Grateful for Family ---- Such a wonderful Thanksgiving

Brad and I are truly blessed.  We were able to share Thanksgiving Day with forty-nine of our family of fifty.  Tyson was unable to come over and be with us.  Jeff I. flew in from Minnesota early Wednesday.  Luckily the BLIZZARD had passed but the roads were very icy and the trip to the airport for Nichole was slow.  Mary and Todd and the children were leaving for Missola, Montana, early Wednesday.  They had borrowed Grandpas truck for the drive.  They traveled to Shelley, Idaho, on very bad roads.  A very wise decision was then made to turn around and come back home.  I guess my mother selfishness came out because  first of all I was so glad that they would be safe and not on slick roads but also they would now be able to be with us. We are so very grateful for each individual family member for their wonderful support and great love.  We had planned on spending the day at the town hall but on Thanksgiving morning I just could not make myself do it.  There is just "NO PLACE LIKE HOME", so we pushed the furniture back, went to the town hall for tables and chairs (plus the Firths) and soon the tables were set, dinner was well on its way and we looked forward to greeting our special guests.  I had started the two turkeys at six that morning.  The day before had been busy making individual salads, making the stuffing, sauce for the hams and cleaning the house.  Meagan and Brittani would help make the tables look festive with cute turkey nut cups. Lovely, rolls, pies, relish tray, and sugar cookies were brought by families.  We thank each one so much for their help.  As usual the women had a craft project after dinner.  Tonya had everything so organized and it is always so much fun to see everyone making such cute things.  As I watched the craft project come to life I thought of how often the older sister has cared for her siblings.  Tonya has always been there ---- quietly helping the rest of us with her many talents.  As the oldest child she has always shouldered added responsibility.  No mother has ever been more blessed.  My greatest blessing will always be my family, my testimony, and the love I feel for my Father in  Heaven and my Savior Jesus Christ.

Bedroom is Finished

Thanks again are in order for everyone that helped Brad and I accomplish this project.  We are so very grateful for each one of you.  I am especially grateful for Brad Frank.  He never has enjoyed or liked working on home project.  Wood is just not his thing let alone all the calking and painting that goes with it.  But without him these projects would never get done.  He is such a trooper.  I love him dearly and we truly are enjoying our lives together.

This is where you put STUFF when doing a room ----- OH in another room

Hope no one wants to sleep in this bedroom --- it is now a storage room

Paul helping with some finish work

Brad an absolute trooper

The work is done ---- well almost--- need Uncle DelRay

Old Fashioned comfort

Such a fun place to sew now ---- glad it is out of the closet

Mom and Dad's first dresser ----- love it ---- was mine as a girl at home

Very Much Behind

Happy Birthday to Kinley Lynn

Two years ---- and they have just flown by.  Today is our first little great grandchilds second birthday.  It is a special day to celebrate with her.  She is such a bubbly little girl and when she comes to visit she knows that we get a wooden dish, marshmellows, and tootie fruities.  We love this little mite ---(I think that she is getting somewhat taller) and her spirit is of a gigantic size.  Happy Birthday to a special girl.

So ---- I Got Another Bee Under My Bonnet

WOW!  is it ever wonderful that I am married to such an amazing and patient man.  The new windows looked so fantastic that some other things just looked bad.  Namely the blue bedroom.  So after talking it over with Brad we decided that instead of just doing a partial job in the room we would do a complete job.  That means sheetrocking the ceiling, some beadboard, wallpaper, crown molding, new door trim, mopboards, and the dreaded painting that comes with the work.  A desperate mother-in-law made a phone call to Todd (our favorite ceiling guy) to ask for help.  I am not too sure just how great it is to say yes to his crazy mother-in-law but I know I am so grateful that he does.  He said that he had Saturday off and so did Mary so they would come to start the job that day.  Friday Brad and I headed to  ---- you know---- our favorite store HOME DEPOT.  The same little clerk has checked us out for the last year.  I know he must think that these two old people are crazy.  Eight sheets of sheetrock, a bucket of mud and screws and we were headed home.  Will get the rest of the needed supplies for the room on Monday.  (OOPS --- maybe we should have gotten them on Friday because it is raining today.  Well maybe on Wednesday ---- hopefully a good day.  Todd, Mary, Damon, Shaylee, Lexi and Sheba arrived Saturday afternoon and with a minor clitch or two the job was began.  (Brad and I did not get long enough screws---thank heavens that Greers had the right ones so we did not have to run to Logan)  Todd will be back this week to tape and mud and texture.  Then Brad and I will paint, hang the walllpaper that will go above the beadboard and get the new door frames added.  Then it will be a call to another son-in-law, Paul, for help with putting the beadboard up.  I am truly praying that by next week the work will be done, the carpet will be cleaned and the furniture back in place.  Then it will be time to concentrate on Thanksgiving.  I want it to be such a special day.  As a family we have so much to be thankful for. 

 

Fall Planting

Last week was a very busy one for Brad ---- The field behind our home has been in hay for several years and was definitely needing to be plowed out.  Intermountain Farmers had sprayed the field while we were gone to Seattle to kill the hay.  Hay has very deep roots and can be hard to get rid of.  Brad has been watching it and waiting for the moisture to be just right so he could disk it and triple K it.  It took him all day Wednesday and Thursday.  I think that little awesome did a great job but I am sure the BIG GREEN would have been much quicker.  But alas ---- after selling the majority of the farm keeping BIG equipment around was not necessary.  Brad had hired our neighbor Norm Fukui to drill the winter wheat.  So early Saturday morning Norm began.  He had to stop after a couple of rounds to go the a temple sealing.  (He is the Bishop of the Third Ward)  Late in the afternoon he returned and finished the job just before sunset.  I so enjoy living on the farm and the wonderful life that it gives to us.  The soil, the seed, and the amazing crops are such a great blessing.  Grateful for this wonderful world that Our Father in Heaven has blessed us with.

Dinner with the Despains

The Despains had invited us to Sunday Dinner about a week ago and luckly everything fell into place that we were able to head to Stansbury.  They arrived home from church shortly before our arrival and dinner preparations were being made.  Turkey, dressing, hot rolls and all the other wonderful dishes that go with it.

Grandpa counting out his 12 tiles

Everyone planning their moves ----- I just keep drawing tiles

For dessert Amy had prepared a wonderful Pumpkin Dessert.  It was such a nice dinner and so good to visit with them.  But I think that Jacob's favorite part of the visits is that Grandpa and Grandma will play games with them.  Todays game was Mexican Train.  It is so fun and Jacob is getting better all the time.  I do believe that he won the majority of the games.  As for Grandma ---- well she plays games so that no one else has to loose.  Fun day, fun company and we love them so much.


Everyone playing but Grandma ---- OH DEAR--- Well I will just take pictures



I got to play one tile before Jacob won on his next turn



The ride down was so beautiful with the light rain.  Everything just glistened so fresh and clean.  Once again loved to watch the airplanes taking off.  Such great power and beauty.  The ride home was spectacular.  The sun was just beginning to set and our mountains were aglow.