Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving 2010


Thia year has seen such growth in our family in our testimony's as well as our size and blessings. We all have had tests in our lives, and each person and family has faced them with valor and used their faith to handle the problems.
As we met together this Thanksgiving we had some real challenges. The first of the week the weatherman announced that a blizzard was on the way for Tuesday and warned every one to get off the roads and stay home. Jake and Amanda were going to travel then but I was calling saying not to come, Raelyn and the girls we getting their hair cut and Val Jay was even concerned about them getting back into Newton the wind was so strong. There wasn't that much snow, but what there was came down in a horizontal fashion totally blocking vision. Amanada finally gave in and didn't travel. However, the storm was so exhausted by time it left Logan Brigham City area, is fizzled out by SLC. They probably could have made it later in the evening, but there for a while I was really concerned. Thank goodness Melissa, Rob and Raelyn had all called her to say DON'T drive. They arrived Wed and we started the arranging of food, and went to the Utah State Basketball game against U OF U of which we WON and totally enjoyed cheering at. Jim, Ireland, Aaron and CiCi all arrived that evening so we really started to celebrate then.
Then there is the meal. What can I say.....we have that down to a science. Melissa starts us off with the best of the best horsedivours (no it doesn't come up on spellcheck so you have to guess what that word was) with tons of veggies, dips and Mischa made stuffed mushrooms that were to die for......Then there is the dinner: Mom does turkey, Kelly -ham, Munch -mashed potatoes-gravy, Aaron -crackers,beans and sauerkraut, Raelyn had yams, cider, rolls, I had cider, gravy and cherry pie, cranberry salad and Ireland does 3 pies.....now tell me who had a better dinner than that. Thanks everyone for setting up the tables, chairs, china and glassware. It was beautiful as well as tasty.
After dinner, we just "jelled" and enjoyed each other. We played games, Raelyn brought her jewelery making beads and we totally scored a whole new wardrobe of jewelry for our necks, wrists and ears. Thanks Raelyn for being so talented. It was so fun to watch the girls design and Amanda came up with a new necklace pattern which we all had to copy it was so awesome. Can I say there was plenty of basketball and football for the guys.
Philadelphia was a hit with the cards flying everywhere. Now, I am teased for my "buying" of the cards, but when you are a winner usually how can that be so bad. Those kids of mine will never forget how fast I can snatch up those cards. It was great. Jill was hitting the stores for the shopping of a lifetime by eleven o'clock that night. What a woman...and she made it all night with her family. How they do that is beyond me..
Aaron and Cici stayed the whole weekend, Cici taking care of Caden along with Karly and McKenna so his mom and I could goof of and play around. It was so awesome....Chelsea came home from school and joined us as well (this is when I realized that it won't be long before she will be "sharing her time with another family and I am not sure I am ready for that. Not sure how Raelyn feels about it, but that is one of the reminders of how fast time has gone by.)
I want to tell my kids and grandchildren how much these moments mean to to me. It is the joy of my life to see how you children have grown and the fantastic people and parents you are. All of you are working long hours, serving in the gospel, sharing your time and talents with others and serving me daily. You have all embodied everything I could ever want for you to become. Please know this Thanksgiving has given me another chance to "see" my blessing, feel them, and to have a witness of being a blessed mother.