Today is my mother’s birthday

I still miss her greatly!

Like thread unwinding from a spool, our lives move on an inch or two each day.  Not always evenly; often snarls of indecision, knots of trouble frustrate and delay.  Though we complain at all the tangles, they are not obstacles but blessings from Him who gave us life, to strengthen our soul and teach us humility.  One day the last inch of thread unwinds, the spool is empty – just as we must go to other worlds, unwinding other spools – perhaps.

We see reflections of ourselves as we look in a mirror hoping that what we see is the person we want to become.  We see reflections in a clear pool as we try to see a caring person who tries to make life more meaningful for others.  We see reflections of our children as we look at their lives and see that they are something of a mirror image of their parents.  We see reflections of ourselves as we look to the Father knowing that we have the potential to become as He is.  We have all been given a wonderful legacy, we need only to “suddenly turn around” and discover it more often.  Discover and realize that our happiness and blessings come from a loving Heavenly Father who waits home for our return.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is our passport – we can’t let it expire!

I love you mother.  Thank you for all you sacrificed for me and for all you did for me. 

Thanksgiving dinner

It was a small group this year.  It was the off year when everyone is at the in-laws.  We had Lynda Ann, Jeff and family and Lyndsy, James and River.  12 people and one table.  Couldn’t believe how easy it was to set things up.  However, cooking a Thanksgiving dinner is always a big deal and always takes lots of pots and pans.  This is my favorite dinner to cook.  I LOVE the left overs from a turkey dinner.  Lynda Ann did her usual creative item for dinner.  This year we got teepee and acorns!  They were not only fun to look at but were delicious!!

The traditional dinner

Maren, Greg and the kids came over about 6:00 and we played some games.  Lynda Ann had to work so her family headed for home about 5:00.  James also had to work and he left about 4:00.  We played Nickels to Nickels with the first group and Mahjong with the second group.  A very fun evening.  And yes, as you can see in the background, we had the boys help Neal put up the tree and Greg changed the screen to glass in the front door.  Having my kids do stuff for us every year makes me feel totally like a senior citizen!!  We totally appreciate their help.  Thanks men!  Lyndsy helped me put some bulbs on the tree which certainly made my job go faster.  Decorating that big tree is a project!  Thanks, Lyndsy.

Thanksgiving Bowling

What a fun tradition this has become.  Not a cheap one for Pa, but certainly a fun one.  We missed our children and grandchildren who live out of state and out of the country.  We also missed Maren, who had worked all night and desperately need some sleep. 

Andrew’s earwig!

Lynda Ann sent me this picture of an earwig that Andrew made out of rice crispies!  Disgustingly real looking and yet the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.  Annie said that she help with the shape but turned the frosting and colors over to Andrew.  The eyes were gob stoppers and the legs were fruit roll ups.  The earwig was the size of a cookie sheet.  He had to have it for a school project.  Everyone had to make an insect at home to bring to school.  Two creative minds and look what you can come up with.  Can I just say I’m thankful that I’m in a different season of my life!!

Building or Creating a Snowman

Saturday afternoon James brought River over for me to tend while he went to work.  Lyndsy was in Las Vegas running a race.  It had been snowing most of the day and we had a lot of heavy wet snow.  The first thing River wanted to do when he got here was build a snowman.  So he and Pa quickly got to work.  It was interesting to watch the two of them working on the snowman.  Each had their own concept of what the snowman should look like and how big it should be.  As I watched, I think Pa was most definitely in charge of how to build it, where to place the arms and how to arrange the face.  But, River did help a lot and both were very pleased with their handy work when the stepped back to survey.  The only comment River made when it was all done was, “Pa, it isn’t very big.”  Neal told him that it was as big as he was and that seem to satisfy River.  When he came over he didn’t have any snow boots or gloves so I had him put on my boots and my gloves. 

The Las Vegas Ragnar

Tucker and Lyndsy, along with some Maxfield cousins ran in the Las Vegas Ragnar Race this past weekend.  From all the comments on Voxer they seemed to had a fun adventure and one that they will long remember.  Tucker was good enough to send me some pictures so I could vicariously be a part of what they were doing. 

Not sure what the hairy leg tattoo is but it does belong to Tucker . . . .

Mallory’s first band concert of the year.

Thursday evening was Mallory’s first concert.  She called me and asked me if I could come.  I told her that I would do my best to be there but with my Tuesday through Thursday commitments I just didn’t know if I could make it.  As things worked out, I was able to be there and surprise her.

Winter has settled in.

This was a picture taken on Wednesday, driving into Stansbury Park.  The temperature was about 65 degrees.  I love how the trees line the main road going to Annie’s home.  They are particularly gorgeous in the fall.

These pictures were taken this morning – two days after the above pictures.  The temperature dropped dramatically into the 30’s and I would say that we are officially into winter.  But, in Utah, one never knows for sure.  I did hear the weatherman say that we would be back in the upper 50’s by next week! 

As You Wish!

Emmi said that she and (we can offically say) her boyfriend went as Buttercup and Wesley for Halloween.  She then told me that there is a girl’s choice dance coming up so she asked Derek to the dance.  She sent me a picture of how he answered her. This was all lit up and sitting on her front porch.   I thought it was very clever.  Huge points for Derek’s thinking!

Annie sent me a picture of Hayley’s birthday cake.

This is the new movie character that just came out.  This is Wreck-It-Ralph.  He is a video game.  He is a bad guy in a video game but he wants to be good.  It is a new Disney movie that just came out.

I have to teach a RS lesson this Sunday in one of the wards.  The lesson is on “Live Up To Your Privilege”.  I’m going to use the quote: “ If you live up to your privilege, the angels cannot be constrained from being your associates.”  Joseph Smith.  So I created (all by myself – without Lynda Ann’s help – which is a miracle in and of itself!) these angels that I’m going to pass out in RS to go with the lesson.  I am actually pretty proud of me!  They are not quite finished.  I still have to tie a white ribbon around their necks with the quote and a tiny gold bell attached.  I made a total of 43 and only burned two fingers with the hot glue!