t Merry Christmas December 24 1997 Salina SunGunnison Valley News A Christmas in Pine Valley by Jim Olsen Three moves and three jobs in two years had taken its toll financially on our family and Christmas was just around the comer It wasn’t looking like a festive holiday at our home Besides Christmas in Arizona just wasn’t the same We Lori and I and four young children were missing the snow and the mountains of Idaho and Utah The desert sand temperatures in the mid 70s picnicking at the park just wasn’t like slipping on black ice cold noses snuggling by a fireplace and drinking hot chocolate What we needed was a shot in the arm A quick wintry Our parents owned a small old home in the mountains just north of St George in Pine Valley This had been the site of many fond memories from family gatherings in July Maybe we could drive the 9 hours north a few days before Christmas pray for snow and provide fond memories for our children We asked our children what they thought of the idea They loved it but how would Santa Claus find us? The work that went into preparing for this Christmas adventure was as much fun as the weekend itself First we thought it would be fun to make our holiday as much like Pine Valley in the old days as possible Lori and the children studied Pine Valley history in family books They found what types of foods they ate how they decorated the trees and homes what games they played to keep themselves amused We learned that the traditional Christmas dinner of the time could be as simple as chicken and dumplings It would be too wasteful to just eat the whole chicken in one meal Many could be fed by boiling the chicken and adding potatoes and carrots from the root cellar The menu may also clude apple cider apple cake or cobbler and donuts on Christmas Eve The trees were decorated with popcorn and paperchains and maybe some strings of wild berries Long ago plenty of pinion pine dotted the landscape Finding a tree in Pine Valley was no trouble at all When it snowed the children of long ago enjoyed the sledding hill building snowmen and playing fox and geese in trails trampled in the snow Indoor games included playing dolls and checkers with So we set about planning our Christmas in Pine Valley It was decided instead of our traditional ham on Christmas we were going to have chicken and dumplings cider and homemade donuts We were going to make all our Christmas decorations in Pine Valley 0! f But what about the gifts and most of all Santa Claus the children wondered What about Santa Lori and asked ourselves in a private moment Then it struck us We knew someone who was going home for the holidays And Pine Valley was on her way Lori’s mother had been spending winter near our home and as luck had it was planning a car trip back to Twin Falls Idaho for the holidays We imposed on her to take our few Santa Claus gifts in her truck and hide them in a closet at our destination What a surprise our children would have It was sure to keep the older children believing for at least one more year! Well it was set We packed our car with food gifts clothes decorating supplies travel games extra coats and for tubing just in gloves pulled from storage an case it snowed and the six of us The children helped load the car and it was so packed they knew there was no room in the trunk to hide Santa Claus stuff So we were off on our Christmas adventure look back that was one of the most peaceful As centered Christmases our family has ever had We found a small tree or large sagebrush depending on who is telling the story cut it down with a bow saw and dragged it back to the house over rocks and fences It more than filled the living room of the Pine Valley home It was ugly but more beautiful than any tree we have had before or since The children got busy at making paper chains and Lori popped the com to be threaded We added paper snowflakes cranberries and white painted pine cones for color No lights It was beautiful! Our prayers for snow were answered Not enough to get snowbound but plenty forsleddingandasnowball fight or and a Bible Christmas Eve was ready The warm glow from the wood stove and the Spirit of Christmas filled our little Pine Valley living room The children were settled in their beds upstairs It was time for Santa Claus to make his appearance Then we issue I snuggled under our electric blankets ( not pioneer know but was cold) and settled in for a long winter's nap if Morning came early The children were ready to see Santa had been able to find them And to their surprise he stockings were had A few simple toys and under the tree What a beautiful morning V'hat a beautiful memory It has been nearly 8 years since that Christmas weekend No one can remember the two gifts w hat Santa brought or the dt ive back and forth They In quiet moments we talked with the children about the do however remember the feelings the history lessons settlers of this area what they did for Christmas and how the love that was shared After all isn’t that what Christmas should be all about? things were different His Love His gift His lessons? We will never be able to We brought with us one tradition acting out the nativity We found towels and blankets an old doll from the toy box recre ate that Christmas but it w al way s be a warm loving mem ory We'd like to join you and your family in praying for peace on earth this Christmas and wish you all the very best the season has to offer Many thanks for your kind patronage From the employees at Canyon Fuel Company Sufco Mine Salina Ut