Dear Ones,

Great news Danny. I feel so proud of you. We've had some wonderful rain this week and I've really enjoyed it. Wally Ord died a week ago tonight. I was able to be wiith him some of his last hours and was grateful to say that the hospice nurses allowed him to die comfortably. His daughter Cheryl was with him. What a dear girl. His funeral was as nice as Jean Driggs'. Maxine propably won't last much longer. That cancer has been eating at her for years. She stayed alive to care for Wally. They are going to sell her house and move her to Pleasant Grove with Cheryl. We've got termites swarming in the house. I guess the rain drove them in. I'll have to do something about that!

Anne got a job this week. Not from the internet, Gerald, but from the newspaper. It's close and on my way to work. They raised her $2.00 an hour already since she started. Something in the food business. That ought to be right up her alley.

I'm trying to get Ruth & Dick & Dean to go on an Alaskan cruise with me this August. They all would like to go so I think that I may be successful. I haven't cashed in that CD yet.

Alan is going to be 21 next month and he is pretty excited about it. Jaimie's folks are giving them a trip to Hawaii. Her 21st birthday is today

I pray Laurel is safe , that you have all escaped the flu bug, and that all is well. No Blogs from Sam lately. I really enjoy his correspondence. Love to all, Grandma

Congratulations Danny! I love to get great news...especially on this snowy Utah day.
Katie I can really identify with your winter blues. I used to think if I could just make it through January and February all would be well with the world once more. Chin up dear girl and know you are loved.

Dear Ones,
Katie, Sara Zimmerman feels exactly the same way as you do about Michigan. She can't imagine who ever settled it why they ever did. We've had another lovely day here today--in the low 70's. The kids at school were pretty excited about Valentines Day. Anne & Kelly made some pretty heart cookies for me and fixed up cute Valentine bags for me to take to them and my teachers.

One of the teachers that has a complete class full of very disturbed children and many aids to assist him every day celebrates the holidays with a pot luck lunch. He is Hispanic and good looking and sounds exactly like Anthony Banderos. He made a big crock pot of chicken and veggies, and there were wonderful fresh green beans, a large green salad with every kind of veggie, Mexican food, delicious cheese cake, cupcakes, cookies and cold drinks. I think it's quite special of him to do this. None of the other teachers do anything like it. I get invited so Anne made that spagetti caserole that I made at the beach 2 years ago. They really liked it.

Anne has gone to the All Star game at the Staples Center, and Mary is off with Bob and
Jim and family are headed up to visit Johanna and kids. I liked living alone and didn't mind being alone, but now when everyone is off having fun I feel sorry for myself sometimes. It's dumb because I'm too tired to go anywhere anyhow.

It was great seeing you, Son. I truly love your quick visits. Sorry if I thrilled you too much with my driving. Everyday I pray that I won't hurt someone or myself.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, AND I HOPE YOUR BIRTHDAY WAS THE GREATEST, LIZZIE,

Love always, Mom

I just received a letter from my grandmother. She usually writes one to the family each month. For those of you who don't know, my grandparents have been serving in the Missionary Training Center for the past year or so, and loving it.

My grandmother wrote of a story she heard at an MTC devotional the other night. I liked it and so I thought I'd share it:

"Elder Stone told about a talk President Hinckley had given to the general Authorities in the Temple. He said they had recently found a box of letters which included a letter he had written to his father when he was a returned missionary and working for the church. Elder Stone said he was probably at that time the one-man Missionary Department and the one-man Temple Department and Public Relations and Media or something else. Anyway, he had his acceptance letter to go to UCLA for his PhD and was excited to go. He went in to tell Elder Stephen L. Richards that he would be leaving his employment and Elder Richards said, 'Gordon, we just need you too much, please don't go.' [President Hinckley] was telling his father about his decision in a letter, and that his heart was pretty heavy about it, but that he had chosen to stay. He wrote to his dad, 'I wonder if I'll ever amount to anything.' Then president Hinckley said to the authorities, with his wonderful humor, 'I never got my PhD, but I've received 9 honorary doctorates from different universities, I've been all over the world, we have a wonderful family and a nice home, I even have a chauffeur to drive my car.' His message was 'Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.' Our decision will be different ones, and our outcomes different, but the promise is the same for all of us."

...from my journal today.

Got up earlier this morning than I needed to because I wanted to make sure I got here on time. My little routine when I come to the Bay Area is to stay at a downtown San Francisco hotel where I can enjoy the city the night before my meeting, and then take the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) from downtown in the morning to my meeting in Berkeley with the state. I like public transport. I'm less insulated from the city, feel more a part of it. And...I like to study the interesting characters.

I'm now in the McDonalds in downtown Berkeley. My meeting this morning is earlier than usual so I allowed myself extra time and got here too early.

Speaking of characters...downtown Berkeley must be headquarters. This McDonalds is always loaded with a bevy of freaks. One even works here, cleaning the tables and mopping the floors. I've seen her before and she's here this morning, using her spray bottle filled with cleaning liquid very liberally, eager to have any kind of conversation with the sane or insane customers, and if nobody is communicative, she has loud, colorful conversations with herself. I've seen other, mostly deranged customers yell at her for spraying them along with the table. I'll tell you, that can develop quickly into very spirited dialogue!

This morning I'm listening to a woman who looks like she's in her late fifties to early sixties tell a fellow seated behind me of an encounter she had with the cops last night. She peppers her description of the event with coarse profanity. I think she must be homeless because she refers to another guy who got beat up last night and then says "Wouldn't it be terrible to be educated and homeless?"

I wonder if, long after Cristie and I are gone, this is how Laurel might end up. From reading her journals, she is certainly capable of carrying on such diatribes as the one I've just listened to. And she seems to seek out friends similar to many who surround me here this morning.

But, I'd better go. The cleaning lady is working her way to my table and I'm not in the mood to be misted.

Nice to see you back on the blog, mother. Annie must have hooked you back up again!

I'll send you the pic of Cristie, Anna Lee and Bonnie when I get home. I'm in Scottsdale...have been here for three long days of meetings (and evening dinners). The weather has been nice. Cool and rainy. It's been nice to see a little sun after living in the inversion in Utah.

How is Kathryn feeling?

Hi
I did go to DelMar this weekend. It was wonderful and every time I finally get down there I wonder why I don't do it more often. The weather was wonderful and I could hear the waves at night before I took out my hearing aides. We went to TJ...Not many people buying & I saw very few carryinng packages. Down in Gomez's arcade about fifty per cent of the stores were closed..permanately it appeared. It was really quite sad. Cristie I found that store where you bought many of the dresses last time. He said he had only been able to get 9 of the dresses and he was asking $50. now. He said his wholesale pricce had gone up. We ate at a great Mexican restaurant in Old Town. I'm anxious to take you there. You can watch the ladies making the corn and flour tortillas there. Prices weren't bad and we really enjoyed it. Mary and I had been there the last time I was at DelMar.

Debbie's mom and a woman I work with were there with me. I said that I was going to church and I'd be gone about an hour and a half. They both wanted to come with me. We got there at 8 and it was stake conference. This was an earlier meeting for investigators and the newly baptized. I thought it was a great meeting for them. I hope that it planted some seeds. Bernice (the woman that I work with must have narcolepsy. She fell asleep instantly in the car, church, moviesl and at home watching TV. We saw the Movie The Big Fish, and she slept through so much of it she never did understand what went on. I enjoyed the movie very much. I think Albert Finney is a great actor, and his son reminded me of Jimmy Zimmerman (Eddie's Jim). I had to cry in the end partly from the story and because Albert Finney reminded me of Bob Stone. Well I've bored you long enough and I have to take me to bed. Gerald I never did get the EMail of Cristie and Anna Lee. Love your all, Mom

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. We sure did. The snow was the icing on the cake - what a winter wonderland. My kids were also very fun and cute this year.

I don't know what everyone's plans are for New Years. It's that time of year again to share our family memories, and I thought it would be fun to do that on New Year's Eve before Katie and Danny head back to Chicago. Be thinking and writing. I love you all. Alison

This was in Vickie Smoot's talk on Sunday. I liked it so much I wanted to share it with you!

1. If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
2. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
3. He sends you flowers every spring, and a sunrise every morning.
4. Whenever you want to talk, He listens.
5. He could live anywhere in the unierse, and He chose your heart.
6. What about the Christmas gift he sent you in Bethlehem, not to mention that
Friday on Calvary?

Face it. He's crazy about you!

My love to you dear ones.

Happy Birthday Joe! I can't believe you are 16! LIke I said last night, I was dating Sam when I was 16 and you were about Abby's age. Time flies....
Have a great day Joe! Hope it's the best birthday yet!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSEPH!

The big 16 is here! Move over world and get ready for another Carter driver. Although this one promises to slow down and be a little more careful than the preceding six. Yes, we must count Laurel and her little escapades as well.

Birthday dinner here around 6.

Say your prayers for Danny and Katie as they travel that long snowy haul from Chicago. My love to you dear ones.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VALERIE!

Today promises to be another wonderful, hectic, cold December day here in Utah. Our party for Valerie begins tonight at 6. I made a big pot of soup and ordered some bread bowls. We will have Snickers cheesecake and possibly another cake as well. I will make the yummy winter salad receipe that I got from Katie last year.

Come prepared to play games and travel safely.

Nothing goes right around here.

Most of you know what happened to Ada on Thanksgiving morning. As usual, Jack was finding great sport in chasing our child with special needs around the house. She tripped over her own feet and landed chin first on the midget table. Once again, kid blood all over the kitchen floor. Melissa rushed her to the bathroom to survey the damage. I wouldn’t have cared if I hadn’t been nearing the end of my shower. Privacy is important when living with pointing kids. I grabbed a towel and asked Melissa what had happened. She explained every detail, including the little yellow globules of fat coming out of the wound. I waited nearly an hour in the InstaCare for every stitch that girl got in her chin. The doctor on duty had a good laugh when I told him that I tried to butterfly Ada’s slice. I did take some pleasure observing all the other grateful people limping and coughing in and out of there. Not one single person in that whole building wanted to be there, and I found that somehow humorous. Bad luck in concentrate is even funnier from an outsider’s perspective I would imagine.

Melissa is at the at the doctor’s office as I write. I tried to remove Ada’s stitches last night, and the wound looked infected to me. To her credit, Ada has complained far less about this whole ordeal than I have.

For the record (Grandma Lois), the doctor said it was fine that I remove her stitches on the couch.

I have to run.

I can't believe it is already December 1. Time is just flying by. Thanksgiving was wonderful and a relaxing time. It is always so nice to spend time with family. I am growing at an unbelievable pace. I have five weeks left in my pregnancy and I am feeling more and more ready the bigger and more uncomfortable I get. Carter is still in the crib, and all the baby clothes are still packed away. I'm sure I would be more prepared if I knew the sex of the baby. I don't know whether or not to unpack baby boy or baby girl clothes. If I listen to my mother and Abby it would be girl. Doug on the other hand is convinced it is a boy and I would have to say I am feeling like it will be a boy as well. I guess time will tell. I am sure looking forward to the holiday season and spending time with you all. I am excited for the Nydeggers to visit and to see Grammy again. I love you all. Thanks for the wonderful reminder Mom. I am going to do better. Love, Alison

Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings, having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other. ---Elder Marvin J. Ashton

As we begin the hectic fun-filled month of December; I really liked Elder Ashton's reminder that the very best gift I have to offer is probably the one that is the very hardest to give. Luckily life gives us all ample opportunity to get better and better at offering this 'pure love of Christ.'

I am so thankful for my family. I love you and feel in awe of your goodness and desire and determination to improve and progress. We are moving in the right direction...I know because my joy is amazing and full. The Relief Society motto, "Charity Never Faileth" is as inspiring to me now as it was to those I have loved that have moved on. My prayer for us this December is that our faith will be increased and we will feel a deeper appreciation for our Father and His Son. Wear your seatbelts and say your prayers. :)

Hi Guys! Happy Thanksgiving to all! I'm over at Grammy's stuffed to my gills, and having a wonderful time reminiscing about old times with Uncle Tom and my brother Al. I thought I'd stop by the Blog for a minute and see how everyone was doing. Ed, congratulations on your acceptance to BYU! I'm so happy for you. That's just great! Are you excited? And Danny, I have to say you are such a great father. It seems like every time I get on here I read about you taking your children somewhere fun. That's wonderful! I miss you guys! I hope the all-you-can-eat was delicious! Sam, your stories constantly have me howling! And for the record, I was struck with the stomach flu this last week, and I don't ever remember being that sick! Thanksgiving dinner never tasted better! I hope this note finds everybody healthy and happy. I miss and love you all!!! Anne xoxoxoxo

As I read through the blog to catch up with everyone, I noticed a good deal of sickness making the rounds. As hard as I tried, I could not pass up the opportunity to complain about a cold that has become my constant companion. I have been sick since September 24th. That makes two honest months of watery mucus, and multi-textured phlegm. During this time, I have missed over two full days of work, and several other meetings and activities. This can all be officially verified in my planner. I conscientiously marked the 24th of September as being the first day of sickness.

Though the symptoms have waxed and waned over this period, sympathy on the home front lasted roughly forty-eight hours. That is a generous estimate, because I am allowing for the possibility of sympathetic sleep. To be fair, this is two full days of tender care Melissa didn't get after she ate Uncle Harry's sweet potatoes last year at Thanksgiving. When I should have been helping her out, I was busy making Uncle Harry jokes and rejoicing in my own health and vigor. I became a true believer in karma, because I was immediately slammed with the nastiest, most violent bug I had ever caught. It was a defining moment in my history of illness, and I knew up front that no care could be expected, and little would be given. That particular flu gave Melissa the uncommon luxury of instant revenge, and it cleared Uncle Harry's good name as well.

I hope everyone has a healthy and enjoyable Thanksgiving this Thursday. If you are traveling, drive safely, and avoid any eggnog that smells funny.

Kate, I know all about medical clinics and doctors in big cities at addresses that don't exist, but I've never had a crying sick baby with me when looking for one! I'm glad that worked out, and very glad to hear Eli is feeling beter. Joe is home from school today, Bishop Evans is home next door sick, so it's starting out to be a sickly winter season.

I woke up this morning remembering a dream, which I seldom do. In the dream, I was exasperated to find all the bathrooms in our house in use, so I hurredly went out to the toilet, sitting all by itself right next to the stairs in the garage leading to the kitchen area.

Seated to my task, I was soon exposed to the light of day, like a mole in a hole as the garage door opened (yes, I was naked). One by one, Alison and Doug, Katie and Danny, and for some unknown reason Cami Mcphee (Brasher) filed right by me into the house. Alison was horrified, Doug, Danny and Katie were quite amused, and Cami kindly avoided eye contact. I really could do nothing but sit until they had all passed. I wish I could remember what happened next, but that's it.

Dear Hearts:

I am feeling much better today. For whatever reason my head is swoony and heavy but Jer is the doctor and I'm sure I'll be feeling much better soon.

There's no place like home!

Yes I had an amazing experience in Africa. Yes I'm glad I went. But, even though it is cold and gray and the world appears to be in shades of gray...I am sooo happy to be home. Dear Lois, thank you for sending all of the medicine in anticipation of any illness that could arise. It wasn't until I got home that I needed to take something for the nausea, but was I ever thankful to have it. I thought alot of you on this trip knowing that you would love seeing and experiencing such a beautiful place. The people were so interesting, black, difficult to understand, kind, helpful, a little spooky only because we were the minority,...it's very hard to....well, picture this. It's Sunday and there are brightly colored umbrellas, every pattern that you could imagine, shading an African walker on their way to somewhere. It was a sight. Only one of many images that I hope to remember for the rest of my days.

Ed got accepted to BYU! What an example of goal setting and hard work!

Anyway, my love to you dear ones. I am so thankful to be home surrounded with meaningful work and responsibility. I love my man even more today than yesterday.
Sam and now Ed have treated us to two very amazing places in the world. You were both the very best guides and traveling companions and I will always treasure the bonds that I was able to solidify with your sweet wives. Life is very good to us. As you can tell I am feeling very thankful today.

Mary, good luck with the beau. Keep your eyes wide open:) It is good to hear that you are having fun and a reason to get all cutied up.

"As with all commandments, gratitude is a description of a succesful mode of living. The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us."--Elder James E. Faust

I am thankful for you. mom