Thanksgiving?

I'm not a big fan of Thanksgiving. I'd happily skip from Halloween to Christmas.

When I took down the Halloween decorations, I didn't hang up the prints that usually go above the family room couch, in anticipation of the Christmas decorations that would go there. I mean, why hang them up for just a month.

After my father passed away, Rich, Harry (he was little), and I would go to Oregon to have Thanksgiving with my mom. We'd leave the other three home to fend for themselves. They would have friends over and make their own dinner-not necessarily turkey. Rich and I would do our Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving and not have to pay sales tax.

After my mother died, we started to have Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday night so the kids with spouses could go to their other family's for dinner on Thanksgiving Day. It left Thursday free for lounging around in the morning watching the parade and a movie in the afternoon. Then anyone who wanted could come over for left overs.

Anyway, that was how it started. Now we just have Thanksgiving two days in a row. It's total chaos. The grand kids run wildly through the house (they never eat dinner).




Sabrina and Kelly wore matching tutus.




There were Hot Wheel tracks and trains EVERYWHERE.




Sandi did a lot of the cooking.

And then the eating began.










On Thursday while everyone else was cooking and eating their Thanksgiving, we were at the movies seeing Tangled.







And then it was Friday. Toys were left here and there.







An odd shoe.




China was stacked, ready to be put away until next year.

And today the Christmas decorations went up.




Don't get me wrong- I AM thankful. I am very aware of all my blessings. How grateful i am that all my kids live close to me. I LOVE the little kids running wild all day and then crying because they don't want to go home. I love being exhausted by the time I go to bed. I am thankful.

But what's even better is that NOW it's CHRISTMAS and the wild craziness and hugs and silliness will just keep going and going and going and...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Raking Leaves

While Nancee has been recovering from surgery, I've been spending extra time helping with kids.

Today we raked the leaves.


















We were all tired when it was over. Nancee rewarded us with cookies. It was a fall day.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Conference Weekend

I sat on the couch, in my pajamas all weekend and enjoyed General Conference. Here are some things I learned:


There are 14 fundamentals in following the prophet.

Life gives you two precious gifts - time and agency.

Sometimes we must give up something good for something better.

Obedience to the commandments protects our agency.

We don't need to have a perfect knowledge of all things. Faith fills in the gaps.

Life is no spiritual picnic.

Righteous character is more valuable than anything we have or have learned.

Make Jesus Christ the center of your life.

We need to trust in God. That trust comes from knowing Him.

The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the most important gifts given to men. He can be the comforter when no one else is around.

To live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven.

Worthy Aaronic priesthood holders are needed so they can become worthy missionaries and church leaders.

Parents need to have courage.

It is often the small things that influence bigger things in life. What we say. How we react. Being positive in these things brings peace.

The fence is there to protect us. "Wickedness never was happiness."

Would you think it, say it, or do it if Jesus was there with you?


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad.