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Show Volume XIX Issue XXI The Ogden Valley news Page 5 December 1, 2011 True Stories that Inspire, Entertain, and Carry the Spirit of Christmas— Eden author’s story part of heartwarming collection At Christmastime, it’s hard not to get caught up in the shopping, the decorating, the party planning and the family drama. Too often we lose sight of the true meaning of the season. But sometimes, through God’s grace or a simple twist of fate, we’re able to step back and understand what the holiday is truly about. The Spirit of Christmas (St. Martin’s Press, October 25, 2011) is an inspiring collection of true stories from real-life people who have experienced such moments where the meaning of the season becomes undoubtedly clear. A man mailing gifts at the post office witnesses a moving scene that changes his life forever. An unhappy couple is drifting further apart…until a special Christmas gift allows them to renew their love and mend their fractured marriage. And a father tries to keep the spirit of Christmas alive for his son with a grand gesture—a gesture that will be remembered by his family and many others for years to come. With a forward by bestselling author Debbie Macomber, who is widely considered the “Official Storyteller of Christmas,” The Spirit of Christmas is filled with magic, wonder, and deep meaning. It’s impossible for these stories not to touch your heart. This Christmas collection was gathered by Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson. Murphey is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller, 90 Minutes in Heaven. He has published 108 books, and lectures widely. Gibson has written several young adult novels for both Penguin Group and Houghton Mifflin. They have collaborated on a previous Christmas book for St. Martin’s Press, Christmas Miracles. Contributing Eden author Drienie Hattingh’s story “Silent Night, Magical Night” is about a Christmas Eve, she says, that she will always remember. “Everything was really magical that night, and I could truly feel the Christmas Spirit showering down on our family. Part of the reason, as I say in the story, is that my dear Mother Ralie Naude was visiting us from South Africa for the first time during Christmas in our new adopted country—America! I felt so blessed that night, at midnight, to have her by my side as we lifted our candles and heralded in Christmas—the celebration of the birth of our dear Lord—as we all sang the last stanza of ‘Silent Night.’” Hattingh says that she now has three Christmas Anthologies sitting on her shelve, Christmas Miracles 2009, St. Martin’s Press; Christmas Miracles (abridged version) 2010, Hallmark Gift Books; and the 2011 book, Spirit of Christmas, each with one of her stories in it. Hattingh concludes, “I love Christmas and am honored to have my stories in these beautiful books that are full of true, heart-touching experiences, written by those who know what the real reason for this season is.” Annual Open House & Art Sale Slated for Ogden Nature Center The Ogden Nature Center’s Holiday Open House and Art Sale will be held Saturday, December 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 4 :00 p.m. at the Ogden Nature Center, 966 W. 12th Street, Ogden. There will be free admission for everyone, all day. Fun this year includes: l Fresh evergreen swags and centerpieces to decorate your home l Local artists and craftsmen will be selling their wares l Bake sale Kids crafts: make a pinecone gnome ornament to take home l Bring your snowshoes or winter boots and explore the frosty trails l Free hot chocolate and free gift wrapping with a natural flair Inside and out, the Holiday Open House at the Ogden Nature Center is a fun, free day that celebrates the winter season and offers great holiday shopping. For more information, call 801-621-7595 or visit <www.ogdennaturecenter.org> l Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Weber State University Alumni Association presents the WSU Alumni Singers, directed by Evelyn Harris, in concert, Sunday, December 11 and Monday, December 12, at 7:30 p.m. at the Holy Family Catholic Church at 1100 E. 5550 S. in Ogden. The Singers are doing a “Sub for Santa” for a needy family at Christmas and would like to suggest a donation of nonperishable food and/or a monetary donation to help with this project. The concert will be ideal family entertainment with music that includes “Have You Seen the Baby?” “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night,” “Pata-Pan,” “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Christmas Day.” Evelyn said she is grateful to be doing what she does. “I work with a terrific group of people that love to sing and the music we are doing is such a pleasure to perform. This is a beautiful concert but it is all for the benefit of other people. It is a thrill to be able to help people at Christmas and share the joy!” Weber State Singers was an active performing group at Weber State University with Evelyn Harris directing the group for seventeen years. When she retired, they also retired the group, which was then without a director. The members had a strong desire to keep the Singers alive and did so through the auspices of the WSU Alumni Office. The WSU Alumni Singers have been together since 2002. The current group is comprised of former WSU Singers as well as Evelyn Harris’ vocal students. For more information about the WSU Alumni Singers, contact Evelyn Harris at 801392-3773 or <evieh7@comcast.net> We Have Great Gifts for Christmas! PJs~Scarves~Hats~Gloves~Jewelry~Purses and Clothes! Great Stocking Stuffers from $1.99 to $6.99 Don’t forget our 1 pound Box of Sea Salt Chocolate Carmels! Visit www.chicstyleutah.com! Grab a Girlfriend for a Girls Night Out! Join Chic Style, Pineview Trading Company, and The Shop Around the Corner on December 2nd 4-7 p.m. for Girls Night Out! Refreshments, specials and shopping! 2595 Hwy 162 Suit 5 Eden 1695 E. Skyline Dr. S. Ogden 801-745-3286 Visit on Facebook! Valley Chordettes Announce Christmas Concert Dates The spirit of Christmas and music are inseparable. And in our valley, we have an opportunity to hear, and participate in, our own Ogden Valley Chordettes singing group. Each Christmas season, the Chordettes offer a free Christmas concert, featuring contemporary, as well as the great classic Christmas songs we all love and find ourselves singing throughout the season. It is sure to strengthen the spirit of Christmas for all who attend. Bring your family and cousins and neighbors; everyone is invited to attend! The Hearthside in Eden is pleased to offer these performances for the Valley community. We wish to thank Ruth and Dave Martin for allowing us into their beautiful historic building. The performances will be held Sunday, December 11 and; Monday, December 12. Both concerts will begin at 7:00 p.m. The Chordettes look forward to sharing their music and the gift of the Christmas spirit with you. Please join us. Valley Chordettes 2010 Gallery 25 Highlights graduated Landscape Painters from Utah State University, and paints everything from figurative work to farm animals. Growing up in Price, she developed an for the scenery of Eastern Utah, and Gallery 25 will feature the artwork of four appreciation has an eye for desert and red-rock landscapes. Northern Utah landscape painters for the month Roberta Glidden is an Ogden resident who of December, with an opening reception on loves travelling and painting. She earned a First Friday Art Stroll on December 2 from 6:00 degree from the University of Colorado, and to 9:00 p.m. Lauri Eskelson, Bonnie Frucci, started her art career designRoberta Glidden, and Debra ing textiles and painting on Marin will show new paintsilk. Now she’s a full-time ings that have been inspired artist with a love of painting by their painting trips to the outdoors—especially in the Canyon Country of Southern light of early morning. Utah as well as Northern Utah Debra Marin, who also mountain valleys. lives in Ogden, graduated from The four artists have difSouthern Utah University. ferent artistic styles, but the She loves painting field studcommon theme of landscape ies, then bringing them back ties them together as paintto the studio to use as referBonnie Frucci ers and as friends. They’ve ence for larger pieces. She, of taken workshops together over the past five course, loves painting on warm days, but is not years from exceptional Utah painters—Doug afraid to head out when weather changes. Braithwaite, John Poon, G. Russell Case, John Some of the best times tothepaint are when the Hughes, David Koch, and othclouds start rolling in, which ers. Besides the workshop creates dramatic skies. outings, these painters strive The artists will be availto get out to paint field studies able to discuss their artwork as often as they’re able, and at the opening reception. painting together has become Continuing artwork will a highlight. Painting can also be on display by gallery be a very solitary endeavor, members Lucile Chamberlin, so painting together on occaKeith Dabb, Keith Dagley, sion is very helpful to gain Carol Fielding, Ron Harvey, insight from the other artists. Darlene Hamblin, Phil Lauri Eskelson of Morgan, Hopkins, Mac Stevenson, says she loves to paint open Artwork by Bonnie Frucci. and Doug Wride. spaces before they’re changed Gallery 25 is located at 268 Historic 25th forever by development. A graduate of Weber State University, she has shown her work locally, Street in Ogden. Gallery hours are from 11:00 as well as in Washington D.C. and Nauvoo, Illinois. a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Bonnie Frucci, who lives in Ogden Valley, For more information call 801-334-9881. |