Our Christmas Miracle--Jeff Saved From Blindness

As the Covid was raging in the Excell household, Jeff continued to complain about his eye. 

These eye photos were in an earlier post, but it's important to see how yucky they look and to know how miserable he was and that his eye was NOT improving as time went on.

In fact, Jeff's vision kept getting worse and worse.

Sarah informed the family of his ongoing situation and what Jeff was experiencing as he tried to get medical help. 

The seriousness of Jeff's eye problem was very alarming.

We were having a hard time believing Jeff's eye problem did not have anything to do with Covid like the doctor told him. It came on right during Covid just like others in the family experienced when they had Covid.

Thankfully, Jeff had a good check-up before Christmas and he got scheduled for another appointment the Tuesday after Christmas which allowed their family to be able to head up here to enjoy a few days of vacation with us. Keeping our fingers crossed and saying lots of prayers for a total and complete recovery for him with no relapses.

On Christmas Eve, as I was doing last-minute food preparation for the family dinner party at my parents' home, our missionary, Nate Wilson, stopped by with a Christmas gift for us.

It was a beautiful picture of Christ, the Good Shepherd, with two of his sheep. We cannot believe how generous this particular missionary is as he has given me a Mother's Day gift the last two years and now this unexpected Christmas gift. What a thoughtful young man!

I had been working on my sweet potato casserole food assignment and had totally forgotten about cutting up the pineapples until in the middle of our conversation with Nate. 

It was tricky, but despite him here, I was able to finish preparing everything and we made it to Dad and Mom's home at just the right time. 

Here are some photos of the kitchen crew. Andy's family was eating upstairs and Sam and Mike's families were seated in the dining/living room area. We had a big group there enjoying all the delicious food.

I got a kick out of Seth, Kenna, Terje and Aksel's Christmas sweaters.

Ben and Haley's little boys had a very fun time playing with all the other little cousins. They were busy and happy going up and down the stairs from the basement to the upper floor. 

They looked so cute in their Christmas pajamas with Kade chanting, "Ho, ho, ho!!" I think that is probably what Caroline is doing as well.

We thought it was a sweet tender mercy that in our reading of the Book of Mormon, the chapters we were reading on Christmas Eve were the last several chapters of Helaman where the prophet Samuel prophesies of a new star at Christ's birth.

Although there were many unbelievers, "there were great signs given unto the people, and wonders; and the words of the prophets began to be fulfilled. And angels did appear unto men, wise men, and did declare unto them glad tidings of great joy,"

On Christmas Day, our Book of Mormon reading was 3 Nephi where we read of Christ's birth. 

"And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was midday. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given. And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word."

We felt like it was such perfect timing to be at that exact spot in the Book of Mormon on those exact days. 

I got a kick out of Abe's children depicting the birth of the baby Jesus (Monty). A loving Joseph (Newland) and Mary (Wynne) are admiring their baby while the herald angel (Magnus) is singing.

I had forgotten to take the study journal I had bought for Nani to give to her at the family party. It is for the 2022 study of the Old Testament. 

Since she needed it soon and since we did not have anything planned for Christmas morning, Glen and I drove to Ogden to give Nani the book. We had a nice visit with her as I enjoyed looking around the room at all her Christmas decorations. 

Glen was determined to cook prime rib for Christmas dinner. 

Despite it not being a favorite meal of mine, Rebecca's and Ben's families were willing and eager to share our Christmas feast with us. 

It was the perfect time to play Pandemic together. Ironic isn't it to be playing a game called Pandemic during the time the world is going through a pandemic???

Since the prison has been in Covid lockdown, we have been able to enjoy going to our home ward for the past few weeks. I loved being able to be in our ward for the Christmas program. 

Rebecca is the ward music director in their ward and they had Christmas music the day after Christmas as well. They invited us to zoom into their ward's sacrament meeting after we got home from our church. 

The Primary children sang. Spencer is the boy on the left in the back in the white shirt. Madison is standing in the back row next to the girl in pink. Her face is half covered by the boy in front of her.

Caroline (middle girl) sang "Silent Night" with a small group as Rebecca accompanied them on the piano. They really did a great job singing so beautifully together.

The gamers didn't get enough playing time on Christmas, so they came over the day after Christmas for more playing games and puzzles and for more eating. 

It was Dallas and Rebecca's 18th wedding anniversary that day. 

It is the day we will always remember as having one of the biggest snowstorms in Utah history. So glad the weather didn't deter them from getting married.

Quotes of the Week

 Those who do not see their weaknesses do not progress. Your awareness of your weakness is a blessing as it helps you remain humble and keeps you turning to the Savior. The Spirit not only comforts you, but He is also the agent by which the Atonement works a change in your very nature. Then weak things become strong.

--Henry B. Eyring

As we begin to know more of Him, we will see His attributes reflected in others. This will encourage us on our own quest, for if others can attain in some measure His attributes, so can we.

--Scott D. Whiting

Unity and diversity are not opposites. We can achieve greater unity as we foster an atmosphere of inclusion respect for diversity.

--Quentin L. Cook

Quotes of the Week

 Truly, for those with faithful hearts and eyes to see, the Lord's tender mercies are manifest amidst life's challenges.

--Gerrit W. Gong

My testimony to the Church and to the world is that this is God's very truth. My plea every morning of my life is  "how can I convey what I know to be more true than anything on the face of this earth? How can I convey the reality of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ?"

--Jeffrey R. Holland

Knowing that we are all children of God gives us a divine vision of worth of all others and the will and ability to rise above prejudice and racism.

--Dallin H. Oaks

Christmas Dinners; Snowblower Debaucle; BYU Posters; Abe's Family's Adventures

 Every year we look forward to a fancy Christmas dinner at Jan and Bill Evans's home.

I always love to see her beautifully decorated table.

The presents we each brought were placed on the family room table and after dinner we drew numbers to see what order we would pick a gift. That is always fun to see what is inside each package.

Bill cut into the prime rib and both he and Jan were grinning about how perfectly it was cooked. 

This year they served crab legs with the prime rib.

We missed our prison branch Christmas dinner because Glen refused to miss a BYU game to attend it. We were able to attend our prison district Christmas dinner, and arrived at Trolley Square a few minutes early so we could walk around looking at the Christmas decorations.

The dinner was held at Rodizio Grill. I was SO disappointed when I learned that was the location of our event. I have not enjoyed Rodizio or Tucanos AT ALL and have refused to ever go there again...until this particular evening.

We were impressed to see how many large, private rooms are available there for groups like us to have space to ourselves. 

I was very pleasantly surprised to find things on the salad bar that I actually liked--which had not been the case in the past.

I had a small piece of one kind of meat when the servers started bringing skewers of meat to our table. I also had some grilled pineapple and a couple of grilled shrimp and called that good for me. Glen and the other men were thrilled with all the meat that kept coming around nonstop.

My favorite part of the meal was the cheesecake dessert. I sat next to Teresa Bell, our branch president's wife, and had a very enjoyable conversation with her all through dinner. 

Glen was talking with Gary and Camille Simmons. Gary and Glen both served in the Mexico Torreon Mission and they love to talk about that whenever they get together. 

After our meal, President Clarke spoke to us for a few minutes and then the district presidency handed out Christmas gifts. 

As we were winding down the evening, we saw this couple coming over to talk to us. It was Michael Dahlquist and his wife Jessica. They had been having a work Christmas party in the adjoining room and Michael recognized Glen and came to chat with us. 

It was so fun seeing them and thinking back to our time in Missouri where Michael and Jacob were the best of friends. Of course I had to send this photo to Sherrie so she and Carl could enjoy seeing the four of us together.

FUNNY STORY:

It was just starting to snow when we got home from Rodizio's. The weather report was predicting a foot of snow. We went downstairs to watch a movie and when we were finished, we couldn't believe how much snow had accumulated in those two hours--probably 8 inches of snow.

When Glen switched out the lawnmower for the snowblower at the beginning of winter, we had gotten gas for it and Glen had checked to make sure it started. All was well. 

The storm before this one wasn't too bad, so Glen shoveled the first day and then later decided to use the snowblower, but found it wouldn't start. UGH! So off to the repair shop he took it.

He was told it would take a week, but they would prioritize the snowblowers. Unfortunately, this big storm was upon us just a few days later and we were left without a snowblower.

Glen determined that if there was that much snow that night, and the snow was still falling and was predicted to fall all night long, he wanted to get this first layer cleared to make way for the next layer.

He shoveled for hours. He was exhausted when he finally decided to call it quits and come back inside. The clock shows we were heading up to bed at 1:39 a.m. Short night it was going to be.

Glen was sore all night long, and was uneagerly anticipating another big shovel in the morning. At least it was daylight and the snow had stopped falling, so the driveway stayed clear after he shoveled. 

The snow at the end of the driveway was especially difficult to clear from the snowplows going by. But Glen did it!!!!

That was sure a lot of snow that fell in that one storm.

Later that day, Glen got a call from the repair shop. He was pleased they had prioritized his snowblower because there was more snow in the forecast. 

Imagine our surprise when they said, "You're going to laugh at this...but all we needed to do was put gas in your snowblower." 

WHAT??!!?? I had been with Glen when he bought the gas. Neither of us know quite how it happened that he forgot to actually put the gas into the snowblower, but it sure made for a good, gut-busting laugh as Glen's sore body was screaming pain at him.

Our windows had ice and snow on them and made them look like what you would see in a Hallmark Christmas movie.

I love looking at the snow-covered trees after a snowstorm when the clouds give way to a blue sky.

The third Christmas dinner that I attended was put on for the Relief Society sisters. It was held at Kathleen Morrell's home.

The salads were catered by Plates and Palates and were so delicious. Kim Cowley had made homemade rolls. There was an assortment of sweets for dessert.

After dinner there was a program with readings and a couple of special musical numbers. It was a lovely evening. I was so glad it wasn't snowing that night.

We had another dinner out, but it was definitely NOT a Christmas celebration. We went to dinner at Hug-Hes in Ogden with Kenny Jensen, Randy Bambrough and his wife and daughter, Susan and Hannah. 

After-dinner entertainment was watching the BYU basketball team play Weber State. The earlier BYU football game did not end favorably, so the basketball team having a winning score helped put a smile back on Glen's face.

Because of the Covid illness running rampant in our family, we have not been able to get together for quite a while. We were all feeling much love and very thankful when we gathered together for Sunday dinner. 

Caroline was so happy to see her babies once again!!

The wooden nativity set caught Kade's eye.

While Glen, Ben, Haley and Rebecca were playing their favorite game together, I went downstairs with the grandchildren and was surprised when Caroline handed Levi to me and he stayed contentedly on my lap for quite a while. Caroline is definitely his favorite!

Jacob's family took a little excursion to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to watch the BYU Cougars play the Creighton Blue Jays. 

Logan, Claire and Luke got busy making some posters in preparation for the basketball game in the hopes their signs would attract the attention of the cameras so they could be on TV.

They got there early enough to get their photos taken with some of the basketball players: Alex Barcello and Seneca Knight.

We went to the Bountiful Temple today. I have loved it in years past to see the big, beautiful Christmas posters on display in each yard of the houses surrounding the temple. I was happy to see they were up again this year...

...except this one house who chose to decorate for Christmas in this very unconventional way. Someone PLEASE explain this to me!!! 

We picked up Natalie from her school in Provo and ate at Outback Steakhouse (as per her request--good choice!) before we headed back home. 

She will spend the night with us and we will take her to the airport in the morning so she can join her family in Omaha for the Christmas holiday. Thankfully, she is feeling much better after her bout with mono and will undoubtedly enjoy this trip home much more than her Thanksgiving trip when she was sick with mono.

Abe's family has had some adventures with Klarissa's sister Jen and her family. They went to Costa Rica, followed by a trip to DisneyWorld and are enjoying the Christmas season with a ride on the Polar Express. 

This Christmas season we are finding ourselves feeling so thankful that those of us who got Covid are now doing much better. It makes us appreciate each member of the family as we were praying for each other to regain our health and strength. 

I always love listening to Christmas music in December. As the words direct us to think of Christ, my heart is full of love for Him and for all the blessings we enjoy because of Him,

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!!