Thanksgiving in Houston

KR went to Houston (November 14th-30th) to help out with Matt & Megan's new little one, Oliver, and I followed on the 21st to spend Thanksgiving. Brady, Natalie & kids also came down from Austin and we enjoyed a few days over the holiday weekend together. Good times. A highlight was being able to participate in Oliver's blessing on the Saturday after Thanksgiving with Matt & Brady. We were able to fit in a few home projects and eat some ribs. And the weather was actually quite nice - not too hot or humid.

Of course, we had to continue chopping away at the bucket list and spent a few days up in Oklahoma checking out the back roads. Oklahoma City has a couple of major must-see places in the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and the Oklahoma City National Memorial (about the bombing of the federal building there - a very emotional place). 

Loss of a Father

As the days pass, I often contemplate the temporal death of my father and how complex and wonderful is the relationship of a father and son. The months preceding his passing, and the experiences I had with him then, and the events of that week in October will stay with me forever. It is sad for everyone to be temporarily apart, yet I feel happy for him. He can again do a lot of things he really enjoys (like read a book or do a crossword puzzle) that had been taken away from him as his health failed. The parting is something we can endure. Why? Because I know his spirit lives and he is still with us. I know it. And we will be with him again. It was, for me, a wonderful experience to enjoy a perfect weekend with my extended family. Everyone did so well expressing themselves in word and song, the weather was perfect, and I personally thought the entire weekend was perfectly matched to the man. I am sure there were many that came away from the experience with a renewed vigor to increase their stride. "And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" Revelation 14:13

Colorado Byways

We have traveled to Utah in our annual migrations so many times and have failed to take advantage of such a beautiful place as Colorado just next door. Well this time we did (October 15th-22nd) and if you want a copy of the itinerary, just let me know. We went to so many interesting and spectacular places - world-class vistas. It was enhanced by the time of year and the changing leaves. Some of the highlights are pictured below: 2) visiting Lonetree, Wyoming and the ranch of my cousin Wade Stephens & his family - we had never passed through there before and it was well worth the visit, 3) Flaming Gorge, 4) Steamboat Springs - as good as Sun Valley, 5-7) Denver - we went to several museums, Coors Field, Mile High Stadium, toured the Hammond's Candy factory, went to the zoo, and had a nice visit with Jeff & Allison - lots of fun things to do and those are cute girls, 8-9) Colorado Springs - Air Force Academy and Garden of the Gods - what a beautiful location for a city and campus, 10-11) Pike's Peak - where else can you drive to the top of a 14,000+ peak, 12-13) Royal Gorge - scariest bridge in the world that you can cross in a car, 14) Great Sand Dunes National Park - in the middle of nowhere, but well worth a look, 15) super chicken and super chick, 16-17) Black Canyon of the Gunnison - another out-of-this-world hole in the ground, 18) Colorado National Monument - red rock and more red rock. We are planning another trip to hit the high places in the northern areas of Colorado that were closed already because of weather issues. Check it out!

Emmett's Baptism

Being in Utah helping with Dad's funeral arrangements, I missed Emmett's baptism. But he was in my thoughts and KR was able to be there on Saturday morning before flying to Utah for the funeral. Congrats Emmett! You have entered the gate.

For Amy

CLICK TO ENLARGE, AFTER ALL,

THIS IS A CHIHUAHUA

The Harvest

Between the produce we raised and the fruit we were given by friends, we had a good harvest this year. The two of us did another marathon canning session: 59 quarts of pears, 50 quarts of peaches, and 22 quarts of tomatoes. And our neighbors also got to help themselves, as you can see by the picture!

Ingraham Reunion

KR enjoyed catching up with old friends from high school at the Nile Country Club. It was their 40th Reunion. She doesn't look a day older than the night she invited me to a tolo dance at THE VERY SAME BUILDING in December 1970 when I was home from my freshman year at BYU.

Being Thankful

We need to be thankful people. I am thankful for many things. I am thankful for 5 good men in the families of our children that work hard to support their families. I am thankful for 5 good women in those families that also help where needed to financially support their families and our grandchildren. I am thankful for the good new jobs that three of them found over the past 12 months that were their first jobs out of school or significant upgrades over their previous employment. Well done!

DAR and More Birthdays

KR and Eunice had a huge DAR activity in Wenatchee called the State Board of Management Meeting. It was the first time in 15 years that it had been held in Wenatchee and everyone thought it was the best BOM2 ever! Way to go ladies! You girls are TNDARM (top notch DAR members). And I am also a pretty good HODAR (husband of DAR member).

The twins had their third birthday party later in the day and, needless to say, there was never a dull moment. Isaac was especially enthralled by the garbage truck.

The Runaway Vehicle

Clark Dice is a young man of 18 in one of my home teaching families. Some months ago, he managed to run his car into the stairway leading up to the front door of his family home. I arrived home teaching not too long after it happened and as I pulled into the Dice driveway, I noticed a support beam lodged in the windshield of his car. Hhhmmmm! Well, they did get it fixed and painted, so I thought it needed a memorial plaque. Notice the small black object right under the handrail. I had it made at the local trophy store and we held a short christening ceremony for the unveiling. It reads, "Clark Dice Memorial Stairway".

Garage Sales and Birthdays

We had a full day with the annual Dental Office Garage Sale and Emmett's 8th birthday party. It seems that people are watching out for our sale - KR does such a good job with the items and they are of good quality. We get quite a crowd. I am the accounting manager and Eunice does the change. KR, Marianne, and the other exhibitors keep the goods flowing. What we don't sell we load up in the car and immediately haul it to the Goodwill. Emmett is growing up TOO fast. He will be baptized in a few weeks. Hard to believe. He wanted a Candyland cake and, well, you know Laurel. She figured it out. It was quite clever.