A day of good food and games

Jamie, Annie and I arrived at the house first and began preparations for dinner.  Potatoes, carrots and corn turned on and the turkey checked.  Tables had been set the night before by Neal and Tucker and the house was festive and full of excitement and love.

 Even Maggie found a comfortable and very Christmas place to sleep!!!

 Winding down :-)

 Building Gingerbread Houses.

 Tucker trying on Emmi's Navy hat.  Hummm.  I think it looks better on Emmi.  Sorry Tucker.  You just don't fit the navy type.

Most of my Thanksgivings were observed family style in a house on 325 S 3rd W in Provo, Utah.  Every year our home would be filled to overflowing with family gathered together to honor a most special holiday.  Mother would have the Christmas Tree up and the windows would shine with Christmas lights.  The aroma of a huge, plump turkey seasoned with onion and dressing filled the air, mingled with the delicious scent of apple, cherry and pumpkin pies.  The house seem to reverberate from top to bottom with the familiar sounds of another Thanksgiving - family style!

Mother always seemed to be happy as she called on Max to say the blessing on our Thanksgiving feast.  I will forever remember and forever be thankful for Thanksgiving memories of a kitchen table extended almost the full length of the kitchen and a family surrounding it.

I can only hope that my children will look back on their Thanksgivings as days of fun memories surrounding a family style table filled with good food, family and love.

Bowling

We all met at the bowling alley, Fat Cats, for our traditional bowling game.  We had the Cutlers, minus Greg, who was working, the Maxfields, and the Gertsons along with Gam and Pa.  We ended up bowling two games, which is the traditional amount.  It was fun and everyone had a great time.

 Ah, what form!

Jamie told me that my hair looked fluffy or airy and then made sure that I understood that she wasn't saying it looked 'beachy".  We both laughed at that. She may never live that down.

 Seems that there always has to be someone who jumps in a picture - uninvited!!

 Granddaughter / Gam hug!!!  How we've missed this girl!

Bowling was fun and we all had a great time.  We headed back to the house to get ready for a delicious Thanksgiving meal and to spend just a moment to give thanks to our Heavenly Father for all the blessings we enjoy in this great land America and for blessings of being a family and for the blessing of the Gospel.

Thanksgiving

My favorite holiday has arrived with a snowstorm that has come in to the valley with a vengeance.  We had planned on going to the airport to greet Emmi but Annie called us and told us not to plan on coming.  She had worked all night and was headed home to get the family and then back to the airport to pick up Emmi.  She said the roads were horrible and had experience a truck in front of her spinning out.  She was praying he wouldn't spin into her.  She made it home safely and the family piled in the suburban to head back to the airport.  When they got there they found out that Emmi's plane was early but couldn't land and had to circle back to Provo while the airport staff was cleaning runways and changing landing areas.  Emmi finally made it to the ground and was met by a very excited parents and sisters and brother.

Welcome home Emmi!!

New calling

One thing about the church is that a member never stands idle.  It seems that there is always a calling for everyone who wants to serve and even callings that we may not love but we accept and go forward.  I was trying to think of all the callings I've had.  Here are the ones I can remember.  Keep in mind that the names of the callings are certainly different from now.  A lot of changes through my life time:
     Junior Sunday School Chorister - when I was in High School
     Young Women President - when I lived in San Gabriel, California
     Young Women President - when I lived in Trona, California
     Young Women Teacher - when I lived in Trona, California
     Young Women President - Cumberland Rd. Home
     Camp Director - Cumberland Rd. Home
     Relief Society Teacher - Cumberland Rd.
     Relief Society Counselor - for Joyce Phippen
     Relief Society Homemaking Leader - Joyce Phippen
     Young Women President - Lynwood
     Primary Chorister - Lynwood
     Sunday School Teacher - Lynwood
     Nursery Leader - present ward
     Gospel Doctrine Teacher - present ward
     First Counselor in the young women
     Stake Relief Society President - South Cottonwood Stake with President Parry and President Little
               I served for 6 wonderful years - I have to add here that Lynda Ann served with me :-)
     Relief Society Teacher at the retirement center
     Choir Leader - present
     Just called to teach Gospel Doctrine starting in January 2020.

I think that is a pretty accurate list of remembered callings.  I also think I've probably left some out.  But it really doesn't matter.  I'm just happy to have the opportunity to serve, feel the love of my Heavenly Father as he guides me through these callings and give me the much needed courage to have the confidence it takes.  No one could ever say that 'the church' doesn't give you boundless opportunities to grow and find gifts that you never knew you had!
     Ward Activity Leader with Neal - just released
   

Tomorrow is Turkey Day!

I love Thanksgiving.  I believe it is my favorite holiday of the year.  No present, no expectations, I hope no disappointments, just a day of family gathering, bowling, dinner and games until we drop.  The night before there is a lot of preparation that takes place.  I always get the dressing made, the turkey stuffed and ready to go in the oven, the carrots peeled and cut up, the potatoes peeled and cut up, both soaking in cold water until tomorrow when it will be time to cook everything.  I also get the onion and celery cleaned and chopped, ready to be sautéed and poured over the dried bread and then stuffed into the cavity of the turkey.

There will be lots more to post tomorrow!

Neals birthday and Christmas

When Tucker was in town a couple weeks ago, the two of us went Christmas shopping at Costco.  I was looking for a new TV for our bedroom.  I'm sure Tucker realized that with every new device Neal or I buy, it will be his responsibility to help us get it set up and learn how to use it.  This purchase would be no different.  They are here for Thanksgiving, so Tucker spent the evening getting the TV mounted on the wall land ready for Comcast to come Wednesday morning and get us a new internet system.  Tucker is patient as he works with his dad setting things up and teaching us both how to work our new TV.

 This is how the new TV looks up on the wall and the top of the big dresser gone.  Sure makes the bedroom look a lot bigger.  Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Neal!

Tucker and family here for Thanksgiving

Tucker, Jamie and the girls came in to town Tuesday late afternoon for the Thanksgiving holidays.  We were so excited to have them come.  There was a little mix up on whether we were picking them up or not.  We thought we were so we drove out to the airport and were waiting in the long line with everyone else to pick up the Thanksgiving travelers.  We finally called Tucker's phone and he said that we weren't supposed to come and pick them up that they had rented a car and were just in it.  How in the world we didn't get the communication between us a little more clear is a mystery.  But, we just circled back out of the airport and we all met at Café Rio for dinner.  We had a fun evening together and then home to unload and settle in.  Jamie went with Mallory and Abby to puppy class, Tucker help the girls get unpacked and Neal and I headed over to the Bishop's office for tithing settlement.

We all met back at the house about 8:30 and played games until about 1:30 in the morning.

We are so happy and excited that they are here!

Emmi graduates with honors

Emmi has officially finished her first phase of her Navy adventures.  She graduated today with honors.  She received 100 on her final test.  So proud of you Emmi and can't wait to see you, hug you, and hear about your experiences as we all gather for Thanksgiving.

Way to go Emmi.  So proud of what you are accomplishing!

Celebrating Neal's mother's birthday in the temple

Nanette had a goal of doing 100 ordinances in the temple for her mother's 100 birthday.  She had a bundle of names that needed everything from baptism to sealing to families done.  Neal and I and Mallory went out to the Jordan River Temple and helped with sealings.  It has been years and years since I've done sealings.  Mallory had never done them before, so she was excited to have this opportunity to experience this part of the gospel ordinances.  After the sealing session we all went through with a name of a deceased relative.  As I sat in the temple I was overcome with a feeling of peace and love.  As tears welled in my eyes I thought about my own loved ones who have passed on.  I also realized that I need the light it brings into my life.  I need the truth that is taught there.  I need the power and goodness the gospel brings.  I love the perspective I find in the gospel teachings.

Church Thoughts

This is a quote from Dieter F. Uchtdorf.  I fell in love with it:

"Imagine the most powerful being in the universe - the being who formed stars, nebulae, and galaxies has your eternal happiness as His greatest priority."

When you think of it that way, it should bring one to their knees in thanks for all we have and all we have been given and that He cares so much for each one of us.  WONDERFUL!!

This quote I love because it touches my heart.  Especially now because I'm leading a ward choir that is to die for.  I have about 50+ people in my 'little tabernacle choir' as I so fondly refer to it.

"I think there's no better way to share the gospel than with music. . . . . It really goes to your heart."

The Ward Night of Thanks

Neal and I had the assignment of putting together a Night of Thanksgiving for the adults in our ward.  Of course, I enrolled Annie into helping me with the decorations.  We started this back in the summer.  It is fun to watch Annie's creativity come into full bloom.  She has said that something isn't worth doing unless you over do!"  That may not be exact, but close.  She doesn't know how to just do a simple project.  With her, there is no such thing as a simple project.  What she created for our dinner was incredible and more than I could have hoped for.  She came in on Friday about noon and we were over at the stake center until about 3:30.  Mallory and I along with my friend Linda Knight were there to help, but of course, Annie likes to be in control and knows exactly what she wants to do and how she wants the finished project to be beyond perfect.  She certainly achieved it yet again.  Here are some pictures.

I cant seem to get the rest of my pictures to download right now so I'm going to publish what I have.  When the internet is working better I'll download the rest of the pictures I took.  The cultural hall looked beautiful and you should have heard the compliments we got just on the decorations alone. Annie, you are amazing and I can't possibly thank you enough for all you did to make the evening such an incredible success. I also have to add her that if you look closely, you will see that the pumpkins are all handmade.  She must have made somewhere in the area of 70+ cloth pumpkins.  AMAZING!!!!She also put the little lights around the center pumpkin.  We turned the lights down low and it was incredibly atmospheric.  Seriously amazing!

You will also notice that she even added a glass with gold around the rim.  She came up with the napkin silverware holders.  I just couldn't believe what she did.  I'm still amazed!

Going back in time

Tucker came for a workshop here in Salt Lake.  In the morning I took him and picked up his friend downtown and dropped them off at the building where their meetings were.  It just happened that they were on Commonwealth Ave.  I remembered that was the street where Jeffrey was brought to when he was born.  Tucker's meeting place was on the West side of State Street.  Our rented house was on the East side.  It used to be that you could enter Commonwealth off of State Street but I quickly found out that the entrance to that street was closed.  I went up 21st South to the top of Commonwealth and drove down the street.  Of course, things have changed.  Most of the houses are still the same, but the one we lived in had changed a little.  There was a fence around it and it had been painted.  But, it was still the same little house.  Annette and Allan also lived across the street from us when they had Brent.  Of course, I had to take a picture of it.  I can't share this with Jeffrey but going down the street and taking the picture sure brought a boat load of wonderful baby memories with Jeffrey.

Some fun pictures and memories

Here is a picture of the Christmas trees after they were done.  I'm amazed.  They are beautiful and so creative.

 Hayley celebrated her 17th birthday and wanted to go axe throwing.  Part of her present was getting her hair cut and from there to the axe throwing.  She did a great job and had a great time.  Happy birthday, Hayley.

 Abby posted this one the family chat.  One of the funnier pictures of our family.  Love it!  Wish I new how to turn it, but just can't figure it out.

 This is a picture of our new bedspread.  What do you think?  It used to belong to Judy.  They got a new one and I inherited this one.  Nice change.  By the way.  This was special made and cost over $1,000!  (Not for me, but for Judy when she had it special made.)

 Christmas light are up on our house.  Can't believe it is already November and time to start thinking about getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 Andrew posted this on the family chat.  He said he was out collecting fast offerings and saw this sign and just had to take a picture of it and post it.  So glad he did.  Way to go, Andrew, for collecting fast offerings and doing your priesthood duties.

 So I had my final colonoscopy at the age of 75.  Mallory drove out to pick up her mom and bring her in to our house where Annie took my car and drove to work.  In the morning she left work and came to the house and picked me up and took me to the facility.

The good news is that the doctor said I didn't have to have anymore.  Very, very happy about that.  I won't miss drinking all that nasty stuff.  However, I have to admit the drug they give you to put you to sleep is fabulous.  Lynda Ann said that the nurse tried to wake me up and I kept telling her to let me sleep and that I loved the drug.  I have to admit, it leaves you with not a care in the world.  When they got me awake enough to release me to Annie's care, she brought me home.  Annie had worked the night before so she was exhausted and so was I.  We both slept until noon and then Annie was picked up by Jeff who also had his colonoscopy.  Thank goodness Jeff and I came through with flying colors. Thanks, Annie, for taking such good care of me and sacrificing such needed sleep!  Annie entitled this picture, "Gam on drugs!"  Don't you think I'm way too happy!!!  Mallory laughed and laughed when she saw it and Emmi said it was one to be saved!

 The other day, I got this note delivered with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.  Heather and Rylie wanted me to know they were thinking about me and the passing of Nita.  How incredible thoughtful! Wonderful to have such kind friends.

Last but not least.  This is the only picture I got this year of Halloween from any of my grandchildren. Cute picture of Abby and Lightyear.