I love the Holiday Season - Thanksgiving is the begining!

I loved this Thanksgiving. Holidays can be warm and happy or sad and lonely. This was a really good week for me.
We have a tradition that everyone helps out with the meal so mom isn't stuck in the kitchen while the rest of the family is out having fun. This is Jeff laughing because five pies he ordered and bought are on the sideboard and he can do whatever he wants!
Nathan made Amanda's mom's rolls, Rachel made her traditional cranberry sauce, she learned how in school and then has made it every year since! Rebekah presided over the potatoes, Matthew made some yummy yams (no idea where he got that recipe) and Michael decided on the drinks and then got to clean up. So that left me with just the turkey (which got done 2 hours earlier than expected) and some vegetables.

The family all together!
I never did find out what the joke was, but it was so nice to have everyone back again sharing new life stories,playing games, watching movies, and showing new dance moves.

Thanksgiving Football - Sheila played both teams defense and even caught and carried away the football on one memorable play. It was a great day.

On Saturday the girls went to Boardwalk on a sunny, warm day and really enjoyed the beach!

Ahh life is grand!

Susy's here again!

Two visits in two months! I go for a wedding and she comes here for work, lucky, lucky me!

And work was the name of the game. After picking her up from the airport we hit a few stores to pick up supplies then dropped off her luggage and headed over to the Nausin's to finish up some Christmas gifts. The Nausin's had been working hard and had them practically all sawed and drilled when we got there.

Dana cut lots and lots of wood into smaller piles of wood and drilled holes too -

So then it was painting and painting. We put the Princess Bride on the computer, pulled the table over and went to work. Laughing, quoting our favorite parts and painting,

Lots and lots of painting,

Till it was all done.

And Susy did "Last Years Snowmen" too! I came home from a date with Jeffrey to find that project all done! It sure is great to have Susy in town. Too bad she actually goes to work tomorrow, we could have fun playing now.

Sunday Picnic

We were invited to a picnic -but the hosts didn't show up! So following another family to this nice wooded spot we made some new friends with others that we knew.

The boys showed us a fort under a tree they found.

The girls were so welcoming!

And everyone was very friendly

So next time we'll plan ahead to

eat lunch after stake conference with our new friends!

Lifting Burdens

Lifting Burdens

Remembering Kevin Glen Farnsworth

A Good friend of Jeffrey's

Jeffrey's friend growing up (and only 6 months younger) died last Tuesday night after battling a brain tumor and was buried yesterday. Contemplation of our allotted time in life has been on my mind and just what am I doing with the blessings and privileges in the time that I've been given.

Watching his sons

doing their part

and his daughters mourn was really difficult.

He leaves a beautiful, young widow.
.


Give your spouse a hug today.

Enjoy the antics of your children.

Life is good.

It is nice to have this sister

She was born only a year and two weeks after I was, and my mother prayed that her daughter would have a close sister because she had always wanted one.
So my life was immeasurably blessed by this gift from the Lord to me.

She is smart, beautiful, creative and energetic. Very loving, a problem solver, someone who will think of others and their needs before they are sometime even aware they might need something.

She loves with all of her heart and many of us have been the recipients of this gift, she is going on 25 years of marriage to her sweetheart.

This of course is when she doesn't help with the food -

The last wedding for Ramona, and of course Susy is there.


Love you lots,


thanks.

David is married!!

On October 17, 2009 in Syracuse Utah

David Edward Lore junior got married to Shany!

Here's the bride walking up the asile

Mr. and Mrs. David Lore

The Monster Upstairs

Gareth, Greysen, and Christian came with their Dad Gene Layton to stay overnight for a soccer tournament the next day. At breakfast, Gareth - bright, curious, 5 year old - came up to Jeffrey and asked, " Is there a monster upstairs? Your son said there was one up there the last time I came." Jeffrey straight faced walked over to the bottom of the stairs, looked up and said, "Yes, there he is right now." Gareth starts to walk over and Jeffrey said, "Oh he just disappeared". Gareth looks him in the eye and says, "you're just tricking me" and Jeffrey says, "yes I am" and they have a conversation about monsters. Later in the morning Jeffrey is at his computer across the room and Gareth goes to the bottom of the stairs and says, "There's a monster up there!" and when Jeffrey looks up Gareth said, "Oh he just disappeared!".

Jeffrey was laughing about it 4 hours later when I came home.

We can't wait for little ones.

I Know How Ruth Feels

I have really been fortunate to have the mother-in-law that I do. She is very interested in a lot of different things. Last week she asked if I'd like to go with her and we spent time at the beach and visited with friends from long ago in World War II.

She is very generous and supportive to her children, spouses of children and loves her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I've been to the Caribbean, Italy, France, Spain, Hawaii, Yellowstone, and various California beaches etc. because she takes her children (and spouses) to great ports of call and fabulous reunions. This time it was just her and I in Monterey having fun on the beach and traveling up and down California!

The love she pours out is unwavering and always encouraging.

These men have been friends since they were in their late teens and early twenties, and Beverly has the same loyalty and fidelity that she extends to her family too. Was it bred in that generation? It has been marvelous to be a part of her life and family unit.

If Duke had lived they would have had 63 great years. She holds us all in heart and we love her dearly.

Puerto Rico San Juan West Mission

Matthew called and told us he was walking home from the BYU Florida game and would be back in half an hour. Nuf said on the football game. He called us back (surrounded by friends - I could only hear laughing girls) he read "Matthew Gregory Adams......... Puerto Rico San Juan West Mission Spanish speaking....." He'll be entering the MTC on Januray 27, 2010.

Interesting history : http://welcome.topuertorico.org/history.shtml

It's in the Mail!!

I went to the outlet stores with my friends and from the street I saw a white envelope in the mail box. Running up I got it out and ran back to my friends.....
Matthew received his mission call today........
I had to forward it on to his home at BYU.......

So the suspense is killing us......
Stay tuned!

Speculation is rampant, I felt that package every bit as well as any Christmas package and held it up to the light. I'll even admit the thought of steaming came to mind. I called Matthew but no answer. So I hurried to the post office to avoid temptation and then sent another message that the call was on it's way. There is a booklet and a $1.58 postage stamp...any clues?

Pretend Grandma for a day!

For the start of the Labor Day weekend, my niece Jessica and her family came to watch their oldest boy Christian play soccer and they stayed at our house! So we got out the beds and wondered what they would like to play, eat, or do.

This is Gene, Christian's dad and Jessica's husband (Sheila our black lab found an instant friend as he'll throw sticks and run with her)

This is Jessica swallowing ice-cream! Very organized and fun mom

This is Victoria with melting ice-cream in her mouth

This is the soccer playing Christian

This is Greysen watching his brother play

Elise is very funny and has a cute laugh

This is lovable Garath

I realized how fun it is to have some little ones come and visit and try out the beds and ask unique questions. I found out about wheat allergies and quickly re-vamped what I would offer for breakfast. This is soooo different from worrying what my kids were doing or not doing, and now I understand when my mother-in-law used to say, "don't worry about it I'll pick it up after you leave", because it really is a joy having them. I can't wait to see them again when they come for the next tournament.

... so no pasta, bread, or pancakes....