Don't We Live in a Beautiful Area!

Such a lovely sunset from our house this evening.

Carl Heinrich Bloch & Coconut Donuts

We have been home from our mission one year today.

We decided to go to BYU to see the

Carl Heinrich Bloch Exhibit.

I was given the book, The Master's Hand. The Art of Carl Heinrich Bloch, as a Christmas present and after reading it I have had such a strong desire to visit the exhibit.  We are all so familiar with the paintings by Bloch, but there is nothing like seeing an original work of art. 

It was wonderful and as an added bonus there were three other exhibits: Dorothea Lange photography of three southern Utah towns (Gunlock, Toquerville, and St. George) in the 1950's; War Poster Illustra-tions; and an amazing collection of Southwest art by the likes of Maynard Dixon, LaConte Stewart, Mahonri Young, and others. 

We went to the Bookstore and ate lunch at the Cougareat Food Court.
A low key, but very enjoyable day.

Welcome Home Dick & Carole

We were so happy to welcome my brother and his wife, Dick & Carole, home from their CES mission in Salzburg, Austria. It was great that they came up here to spend a few days with Mom. We had a little pizza party at our home on Friday, the 28th, to be able to spend some time with them.

Julie made adorable cupcakes, and Cherie prepared a wonderful veggie tray 

and we ordered Domino's pizza, plenty for all and easy for me. Thanks,Tom, for the suggestion.

I was so glad that at least two of our daughters were able to get better acquainted
with Dick and Carole.  They have great strength and deep-down goodness.
You may wonder whether I am referring to Dick & Carole or Julie and Cherie.
It applies to all of them. What a blessing.

We were so glad Mom felt well enough to come. 

She is finally over her walking pneumonia.

I wonder who is always the star.

Then Saturday, Mom treated Dick, Carole, Shawna, Jack, Tiffany, Josh, Wayne and me to

a wonderful dinner at the Mandarin.

Sunday the 30th, we gathered at Mom's for more family bonding.

It Took My Breath Away

Sometimes you are just in the right place at the right time, 
and sometimes fog isn't all bad.

A New Experience

Monday I start a Church Service Mission in the COB (Church Office Building).  Officially I will work in Office and Administrative Support as an Assistant Church Service Missionary Program Coordinator.  Does that sound impressive?  Actually I will be doing data input, a rather simple position.  I will be there Mondays and Wednesdays, all day.

Since coming home from our mission I have felt a lack in my life and really wanted to spend more of my time in worthwhile activities.  I think a Church Service Mission is just the ticket.

I am actually very excited about this, partly because I will be downtown again.  I absolutely love Salt Lake City, and especially Temple Square and the Plaza.  It is fun to watch the changes and I am especially interested in the City Creek Center.  I just wish I could afford to live in one of the new condos they are building.  Anyone have $2.5 million they don't know what to do with?

China - Here Comes Lyndsey

Our granddaughters, Melissa and Lauren, both loved their experience in China teaching very young children who are in a boarding school. It was not easy, but it was an enriching, strengthening, and heart-wrenching experience. Both of them long to go back to China. We wish you all the best, Lyndsey, and we are proud of you for taking this big step out of your comfort zone. Be safe. Be happy. Be amazing, as you always are. 

We're going to miss you girl.

A Joyful Christmas

Jack, Shawna, Wayne and I went to Mom's and decorated her house. I think she feels a little more like celebrating the season now. The nativity has been set out on her Italian marble table for at least 35 years. Mom's collection of nutcrackers is awesome. But my favorite things are the tatted ornaments. The one on the left, as are all the square ones, was made by my Grandmother, Hazel Turner, and the round ones were tatted by Mom. I think these are beautiful and I know how hard they are to make and how time-consuming. They are indeed lovely.

I decided to add a touch of the British to our celebration, so I made 24 English Christmas Crackers. Our guests were good sports and played with the little toys, read the jokes, and wore the tissue-paper crowns.

Christmas Eve Menu

Appetizer - Stacy Uriona

Roast Turkey - Claudine

Baked Spiral Ham - Claudine

Cheesy Potatoes - Julie

Durkee Baked Beans - Kristy Schwab

Cranberry Salad - Cherie

Cherie's Salad - Cherie

Stuffing - Claudine

Cranberry Sauces - Claudine

Rolls & Butter - Shawna

Berry, Berry Pies - Claudine

Fruit Cake - Claudine

Christmas Eve Program

"Away in a Manger" by Everyone

Piano Solo by Ellie Schwab

"The Three Trees" read by Various Readers

Piano Solo by Mitchell Schwab

"O Hush Thee My Baby" by Cherie, Katelyn and Lauren

The Christmas Story from the Bible by Wayne Cable

"He Sent His Son" by Everyone

I really loved the program. We read "The Three Trees" because it is a beautiful story, and it reminded me of our two Christmas Eves in Wales at Lisa & Peter Hammond's home where we always had that story read. It was fun to have young children on the program again. "O Hush Thee My Baby" was incredibly beautiful. Cherie, Katelyn and Lauren blend so well together and it was a sweet moment. It was nice having Wayne read the Christmas story but it did make us miss Dad as he has read it for so many years.  "He Sent His Son" is one of my very favorites and singing it on Christmas Eve brought a sweet spirt to each of us.

Christmas morning we were at Kari and Cherie's at 7:00 a.m. to watch them open their Christmas. I have never laughed so much. They are a very amusing family, each one with a great sense of humor and they had so much fun together. It is very organized, but also very fun to be there.  Kari surprised Cherie with a new, big iMac - awesome!  Kari has become such a PC guy I was surprised to see him make the change, but thrilled.  They will not be sorry.  Cherie served a delicious egg, sausage and shredded potato casserole. It was fun.

After Cherie's and before Cherie and Julie, et al. came to our home at 11:00, we went to Melissa's. It was fun to see all the great things she made for breakfast and the millions of gifts Ellie got.

Julie actually liked the counted cross-stitch pillow I gave her that she and I had spent 30 years stitching. That was fun. Julie said, "This has one of my favorite sayings on it and I have quoted it to my children many, many times over the years." She read, "Our best friends are those in whose presence we can be our best selves." Spencer said, "Mine too." He read, "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, . . ." Loved it. He is hilarious.

In the afternoon, around 2:00, we went to Mom's to share time with her on Christmas day.