars that will help children from around the world.  We are so grateful to have a small part in The Festival of Trees.  Thank you to all of you who work so hard throughout the year to make this gift possible!

Gratitude Makes Us Joyful - November 2019

It's not joy that makes us grateful,

It is gratitude that makes us joyful. 

 Our November We CAN (Care And Nurture) meeting was held November 4th at Carolyn's home.  We collected food for the Liltle Free Food Pantry in Payson, made the last ornaments for the tree, put together some gift candles for the Gift Boutique at the Festival of Trees, did a dry-run decorating our tree and had a lovely luncheon.

We collected items for the Little Free Food Pantry in Payson

We worked on ornaments for the tree and made gifts for the Gift Shoppe Boutique

Carolyn, Ardis, Barbara and Carol

Maureen and Sharon

 Box of candles ready to go to the Festival Gift Shoppe.

 We have made gifts to sell at the Festival of Trees Gift Boutique throughout the year.  These candles were the last bunch of gift items.

Sharon, Carol, Carolyn and Maureen working on Christmas Ornaments

 Some of the lovely ornaments being readied for the tree

Maureen, Barbara, Carol, Carolyn, Ardis and Sandy - a last inspection and discussion

A lovely brass antique music stand

   Our last meeting before we go to the Festival of Trees . . . so we put everything together to see what we still need

Our pre-view of the tree

Barbara, Carolyn, Ardis

We had a lovely luncheon after our service projects and decorating the tree.  Our next meeting will be the set-up day for the Festival of Trees on December 2nd.

Gratitude can transform common days into

Thanksgivings, 

Turn routine jobs into joy,

And change ordinary opportunities 

into Blessings.

~ William Arthur Ward

Those who have sought and found how to Serve - October 2019

“I don't know what your destiny will be,

 but one thing I know: 

the only ones among you who will be really happy

 are those who have sought and found how to serve.” 

~ Albert Schweitzer

Our October We CAN meeting was held Monday, October 7th at Ardis' home.

Attending were Carolyn, Barbara and Ardis.

We spent the morning designing 24 journal covers.  These journals are delivered to Hearts Knit Together, where they are included in kits which include hygiene items, toys, games, puzzles, clothing and stuffed animals.  The kits are distributed to Domestic Violence Shelters, victim support centers and refugee organizations to children and adults across the state of Utah.  The mission of  Hearts Knit Together is to "offer joy and order in the lives of those in our communities who need it the most.", 

We receoved photos of children wearing some of the scarves we knitted and crocheted.  

It is a delight to see these beautiful children. wearing the bright, colorful scarves. 
 We hope they feel the love and care, that each scarf has been made especially for that child.    

Service Is Joy - September 2019

“I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy.

I woke and I saw that life is all service. 

I served and I saw that service is joy.”  

~ Kahlil Gibran

Our September We CAN meeting was held at our ward chapel in Payson on Monday, September 9 at 10:00 a.m.  We collected onesies to donate to the Utah County Health Department Welcome Baby Program.  Nurses from the Health Department visit new moms and their babies that could be at high-risk due to medical or financial needs.  The nurses take needed items to each home.
We collected 48 onesies today that Carolyn and Ardis delivered to the Utah County Health Department.

Maureen, Ardis and Carolyn

Attending our meeting today: Carolyn, Ardis, Maureen, KD, Vila, Sue, Victoria, Barabara, Kathy and Sandy,  

K D preparing plarn

We have been collecting plastic shopping bags, and cut them into strips.  These strips of plastic are sent up to one of the Utah correctional facilities where they are connected into long strips of Plarn and crocheted into sleeping mats.  We were able to send two large garbage bags plus a box full of plarn up to the Heber Valley Correctional Facility, where they will be crocheted into sleeping mats for homeless people.

Sue, Maureen, Carolyn and Ardis working on Christmas ornaments

We worked on ornaments for our Festival of Trees Christmas Tree. 

Vila, Sue, Victoria and Maureen working on Christmas ornaments

Barbara, Victoria and Kathy working on more ornaments for the tree

Barbara crocheted a sleeping mat from plarn

Clear glass ornaments with music rolled inside

Barbara, Victoria and Sandy

Lots of plarn ~ ready to be joined into long balls of plarn and  crocheted into sleeping mats

One of the bags of plarn ~ ready for crocheting

We had a lovely luncheon.  

Our next meeting will be held Monday, October 7th at Ardis' home in Elk Ridge.