Short blog before AZ & CA

Ward Christmas Party. 

1. Our ward had a live manger scene. The manger the Elder's Quorum build

was amazing. It was neat to watch.

2. Sunday we had a spontaneous Christmas Dinner. I think I 

realized it would be the last time we'd be here to get together

before we leave. It was a good Sunday.

Stake Conference was so good, both the evening and morning.

Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy was emphasized again.

3. We decided to do more Sabbath Day activities, so after dinner

we did Family History. Oh my, Noelle really was discovering

her mother's line. When you can start to look up on Google

one of your ancestors and see statues of them, you know you

have gone way back and hit into royalty. It was great

4. Chris entertaining Mia so Colleen and Robin could work on her line.

5. Ellen and Daniel and Mike and Emily came a bit latter.

Of course, there were games and visiting. 

6. I delivered a little something to my primary girls for Christmas

and this tractor was in their front yard. It has Christmas lights

on it, but it is just like the tractor I remember growing up.

Had to take a picture for the history.

7. Monday night we had a wonderful dinner with our empty nester FHE group.

We were at Lynn & Shiela Capener's house. With their addition it was

a perfect set up for a large gathering. Josh, I've found the kitchen/family

room for my dream house, and it's not a million dollar mansion.

We even dressed up in their Nativity costumes and read the Christmas Story

We are by the "star shining brightly" (Either side of Lynn, the star)

I'm getting some of those costumes - the beards, and animals are so cute.

8. Tuesday was Noelle's concert with Janet Carter. So beautiful

9. We sat behind Wade Walton and was entertained by him and his little

girl. Thought we would share it you since he's a good friend of Rob's age group

10. Tuesday night was Josh's jazz band concert. Wish I could have gotten
a closer picture. The weather was terrible and we only stayed
to hear the Jazz Band, which sounded amazing.


11. Dad's project was to finish staining the piano bench
that David made for us for Christmas.
It's so beautiful! Thank you, son

Old age is sure a mixed emotion time. We will miss
seeing you all during the holidays, but I'm so excited to go
see Paul and his family in Arizona. It's been a long time since
we've been there. I thought we would still be able to come back for
part of the holiday, but I feel such a need to go see my brother Paul.
He is getting worse and it's so hard for Ellen.
We never know what life brings to us, but we do the best we can.
I remember my mother saying (paraphrasing):

"No matter how hard life might be, if one hand is in
the Lord's it can be done."

I love you all deeply. May we find a deeper relationship with the
Savior Jesus Christ no matter where that relationship is now.

It's Already December, 2015

1. Dad made Sugar cookies with the Scouts. They had a good time, but

didn't take too long to decorate. I think they liked eating better.

2. We had a beautiful week with A. Anne & U. Bob's family. Tuesday we went

to the temple with them and then I had brought everything for Hawaiian

Haystacks and we went to A. Anne's for dinner and visiting.

Thursday night we did a lot of visiting at the viewing. 

I'm so thankful all her children were there. Susan took some

beautiful pictures. There is something about all being together

that brings strength. Here are a few pictures at the cemetery

and the church afterwards. The military honors at the graveside were 

beautiful to see.

3. Front: Susan, A. Anne, Debbie Jeff; Back: Craig, Allen, Brad

Mark had already gone home. 

4. These are his 'dog tags' from the army. There was also one with

the temple on it saying to notify an LDS chaplin or member

in case of an emergency.

5. Everyone but U. Paul. Ralph, me, Margaret, John, Janet, Anne, David

6. and Tammy came up, David came down, Chris & Mike came over.

Ellen came to the viewing. Thank you for your support.

We are having a great conversation with Nathan, U. John's son.

7. Supper that night with Pete's family

8. Then we went to the Old Barn and saw Chris and Mallory and

Uncle Marc in A Christmas Carol.

9. Marion, Steven, Jared, Cecily, Scott, & Isaac came for Friday & Saturday.

So good to see them all.

10. We made lots of candy and it all got eaten or sent home.

We saved 4 peanut butter cups and a very small bag of peanut brittle.

Just like we like.

11. Saturday night we went and saw, "Two from Galilee"

The music was so good. The finale was amazing. 

It was very well done.

12. Sunday we took Josh with us and went and saw John and Steven be

ordained. Spencer ordained them and Dad and Bro. Olsen gave

them a beautiful blessing. We went to their house after

for dinner and visiting. I'm so sorry we didn't get a picture

of the three boys together in their Sunday clothes. 

I get caught up in the moment and forget to take pictures.

John and Spencer

13. Steven

Life is good. Even with a death, life is good,

because everything, all our hopes and promises

are with our Savior Jesus Christ. He does not 

let us down. He has given us all and the way

to receive all as we seek Him out.

I know I always say this, but I really do love each and every one of you.

May the Lord bless and keep you.

Thanksgiving & Pie Fest, Snow, Last Pillowcase, November 2015

1. I haven't been very good at taking pictures this month. I babysat Tom & Mel's

kids and left my camera there, and when I got it back, I was out of the habit.

Sorry. We had spaghetti squash with spaghetti sauce on top of it. 

The kids loved it. Here is Max on his third helping. 

We still have a lot of spaghetti squash if you want some.

2. Cam getting more.

3. Lost pictures, so it's lost from my memory. We have been to the temple more this

month and that has been great. Thank you for your attendance also. I hope you

had a wonderful experience. I'm pretty sure we had someone all month.

It was great to see John and his family even though it was a short visit. We

are sorry it was a funeral that brought them in (Stacey's grandpa), but it was

good to see them. 

4.Our first snow of the season.

5.The day before Thanksgiving, Noelle came and helped me with
housecleaning. It was wonderful. Notice the pantry and wheat grinder
closet next time you come. Then Mallory came down and the
two of them helped to make all the pie crust and 7 of the pies.

Daniel and Ellen set a beautiful table for Thanksgiving Dinner.

We had us, Chris & Tom family, Ellen and Daniel and Uncle Marc,

so we had just 20, but it was a beautiful day.

6. Rolls - Her shirt says, "Feed Me and Tell Me I'm Pretty"

It's a maternity shirt we bought a few months ago.

7. Mia's first Thanksgiving.

8.Max and Zander are shoveling for us. It has been so fun to watch Zander

interact with his cousins. It's almost like he has just discovered them.

He also chased and played with Taylor.

9. Thanks Mallory for all your help. Noelle made all the pie crusts
and did a fancy design around the edge.

10. Daniel playing games with the kids.

11. Surprise of the day - A new cat for Tom & Mel's family.

It even has the right pedigree. They got it from Thane Winward, Jr.'s 

family in Garland, so the cat is related. 

12. Of course a puzzle

13. Such a fun day on Saturday, November 28 at the pie fest at

Rob and Emily's. Thank you again for hosting it.

14. Before the pie fest I made Jetta's pillow case with her.

It is dancing ballerinas and we had a good time.

Thank you to all who have worked hard in finishing up the garden this year.

Marion and his boys have helped so much and Chris's kids.

Ned Silvester brought over 3 dump loads of sandy soil mixed with manure.

Josh, Mike, and Marion have all roto-tilled.

We have had a good harvest and many blessings this past year.

I am still in shock over the passing of Uncle Bob. He's been my 'brother' since

I was 7 years old. Susan is having a hard time also - she was quite close to her dad.

I love you all - each one of you individually. 

Still a canning, Garden, & Games, November 2015

Happy One Year Anniversary to Daniel and Ellen

Time has sure gone by fast. It seems forever ago that we were on our mission.

We truly do have so much to be thankful for.
I'm glad we have a family that keeps us very busy.

1. Canning pumpkin - it sure tastes better than store bought

2. Pumpkin seeds using the Joy School recipe - I had to google Worcestershire

sauce before I found one that was like the ones at Joy School

3. We have dried tons of apples. They are our favorite dried food.

On Halloween we cut up 18 pints of chicken and watched ET.
We had already seen Arsnic and Old Lace.

4. Sunday Tammy and the girls were here. We had such a good time.

Noelle and Katrina were singing up a storm - so fun to hear them.

5.I should have written down what Olivia said about the picture of her dad.

It was so funny, but I forgot. Something about he has hair and is young.

Tammy, can you remember?

6. And, of course, skits. One of the best we have had. Mallory,
Bekah, and Olivia reproduced a very funny Studio C - they sang so good.

We all laughed and enjoyed it.

7. Grandpa and Mia connecting together. She likes Grandpa.

8. No pictures during the week, I forget. But Saturday was a good work day.

Caleb is my faithful "Clean the chicken coop" man.

We have actually gotten a couple more eggs since putting in nice fresh straw.

Thanks for your help, Caleb.

9. Ned Silvester came by with with three dump trucks full of a mixture

of sandy soil and manure and put it on the garden.

I'm sure it will make such a difference. We do still need to spread it around.

Guess who did the dumping?

10. Caleb had a ball pushing the button that controlled the dumpster. 

11. Then Mike and Emily came and we did a fast 14 quarts of apple pie filling

and made Lasagna and apple crisp before heading out to the temple.

12. We are just outside the basement entrance to the Brigham City temple.

Dad, Josh, Mike, Emily, and me.

13. After dinner we had the more of Chris's family over for games.

It was another big, full day with lots of variety.

We have enjoyed a week with attending the temple. 

It's troubling times and so important to stay close to the spirit

and find that peace deep inside. 

I love you all very much.