Thankful Letter "J"

Lots and lots of options for this letter.  But I think Jam is what I'm thankful for.  I honestly don't know how many years I have been making jam but it has grown into a yearly project for me and the last few years I've included Neal in the process.  I don't remember who came up with "Gam's Jam" (I'm thinking it might have been CJ or Justin?) but it stuck and that is what all the grandkids call it, which always makes me smile.  Every year we bottle enough strawberry, raspberry and peach jam to share with all the families.  Emmi and Abby even gather jam to take home when they are here in Salt Lake.  For Emmi, it is quite a process because she has to pack it in her suit case to get it back to Hawaii.  Fills me with happiness knowing that my jam is that famous in our family.  So here's to "Gam's Jam" for the thankful letter of today! 

Fun Day

Annie had to take Russell to Wyoming to spend a week with his play group so I rode up with her.  We had a great drive up, got Russell delivered and then ran a bunch on errands that were on Annie's list to do while she was up there.  On the way back we stopped at Jimmy John's for dinner.  It was a fun day.  Annie and I talked all the way up and all the way back.  We laughed that we solved all the family problems and all the world problems, it's just that the family and the world don't know it!  We laughed at that.  We left about 8:30 this morning and got back at 6:30 this evening.  We will make another drive up to Wyoming on Friday to pick Russell up and bring him back.  Star Valley Temple.

When I got home there was a surprise waiting for me.  Neal had taken Sprout to Dogtopia while he was golfing with Norman.  When he picked Sprout up they told him that they did a fun Thanksgiving activity with the dogs.  This was my surprise from Sprout.  His pa made with paint into a turkey.  Neal said we need to get it framed.  

 

Thankful Letter"I"

Income is what I'm thankful for.  It is nice to have worked all those years and have earned social security and a pension amount.  When I retired they offered to give me a lump sum pay off or just be paid every month for the rest of my life.  I totally chose the pay me every month because I plan on living a long time!  I think about what my mother lived on and I don't know how she managed, but she did.  What a woman.  Anyway, I'm grateful for all of the nice things that Neal and I have and the income we have now that we are both retired.  We certainly aren't rich but we have enough to live comfortably and do some extra things that might come along.

Thankful Letter "H"

Homemade came to my mind almost immediately.   I grew up in a homemade world.  Everything from the clothes I wore, to Christmas presents, birthday presents and gift giving.  My mother was amazing at creating homemade gifts.  I never lack for clothes to wear, thanks to her ability to sew just about anything.  The interesting thing is that she was self taught.  There wasn't such a thing as a high school sewing class.  I think out of desperation and total need she had to learn how to use a sewing machine.  Some kind of funny stories about mother's sewing.  One was that she made ties for all the men in the family one year for Christmas.  When they opened them up they realized that the ties had two fronts!!!  Those ties were passed around as white elephants for years.  Another year she made everyone a teddy bear.  She couldn't find any growl boxes to put inside them so they put moo boxes in them so all the teddy bears mooed!!!  I still remember the first time I went to a clothing store (I had just graduated from high school) and bought my first pieces of clothing.  A mustard colored skirt and a plaid shirt.  

Mother put together beautiful and sometimes interesting quilts with scraps of material left over from all her different projects.  I was able to round up four of them and gave one to each of the Gertson girls in memory of my mother.  Here are just a few pictures I found of homemade presents that Annie has made.  She is amazing!!!

Magnat nativity to put on your fridge.

Homemade Christmas cards.

Christmas Bingo.  Each square had something that you were supposed to do for someone else.  I loved this gift.

Last years Christmas ornament.

I saw this in the window of Deseret Book and Annie went home and created it for me.

Annie has some of mother's creative homemade spiritual genes.  They certainly didn't come from me! Every year Lynda Ann makes a homemade gift for her kids and I'm usually a recipient - which I'm most grateful for.  Love you Annie!  Thanks for making every season of the year and holiday of the year something to look forward to.  Homemade gifts are the best and most memorable.  

I also have to add Homemade bread.  That totally reminds me of Lila Mae and how she taught me the art of making her famous Swiss bread.  I don't make it as often as I used to but when I do make it I always reminisce about Lila Mae and all the good times we had together.  And I will add here, there isn't a much better smell that walking into a home where homemade bread has just come out of the oven.  That is Heaven to me!

Thankful Letter "G"

 This was kind of a hard one for me because I came up with a number of things that I'm thankful for that start with the letter "G".  I finally narrowed it down to two.  The first is the Galaxy.  I've always been fascinated with our little round planet earth spinning in this vast galaxy created by our Father in Heaven.  I can remember so many nights on the house boat at Lake Powell looking up at the Heavens and finding the North Star, the Milky Way, Orion's Belt, the Little and Big Dipper, etc., etc.  I also remember coming home late in the evening from a date or a school function and would sit with mother out on the back porch, talking about my adventures and looking up at the sky and marveling at the beauty of the Heavens.  So thankful that I have a knowledge and testimony of who created all of this beauty for me and all of us to enjoy.

The other word that I couldn't let go of was Gam.  First and foremost I'm glad that Emmi made that my name when she was very little and it has stuck for almost all the grandchildren.  I love that name.  When I was born my mother's parents had passed away and Lorin's parents had also passed away.  So I never had the experience of having grandparents on either side.  I remember so many times hearing my friends talk about going to their grandparents homes for holidays or birthdays, etc.  I often wondered what it would be like to have grandparents.  82 years down the road finds me being a grandmother and enjoying that roll.  I do love having my grandchildren come.  I know that for some it might be a "have to" but for many, it is a "want to".  I hope that I have been a good grandmother for all of them and that I have set a good example for them.  

I've come to realize that I am the living bridge to family stories and heritage that I hope they grow to treasure.  Also, watching my children step into parenting is deeply moving.  I love being "Gam" and a great grandmother and pray that I will have many more years to watch and love them.

Our newly found grandchild, Walker.  So glad we've connected and grateful that you have embraced the gospel and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Way to go young man!!!

First great grandchild.  Logan Hintze.  Daddy Ryan Hintze.  Mommy Izzy.

Just some fun pictures of my grandchildren.  Love them all!

Thankful Letter "F"

This was not a hard one for me.  Freda Maude Frye Ross.  I will be ever so grateful for my mother who sacrificed all that she did to make my childhood safe and comfortable and for all she taught me.  Mother never preached the gospel at me or pushed religion down my throat.  She didn't need to.  All I had to do was watch how she lived her life.  Her example of how she lived was the gospel of Jesus Christ.  There was always the bible or the Book of Mormon on the kitchen table where she read every morning before going to work.  Mother worked long hours including Saturdays and cleaned an office at night once a week to earn money to provide for her family.  

I think the thing I'm most grateful for is that even though she was alone and very poor she never shirked her responsibility as a mother.  The most important thing to her was to make sure we had clothes to wear, food on the table and loving arms to come home to.  Our Christmas celebrations were always filled with family.  Very few presents under the tree but a home where we all felt loved.  She could have given me away the day after I was born.  There was a well to do couple who offered to adopt me but love outweighed the convenience and responsibility of one more child to raise on her own.  I love her so much and miss her so much sometimes that it hurts.  I shall always cherish the "I need my mom today" days when I could hop in the car and run to Provo and sit at the kitchen table, pour my heart out and know that she gave me that unconditional love and reassurance needed that day.  Thank you mother.  I love you and miss you and look forward to the day when I'll see you again.

Mother at 19.  I can see Annette and I in this picture.  We look alot like our mother.  

Love you mother!

Thankful Letter "E"

Today I'm thankful for EYES.  I am so very grateful that I can see the beauties of the seasons as they come and go.  Grateful to be able to read.  Grateful that I still see clearly to stitch.  I think about Grant Mack and even though he was able to do so much in his life, being blind did limit him some.  I know that he loved football and basketball.  How sad to not be able to actually see the action.  He would listen to the games for ours and had to rely on the broadcasters to explain what was happening on the field or on the court.  So, I'm very thankful for my eyes and especially love that they are blue!  I've always loved my blue eyes.

I also love that Derek arranged for me to actually ride on an elephant.  Something that was on my list of hopes.  Thanks Derek for fulfilling one of my dreams to ride an elephant.

 

Thankful Letter "D"

This was an easy one because you all know that I love dishes!  And the fun thing is that Neal loves them as well, consequently we have quite a variety of regular and seasonal dishes.  So today I'm thankful for Dishes! They make me happy all year long.  I love changing them out for each season and holiday of the year.  

I also love my little extra dishes that I buy now and then just for fun!  Little serving dessert plates and bowls.

Lynda Ann made me these watermelon bowls and I LOVE them and they are used lots.

I should add here for those who read my blog, you should let me know what dishes you want so that I can make sure they go to the right person.  Every set has enough that they could be divided into two sets so if two people want the same set then they could both have some.  Just let me know and I will make a list of who wants what and give it to your mom so she knows. :-). Just saying . . . . . the time will come.