BLESSED IN TROUBLED TIMES
Cascade Springs
We are so blessed to know that our Father in Heaven is in control of our lives and loves us so much. It is a hard time with this pandemic but we are blessed to have the Plan of Salvation and the knowledge that we will live after death as families. We are not pushing handcarts in the freezing snow or watching our children be so hungry. What a blessing. We are so grateful for the heritage we have of the hardships our early grandparents went through to serve so that the restored gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ could be established again. We must fight against Satan because we know that our Savior will win in the end. We are so grateful for a prophet of God on this earth today and pray that our grandchildren will work hard to stay in tune with Him. We are on the winning team and must do all we can to serve others and our families. We must be prepared. Youth, we are depending on you to be strong in these latter days.
The wonderful thing about this month is that it started with fast Sunday. We love that it is filmed so that we can be there too. We learned that our Stake Patriarch's wife had died, who was in our ward and such a remarkable sister and friend. He bore a powerful testimony filled with faith.
Wednesday, my sister, Karen Colleen turned 80. She has always been a great example for me and a perfect sister in every way.
Karen and me in Nampa, Idaho 1948 or 49
Because of all the football games we were able to do a puzzle in the evenings.
The next day we went to Heber for another chiropractor visit. On the way home we decided to go through the mountains and see Cascade Springs, which is always so beautiful. We ended up having to turn around after the springs because of a road closure. It was still a beautiful ride.
the water's pretty
When we got home dad tilled the garden for winter. Notice the baggy pants.
That evening, I think, was Nixon's last football game. He caught the ball for a 2 point conversion and they won the game.
The best thing about the next day is that BYU beat Boise State soundly. After the game Boise team players invited the BYU players for a prayer. How wonderful!
We got news Saturday morning that David's dad had died yesterday. That is a blessing because he was in pain and not cohesive for some time. We are so glad that David was able to come here and visit him for a day. We loved having him.
Sunday was on line church and a mandate from our governor about a tighter close down because of the pandemic19. The best thing was it finally snowed.Monday, Shanelle had invited us to join with making fleece blankets for refugees We went shopping for fabric and bought enough for 10 child blankets and 5 adults. The fabric is so cute. The fabric was on sale for 50% off so we only paid $120. We are so excited to begin.
Tuesday we raked more leaves and put them in the garden for mulch and then started on the blankets. It is so much fun doing it together.
Wednesday, the 11th is special because it is not only Veteran's Day but George (dad) turned 76. He is such a wonderful husband and everything I ever wanted in a husband. The time together has really flown by and I am so blessed having a man who honors his priesthood as he does. He was tutored by a great father who loved the Lord. I am so grateful we are sealed under the covenant and will be together forever. He is definitely a keeper. So many people have called to wish him a happy day.
Today, Thursday, was a fun day because after chiropractor
we went shopping. Dad bought a size 34 Levi jeans. He has gone from a 38 to that small size.
He looks and feels so good and is full of energy. We made Enchilada soup for dinner with an Optavia recipe and it was so good we are going to have it often this winter.Friday, the 13th, dad saw Dr. Hwong, his cardiologist. He told him he shouldn't lose any more weight which made dad feel so good.
He and Scott went to buy dad a pistol and all the trimmings. We have a case that you must use your fingerprint to open. I may even be able to use it. While they were shopping, Rowan and I had a fun time.
That evening Shanelle and Erik came and picked up our 11 children's and 5 adult blankets we had made for some refugees. We had so much fun doing it and are so excited that some people will have a little more warmth now. They are really beautiful and cute. Scott gave dad a new pair of classy pants. He loves them.
Sunday was Elder Riley Bayles's 21st. birthday. He has been such a remarkable missionary and loves the Hispanic people so much. He will be home on the 25th and will have a hard time leaving these people. He has worked hard and we have been lifted by his letters. 
The tall one is Riley
Monday we looked for fabric to finish a quilt I finally began. We then bought some new garments and an Instapot. The girls said we need one. When we got home we got mail from Shanelle saying that Parker is going back to Japan Dec. 10th. We are so excited for him and yet it will be hard because he loves the people in Oregon. He is a great missionary. Latest news is that he is leaving Dec. 3.
This week we started on another Christmas puzzle. It is of the Christ Child in the manger and is very hard.
Friday the 20th, out Prophet, Russell M. Nelson, gave a beautiful message on being thankful even through this Coved-19. He talked about being kind to people of other races and having love world wide. He invited us to post on internet what we are thankful for every day for a week. What an inspired and humble man of God. I am so thankful for him. 
Saturday, Ashley was given an on line shower for their little girl coming in January. It was actually a very fun time and we could see everyone. Kristin won most of the games. 
This is a pair of tatted booties I made for her first child.
Our thankful was for our incredible family with such wonderful children, their partners and children and great grand children. George put up our tree. Scott thankfully got it down for us as it is very heavy and high up in storage.
Our thankful was for our incredible family with such wonderful children, their partners and children and great grand children. George put up our tree. Scott thankfully got it down for us as it is very heavy and high up in storage.
Rowan's blessing Not all here and she'll be 4 next month. Couldn't find a newer one.
Sunday Church was very good. Karla Mercer talked about how thankful she was for all the people who were thoughtful of her when she had a heart attack this past spring. My thankful was for my great husband, George. He is everything one could want in a companion and I love him with no words to describe.
Monday, we worked on putting up Christmas decorations in that we are not going anywhere for Thanksgiving because of the covid19.
Today I was thankful for my perfect mother who was there for me no matter what I needed and always thought of someone who needed help. She made all of my beautiful clothes and I bought my first dress when I was in 6th grade. It was not near as pretty as the ones she had made for me. I never heard her raise her voice or gossip about someone. (She did discipline) She was also my seminary teacher for one year. She would bring me breakfast in bed at 4:00 AM and then head out to pick up the 3 students who lived out of our area. We lived in Dayton Ohio. I would get up and get ready for school and pick up the other 3 students who lived near. Class was at 6:00. After class she would give them money to ride the city bus to their schools. She was a great teacher and example for me.
I am also thankful for my father who was always there for me and fed me for a week when I had a reaction from my polio shot. He also helped me when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I was very involved in music and did state competitions which he was my trainer. He was very strict but it paid off when I competed. My parents drove all over Ohio to be there. In the summer we lived an hour from the church and he always made sure we were on time. We had to get up early because priesthood at that time was before church and we only had one car. I am so grateful for their love.
(This is Granddad speaking) Although I didn’t say so during the #givethanks
activity
this past week, one of the things I am most thankful for are my wonderful
Mother and Father. I owe so much to them
for all they did for me. I have often
said that “Mom taught me what to live and Dad taught me how to Live”. I was nurtured in a
home filled with love and my mother always made me feel like I could accomplish
anything I wanted to. She always expressed high expectations for me. She taught me about life and how to live the
Gospel of Jesus Christ as I sat at her kitchen table. I didn’t realize until later the impact those
visits had on my life.
My dad always treated me as if I was just expected to be
able to perform the work of a man. He
never made me feel like I was inadequate or too young. He taught me how to irrigate a newly planted
field, how to haul hay and what to look for in a herd of cows or sheep. I learned that you didn’t stop work until the
work was done no matter the hours.
The most important thing he taught me was How to live the way my mother had taught me What to live. He was a man of integrity. He was an example to me of honesty and faith. He was kind and gentle, but also a man of courage and principle. I have tried to be the same. He was always a perfect example for me to follow.
Tuesday, the 24th, we still worked on our puzzle, It is one of the hardest ones we've done. 1000 pieces. (which they all are thanks to Dad) We always will be thankful for our children. They are so far ahead of where we were at their age. They never cease to amaze us with their ability to do all that they can to rear their children and follow the doctrine of Christ. They keep us focused in the right direction.
Wednesday the 25, Ava turned 12. What a blessing she is to our family. She is an amazing dancer and can't walk across the room without grace. She is so loving and kind to her siblings and is a very good student. Her talents are many but dancing is where she really shines. She sparkles on stage. Today she got her first pair of toe shoes. She is so excited.
Scott came today and hooked up a doorbell that takes pictures of anyone who comes on our property. We love it. We tended Rowan and Nixon while the family went shopping. They were so much fun and we enjoyed our time with them.
Due to the Covid19 Dad and I went no where for dinner. We had a lovely time working on a puzzle at home. We did give thanks for all our many blessings. We were reared in such good homes with good parents and siblings and have children who bless us every day. We are so blessed to know that families are forever and will be be with all our families for eternity. We missed going to SC to see Kristin's family but we, through inspiration, decided to stay home. We are not even gong to Vegas to be with the kids next month. We pray this will be over soon. We finally finished our puzzle. 
Saturday morning Dad decided to put on his temple suits to see how they fit in case the temples open soon and he can return to serving there.
GUESS NOT1
That evening, the 28th we finally got to see and hug Elder Riley Bayles. You can tell by his countenance that he was a hard working, faithful, obedient missionary. It was so good to hug him and feel of his spirt.
After the visit, Molly took pictures of us.
It was also a dear friend's birthday. Vanita Law turned 90. She is a wonderful example to us in everything.
This has been a very different November because of the Covid19 but we have been so blessed in every way that we cannot complain. Our Farther in Heaven has given us everything we need to return to Him. We know what we need to do and are striving very hard to follow Jesus Christ. We pray that people will turn to God and be kind to all people. We live in a blessed land. We love our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ. We pray that the day will come when we can all live together in love and peace.
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