February, 2020

1. On the first of February, Zach was baptized, but it was included

in last month's blog. On the 6th, Jetta invited us to a Grandparent's

breakfast. We were on our mission, so it worked out perfect!

We picked her up in the morning and went to a wonderful breakfast

and saw her school, room, desk, and had a great time. Then we 

went on to our mission. Thanks Jennetta for a great time! We love you.

2. Grandma's old, black genealogy binders came in to good use
when I was looking at FamilySearch, Elizabeth Capener
had 34 children. Obviously, it wasn't right, but I didn't know
what was right either. I pulled out the binder and Gradma
had the page. This family was my grandpa's great uncle, so they
would have known them. Sometimes paper is nice.

3. Mike and Emily had a ward Valentine's dance the week before
Valentine's, so we got to babysit the boys. We had a great time.

4. We invited Katie over for dinner the Sunday
after her birthday and Spender and Ryan. They all came
and Katie brought a very nice boy with her. We
had such a good time. We ate a big Sunday dinner and
took a tour of the house. I feed bad we didn't get a better picture.
Katie is next to Ryan and Spencer. I'm in front of her friend.

5. I gave Spencer and Ryan the quilt I made for them.
They really like it. I'm glad they are not moving yet.

6. They had a special party for the release of Saints, Vol. 2
The Church Museum has a new display for children
called, Temples Dot the Earth. It was a great evening.

7. We take a picture of the house with the updates.
They've been very busy. Since this picture, they
have completed the sheet rocking.

8. Great times with cousins: Amelia and Catherine

9. Delivering sheet rock early on a Saturday morning.

10. Zach, Leah, and Ben under the stairs. We thought
we'd put wheat under here, but it would just be
too cool for a Harry Potter room, so we're open for ideas!

11. Sheet rock and Val's dad, Les Wheatly,
built a cupboard that fits in the space behind the
coat closet. It will hold 9 banquet tables that
fold in half. They worked hard to get it in.

12. Yeah for Grandparent's Day! We got to go to lunch with
Zach and see his room. We had such a good time.

13. Isaac got his Eagle. It was great to go and see him get it.
Marion and Isaac

14. Isaac and Sue

15. Us and Isaac

16. It's spring and Leah just learned to ride her bike.
She was so excited. A childhood joy:)

17. Ellen's funeral was wonderful. Each of the boys and
Becky spoke. It was so interesting. We all learned a lot
about her. Paul and Ellen's family were all there. It was
good to see and meet some of them. David and Joe's family
and Mike at the luncheon afterwards.

18. No one was missing. Front: Lars, LeAnn, Becky, Teemarie,
Mike, Natalie and Jorgan with their children and
grandchildren behind them.

19. At the Riverside Cemetery

It's been a month of reflection, tender moments, and lessons
learned.  Someone near death gives a whole new perspective
on life. We prioritize things different when death is knocking
on the door. My last visit with Ellen she talked a lot about her
family and the joy she had because of them.
She came to America alone and ended up with so much more
than she thought she would ever have.
Family - We realized that we have always had a family. In pre-earth
life, we lived with Heavenly Parents in a family environment as
Spirit children. When we came to earth, we all came into some kind
of a family. We at least had a mother. When Ellen left this world,
she would immediately be with Paul and Tom, her brother and
parents. With family.   No wonder Satan is trying to destroy the family.
The Family has been and always will be here.
 I'm so thankful for all of our family.
Every one of you.

January after Arizona, 2020

1. Zach's 8th birthday was on the 12th of January. 

Leah, Linda in the back, Ben, Zach, Catharine

2. When we go on our mission, we stay overnight usually

with my sister Anne. She had some home video there and

we really had a great time watching, since it was our family.

This is a picture of the video of the Korean dinner Paul 

cooked for everyone. It funny to hear the comments while

he was cooking. References were made to dog, etc.

Susan was there because it was Paul's homecoming.

Also Rob opened his mission call.

Paul demonstrated how to fix the dinner by putting it

into lettuce, and Mike, who is sitting next to him, said,

"What if we don't like lettuce?" Rob opened his mission

call and that was so fun to watch.

3. Little Bennett Winward was blessed on the 26th of

January. It was a beautiful day. Emily holding Bennett

and Mike holding Luke.

4. Little Bennett. It makes you wonder what he's thinking about.

5. Cute brothers Bennett and Luke

6. Zach has been so excited all month to get

baptized. He was the only one from our ward, so 

Peter played the piano, Ben and Leah said prayers,

Dad led the singing, I talked on baptism and

Tesha talked about the Holy Ghost.

Tesha's parents were witnesses.

We had Zach's favorite food when we got back to

the house: corn dogs and spaghetti.

It was a great day.

7. Since it was Michael's birthday two days earlier,

we had a cake and sang to him. He's grown so fast.

8. Visiting after at Joe's place.

9. I love to see new cousins form relationships.

Little Linda and Michael were having so much fun at

the glass doors playing with each other.

10. I thought before I get swamped with quilts for grandkids,

I thought I would make one for Ellen. Of course, she wanted

a book case. It's not done yet, but it's very exciting. Elise

made some book titles for me while we were in Arizona.

Marion and Isaac stopped by, and

Isaac had an immediate audience with Catharine, Leah

and Linda. Mar had a great discussion with Joe and

planned some "hikes."

It's been a great month. Lots of things going
on. It was good to be reminded of all the blessings
that come through baptism and the gift of the
Holy Ghost. Some thoughts on the Sacrament:
Of all the ordinances we participate in, the Sacrament
is the only one we repeat for ourselves each week. We
get baptized again, but that is for the dead, as is the return
visits to the temple with those ordinances and covenants.
The Sacrament is a very sacred time to worship and ponder
and remember the covenants we have made. And
we have that opportunity each week.
I love you all.

December and Arizona Trip

1. Pie Fest, 2019 - At Joe's house

2. Spencer and Ryan came!!!!

 3. In line and U. Marc not in a hurry.

 4. Pie of course

 5. Spencer was the main pie cutter. Left to right:

Ben, Zach, Joe, Suzie, Spencer

 6. Kaden, Val, and Hudson

 7.  Mia's birthday cake-5 years old and next year

kindergarten!  Leah, Chris, Amelia, Zander

 8.  Welcome to little Bennett Winward. In the hospital

with Emily, Luke, Bennett and Mike. We're so 

thankful all is safe and well. Such cute little boys.

 Born on Sophia and my mother's birthday, 3rd Dec.

 9. David and Matthew for his baptism

9a. We took Zach and Leah with us.
Grandma, David, Grandpa, Leah, Matthew, Zachary

 9b. A family picture for the card game.
Robert, Amanda, David holding Jamin, Alaina,
Eric, Matthew, Jacoby - such a beautiful family.

 9c. Little Jamin has a lot to smile about.

 10. Family Christmas party. Ready for the white

elephant gift exchange. We had a big breakfast/brunch

and visited. We went to the play in the afternoon.

 11. Playing with the family card game. I had so much

fun putting them all together. It was a way bigger project

than I thought it would be, but Dad helped a lot. 

It was great to get all the updated pictures.

Jetta and Suzie

 12. Scott, Alaina, Robert

 13. We had a great time at the play. It was The Best

Christmas Pagaent Ever, and most of us were in it.

U. Marc directed and Chris, Mallory, Caleb, Zander &

Mia and Bekah and Daniel, Ellen, Sam & Michael and

Dad and I, and Joe, Tesha, Ben, Zach, Leah, Catherine,

and Linda. We really had a great time. 

David and family down the row!

 14. A few chocolates just before Christmas

Leah, Joe, Catharine, and Zach

 15. Dad and I had Christmas morning by ourselves.

It was very quiet, but sometimes quiet is good:) 

Danie, Mike, Joe, Tesha playing games later in the day.

 16. We're off to Gilbert, Arizona to visit Tom and Paul's families

We serve our mission with a couple from Gilbert. Their

son owns a hot dog place called Mugsey's. It was fun to go.

Grandma, Gabe, Cam, Taylor, Max, and Tom.

 17. We went rock climbing. It really was great to see the

kids get brave enough to go clear to the top. Dad and I

belayed them. We had a good time. It was a first!

Taylor belaying Cambria

18. I went on a walk with Aiden and Gabe. The landscape

certainly different the back home. However, in the

beginning it was still a bit chilly. Tom and Mel sure

have a nice place to live. It was good to see them all settled in.

We also spent an afternoon with a missionary couple from

New York that we got very close to. They live very close to Tom. 

 19. Max, Taylor, Tom & Gabe, Dad

We had several good hikes with Tom and Paul.

So beautiful down there.

 20. Tom with his mustache, Taylor, Max & Gabe 

21. Then it was over to Paul's. Nikki, Lacey, Kayleen,

and Elise. We had such a good time. On the last night

Paul cooked hamburgers on the patio. So great to visit.

 22. We went to the zoo one day along with Kayleen's family.

 23. Sammi compiled family stories from Lacey's family.

She did it in the same format as our family stories.

I was so proud of her. She did a great job.

 24. We were there for Max's ordination. We had a Sunday

afternoon concert from Max and Taylor.

 25. Max, Tom, Mel and Aiden. We sure got to know

Aiden while we were there. He's grown up so much

since they left. He runs all over the place.

 26. We paused the game so we could read the scriptures.

Levi is reading some of the works, and I could understand

everything he said. So thankful for his implants.

We had a wonderful time during the month of

December. It was so great to be in a play again and

spend that time together. I'm so thankful to all of you and

the joy we have and the things we learn from each all.

I'm so thankful to my Savior, and yours, who gave

everything for us to have joy in this life and in the

life to come. We've had a wonderful year.

I love you all.