Happy 46th Anniversary To Us; Abe's Family Here to Ski Utah! Barfing Ruins Plans

We hadn't seen our friends, Michael and Lynn Maughan, for quite a while. In fact, long enough for them to get their new dream home built. Once they were all settled in their new abode, they invited us to Springville for a home tour.

But first--lunch at Magleby's. That turned out to be a very lovely dining experience and we appreciated them introducing us to a new restaurant.

It was so delightful to see the home Michael had been planning for and working on for years. We had seen their house plans a long time ago, so it was nice to see the plans come to life. What a beautiful home they have!

Taking that drive, going to lunch, and enjoying a home tour with the Maughans was how we chose to spend our 46th wedding anniversary. 

We were able to read our book in the car like we enjoy doing, we had a great meal, and we got caught up with what is going on with our friends. It was a great way to spend the day!

We stopped at Kneaders on our way home, and while they were slicing the sourdough bread we bought, we took a moment to show our love for each other.

The fun did not stop there. Sarah, Lincoln, Jonah, Rebecca and Madison came to hang out at our home for a while until it was time for them to go pick up their skiing older children. 

Glen suggested we get Mandarin take-out for dinner and we were all surprised and happy to go along with his idea. So, our anniversary celebration just kept on going all day and all evening. Loved it!!

February is our love month with both our wedding anniversary and Valentine's Day a few days later. Jan invited friends over to their home for a Valentine's dinner. As always, her table was absolutely beautiful.

We were missing Winders and Stewarts that evening. The soup, sandwiches and salad dinner helped Jan  have a lot easier clean-up than usual. We love being with our friend group and are constantly giving thanks for their friendship.

And that cute Jan!!! She sent each of us women home with a bouquet of flowers. She is such a giver and I am always happy to be a recipient of her generosity and love.

Haley posted some cute photos of her and Ben taking off to go skiing together. They are very much appreciating the free ski passes my parents gave them which they got when they bought their new car. 

Speaking of skiing... That is the reason Abe, Klarissa, Newland, Wynne, Magnus and Monty came to town. Their annual ski trip began with us meeting them at Teppanyaki in Salt Lake City for dinner. 

Abe's family had all gotten their ski rental gear and were set to head out first thing in the morning to hit the slopes. It was Magnus's first time to ski and they put him in ski school. 

Monty stayed home with Glen and me and was our little buddy for the next two days. 

Ben joined Abe's family on their ski days. Everyone got tired and sore, but had a lot of fun enjoying the snow on the mountain.

We were looking forward to having a big family dinner on Sunday so all the cousins could play together, and then an unexpected turn of events caused me to miss it all. I missed the Monday family gathering as well. 

I was holed up in my room because I was so sick throwing up. Eleven times to be exact! I have never thrown up so much in my life! I was doing my best to try and prevent others from getting the illness by keeping my distance. 

I was hearing them all laughing and having a good time together. It was almost like being there... Not really. So sad for me! 

So sad for Glen, too, because he was making sure to check in on me at the same time he was trying to be the host with the most preparing all the food. He was amazing!! 

Klarissa, Wynne and Monty flew home on Tuesday. Abe, Newland and Magnus lingered longer for another day so Abe could take Newland to a BYU basketball game in Provo. Abe was anxious for Newland to have that experience and they had a great time together. 

The fun ended in the wee hours of the morning when both Abe and Newland were throwing up. Glen had gotten up early to take them to the airport, only to find they were too sick to leave the house. 

In the late morning they had both quit throwing up, but still weren't feeling too great. Abe had a very important meeting he had to get to in Washington D.C., so he dragged his weary body to the airport to catch a flight. 

That meant Glen and I were watching the two boys until Abe flew back the next evening. 

We were all hoping and praying that Magnus wouldn't get the barfs and delay their plans to fly home on Friday. 

Thursday night I was very worried as he had a hard time going to bed and was crying that his tummy hurt. But, thankfully, in the morning he was perky and all was well for the three of them to catch their afternoon flight back home to Charleston. 

Brooke came over one day so Glen could help her with her taxes. I had been preparing dinner and asked if she would like to join us. It was nice having some one-on-one time with that granddaughter. 

Saturday was the beginning of our 2024 season of Hale Centre Theatre plays. Dad had a bow shoot he was anxious to participate in, so we started scrambling to find someone to use his ticket. 

Rebecca is our usual stand-by ticket user, but she was busy with Madison's birthday party that day. Sarah was also busy going to a funeral. Then we got the idea to have Nani ask Kathy. They play pickleball together and Kathy consented to join us. 

We missed Dad, but it was nice to have Kathy in our midst.

Quotes of the Week

 We come to church to renew our covenants, to increase our faith, to find peace, and to do as He did perfectly in His life -- minister to others who feel like they don't belong.

--Jodi King

Remember that your choices matter. As you make daily choices to follow the example of Jesus Christ, you will find success, happiness, and purpose that will bless your life in unimaginable ways.

--Quentin L. Cook

The care of the earth and of our natural environment is a sacred responsibility entrusted to us by God, which should fill us with a deep sense of duty and humility. How can we honor and love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ without honoring and loving Their creations?

--Gerald Causse

Quotes of the Week

 We should be diligent in rooting prejudice and discrimination out of the Church, out of our homes, and most of all, out of our hearts. As our Church population grows ever more diverse, our welcome must grow ever more spontaneous and warm. We need one another.

--D. Todd Christofferson

I came to realize in a profound way that the same Son of God who atoned for my sins is the same Redeemer who will also save those who have deeply hurt me. I could not truly believe the first truth without believing the second.

--Kristin M. Yee

Come as you are, a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, Don't plan to stay as you are. We smile and remember that God is determined to make of us more than we thought we could be.

--Jeffrey R. Holland

Family Sicknesses; Kade's Surgery; Luke's Show Choir Competition

There was a beautiful surprise waiting for me upon our return home from our vacation. In December, my friend Diane had given me a bulb to plant and watch grow. 

Rebecca watered it while we were gone, and the amaryllis flowers waited to bloom until I got home. 

Another thing that awaited us upon our arrival home was the bitter cold weather. This headline caught my eye since we had just come from below-freezing weather on our trip. 

We had a frigid week or so around here, but it didn't really affect me as I couldn't venture out of the house with my communicable disease.

I spotted this photo on Facebook and recognized the girl on the back row, second from left, as Caroline. She has been participating in the North Salt Lake Youth City Council doing various service projects and activities. They don't seem to mind the cold.

Looks like Kade enjoyed introducing his baby brother Maverick to snow.

Fun photo of Spencer flying high over Eli.

Caroline, Spencer, Eli and Carson have been enjoying spending their Friday afternoon and evenings on the ski slopes learning how to ski. They are bussed up to the ski resort and then bussed back for their parents to do a late-night pick-up retrieval of the young skiers. 

This looks like one happy Carson after being ordained a deacon.

Eli was ordained a teacher. These boys are growing up.

Turns out there were many other family members who were sick in the month of January along with me. Rebecca was very ill and tested positive for Covid. 

Madison was sick during that time, but never had Covid. Once Rebecca got better, Madison got sick again--this time with Covid. She missed 11 days of school for both those times.

Ben was feverish, chilling, throwing up, extreme sore throat, red eye, etc. Strep throat was suspected, but that was negative. No Covid for him, but he was miserable and got an antibiotic for an ear infection.

Abe's family was all sick and he sent this photo of him with huge swollen glands. 

Despite one of his sisters saying she enjoyed seeing chipmunk-cheek Abe, he did finally get over his Covid illness.

Then there was this going on in Ben's family as well. 

Later in the month when everyone had recovered from their illnesses and surgery, we had a family dinner. 

Natalie and Emma joined us. The best part of this meal was Sarah planned it. We had orange chicken, potstickers, fried rice and fruit. YUM!!

Lincoln had requested his 9th birthday celebration be held at our house and we were happy to comply. Sarah made a cute cupcake train cake since he loves trains so much. 

I saw a date on the calendar where I had an absolute free day and decided to put it to good use by cleaning the carpets. 

Glen was a huge help to me when he vacuumed the basement and then hand-scrubbed the two flights of stairs because we couldn't get the attachment to work. He was my hero!!!!

We had a dinner date with Glen's sisters and their husbands. Ray told us all the details of his stroke, his carotid artery surgery to clear the blockage, and his sure knowledge of divine help in his having no ill effects of it all. Amazing experience he shared.

Look at this little cutie Jonah on hat day at school.

Glen and I had planned a winter trip to Omaha the first weekend in February. Winter is not my preferred time to go to Nebraska because of the bitter cold. But, we were blessed this trip to have the temperature stay above freezing. 

I was blessed to finally feel recovered from illness, but we learned Claire was not doing so well. She had been throwing up, had a sore throat, a fever and a headache. 

Laurie had picked us up at the airport and Jacob arrived back in town later in the day. The four of us and Logan went to dinner at Porky Butts BBQ. Love the name!! 

The food was delicious. Then the group was anxious to get on their way to watch the Creighton vs. Butler basketball game. 

Glen, Jacob, Laurie and Logan went to the game while I stayed home with Claire. We watched two movies together and then watched the end of the game. It was a close, exciting, high-scoring game.

I love looking at Jacob and Laurie's photos. Their whole television bookshelf area is dedicated to BYU in their basement. 

This particular photo caused me to laugh. It is Jacob and Laurie dressed up as avid BYU football fans in their old age. Great Halloween costumes!!

I also really enjoyed this quote by Elder Scott which they have on a bookshelf in their family room. 

The real purpose of our visit was to go see Luke participating in his high school's show choir competition. It was a day-long event. 

It was fun to see Luke onstage doing his singing, dancing and arm movements. He was on the right side of the stage in all their numbers--usually on the middle row.

We enjoyed our Sabbath Day going to church with Jacob's family. Claire was still feeling sick and stayed home, but she was definitely getting better.

We had a very nice time in Omaha and appreciated Jacob taking us to the airport before going to work.