SHARING OUR CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

 ON FRIDAY AFTER WORK, WE TOOK A LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE AND ANGEL OVER TO THE MEMORIAL PLAQUE FOR MOM, DAD, RON AND TERESA.  WE MISS THEM ALL AND WANTED TO REMEMBER THEM.  TERESA ALWAYS BOUGHT EVERYONE VERY SPECIAL GIFTS THAT SHE PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT IN THEM.  SHE WAS LIMITED IN HER MONEY BUT SHE NEVER FORGOT ANYONE.

 WE BEGAN OUR CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATION WITH TAMI AND JEFF'S ARRIVAL AT 4:30 P.M.  WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THIS NIGHT.

 TAMI ALWAYS MAKES MAGIC COOKIE BARS FOR A SPECIAL TREAT THAT NIGHT.  IT'S THE ONLY TIME WE EVER MAKE THIS RECIPE AND WE ALL LOVE THEM.

 THEN IT'S TIME TO ORDER PIZZA FOR DINNER.  IT ALWAYS TASTES ESPECIALLY GOOD ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

 TIME TO OPEN OUR GIFTS TO EACH OTHER.  OF COURSE THIS IS ALWAYS FUN!!

 PART OF JEFF AND TAMI'S GIFT TO US IS THE CHRISTMAS BUFFET AT THE DOUBLE TREE HOTEL.  SUCH GOOD FOOD AND GREAT COMPANY.  THIS IS SUCH A GREAT TRADITION BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TO SHOP FOR FOOD, COOK OR CLEAN UP AFTERWARDS.  WE LOVE IT!  JEFF AND TAMI INVITED HIS PARENTS AND A FRIEND FROM WORK THIS YEAR.  WE HAD NEVER MET JEFF'S PARENTS BEFORE AND THIS WAS A GOOD WAY TO MEET THEM.

 SOME LAST PICTURES BEFORE WE LEFT THE HOTEL.  THANKS TAMI AND JEFF!

THIRD WARD CHRISTMAS PARTY

Tonight we went to the Ward's Christmas dinner and program.  It was very nice.  The food was wonderful and the atmosphere was great.  Notice the nativity scene.  Does it look familiar?  I made this scene 35 years ago in San Diego the last Christmas we were there.  It still looks pretty good for being so old.

 The specialist over this night asked me to help out with the props and costumes.  Rebecah wanted to have the Cultural Hall look like Bethlehem and she had each organization make a booth.  She also encouaged those running the booths to dress up in Bethlehem costumes.  This is  the bread booth.

 It was so nice to have Tami and Jeff with us at the dinner and program.  Jeff enjoys our Ward dinners.  It's always good food!

 It's hard to believe that Christmas Eve is only one week away.  It's been a fun and memorable season for us and this night helped to remind us  again what Christmas was all about.

Oh yes, here's the shepherd scene from years ago.  It's fun to pull these scenes out every year and use them.  Who would have thought that they would have lasted this long.  Tami and I wanted to finish up the evening in front of our favorite sheep  scene.

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I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!

 It takes me 3 days to put up all our decorations and lights.  It's always worth the effort when I'm finished.  Tami makes me promise to not get on chairs any more to put up things.  She comes over and does this for us now.

 We are so blessed that Tami and Jeff live so close.  Tami and I get together every Wed. night for our night out.  She has lost 35 pounds since July and looks wonderful.  I'm so proud of her for having the determination to keep herself at a good weight.

 Tami has helped me out so much in getting me on Medicare part B and also a Supplement from United Health Care.  She is so knowledgeable about health insurance and knows just what is the best for me during this time.  Tami spent an hout on the phone on Friday night just getting everything set up for me with the Supplement and part D too.  She is so good over the phone and knows exactly what they are talking about.  I feel she is my personal secretary when it comes to things like this.......and she is FREE.

I have sent all my Christmas packages, Christmas cards and made goodies for my VT Sisters and Don's Home Teaching families.  I'm really on top of things this year.

 As you can see, I'm feeling good and getting lots done.  Next week I go in for my 3 month doctor check up.  I will be glad when this is over.  I guess it is normal to always be a little nervous about this.  I would be very surprised if they found anything wrong since I'm feeling so good.  The only thing I need to do is  sit back and enjoy this beautiful season!!

SUCH A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING

WHO SAID HALLOWEEN IS JUST FOR KIDS?

I bought costumes for our two little dogs. They are shark costumes and their heads are coming out of the sharks mouth. Our dogs are so patient and tolerant with these kind of things but they sure are glad when I take them off.

This seems to be the year of the Pirates. We had a pirate birthday party for Ben this summer and Coldon was a pirate for Halloween. I decided to brush off my pirate costume this year and wear it on Halloween too.

Tami and I found a pumpkin patch here in Grand Junction. It was on 5th and White. We enjoyed picking out a pumpkin and buying it.

Tami enjoying the leaves before it gets too cold.

MY SPECIAL FRIEND JANET

When we first moved to Grand Junction 35 years ago Janet was the Primary President. I was called to be a Primary teacher so Janet was one of the first sister that I got to know.

When I had our little still born baby in 1978 I had a visitor that understood what I was going through since she had a still born baby a few years before. That was Janet.

I've always loved her and felt a kinship with her.

When I had Colon Cancer I had a phone call and it was Janet. She asked me if what I had was catching because she had just been diagnosed with colon cancer too. Again, we went through chemotherapy and understood each others fears and concerns as well as physical problems that we were going through together.

Janet also loves to scrapbook and we like to share projects we are working on.

Janet is facing another round of Chemo because her cancer has come back. This has been hard on both of us and I am there for her every step of the way. I wish I could take this away from her but at least she knows I understand. When I went to sit with her for her treatment last Tuesday, I couldn't believe that it had been only one year ago when I had my last chemo. I hope and pray that this will be her last treatment too!! Please keep her in your prayers.

WE LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!

The colors are so pretty and the weather is lovely. What more could we ask for.

Don picked out his pumpkin to carve. I think this time of year brings out the kid in you.

I still love to decorate our home and Mr. Pumpkin man is one of my favorite decorations.

Tami has lost a little over 30 pounds since July. I'm so proud of her. She looks wonderful as you can see.