CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS

 back yard

Dec. 1 Everyone was so happy when David returned from Idaho.  He felt good about his interviews,  we are all praying.

The next day I flew back home.  The flight left at 8:30 AM and the layover was 4 long hours.  I got to SLC just in time to arrive home, change clothes and get to our ward Christmas party.  We had 235 guests there. 

It was good to see some brought investigators.  It was a feast of beef brisket, mashed potatoes with gravy, rolls, salads and yummy desserts.  I got home about 9:30, very tired. Tiffani and the kids arrived at 11:00.

 The next morning was Ava’s baptism.  She has been so excited for this day.  The day could not have been better and Ava couldn’t have looked prettier.  She and the twins sang “I am a Child of God.”  Tiffani gave a beautiful talk on the Holy Ghost.  The Spirit was so in abundance.  The best part was that so many of our family were there.  Scott’s home teachers were even there, Kuhia Fisher and his wife, who are good friends of ours from Blanding.  The RS room was so crowded that they had to put up more chairs and squeeze them in.  I wish there were some way to describe this special moment.  Every family was represented except Kristin’s.  Wish they didn’t live so far away.

 When it came time to confirm Ava, Scott was so emotional that he couldn’t say anything and the tears flowed.  The Spirit was so present.  The blessing was beautiful.   

After the service we all went to Scott and Beth’s for refreshments.  Their home was filled with people. 

 Parker is almost as tall as Scott

Once again we were surrounded with family and friends.  It was just a great day.  Again, it was just a great day and so great to be with family.  We love every one of them and are so pleased with the decisions they are making.  How blessed we are.

The twins stayed with Scott’s family and spent the night.  The next morning, at 9:00, we all met at Scott’s ward for testimony meeting.  Ava said she wanted to bear her testimony.  It was beautiful and ended with the fact that she knew Jesus was happy with her because she was baptized.

 happy family

Tiffani had to hurry home and we were left with an empty home.  We had to go to our ward because we had responsibilities there.   I needed to give the RS lesson.  For as busy and tired as I was it went very well.  It was on keeping Christ in our Christmas.  I had this strongest feeling about my lost Nativity.  I just felt before I left Utah to look in this top tubby but it was too hard to do it so I forgot.  I felt it again and managed to get the heavy tubby down.  I opened it an there was the lost Nativity.  I so wanted it for my lesson.  When am I going to follow the promptings of the Spirit?
Dec. 6th George had cataract surgery.  Everything went well.

Dec. 9th we finally went to dinner at Ruby River for George's birthday which was Nov. 11th. We  can't believe how busy we are now that we are retired.

Saturday we had the privilege of going to tithing settlement.  We love our bishop and the wonderful man he is.  We love the opportunity to meet with him at this time.  The restored gospel is so true and we must do the things that will lead to eternal families.  It’s true.

We also went to Ava’s dance at half-time in Orem.  She’s so talented.

The next afternoon she danced with the Dance Club's Christmas program.

Sunday was our Christmas Sacrament meeting.  It was wonderful because the congregation joined the choir in many hymns and carols.  Great Spirit was felt. Granddad is out of control with decorations and his little balls hanging from the trees.  He loves it when it snows and they look like little Santa hats.

Dec. 15^th we left for Rexburg and Tiffani’s graduation.  As we left Provo, Bethany gave a false labor alarm.  We had a fun laugh after we worried if it was true.   Tiff and family flew to SLC and then rented a four-wheel drive because a storm was in sight.  The roads were bare and so we made great time.  The Jennings didn’t get to the motel until midnight.  We put Cameron in our room because we had a sofa that made into a bed.

The next morning the kids went swimming after breakfast. 

When they got dried we went to find some sleds in that it had snowed all night and there was so much snow.  It took us forever to find some but the kids had a ball.  Even Mom took turns down a hill at a park.

Do you want to build a snowman?

 We were cold and went back to the motel to get ready for the 6;00 commencement.
The roads were so slick and full of snow and we were so excited.  Tiffani was so anxious and so worried about our snowy ride home.  She was fun to watch.  The graduation was well done and the speakers did a great job. 

At 7:30  we headed to the stake center adjacent to the temple.  What a beautiful place.  It was so exciting to watch Tiffani walk the walk.  It really impressed Cameron.  He thinks she should now go for a master’s degree.  She has worked so hard to receive this and has spent many hours through the night studying.  It has not been easy but she has loved what she has learned and enjoyed most of her classes. She has so impressed us in her determination to see this through with all that is on her plate. We are so proud of her.  I even got a bit teary.

The baccalaureate was over at 9:30 so we decided to eat dinner at the Applebees by the motel.

                              

Cameron was so excited when he woke up the next morning to see so much snow and the temperature -16 but with the wind and chill factor it was -31 and it felt that way.  We had to go outside and take a picture because he had never been in such cold air. 

The girls had to get in the act.

After breakfast we went back to the Student Center and bought some souvenirs to remember the great occasion.

We wanted to get on the way because the weather was so bad.

  Tiffani was very nervous.  George had to work for some time to get the truck doors open and clear the windows of ice.  The roads were cleared but still required careful driving.  We saw several accidents because of drivers going too fast. 

                                   Dad even ran off on an exit because it was such a sharp turn.  When we got out of Pocatello the roads were clear.  We exited at Ogden and drove to the temple and then to In-N-Out for lunch.  We then separated with the Jennings going to the SLC Temple to see the lights, and then to the airport and us going to SLC and visiting with a couple from our mission.  The Oakleys were so good to us and they were visiting his sister and asked us to please stop to see them.  It made us so homesick for that great place.  Of course I forgot to take a picture of them.  By the time we got home we were so tired we didn't even unpack, we just fell into bed, very happy.

Sunday, after church, we went to Eureka to visit my brother, Milt.  He has been very sick for a while and we didn’t realize how low he had gotten.  He could hardly carry on a conversation and breathing was very difficult.  His neighbor, Don, took him to the VA Hospital in SLC the next day.  We are so grateful for all Don does for Milt.  He is a true friend.  Again we got home very late.

Monday, the 19^th we went to SLC for Sark Arsalanian’ viewing.  He had a viewing and funeral in St. George with a viewing in Salt Lake.  It was good to able to go and honor him.  He was George’s college football coach at Dixie.  AS we were leaving the mortuary we were privileged to see Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.  He and George were together at Dixie and have remained good friends.  He is so kind to always stop and visit with us.

We got home just in time to be there when Nixon came.  He is always fun and entertaining.  We read Humphrey’s First Christmas, one of our favorite books.  After taking him to the Dance Club, we went to Erik’s so he and Scott could give George a priesthood blessing for his surgery the next day.  He is having cataract surgery on his other eye.  We then went to PGHS for Parker’s Christmas concert.  It just set the mood for Christmas;  everything was perfect. 

During the concert I left to get a call from Milt.  They immediately did surgery when he got to the VA.  They put 3 stints in his heart and he was doing much better.

Dec. 20th we had to be at the surgery center for the cataract surgery at 7:30.  This surgery did not go as well as the first one.  George had a baseball hit him in that eye while he was playing high school baseball.  It did some damage we didn't know about and tissue had formed around the injured spot.  While trying to do the procedure the doctor had to cut some more and make a stitch which bled a lot. He had to quit but some parts of the tissue remained.  They are checking the eye very closely hoping the pieces will sluff off.  He doesn't look so good.

 He has seen the doctor every day.  The doctor put a band aid on his eyeball.  It is like a very thin contact.

That afternoon I dropped Dad off at Ava’s school and I went to PG for Asher and Camden’s Christmas sings.  Both schools did a great job and we loved the kids singing.

Ava

Asher

 Camden

My brother Del came to visit the 22nd.  He stayed for a long time and we thoroughly enjoyed his visit.  He is spending Christmas with 2 of his 3 sons and their families.  while were were there we got a call from our retina doctor, Dr, Carver. He wanted to see us and said emergency surgery must be done that day so we were accepted at 3:45 and were there  We finally got in a surgery room and released at 8:45 PM.  They feel the surgery went well and no damage to the retina.  Erik and Shanelle came and spent several hours with us.  Erik gave Dad a wonderful blessing.
Doctor Carver wanted to see him the next morning so we were there.  He wants to check on the eye often to make sure the retina doesn't tear.
Christmas Eve found us at Erik's for dinner.  We always go there and Clint Washburn and his family join us.  It just wouldn't be Christmas without dinner at Erik's.  He and Shanelle cook up a banquet.  It is always good.  Erik is such a good cook and Shanelle joins him and always has such fun games to play after the meal.  We laugh and just have a great time.  

Christmas morning we always go from home to home and see the boys’ families.  We love this and at each home we are fed wonderful food; a good reason to go.  We start with Scott’s home and just enjoy Ava and Nixon telling us about their morning.  They are so excited about having a baby sister any day. 

We had yummy cinnamon rolls and a choice of many drinks.

Next we went to Erik’s.  Those boys are so much fun.  They had a wonderful Christmas and always love being with each other.  They were excited because they got an 4 wheeler for Christmas.  Again we ate good food.  This time it was an egg, cheese, sausage and hash browns casserole.  We were quite full by then but it didn’t slow us down a bit.

Because I am still the driver, we didn’t go to Kamas because of the continuous snow.  The two canyons made me nervous.  They sent us fun pictures of their day.

Clark's Stance socks

We went back to our home and church.  Our meeting was at 1:00 and just the thing to do on a Christmas Sabbath.  We so love our Savior and His love for us.  Christmas is such a special time to feel the many blessings we have because of Him.  We love our families so much and so enjoy being with them.

We never get to see Kristin’s at Christmas because they live in SC.  We keep praying they get a job closer to us.  They sent pictures and said they had a wonderful day.

This year we sent 30 pair of Stance socks to the families as just a fun thing.  Kristin and David sent us a picture of theirs.

Tiffani and her family are coming tomorrow because of the snow today.  We are anxious to have them.

When Tiff's family got here, Scott and Bethany came to drop off Ava and Nixon.  They have a doctor's apt. in the morning and so we will have the kids in case she delivers.  The kids are all so excited about everything.  It's just always fun to have as many  family members here as possible.  The kids love sleep-overs.

The babe didn't come but we still have the kids because they will take the baby in the morning.  

Bethany and Scott went to the hospital at 7AM.  While they were at the hospital, the kids went sledding.  Dave makes it so fun for them.  He throws them down the hill as fast as he can and they go down screaming and laughing.  They can’t wait for the nest ride.  Tiff took pictures but I did not.  The weather was in the teens so they didn’t stay long.  They love the hot chocolate when they get through. 
Sometime in here the kids put on a great talent show.  They even made a poster and gave out programs.  They spent a great deal of time preparing.

 Lauren and Nixon built some snow people that afternoon.  They wanted to do Scott's family.

Bethany

Lauren made Beth holding a snowball baby, Nixon, Ava and Scott

We waited and waited for a baby but it took until 7 PM for the little one to come.  At 9 we were able to go to the hospital to see her.  The children were so thrilled and could hardly wait.  They wouldn't let Beth go home until some 24 hour tests were done.

Rowan

Cameron loved holding her.

Everyone got their turn holding.

What a wonderful evening to experience someone who had just left her Father.  Life is such a beautiful thing when you know the Plan of Salvation.  She's ours for eternity.

The next day the tests were taken.  It was very late when they were able to come home.  The kids went to the hospital again to be with the family and then spent some time sledding.  Tiffani took Ava and Nixon home so they could be a family.

Some pictures they took at their home.

The morning of the 30^th  Shanelle had a shower for Bethany at 10:00 atMagleby’s Fresh.  We were surprised when she brought the baby but were glad too.  She is such a beautiful little thing.  She weighed 7’1” and 19 in long.  Just a bundle of joy.  She never made a peep the entire time.  Bethany looked great.  It was fun to have all the girls together.

I had a wonderful surprise when Elder Fullmer came over from his table to see me.  He was one of our most favorite elders while on our mission.  It was just so good to see him and know that he is following what he taught those good people in NC.  He was such an obedient missionary.  We love him.

After the luncheon we went shopping at the Disney Store and Bath and Body.  The girls spent their chore money.  The twins have gone an entire year without soda pop and have earned some money for doing it.

George had to go see Dr. Carver again because of some things his eyes were doing.  He took off the eye bandage and we will see him again.  We have a lot of faith in this doctor.  He is so careful and thorough.

That evening we took our children and their spouses to Tucanos for dinner.  I think we ate an entire beef.  It’s all so good but the best part was just being together.                 
We certainly did miss Kristin and her family.  We ate and visited until we couldn’t hold any more and all the problems of the world were fixed and we laughed a lot.  Again we had a new baby to keep us in line.  She is so cute and good.  The kids slept at Scott’s so they could see Ava and Nixon more and hold Rowan.  It was just another great day.
Saturday Tiff and Dave started getting ready to go home.  Dave and Cameron hauled wood until the box would not hold any more.

 Scott and Beth came over to bring the kids and Erik and Shanelle came to say good bye.  It was a house full of fun.  We had turkey and ham leftovers so everyone could have a good lunch.  We had 17 people and it was what all parents dream of; families together.

 We just missed having Clark's at the same time.  The Jennings finally got to leave at 3:00.  After everyone had left I realized we had shrimp and Hickory farm in the fridge and apple cider in the basement.  I never remember what's available until people leave.  When they were all gone we just sat there in a daze.  Tiffani had cleaned everything so there was nothing to do.  It was an empty feeling.
Our month could not have been better.  Everything was perfect.  We have ended 2016 with thankful thoughts for our family who we love so very much.  We have such blessings because of our Savior, Jesus Christ for whom we will always be indebted.  The restored gospel is so true and we are especially happy that we have Hailey teaching others of this great gift.  We are truly blessed.