'Tis the season when many of us think about the birth of Christ, meet with family and friends, and tell STORIES.  Ssince this time of year brings back so many memories, why not share those with the ones you love?  Children, and even adults, enjoy stories from the family's past, or just items that have happened to you in the day's events.  Turn off the TV and other electronic media, sit down by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy sharing with each other.  Of course, if you have a more structured event, hiring a storyteller is always a way to provide enjoyable and slightly unique entertainment...for ALL ages.  Whatever you do and whatever you celebrate at this season, have a good time with those close to you...wishing all a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season.

Where did October go?  Well, ready or not, it's November and Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner.  With all the family times ahead, it's time to think about all the stories and traditions your family has.  Be prepared to share those with your children and grandchildren at this festive time of year.  Children (and adults, too) love to hear stories about the past, and especially about their families' past.  What a great way to help others to be grateful this Thanksgiving...give them a sense of where they have come from and where they are going.  Share some fun stories that you enjoy.  Share some memories of times past.  And, if you're planning a holiday get-together, don't forget to include storytelling as part of the fun!

October is nearly here with all its beautiful blue skies, multi-colored leaves and just the hint of "spook" in the autumn air.  Whether or not you believe in ghostly activity, almost everyone loves a good ghost story.  This time of year is just brimming with the harvest of fruits, vegetables and stories to cause a chill up your spine.  Don't miss out on the wonderful opportunities to enjoy these tales.  Storytelling venues abound this month, from those that the littlest children can enjoy, to ones that can cause a bit of thrill to the adults.  Check into what's available and don't let this time of year find you without a good tale to repeat around the winter fire later.

School has started and the feeling of fall is in the air.  Warm days and somewhat cooler nights are upon us and tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables are ripening.  It's an exciting time of year when hopes and goals for learning are bright and each day promises a new adventure.  To me, it means that it's time to start thinking about booking a storyteller into your school for a classroom presentation or an assembly.  It also means that it's time to start thinking about the season of ghost tales and spooky stories. Don't wait to get the magic of storytelling into your life, and enjoy the beautiful days ahead. 

August brings camping trips, family reunions, picnics, and of course, back-to-school activities and the inevitable END OF SUMMER!  (Has it gone as quickly for you as it has for me?)  Well, as you are having last family outings, don't forget to include storytelling with your children and grandchildren in the program.  Our family had a camping trip last week, and as we prepared to leave, one of my granddaughters asked if I was going to tell more stories.  Personal stories, family stories, folk tales, ANY story...it doesn't matter so much WHAT you tell, just as long as you DO!  As you are preparing for that back-to-school time and programs for the children during the year, why not invite a storyteller to your school and introduce your kids to the magic of story.  It's such good food for the brain and the imagination.  We need those interpersonal connections more and more as the world gets increasingly "high tech".  So...start telling,  Laurie

July is the month when we think about our country, patriotism and the freedoms for which we are all grateful.  It's also a great time to think about our history--whether that's the history of our nation, our family, our community or our culture.  What better time to get together and let your children know a little more about their heritage--they love those stories that can be told around the campfire, the barbecue grill, the picnic table or the patio.  Spend some of these long summer twilight evenings exchanging anecdotes and reminiscing about your family.  If you are planning a reunion or a larger "event", remember to add storytelling to the agenda.  There are family members just waiting to tell their tales, or hire a professional storyteller to "liven up" that occasion.  Remember--everything goes better with story, so keep telling tales, Laurie.

Summertime; and the telling is easy!  What a great time of year:  school is out (for most), flowers are blooming, sun is shining, and ice cream is available everywhere.  While you sit in the shade and cool off with a cone of your favorite flavor, why not share a story or memory with someone?  It's a valuable way to cement a friendship, teach a grandchild, or just enjoy the company of another traveler on the planet.  If you are planning a summer get-together, add stories to your plans, whether told by members of your group or by a professional teller that may be available in your area.  It's a "different" type of entertainment that can be enjoyed by young and old alike.  Many festivals in the park now include storytelling in their offerings--hey, that's a good idea!  Keep telling tales, Laurie

It's May!  It's May!  This is the time when the flowers bloom in abundance and children are looking forward to the freedom of summer.  Why not celebrate this joyous time of year with story?  Spend some time with someone you care about and share an important story from your life, or just enjoy a funny or touching story together. As you begin plans for the summer, include stories and storytelling.  Share with each other, attend a storytelling festival (there are many from which to choose), or invite a teller to come along and bask in the entertainment.  You are sure to create your own stories this summer, so prepare to tell them to others, and enjoy the season!

The tulips in my yard are several inches high, the daffodils are blooming, the crocus are "past their prime", so it looks like spring...despite the somewhat cool weather and occasional snowstorm!  This is a time of awakening--for nature and for the rest of us, too.  It's a great time to "awake" to the stories we all have inside ourselves.  Have you shared a story with someone you love recently?  There's no better way to bring you closer to others than to "open up" with a story.  If you don't have enough of your own, bring a storyteller into your party, event or activity and let someone else fill the spring air with the sound of story.  (Then you can re-tell those stories to others!)  A good story bears repetition.  Have a great spring and keep telling tales, Laurie

March is fully here and with it the promise of spring!  Some of us who have weathered the long winter are looking forward to the chance to "get out" a bit and enjoy nature.  While we are looking toward the warmer weather, there are also many opportunities to share the "warmth" and reawakening that stories provide.  I was able to spend last weekend with two of my grandchildren, two of my little "story listeners".  It is always a treat to be able to tell stories to them and watch their eyes light up as they enter that magical world with me.  If you haven't told a story to someone recently, what better time is there to share a bit of yourself?  And what better time to invite a storyteller to your next event to share that magic with others?

February is the month of love, and I "love" to tell stories.  There have been some amazing storytelling events in the northern Utah area the past couple of weeks, and more to come in the near future.  What a great opportunity to curl up with a loved one and listen to stories!  Clearfield Storytelling Festival just completed its 4th successful year...we have outgrown the venue and will have to find a larger one for next January.  Weber State Storytelling Festival will be February 22-24, with great local and national tellers.  I look forward to performing (and listening) during that event.  If you haven't discovered the joy of listening to storytelling, you are missing something truly entertaining and life-affirming.  If you haven't tried sharing stories with your family, you are missing a great chance to get closer and just enjoy each other. Try it...you"ll be glad you did!

Catch the 4th annual Clearfield Storytelling Festival on January 29th from 7:00-8:30.  It will be held at 140 East Center Street in Clearfield, Utah.  (The building is located just east of the main city building.)  There will be some great storytellers to help you warm up on a winter evening.

Well, the holidays are over and winter has fully set in.  This is a time to "cocoon" in our homes, drink hot chocolate, read a good book, and tell stories to our families.  Years ago, before TV and radio, families spent the evening hours by the fireside and told stories to each other to pass the time.  Men would repair tools needed during the warmer weather; women would sew or knit; children would listen and learn about their ancestry, the values espoused by their kin, funny stories about their parents as children, or maybe just folk tales from their heritage.  This was the time to "pass on" many valuable lessons to children--and the kids didn't even realize they were being "taught":  they thought they were being entertained.  This time of year, when things have slowed down(?) a bit, is still a good time to feast on stories.