Tiffany Trent's Traditions in Tennessee

We have some rather unusual Christmas traditions as I am sure all families do.  Here are a few of mine:

First Tradition - Puzzles

We seem to always do a puzzle, it always takes up 1/2 the kitchen table.  This year Mom found a puzzle that we hadn't finished. I guess when we didn't have time to finish it a couple of years ago, we folded it up.  When we unfolded it this year about 3/4 of it was finished. So we did that one in about 10 minutes, but we still haven't had our full fix, so we're going to either open a Christmas present up early or go buy another one.  

Second Tradition - Chex Mix

I am the designated Chex Mix maker.  In fact, I have a sister, Emily, who does not live close to TN, so she is rarely home for Christmas.  She says that she misses my Chex Mix, but she never makes it for herself or her family.  If I am not there, it does not get made.  Go figure.  We used to be traditionalists and make it in the oven with the original recipe.  Now we have moved on to the microwave and make several varieties, but we also have to have the original.  All the recipes are found on http://www.chex.com/Recipes/Default.aspx - we have yet to find a bad recipe!  Although, we are happily going through the recipes to see if one is better than another!

Traditional

Puppy Chow

Third Tradition - Games

We always play games during Christmas and I am very likely to get at least one game for Christmas.

This is not Christmas or TN, but whenever family gets together, the games come out! 

Personal Tradition - Animoto Christmas Cards

I am horrible at sending cards in the mail.  So, I decided to play on my strength as a technology geek and create Animoto Christmas cards.  I get to show what I've done with friends and get to play on the computer.  Here are the two I've done so far:

December 2012

December 2011

Miracles Do Come True, Either That or I Found a Pot of Gold at the End of the Irish Rainbow

Miracle # 1 - Rainbows

When I walked out of my B&B, I was excited because I had booked a tour to see the Cliffs of Moher - A wonder of the world. I was waiting in the rain and suddenly I saw the beginning of a rainbow and it grew and grew until it was a full rainbow.  I saw 6 rainbows today.  The last one was with Spencer at the hospital and it was the biggest, brightest and if you look closely, you can see it was a double rainbow.

The last rainbow of the day at the hospital.

An earlier rainbow.

Miracle #2 - Rain and No Rain

We started off going to a family farm and the rain had not come to the farm, so we climbed the mountain, had great views, and dry ground.  It was pretty steep, so thank goodness it was dry!

Farm Stop - Sunny and Bright

The farm was on the side of a mountain so we went on a hike and saw some of the beautiful sights - that is the Atlantic Ocean in the far background of the first picture.

A typical stone wall.

A literal grass roof.

At this family farm they offered
cakes, pies, tea, and coffee.  Read the sign carefully!

Notice Rain while we are the bus. :) 

The Cliffs of Moher

The observation deck to see
the Cliffs of Moher

Please notice that it is
bright and sunny after
raining hard while we
were on the bus.

 

 

So sunny I need shades!

This is a shop built into the mountainside.

Another Sunny Stop

Miracle # 3 - Friends

I am a person who needs people around me.  On the first tour - to Kylemore Abby, I found 2 single girls around my age who I got to know pretty well.  On this tour, on the first bus, I met a Mom and daughter from England and they were so nice!  At the farm I found a Brazilian girl who was also traveling alone, so we became immediate friends.  Then, when we stopped for lunch we found a guy from Poland who was also on his own and we included him.  (3 friends from 3 different continents.)  Although this was nice to have friends, it was not a miracle.  The miracle came after the tour was done and I was finished visiting Spencer in the hospital.  I was tired and it was dark, so I decided to take a cab home.  The cab stopped in front of my B&B and literally when I got out I saw the Mom and daughter walking on the sidewalk.  They invited me to dinner, but I had already eaten, so they told me that they were going on a walking tour of Galway at 12:30 tomorrow and invited me to go with them!  They said that they had decided to take a shortcut and their shortcut took them in front of my B&B at the exact moment my cab pulled up.  The daughter, Charlotte, had just said, "I wonder if we'll see Tiffany in town."  And there I was in front of them!  It was surreal!

Thank you Heavenly Father for looking after me and loving me so much!!!!

Life, Death, and Religion

Aunt Claudia

It is funny how the death of someone really makes you look at your own life.  This weekend, my aunt Claudia passed away.  She had cancer and she had no pain.  I think of my father's last week of life and thank heaven that Claudia went so easily.  She was a very funny lady and my cousin - her granddaughter asked Claudia what she wanted to be for Halloween.  Claudia replied, "Lady Gaga!"  She was much hipper than my mom, who wouldn't have a clue who Lady Gaga was.  Claudia, I'm going to miss your wide smile and your helpful heart!

Women's Conference

This weekend, I have been thinking a lot about religion and spirituality.  Not only was this reflection caused by my Aunt's passing, but also because this week was also Women's Conference.  Women's Conference is when the women leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints give talks about various religious topics.  These conferences always inspire me to be a better person and I really enjoy listening to them.  http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/archive/general-relief-society-meeting/2012/09?lang=eng 

Afterlife - Agree to Disagree

I also have a very good friend who is an atheist.  He does not believe in any type of afterlife.  It is mind boggling to me how we can both have such conviction in our beliefs and be at the polar opposite ends of the spectrum.  I cannot imagine a world in which death is the end.  It seems so obvious to me that the spirit leaves the body.  I have felt the presence of my dad, grandparents, and others who have passed away.  It is a very interesting debate, one leaving us both with our same beliefs, but with more respect for everyone's right to believe what they may.

Separation of Church and State

I teach future teachers at Grand Canyon University, which is a Christian college.  My students go on and on about how religion should be brought back into the classroom.  Although I am a very religious person, I am an even bigger advocate in religious equality.  I always ask my students which religion they want in the schools.  Should it be Christian, Buddhism, Hinduism, Muslim, Jewish, or some other religion?  What about parents who are atheists and don't want any religion?  I am great with people believing what they wish to believe.  I am not okay with teachers choosing for their students what to teach them about religion.  Let's leave that to parents.  Thank heaven for separation of church and state because that is the law, no matter how much the teachers I teach want religion to be a part of schools.  Be careful what you wish for!