WE ARE SO THANKFUL

We are so thankful for our many blessings.

Going to the temple is a great way to start a month.  Gerta Edmunds gave me a sister who was born in 1587.  What a long time to wait.  We came home and did 7 gallons of cider.  That makes a total of 39 gallons and 17 pints of applesauce. 

We are ready to be through with apples.

When finished we went to Kolton’s choir concert.  He was great.  It is so much fun to watch these kids of ours.

  Of course after we went to Maceys for ice cream.

Nov. 3^rd we dug 215 lbs. of potatoes.  After, we went to Ogden for Riley’s state football game.  He played a game like no other. 

He ran for 179 yards not counting the 80 yards not counted because of fouls.  The Deseret News really praised him.

The next day was my sister Karen’s birthday.  She has always been the perfect sister, even when we were very young.  She has always been there for me.  I love her.

That evening we went to Aimee and Spencer’s reception at Camp  William’s Officer’s Club.  It was very nice.  They decided to have the reception before the wedding which we thought was very wise.  Ashley’s family was there as well as Erik’s.  Always good to be represented.

The next day was the luncheon at Eagle Mountain.  It was catered by Texas Roadhouse.  Yummy, yummy food. 

Sheri, Gary, Bill, Kelly

Mark and Kay

Gary, Mark, Kelly, Shawn, Bill, George

Again it was so good to be with family.

After the luncheon we went home to watch the BYU-Cincinnati game.  BYU won.  Hooray!

A little after 3:00, we headed to the Provo City Temple for the sealing.  That temple is so beautiful.  It is hard to believe how different the inside is and how beautiful every little detail is.  The Spirit is so strong.  The officiator was right on.  He did a wonderful service.  Aimee and Spencer a wonderful couple. 

Spencer and Aimee

with brothers

The temple is the only place to be married and they started out so right.  We love the blessings of the temple and the covenants we are able to make with our Father there.  It is why we are on this earth.  We came home and I took a nap and woke up only long enough to go to bed. 

The boys came late on Monday and so mowed the lawns mostly in the dark.  They are wonderful boys and we so appreciate their what they are always doing for us.

George got home from the temple Nov. 9^th and we headed for Vegas to see the Jennings clan.  We went straight to the gymnastic gym to see the girls work on their skills.  They have great teachers, straight from Russia.  We got to Tiff’s at 9:30 and she had yummy soup waiting for us.  Cameron had been at his piano lessons and rode his bike home.

The next day we traveled to Kingman Arizona to visit with my brother, Del and his wife Patricia.  He is amazing.  He has a shop that is bigger than our home but says it is too small. 

 his hot rod

 with Patricia

I love my brother.

Del's antique diving helmet.  This just fascinates me.

He had 4 cars in it he is working on.  One is a roadster.  He has a three car garage that is filled with his projects and a shed in the back with projects, even a shell of a Lamborghini.   He has made replicas of the gold plates, the barges, the hill Cumorah, Laban”s sword, the Liahona and whatever else you can think of.  He teaches Sunday School to the teens and wants them to visualize what went on.  It’s really fascinating.  We could have stayed a lot longer but they took us to lunch and then we had to head back to Vegas.

I love my brother.

We got to Vegas just in time to meet the Jennings family for dinner. (Boy, are we packing on the pounds.)

Forgot to take one before the girls left.

November 11th is a great day because George and his brother, Eric, were born on that day one year apart. 

I don’t know how Granny did it. I'm sure they were a handful.  I love being married to this great man.  I made a list of what I wanted in a husband and he filled every item.  I am so blessed to be his eternal companion.  We have had so many fun times together and some not so fun but it has been a great ride.  He has the strength I need when I am having a hard time.  He never wavers.  His testimony and how he honors the covenants he has made help keep my faith strong.  I love him to eternity---and beyond. He is a wonderful father and Granddad, and great Granddad.

We got up Friday morning and just hung out.  The kids didn’t have school so it was fun to be with them.  We went to Canes for lunch and then we headed to Cedar City.  We had a room there so we wouldn’t have to get up early for the game.  It was at 11:00.  Clark got to the stadium at 9:30.  He was way excited. 

The game was on the SUU field. 

The National Anthem

Riley had a great game and scored the first touchdown.  He had quite a cheering section with family and friends.  The slit in the shirt is when the paramedics cut it off Riley on the way to Park City when he injured his neck.

The real coaches.

This is the way the twins cheer.

 They lost but we were so proud of the young man Riley is and the way he handles disappointment.

 with mom and dad

Granddad and Uncle Erik on the sides

cousins, Granddad and Aunt Tiffani

Uncle Erik

cousins, Aunt Tiff & Uncle Erik

 After the game we treated everyone to lunch at Zaxby's  It's a new thing in Utah but not in NC.  It brought many memories.

 kids

 Clark's table

 teenagers

 Tiff and twins

 William's family

us

After lunch we followed Tiffani up Cedar Mt. to the cabin Dave has built.  It is not a kit and the logs are huge.  Of course I didn't take pictures.  We then went our different ways to go home.  It was a great few days and we enjoyed one again being with family.  Scott could not come because of work.  We missed them.  I drove until Nephi and I won't tell how well I did.  At least we made it.
Parker drove his group home; probably drove much better than me.

At 3:00 on the 16^th we traveled to Kamas for George to teach Jonny’s Cub Scout Den about carving. 

They were so in tune and well-mannered.  It was such fun.  They asked questions and participated so well.

After Cubs we had, as usual, a delicious dinner.  It was a new recipe and Dianne nailed it.  There was apple crisp from our apples and ice cream for dessert.
The next morning it was 29 degrees and so cold, we did not work in the yard.  At 5:00, the missionaries came for dinner.  We served pot roast, homemade rolls and salad.  We had Razzleberry pie and ice cream for dessert.  They ate as missionaries should.  We thoroughly enjoyed them.

 Tiffani and family got here Friday Nov. 18th, at midnight.  They always come in the late evening.  They came for the BYU game.  We got up Saturday morning and had cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate.  Bethany brought Ava over so she could spend time with the twins.  At 11:30, we went to the game.  The girls were a riot.

Clara, Shelby, Lauren. Ava

  

 Asher joined them

                         

                         

 It was Asher's turn 

They had so much fun.  Cameron did well once BYU took a huge lead.  Asher was also there with his mom and dad.  The Nebekers from Vegas also sat with us. 

It wasn’t a crowded game.  After the game the kids went down to the railing and gave high-fives to the players as they circled the field. 

The watched the after game broadcast.

It was just a fun time for all. 

The security let Cameron on the field.

The girls loved the cougar statue

The Jennings family headed home after that.  It was just a fun short visit.

Scott called to have us take Ava and meet at In-N-Out for dinner.  We were so tired that we were thrilled not to have to fix up some food.  When we got home I fell asleep watching football at 8:00 and woke up Sunday morning in my bed at 8:00 AM.  I didn’t realize how tired I was.

 November 23^rd, I took Ava to get her CTR ring for her birthday.  We shopped forever until she found the right one.  It is beautiful.  We then called Granddad and met him for lunch at Smash Burgers.  It was just a fun day.

The next day I found that I had misplaced our Joseph and Mary wall hangings.  They are Precious Moments pictures and move every day towards Bethlehem.  When they get to the hills of Judea, we know it is Christmas Eve.  On Christmas morning they are in the manger and the Christ Child is born.  It’s a wonderful way to keep Christ in Christmas.  We have done this or 30 years and I always put them in a special huge art folder.  They were not there.  I spent hours looking for them and finally took the coloring book to Staples so they could copy them and enlarge them.  The next day I got them back and colored them with art chalk.  Friday I took them to be laminated in that I had given my huge laminator away the month before. 

We hurried and met Scott to see the new movie Moana, for Ava’s birthday.

She is such a special little girl and we love her so much.  She tries so hard to make sure everyone is happy and makes friends so easily She loves her little brother Nixon, and her family. (including the dogs and rabbits)  She is getting so tall and loves to dance and be active. 

Saturday the 26^th I flew to South Carolina for Kristin’s surgery.  

Sunday I went to church with David and the kids.  Kristin was just in too much pain.  The people were so sweet and worried about Kristin.  They have been so helpful.

Monday, David flew to Rexburg, Idaho for his interviews. He took the kids to someone's home at 6:00 so they would have a ride to school in that at 5:30  I had to take Kristin to the hospital. We so hope he gets the job.  He had an interview with one of the 70 and had to teach some classes while others observed.  He spent 2 days in interviews and teaching and loved every minute of it.  He really feels he did all he could and has no regrets.  We will know in February if he gets the job.  We are all praying  We got to the hospital to find that Kristin had the wrong time and we did not have to get up at 4:30.   Her surgery was not until 7:30.  Oh well.  The doctor said it went well and was more intense that they thought so it will take 6 weeks to recover.  The good thing is that was the better of the 2 choices.  It takes longer to heal but it was a better situation.  I can't remember the details.  You'll have to go on her blog to find out.  We were at the hospital until 2:00.

                             

 Wednesday was her first therapy

I bought lots of ice cream and ice cream sandwiches so Baylie and Jalen wouldn't be too anxious.  I think that's what Grammys are for.  To be continues on December's blog.
We are just so grateful that I have the health to be of some help at this time.  She could do nothing so I think I was some help.  Sure do love all of our children.