Thankful for Family

We missed mentioning Hailey's birthday at the end of October - the 27th. Not sure how that happened since she is unforgettable. They celebrated her birthday with a murder mystery dinner.

Bea, Simon, Jaylen, Molly, Riley, Bailey, Hailey, Ashley, Will, Tyler, Clark, Bea

We started the month of November with a garden clean out on the 1st. Dianne brought us some yummy soup for dinner and we started our monthly fast. Typical life in the fast lane. 

Cliff Bush passed away on Monday the 3rd. He was such a good friend and fishing buddy to George. He has been unhealthy for quite a while. 

Judy Sandstrom brought us more soup. She's always doing stuff for us. 

I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday because I haven't been feeling well. The doctor gave me a good report. I don't need surgery on my hip!

Wednesday the 5th was the Orem Temple with the Seamons and then we went to their house so Grandad could make a horseshoe turkey. It's so cute! He brings it in at night so no one will steal it.

That day we also noticed that we had some unwelcome guests - racoons! They've been digging holes and leaving poop in the backyard. The city won't trap them and we're not supposed to trap them, so we're on our own in trying to encourage them to find alternate lodging.

Thursday we were back at the temple - this time in Payson. Hopefully all this temple going erases the multitude of sins for our first 80 years of life. George worked his Orem Temple shift on Friday and then did some horseshoe prep work for his next craft project. (He has more erasing to do than me...)

BYU lost their first football game on Saturday, the 8th. It was a sad, sad, day. We will not speak more of it.

Sunday the 9th was the Primary program. It's always such a great meeting. That night we celebrated Grandad's 81st birthday at Clark & Di's. All the in-town kids were there and it was wonderful to all be together. 

Hailey, Grandad, Scott, Erik, Grandad, Clark

Erik, Shanelle, Scott, me, Kolton, Cameron, Grandad, Clark, Bethany, Nixon, Ava, Kolton, Rowan, Hailey, Asher

The 10th was Cliff Bush's funeral. It was a beautiful tribute to a good man (and a good wife).

November 11th was a national holiday - Grandad's birthday! He's an ornery old coot, but we love him and his horseshoes. He spent time raking leaves and working on a turkey for Dianne. 

Wednesday the 12th was Thanksgiving grocery shopping. Grandad bought a turkey to smoke. We are excited to have a big group this year. 

Thursday the 13th we were back at the Payson temple.

Friday the 14th George made a snowman. (Is there such a thing as a horseshoe addiction? Do we need an intervention?)

Frosty

Friday the 14th, Tiffani's family came up for the BYU/TCU game. She helped Grandad empty out the pantry and the fruit room so Scott could paint the pantry. We found food storage items from around the time Kristin (who is 57) was born. It was tough, but we threw some things away. Hope we don't regret that choice. Who knows if we'll need those things?!

Scott at work

Saturday the 15th was Riley's birthday. He is such a fine young man. He is loving his job as a special education teacher and he loves his wife, Bailey. 

The BYU game that night was much better as the Cougars bounced back and beat TCU.

On Thursday the 20th, we went to the Payson temple with the Seamons. We did a session and sealings. Sadly, Ruth fell later that day and broke her hip. 

Dad worked his Friday shift and we went back to the Seamons for Grandad and Max's play date. 

That day the Church announced that young women can now serve missions at 18. What a good surprise! We have several granddaughters that this impacts. We'll wait and see what they decide to do.

Saturday the 22nd we put the pantry back together (just in time for Thanksgiving guests to come and mess everything up.) We also bought new Christmas lights. They are lights that can stay up year round and we can change the colors. We had purchased them earlier and then saw a Black Friday sale where we got them for half the price! Always love a good bargain!

It was Rosie's birthday. What a spunky addition to our family she is. She is always up for an adventure and is so much fun.

Sunday night light came back into our life as Kristin arrived from South Carolina with her family. Despite flying over the Thanksgiving holiday, they made it after only being bumped once. 

Monday we went to BYU so Baylie and David could tour the School of Music while Grandad, Jalen, and Kristin went to the BYU Bookstore. I chose to wait in the truck. Afterwards, we made a quick trip to the Creamery for ice cream and cheese curds. So yummy! (Yes, we ate ice cream in the freezing cold!) We also did some Walmart shopping to get ready for the big dinner.

Grammy, Grandad, Jalen

Tuesday the 25th we woke up early to do baptisms at the Orem temple with Kristin's family. It's always a wonderful experience to be in the temple with family.

Grandad, me, Baylie, Jalen, Kristin, David

It was an especially beautiful day because Elder Camden John Bayles FINALLY came home from Poland. His mission seemed to take forever and we were so eager to have him home. We had a small crew ready to greet him. 

Kolton, Erik, Shanelle, Asher, Baylie, David, Jalen, Cameron, Me, Grandad

He and his traveling companion were the very last people to clear customs and immigration. Apparently they had concerns that they might be spying for Russia. (Seriously! How long have these people been working at the SLC Airport?!) It is a very special experiencing watching these missionaries greet their families after having been away - elders, sisters, and senior couples. Such a beautiful thing.

We stopped at Chubby's Cafe in Pleasant Grove on the way home where Camden used to work. Them's some good burgers! 

me, Grandad, Cameron, Camden, Shanelle, Erik, David, Kristin, Baylie, Kolton, Jalen, Asher

On top of all that adventure, it was also Ava's birthday. She is a talented dancer and a bright light. She celebrated at Disneyland with her family. 

Bethany, Scott, Nixon, Rowan, Ava

Tiff's family finally made it in that night. They had to wait until after Clara's flag football practice. Turns out the girl's a protege! We should have known she had football in her blood!

Wednesday we decided to spend the children's inheritance at Costco. Later that day, Erik's family came over for some backyard football and to hang the new Christmas lights. Family moments like these make life worth living. We love seeing the cousins play together. 

Lauryn, Camden, Clara, Jalen, Baylie
Asher

Dave was the coach/coordinator. 

And some highlight reels:

Erik and David hung up the lights with Shanelle's assistance. We are so excited about these lights as Grandad can't hang them anymore and we don't like to have to ask for help every year. Now we can have them up all year and change up the colors for different occasions.

Thanksgiving morning - the 27th - started with the Turkey Bowl - aptly named for this group of turkeys.

More highlights:

Clara was open!

We had Thanksgiving dinner at a church so we could fit all of us. We had lots of family and friends. It brought back memories of Thanksgivings past. It was such a wonderful time.

Lots of food!

Enjoying dessert!

Top left: Hailey, Di, Clark, Riley, Dave, Tiffani, Cameron (Riley's brother-in-law)

Top right: same people, different angle (you're welcome Hailey)

Bottom left: David, Erik, Shanelle, Tammy (Shanelle's sister), Tammy's son Hayden

Bottom right: Camden, Cameron, Kolton, Nick (Kolton's friend)

Left - Money Game: (clockwise from bottom) Baylie, Josh (Tammy's husband), Dianne, David, Cameron, Shanelle, Jalen 
Bottom - Name Game: Natalie & Kaitlyn (Baylie's friends), Baylie, Tiffani, Jalen (hidden), Kolton, Nick, Josh

Gator Ball gets wild!
Clara, Jalen, Natalie (Baylie's friend), Lauryn, Kolton, David, Hailey & Riley

The fans: Dianne, Shanelle, Hayden, Tammy, Clark, Asher, Bailey's mom, Camden, Riley

When we weren't playing, we watched BYU beat Miami in basketball.

Everyone stayed for hours and hours. We are so thankful for this family time.

On Friday morning, November 28, Tiff and Dave took the kids to Park City to do some window shopping. The kids got a little bit of sticker shock over Park City prices. But they loved the Christmassy feel of the town.

That night a bunch of the family piled into Grandad's trailer and went to the Spanish Fork Holiday Lights. It was so much fun and the lights were beautiful. Afterwards we went to Erik and Shanelle's to drink hot chocolate and watch BYU basketball.

Saturday, November 29th, Grandad, Tiff's family, Erik, Shanelle and Camden went to the BYU vs. UCF game. Kristin's family, Asher and I watched the game from the comfort of home. The kids helped decorate the basement.

Tiff, Dave, Grandad, Clara, Lauryn

Cameron and Erik

Clara, Lauryn, Cameron

Nachos! (in an awesome collectable bowl)

We finished the month with Camden's homecoming meeting on the 30th. He didn't have a lot of time, but what he said was powerful. The bishop had everyone sing "Called to Serve" in their mission language. What a wonderful idea! After the meeting, a large group of people went to Erik and Shanelle's for a Polish feast. They had rented an enormous, fancy tent for the occasion. It was toasty warm and just perfect. It was a beautiful day.

Erik, Camden, and Shanelle in a beautiful dress from Poland

Top left: me, Grandad, Clark, Tiffani, Lauryn, and Clara
Top right: friend, Asher, Kolton, Dave, Cameron, and Nick
Bottom left: Jessa and Parker with some of the Summerils (good friends of Erik's family)
Bottom right: Clark's family - Bailey, Riley, Hailey, Camden, Jayden, Molly, and Dianne 

During the dinner, a group of returned missionaries from Poland watched another homecoming.

Missionary Updates:

Camden's final message: I happened to wake up the day after transfer news and happened to be in Alma 29. The morning where all of my soul just did not want to leave my city nor this country. And it read these words. 

O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with    the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth. But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me." 

And I just started to weep. My desires are not what is important. Our desires aren't what is essential. HE is. His will is highest and He knows what is best. Why should we desire to do more than to that which we are called. We ought to be content with our lot and serve in fullest capacity where we are. 

This is no moving up or down in calling only moving forward. God is no respectful of persons. He doesn't care in what position you are serving as long as you are doing His will. Because His will and His plan are what bring us the greatest joy. 

And that is what I have learned most on my mission. It doesn't matter if I was finding people or baptizing or anything. It mattered that I was learning His voice and doing what He asked. He didn't want me to baptize He wanted me to baptize in His way. He didn't want me to find He wanted me to find with Him. He didn't want me to just teach He wanted me to teach His words about Him and His son. Not out of selfish desire or need for praise, but because that is the ONLY way we can be saved. And he loves us and wants us back. 

My mission was not to just get numbers. It was to learn His voice, follow His ways, walk in His footsteps, be His servant, and love His children. I love Poland. I love these people. I love you all. And God loves you. He knows you and is guiding you. So LISTEN! He just wants you safe. Heed His promptings and all will be well. 

Lily: GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS! Often times, it's not when or how we want, but He answers them! I've recently had to check myself on how often I complain about my situation and things. I am literally living the life I was praying for a month ago. I was praying my little heart out for change, and I got it in more ways than I expected haha. So why am I complaining? God literally gave me what I asked for. 

A wise quote I once said to my last trainee was, "Focus on how far you've come, not how far you have to go." 

God is always helping us change, grow, and progress! We need to be grateful for how far we've come! 

Jonny: My mission has opened my eyes about how truly simple the gospel is! All the things we do to worry about things that aren't the basic principles truly don't matter in the grand scheme of things. When we boil down the gospel to what its all about, to me it's that God loves us eternally. That's it. Everything else can be related to the fact that God loves us. In Enos, Enos is praying and asks for forgiveness and after he receives an answer that he is forgiven he says that he knew it was true because God cannot lie. He can't lie to us, He won't, He wouldn't, and He literally can't lie to us. So whatever He tells us just remember its out of love and He is not lying to us.