Quotes of the Week

 Let us not defend ourselves from the good that God desires to bless us with. From the love and mercy that He desires us to feel. From the light and knowledge He desires to bestow upon us. From the healing that He knows we so readily need. From the deeper covenant relationship He intends for all His sons and daughters.

--Kristin M. Yee

We are wise when we accept the gospel, seek to have the Holy Ghost with us, and avoid deception. No one can accept the gospel, take the Holy Ghost as a guide, and avoid deception on our behalf. We have to do this for ourselves.

--Dale G. Renlund

If you want to, you can be a big part of the gathering of Israel, of something big, of something grand, something majestic.

--Russell M. Nelson

Frozen, Thanksgiving, Gentri, Biergarten, Wicked For Good

Dad, Mom, Nani, Glen and I went to see the musical Frozen. It was a fantastically, awesome, amazing play. 

We were impressed with all the singing, acting, and watching how they maneuvered their stage and props to make the story come alive. We all absolutely loved that outstanding production! 

The funniest part was when it started to "snow" circles of white and silver confetti all over us. Apparently, after each show they get huge blowers in there to clean up all that stuff before their next performance. 

Loved the icicles hanging overhead when everything was frozen.

Claire had a birthday. She is now a 13-year-old girl. It was fun FaceTiming with her to acknowledge her special day.

I have been watching Ben and Haley's two youngest boys on Mondays and Wednesdays so they can work at the escape room. Glen is often working those days there as well. 

Those are the two days Levi has preschool. I pick up Maverick from Ben and Haley as soon as Levi is dropped off and then I go pick up Levi at noon when he is finished with preschool. 

It is fun to see the things Levi brings home with him. This day he was wearing a Thanksgiving crown. 

We took Natalie and Emma to the airport so they could go home for Thanksgiving.

Glen tried to convince me we wanted to spend Thanksgiving in Florida "with Abe's family" which is how he approached it. After all these years of marriage to Glen, I knew what that meant. He wanted to go to a BYU athletic event and tried to turn it into a "fun little getaway for us." 

But I was on to his charade and said no. Mom trumps a BYU ball game, and she had already asked us to host the Ward family Thanksgiving dinner.

So, Abe and Newland had to share with us the experience they had going to the game. 

Glen had been so good to haul up all the tables and chairs so I could get the tables set the night before Thanksgiving. I wasn't feeling very well that day and the next day I felt a lot worse. 

The sore throat I had turned very sore--sorest sore throat I have ever had in my life--and by Thanksgiving morning I was also coughing and wheezing. I knew I was getting into trouble and needed medicine, but who wants to spend Thanksgiving at urgent care when you are hosting a big dinner at 1 p.m.??!!??

Thankfully, my pulmonologist had prescribed an antibiotic and prednisone for just such a time as this. I immediately started taking it and could feel it was going to help me. 

Thankfully, because I had done all the work of getting the house ready the night before, I could rest that morning. 

Thankfully, Glen was cooking the two turkeys, mashed potatoes, and gravy. I just had to show up when the guests started to arrive.

It had been a nice family holiday...until...I learned a few days later that Mom was sick and coughing her head off. I felt so bad about her suffering for the next couple of weeks.

The day after Thanksgiving Dallas, Rebecca, Nani, Glen, and I had tickets to a Gentri Christmas Concert. 

Once again, I was so thankful I had had that medication on hand and it had started to work so quickly so I could attend the concert and not be coughing my head off.

It was such an outstanding performance by the Gentlemen Trio. They had a children's choir as their guest performers, and they did a wonderful job adding to the joyous message of Christmas.

After the concert, we walked by the Macy's candy windows to see the festive displays featuring the theme for the year--The Most Wonderful Stories Start Here.

The candy-decorated ornaments were slowly turning, and each rotation gave something new to look at.

Brooke has been an outstanding employee at Lagoon ever since she was old enough to start working. She has loved her job there, but since she has graduated from high school, it is time for her to move away to school. She is going to be going to UVU in Provo in January. 

She wanted to get in as many workdays as possible before her last day of work. She timed the removal of her wisdom teeth at the end of the season, giving her time to recover before going off to school. 

In the winters, Brooke has been able to work at the Lagoon Biergarten Restaurant. 

We decided we wanted to go check out that restaurant and see Brooke in action before her last day. I was impressed with how festively it was decorated. 

The restaurant is very nice inside. Brooke took our order and then brought us our food along with two chocolate truffles for a dessert treat for us. So very kind of her!!

We were happy she joined us for dinner. Fun experience with our granddaughter.

Madison was in her school play. I am always impressed with school productions because there are a lot of children and they have been instructed so well on what to do and what to say and know their parts very well. 

Madison's favorite part of the play was when she had a squirrel puppet on her hand and it appeared from the side of the stage.

The girls invited me to go with them and some of their children to see the movie Wicked for Good. Eli and Spencer opted out of the activity. 

Our lunch afterward was In-N-Out burgers. 

Now to end with some great news. The Tesla has finally been properly repaired and is looking good as new. 

The evidence of my stupidity is gone, but it will never be forgotten!

Quotes of the Week

Jesus Christs atoning sacrifice. Coming to understand the great gift of His Atonement is an individual pursuit for each child of God. What peace, what comfort this great gift is. Christmas is not only a celebration of how Jesus came into the world but also of knowing who He is -- our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ -- and of why He came.

--Craig C. Christensen

Considering all that the Savior has done--and still does--for us, what can we do for Him? The greatest gift we could give to the Lord at Christmas, or at any other time, is to keep ourselves unspotted from the world, worthy to attend His holy temple. And His gift to us will be the peace of knowing that we are prepared to meet Him, whenever that time comes.

--Russell M. Nelson

At this Christmas season our thoughts turn to this babe born in Bethlehem. I urge you to seek this Jesus. He truly is the Prince of Peace. I invite you to draw closer to Him and experience the joy that envelops all who are willing to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. As one of His Apostles, I bless you with the ability to receive and feel the infinite love that our Savior and our Heavenly Father have for you. May you have a Christmas filled with peace love and joy.

--Russell M. Nelson

Quotes of the Week

 We are all born with divine inclinations to kindness and compassion.

--Gary E. Stevenson

The Lord knew that at times we would feel fear. I have been there and so have you, which is why the scriptures are replete with the Lord's counsel: 

Be of good cheer, and do not fear. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. Fear not little flock.

--Ronald A. Rasband

Your commitment to follow the Savior by making covenants with Him and then keeping those covenants, will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available to women, men, and children everywhere.

--Russell M. Nelson