Friday night we attended the Festival of the Trees. We took the Holm kids and Danica and her family. We had a nice time. There were so many beautiful trees with many beautiful messages about the people they were honoring. We only saw about a third of the exhibit because it was so large. We sang Christmas carols in the car on the way home. When we got home we had pizza and then the kids got ready for bed. Dad and I took turns telling the kids about what life was like when we were kids. We had a good evening. The Holm parents were spending the night in Park City for a little getaway as a late celebration of their anniversary. In the morning after everyoned ate their fill of cold cereal, we did some cleaning up and then we put up and decorated the christmas tree. We decorated the tree and frosted some gingerbread cookies. They were good to help me with the work as well as the fun. I hope they made some good memories.

We had a wonderful Stake conference this weekend. I sang in the stake choir and thoroughly enjoyed myself. It is a great experience to worship the Lord through music. We sang "Were You There", "Away in the Manger" and "Joy to the World".

Thanksgiving 2009

It has been a good Thanksgiving break. I was able to make to nice preparations for Thanksgiving Wednesday afternoon and evening. It think it was the first time in my life I felt this prepared for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving came and the turkey roasted as people started to arrive. Missy and Brian and Jessica and Merynne came first. They brought Brian's brother Paul, who was visiting with them. Missy helped me with some lasts minute cleaning, while Merynne made the traditional turkey favors and Jessica put stickers on the place cards. Dan and Danica arrived next. Benjamin came in and gave everyone a hug including Paul, who he didn't know. Then Sou arrived and began helping. She brought fresh Asian persimmons for us to try. They are a mild tasting fruit that reminds me of a cross between apples and mangoes. Missy mixed up the green bean casserole and then Kevin and Melany came with their children just as the food was ready to serve. We sat down to eat with each child sitting by an adult to help them. I had given everyone a copy of the words "Come Ye Thankful People Come". I asked that we sing it before we had the prayer. After the prayer I took a few minutes to tell why I had chosen the song. The music had been going through my mind all week. I started really thinking about the words and I read them in the hymn book. I realized a deeper meaning in the song than I had noticed before. This understanding began some months ago while reading the Book of Mormon. I read in Alma 26: 5-6, where Ammon, speaking of his converts, rejoiced that they would be gathered into the garners and not wasted. As I read those verses, I realized that was how I felt about my grandchildren. I didn't want them lost in the storms of life. Then a while later I was impressed to hear Elder Bednar quote that scripture in the April conference this year. In his address entitled "Honorably Holding a Name and a Standing in the Temple", he said that the garners referred to the temple. That gave me further understanding of this scripture. When I read the words to the hymn, "Come Ye Thankful People Come", I thought, the writer Henry Alford, understood what Elder Bednar taught. I wondered if he had been a member of the church. I decided to look up Henry Alford on line. I learned that he was a minister and a theologian that wrote many religious papers, but he was not a member of the church. I realized that someone who was a student of the bible could be given by the Holy Ghost some of the same understanding we have, though he had not received the Gospel as we know it. After sharing this with our family, I told them there was nothing I wanted more than to see our grandchildren in the temple.

We had a peaceful dinner and I think everyone enjoyed the meal. We had pumpkin and mincemeat pie for dessert after we did a bit of cleaning up. We played a game ,Kevin and Melany taught us, called Zonk. Later we watched a very nice movie Missy brought called "Season of the Heart." I rocked Nathan to sleep while I watched the movie. It was a good day.

Saturday was also a memorable day. Debbie called me Saturday morning to see if I had a service project her children could do. Deb was tending her nephew and the children were bored and restless. I told her Dad could use some help cleaning out the garden. He had not done very much because he had been extra busy lately. I felt a little concerned that they might not be very willing to do it, so I had a prayer before they came. When they arrived, I had them sit down and told them we would begin this service project with a prayer just as we do when we serve in the church cannery. James offered to pray and gave a nice prayer until the end, when he said, " And bless us that we won't get duped into doing something like this again by our mother." When he finished, I pleasantly told him that it wouldn't be enough to work hard but do it cheerfully and with delight. I gave each one them gloves and tools and an assignment and then I witnessed a miracle. For an hour and a half those boys and their cousin worked hard with a good attitude and little complaint. The hardest job was pulling some metal posts out of the ground. It took a lot of effort for them to do it, but I watched as each of them accompished it with real satifaction and a feeling of triumph! What a blessing work is. These boys just needed some hard meaningful work. Katherine and Deb worked hard raking up leaves in the yard and trimming back some dead leaves in my flower bed. When they were done, I believe everyone felt good about it and Dad was glad to have so much help with the garden.

Weak things become strong

One of my favorite scriptures is found in Ether 12:27, " And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me, and have faith in me then will I make weak things become strong unto them." I am working on many things that I would like to become stronger in. This week I managed to make four laps in a row jogging at the rec. center. That may not be impressive for a younger person, but at my age its pretty good. My goal is to be able to jog a mile before the year is out. I'm noticing that I'm feeling better for it. I'm working on keeping my kitchen table cleared off and I am improving. I'm striving to do my callings, not just out of duty, but with enthusiasm to show the Lord that I am delighted to serve him. I'm trying to improve as a cook, and I am learning to love to cook. I'm striving to improve in areas of my work too. With almost any job you do, if you are always trying to improve, the job becomes more enjoyable.

I was also able to make an improvement in our home. We got a new couch and love seat. I never thought I would have both in the front room, but these are smaller than standard couches and loveseats, so I think it works. I love the way they feel. They fit me nicely.

I had another nice week. I realized that I had so many things to do around the house that I kept being distracted by one thing or another. I realized I needed to work on being focused on what was most pressing and not get distracted by other things. I finished my couch cushions that I started last summer. I can't believe it took me so long to finish them, but I am pleased with the results and excited to get on to another quilting project. I learned how to use the new family search web site. Little by little I am gaining skill with technology. I still have much to learn, but I am grateful for any improvement. Now that I am not in the kitchen canning, I have been able to keep my house cleaner. Dad and I had a nice day off together on Saturday. We went to Grant's dress rehearsal for his primary program, I had lunch at Super Saturday, we did sealings in the temple and Craig took me shopping for a skirt and some jeans I had been needing. We ate supper at the food court in the mall and came home and watched a movie about Mother Teresa. It was very inspiring. There were two important things I was reminded of as I watched it. First, in the beginning, when Mother Teresa began her work among the poor, she neglected her own needs until she passed out one day caring for some sick people. She had to learn to care for herself before she could have the strength to care for others. This is an area I am trying to improve in. I have often neglected my own needs for many other things. Not in a life threatening sort of way, but I am learning it is good to take care of myself first, when possible. The other thing that impressed me was the fact that many people were angry and suspicious of her at first. I realized that for the Hindu people, Christianity had meant domination by Great Britain. The British had not treated them in a Christian manner so they wanted no part of Christianity. I'm sure Mother Teresa has been instrumental in preparing people's hearts to hear the Gospel when it is preached to them. I really liked this movie. I've included pictures of Dad's new bike, your picture of roses, Emily and one of my new couch cushions.

It has been a week of simple pleasures. I think they are the best. This week I helped some of young women in a disaster drill to help a young man get his Eagle. I was touched by the young women's enthusiasm and willingness to serve this way. I think maybe the great strength of young people is their enthusiasm and I need to learn from their example. Thursday was a nice day. Danica and Benjamin and Nathan came to visit. Craig had the day off. He helped me prepare apples to dry in my fruit dryer. I made homemade chicken noodle soup to take to a sick ward member and I found a nice recipe for pumpkin cookies. With the smell of the pumpkin cookies baking and the soup bubbling and Craig working at my side it made for a pleasant afternoon. We enjoyed Danica's company as well and spent some time basking in baby Nathan's special light. I gave Benjamin a hair cut and he handled it fairly well. Later in the evening, Craig and I ran errands together. We are always glad to spend time with each other.

Saturday morning, I attended the temple and then I was off to Grant's recital. He did a nice job on his viola number and Charity was on the program as well, giving a memorable bow (the bow was her performance) We went to lunch after, to celebrate. While we were eating lunch, Grant announced that next we would be going to the park. I said to him, "I might not be able to make it". He said, "Well actually we're all going to the park". He said this with the emphasis on "all", so I made time to go to the park and watch them play for a short time. I came home and was able to get the house clean for Sunday. It always gives me a feeling of peace when the house is clean.

Debbie hosted a very nice evening on Halloween night. Missy and Danica and their families came. Craig had to work. We had a nice dinner together and then Dan the hero, took the kids trick-or-treating. Brian offered to take the door duty so the girls could do what we do best -visit. It was a very pleasant evening. My husband and children are my best friends.

Halloween Hoopla

I have had a good week. I'm back on my exercise routine, and I have accomplished some good things. I made a birthday dress for Olivia and a harvest table runner. I've been spending so much time in the kitchen, it felt good to work in my sewing room for a change.

Saturday was an especially nice day. Craig and I began the day in the temple and then I made apple sauce and prepared for the Halloween Party. We began the party at five. We fed the kids first. They had corndogs, corn grapes, muffins, and mouse candy for dinner (sliced string cheese). The Holm kids were there a little early and helped me carve a face on my Jack-O-Lantern. Joseph drew it and James carved. Ian cut out pumpkins for the pumpkin walk and Katherine cut up the mouse candy. Melany was there early as well, with her children and helped me make preparations. After the kids ate, the adults had Missy's chili, Debbie's potato soup, and Emily's recipe for white bean chili. We had fresh vegetables and grapes and Danica made muffins and Halloween cupcakes for dessert. After dinner, we played games. We gave the children chewing gum and played "Pin the Wart on the Witch's nose. It was difficult to tell who was the real winner because of a somewhat inadequate blindfold. After that game we sat in a circle with a pan and two dice. We passed the pan and if you rolled a seven or an eleven you got to put on gloves and see how many candy kisses you could unwrap and eat before some on else rolled the lucky numbers. Last of all we played our traditional "Pumpkin walk". Before we started the games, I told the children to be aware that we would be eating lots and candy and there would be lots of wrappers to throw away. I warned them in my most tough grandma voice that if I saw anyone throw a wrapper on the floor, I would make them into the Headless Horseman. When two year old Benjamin heard that, he shouted, "Hooray!" We all got a good laugh out of that. We let the children go trick-or-treating and play a little longer and then one by one they went home and I was bushed. I hope everyone had a good time!

Greenfield Village

Today is Saturday, October 17. Craig, Emily, Olivia and I visited Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford Museum complex. We loved this place! It's like Disney Land for Senior Citizens, but it is also a nice place for families. It is a historic village with a working farm and many people working in the village and homes that help you feel you are going back in time. There was a part of Thomas Edison's laboratory, many homes from famous Americans, craftsworks, and homes from many localities. We really needed three days to see it all. We rode a train, took a drive in a model T, a horse drawn stage, and an old fashioned bus. We loved riding the carousel with Olivia because she was delighted with it. Our favorite home we saw was the Cotswold Cottage. It was darling. I always wanted to see the Cotwolds in England. Today I got to sample that. It was pretty cold outside but we could go into buildings to look around and get warm. We had some good warm food at the "Taste of History " restaurant. We have seen other historical villages like this, but nothing to compare with the size of this village. It was a really fun day!