Quotes of the Week

The Lord sees weaknesses differently than He does rebellion. Whereas the Lord warns that unrepented rebellion will bring punishment, when the Lord speaks of weaknesses, it is always with mercy.

--Richard G. Scott

We are stronger together than we are alone. We need each other. We support each other, we strengthen each other and we're better because of each other.

--Joy D. Jones

To live on the Earth in this season of the dispensation of the fulness of times is the blessing of a lifetime.

--David A Bednar

Snow Day; Moving Day; Birthday(s)

Snow has been falling in various parts of the country. Claire and Logan decided to enjoy the snow...at night. 

They had quite the snow fall in Omaha, that's for sure!!

We had our own snow storm, for which I was very thankful. Normally, I am wishing for no snow, but this year has been such a dry winter that snow is very welcome these days. 

Grant has been such a wonderfully, kind neighbor to walk over from his house to ours to take care of removing our snow whenever there is a storm. We are so appreciative of his kindness this winter to allow Glen to fully recover from his foot surgery.

We can always tell when our deer friends have been in our yard after a snow fall. Not only do we see their walking paths, but we also see where their warm bodies have melted the snow into oval-shaped, grass-showing patches where they have been laying on the ground.

Snow is a child's winter wonderland. Looks like Kade enjoyed playing in and eating the snow.

Levi even got in on the play-outside-in-the-freezing-snow-weather action. He looks warm.

This is what Sarah's back yard looked like in Las Vegas. 

We don't typically equate palm trees with snow?!?!??

January 25th is a very special day. Every year. It has been for the past 32 years. Ever since Sarah was born.

And then came Emma 16 years ago on January 25th.

And then came Logan 11 years ago on January 25th. He not only has to share the date with his Aunt Sarah, but also with his sister Emma.

We call Sarah, Emma and Logan the triplets. This was a cute response from Sarah to Laurie.

Sarah is very punny. She is very clever with words. Maybe that is why Eli awarded his mom the "best puns" award.

Jeff was so sweet and put together an awards show for Sarah from him and the boys. Each boy came up with a special award to give to Sarah.

Carson awarded his mom the "best gamer" award. Sarah sent us videos of each of the awards that were presented to her. It was evident that each son chose something very personal to him.

I was so impressed that Jeff and the four boys were all dressed up so nicely for the birthday awards ceremony. Sarah reported "they all ran upstairs after dinner and got all fancy." I thought that was very impressive!

Lincoln proudly gave his mom the "best cook" award.

The boys were standing at the top of the stairs and Jeff would call each boy down one by one to present his award. I was surprised Jonah had stayed upstairs until the very end. He so happily came hurrying down when his name was called.

He stood smiling so proudly as his award was presented--the "cutest mom" award.

Then he happily ran to Sarah to give her the award. It was all so cute and I was so happy she thought to video each boy and I was so happy she shared the videos with us. What a birthday!!

Abe was enjoying the fact that as the snow was falling in all the places where his parents and siblings are living, there was no snow in Florida. He said the rose bush got a little chilly.

I remember the giddiness we felt for three years living in southern California whenever we saw snow photos in other places in the country. We felt pretty smug ourselves!!!

While the majority of the grandchildren were playing in snow, Newland, Wynne and Magnus were eating ice cream.

And playing with alligators. WHAT?!?!???!!!???

Jacob invited us to join in on a zoom call so we could watch Luke get ordained as a teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood. 

It is a nice way for the family to be more connected when we live so far apart and be able to support each other on important events.

That evening we had a zoom call missionary devotional. We counted 77 missionaries on the call. We have done this twice in place of in-person missionary reunions. 

We felt it went very well and enjoyed the few minutes after the meeting when we opened it up for the missionaries to share news (we had a missionary get engaged the night before) and to give updates if they wanted to do so. 

Here's an update of what's been going on in our home. All the family photos and grandchildren photos now have the most recent photos in them, which always makes me happy. I enjoy looking at the beautiful photos of all the sweet faces.

It is nice to now have Levi in the photos. Abe and Klarissa's photos are soon to be outdated when baby #4 soon arrives on the scene.

One evening I heard a loud boom which sounded like it came from upstairs. It scared me! I could not figure out what it was. Glen went investigating and found there was water in the cake pan I had set in the upstairs furnace closet just as a precaution in case the water started dripping in there again.

That sight did NOT make us happy!!! We cannot figure out why in the world that keeps leaking. It was not leaking all the time because there was not that much water in it. Glen called the furnace guy to come out once again. 

Glen has also noticed some water dripping down the outside walls of our house on the upper level which looks like it originates under the soffit. That sure seems strange because that should be the driest part of the outside of the house.

Glen took a look around the attic to see if he could see anything suspicious. Nothing. No answer to either of our baffling water dripping issues.

The news reported that the loud boom I heard was Hill Air Force Base doing night flying. That was good to know. It sure sounded like more than just the house settling. 

I wasn't thinking it was an earthquake like apparently others thought it might have been, so that is good. It took me a long time to get over being paranoid about an earthquake happening again after the earthquake and aftershocks we experienced in March.

I typically don't like to set goals. But, each year I try to think of a few good goals that I might actually be able to accomplish. Glen is the goal guy. I'm not so much of a goal gal.

Last year I set some goals and felt good about accomplishing them--like cleaning out the game closet and organizing 4 years' worth of memorabilia. 

With the momentum of feeling good about last year's goals, I set some more goals for this year. One goal I have set is to make at least two new recipes each month. I am in such a boring meal rut that I want some excitement at dinner. I want variety at dinner. I want to look forward to dinner. Is that too much to want!!!!????

I am already an over-achiever (possibly to cover myself if I under achieve toward the end of the year). I have prepared three new recipes in just one month. Hurrah for me!! The latest one was Easy Chicken and Gravy. Yes, that's what I need!! "Easy" recipes!! That should help me reach my goal!! 

By the way--it was delicious!! Glen declared it good enough to make again. This is what I have to say about it, "Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!"

Now let's check in with what's going on with Abe and Klarissa's house(s). The home they bought in North Carolina is in the midst of a major renovation. 

One of their condo units in San Francisco is being rented at the moment. 

Their other condo unit has had all their belongings in it since they moved away at the end of last school year. This week Abe and Klarissa flew to San Francisco to box up their stuff and get it all moved out of there. 

I keep saying I don't believe Klarissa is pregnant because we don't see pictures of her with her belly. So now I can't say that anymore. 

I am sad we never got to see this home of theirs in person. Oh well, out with the old and in with the new--in North Carolina.

Lincoln Excell is now 6 years old!! 

Lots of family birthdays in January!!

Quotes of the Week

Dependence upon God can fade quickly when prayers are answered. And when the trouble lessens, so do the prayers. The Book of Mormon repeats that sad story over and over again.

--Henry B. Eyring

If, as individuals, we are really concerned about the Savior's ultimate judgment on us, we should seek repentance.

--Quentin L. Cook

Without help we cannot stand against evil. We must flee to high ground or cling fast to that which can keep us from being swept away. That to which we must cling for safety is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

--Spencer W. Kimball

Levi Has Grown; Startling Heads; Biden/Harris Inauguration

This past week has been a very quiet and uneventful week for us. Klarissa had texted to see if I knew if Mandarin Restaurant delivers because she has a friend in Salt Lake City who is sick with Covid-19 and thought she would enjoy Mandarin's wonton soup. Sad for the friend that Mandarin does not deliver.

That got me thinking about how yummy that wonton soup is and a couple of days later I suggested we go pick some up for us for date night. Glen loves the five-taste shrimp, so we included that in our order. 

We got enough soup leftovers to have for our Sunday meal. I even made some rosemary bread to go with it. YUMMY!!! So I guess that was our highlight of the week.

I always enjoy it when the children send photos so we know what is going on with their families. Abe sent these zoo photos of Wynne and and Magnus feeding the birds and Magnus feeding a giraffe. How fun for them!!

Newland said, "Good thing it doesn't say rollerBLADES!!" 

This Covid-19 business is sure preventing us from socializing, including seeing our grandchildren very often. But, I did get to spend some in-person time with Levi the other day. 

Ben called to see if I could watch the baby so he could go meet Haley at the hospital. Kade has severe food allergies and had accidentally eaten something with peanuts in it. Haley used the epipen and rushed him to the emergency room where they administered more medication to him and then observed him for a couple of hours. 

Levi got a little sad when he first saw me in my mask, but after I took that off, he was smiling and happy.

I was happy he was willing to take a bottle for me and then he fell asleep like a little angel baby.

Kade was sound asleep when they brought him home from the hospital. He looked good, and I was glad to hear he was doing fine later that evening. We are all sure hoping his baby brother Levi does not have the severe allergies gene.

Haley sent this cute photo of the little Levi wearing his cute fox outfit.

Haley posted this comparison of preemie Levi and 3 1/2-month-old Levi.

Rebecca and Dallas have been getting quotes for remodeling their basement. It will be so nice for them when that project gets completed. Their basement was partially finished--if even that--by the previous owners. Most of what they did will need to be redone. It's going to be a big job!!

Sarah was told to put her home decorating cap on so she can help Rebecca with decorating ideas for the basement. There will be one bedroom down there for two of the girls to share. 

I sent Rebecca and Sarah this photo input for a decorating idea. Maybe for Spencer when he finally will have his own room??? 

Glen said he had hung the cover of each issue of the Sports Illustrated magazine on his walls. 

It is always enjoyable receiving Michelle's monthly emails. I love hearing what's going on in Yakima, Washington. 

I was laughing so hard at one part of her last email and I was so glad she sent a picture so I could see what she was talking about. Michelle included the following in her email as she was telling all about Christmas:

A gift that turned out to be the funniest was the mannequin head of hair that Kate gave to Nina. During the day, Nina would clamp the head to the table so she could practice different fancy hairstyles. As we were cooking in the kitchen, we'd notice that head in our peripheral vision and it would startle us every time! It felt like Nina was crouched down at the table and just sitting there staring at us.

I told her I know exactly how she felt. When we lived in Georgia, Abe's friend Sam Quick would gift him with various artistic creations that he had made. 

The most memorable of Sam's gifts was the head replica of Abe. Every time we saw that head staring at us, it was a little unsettling.

I took the head upstairs to Abe's bedroom and put it on his dresser. A few days later I found the head sitting on a shelf up high in Abe's closet. The face was turned toward the wall because it kept scaring him to death.

One of our missionaries posted the following experience on Facebook as he was remembering with fondness an experience he had with his mission president.

January 20, 2021 was Inauguration Day. The Trump/Pence administration has ended.