It's beginning to feel a lot like winter...thankfully we have warm homes and cars

pic of snow in achorage in Oct at a glacier

picture of snow in Alaska

pic of bryan snowblowing at our home last year

pic of ten foot snowman , bryan and Hayley built the year after bryan's returned home from his mission

Hi family

well the song goes 'its beginning to look a lot like Christmas" (which it is) but sing that to the tune of its beginning to feel a lot like Winter" in a way its been warm as far as winters go but burrrrr..

I'm feeling the chill--so I wear warm coats and drink --hot cocoa, --we can't hold a candle to what kerri and brad are feeling, or Hayley walking around Boston and New York ( this weekend)

incidently though--one day last month slc was colder than achorage

(hum go figure) I need to get some skiing free after three at Alta or something to make the cold season go by faster.

well at least when it's cold outside and dark--we can at least feel 'all cozy' looking out from a comfy warm homes. How grateful I am for warm homes and warm cars with heaters. I remember my mom living in Idaho (and its cold there too) and driving in horse pulled sleighs

not just for the fun of it or a pleasure ride; for mom and her family, that was the mode of transportation. I remember her saying how her dad took her in the sleigh to get her to the bus/ or train (?), to come down to college in Provo. I also think of the pioneers when its cold --and I will ever respect them, facing the elements. Bottom line -the cold makes me count my blessings. Speaking of blessings If I share this next part then I won't get the blessing in Heaven. Yesterday I was driving to get to the library. Then I accidently pulled out of the parking lot a bit too far onto the sidewalk. a couple pushing a baby stroller had to walk around my car I rolled down the window and said sorry-about blocking them and then I had the feeling to offer them a ride( they looked cold So they accepted. We throw the stroller into the the trunk and go down to the storage sheds by tracks on sixty four south and they get some things from the shed and then I take them back home. It was great to make a new friend. Three friends counting their little baby.

So even though its beginning to look a lot like winter--if it wasn't winter I wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet this kind family. just one more PS to the story, that blessed my life.

The best part of the story: Besides a small television and kitchenette toy for the baby and such;

One of the things they got out of the storage was a copy of a large Bible, and I thought to myself--yes, go home and read your scriptures, if they were walking that far to the shed to get their bible--it must be important to them. It reminded me how important it was to me too. Can't wait to read the Christmas story out of the Bible, before hand and on Christmas eve. I've valued my bible more since yesterday.

The Middle

Hello-family-
The Middle is a comical weekly show that has started up this year--the last episode was the most fun yet in my way of thinking--its about a family who decided to simplifiy the gift giving and hype of Christmas and then the grandpa and grandma come to stay and well lets just say they um...act like 'grandpa and grandma' and sort of over do (or spoil) but it's out of a good intentions and good heart...they used to be parents that gave an allowance of 12 cents a week and now have taken on the philosophy of 'ya can't take it with ya' sort of attitude. in a way I'm much like the grandma in the show--but then in a way I was at one time like the mom of the show--when I was a younger mother.
"bottom line:" --- I found it funny and wondered if anyone else did as well. Their are some funny lines in it though and it aired I think this past Wed--if anyone wanted to look on hulu.com and see it (Dec 8th) I think. I'll its something about the twelve days of Christmas--and see if you can't see me saying some of the things that the mother on the episode says : such as : -" treasuring the gift of the orange, as they did in the depression" --or " let's give each other home made gifts from the heart'. (incidently Brad -one gift from the heart the big brother gives the little brother is building him a snow cave--made me think of you building that last year )

So I can see both sides of the fence--but it made me laugh..Hope it does you too. the closing line of the show--no matter what is said in a family--hopefully good or bad--it is forgotten--because its all about families. (which the emphasised in bryan and brianne's stake conference) and as I told Bryan and Brianne--and I will tell you ALL--thank you thank-you , thank-you for indulging me in my annual family things --I love you all for it mom

The Christmas Season brings me JOY

The Christmas season brings me a lot of joy--

1- COURAGE- comes with the season...

yesterday--mostly because it was the Christmas season and my heart was full of joy--I got the courage up to briefly and simply explain to a co worker --how taking the sacrament, gives me strength for the week ahead. That because of the Atonement of Christ, all things will have a way of working out for the best, either in this life or the hereafter. I simply asked her to 'think' about those things. Because I have the faith that what I told her is true. the thing was that in telling my less active friend all these things --it also reminded me of the courage I can have in a world of turmoil, and disappointment. It gave me courage as well that things will all work out.

2- MUSIC- The Christmas season provides opportunity for me to sing in the stake Christmas program, I love even the practices. I love bing crosby singing Christmas songs and I love the primary singing for the ward services, and I love the songs that the grandkids play for their piano recitals and I love the music playing in the stores

3-FAMILY- it gives excuses for the grandkids to come around to help put out little decorations

and make goodies and trinkets, and gingerbread houses, and for all the family to read the nativity.

4- NEIGHBORS- I reflect with each Christmas card/letter I write--what joy each life that touches ours for good really means. so many people have done so much for me and influenced me

5-LOVE- I feel more love for my Savior and those around me. I have been reading and studying the New Testament again. The Savior gave courage and strength to those in the Old World, and I love him dearly for bouying me up and giving me strength, each and every day.

6. wearing bright colors (greens, reds etc) I love wearing Christmas colors and boots

7. FIRST PRESIDENCY DEVOTIONAL... always my favorite story come from the brethern that share at this devotional. I love our prophet and bear testimony that he is a living prophet today

Pres Monson has made such an impact and difference to my life and my behavior.

8. LIGHTS-- I feel cozy around lights, by my tree , on temple square, in the light of the candles as we eat our candle light dinner on Christmas eve.everything in the dark especially seem 'illuminated' and it reminds me that our Savior is the Light of the world and his light is in his creations --all year long, and the light of Christ is in people's eyes, all year long.

9. SCRIPTURES-AND WITNESSES= the accounts in Luke that tell of the circumstances leading up to Christ birth and then the birth, are so lovely to me--I love to read about this over and over, and I love to know that there were so many witnesses to this--how can we not believe

The scriptures also remind me to be ever looking and longing for his coming to the earth again.

snow shoeing is fun-- snow shoeing is exercise

watched a clip on good things utah about snow shoeing and said--that's it--I'm going so I head up little cottonwood and tried it out--after the last newly fallen snow--its fun and good exercise just like they had said on the show---later I saw brad and kerri--wore there's to find a tree--
so there you have it--snow shoes are the thing. At least I think so I'm a big fan. I only got pretty pictures of snow covered trees--(no permit ya know-for chopping one) but the pics will have to do. The river was pretty too. All in all a fun day--then hurried home as dad and I had to be somewhere that night, so I wasn't out long, but can't wait to go again.

all dressed up and someplace to go

the actual saying is all dressed up and "no place to go"--but I say all dressed up and some great places to go. Such as pictured above (1) dressed up in winter gear to go to see the glaciers and to go see alaska wildlife, and also to go downtown in alaska to buy and eat :"Reindeer Hotdogs," (they taste much like chicken--not seriously they taste like sauage) --yummy....

more dressing up included:

2-dressed up to go to church to participate in the services, partake of the sacrament and to be a part of Forrest recieving a name and blessing on the records of the church. 3) all dressed up to go watch an assemble for abbie and anna to recieve reflections awards (not pictured) 4) all dressed up to go to the hospital (and out to tooele as well ) for lots of holding time with sweet, sweet hogan and his brother and sister. 5) all dressed up to go to a performance of the nutcracker this past week --it was the kirk girl's dance organization performing they we'ren't old enought to be involved but another year or two they might, get to two something like that...fun times/ 6) not pictured all dressed up to go with dad to the temple on the first Fri of Nov. --but pictured above is going to "Time out for Women" classes at the salt palace. we attended with Tara W and her mom and sister as pictured, we all heard some great music and thoughts.

7) all dressed up to go to the last play at deseret star of our season tickets. *8) all dressed up to go teach school. now anticipating.....9) preparing to get all dressed up for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner...dressing up for that involves basically--some clean socks and comfy top and some jeans

some fun snow pics

when I woke up and looked out this morning at the snow I thought I might still be dreaming

it was beautiful. (took down lots of trees in the neighborhood though) got our oak tree in a few places at the tip top--and any way heres a few snap shots for kicks...well you get the general idea

fun if you don't have any place to go...but inside--wow

touching story

photo picture of the marker

drawing of young mary and her father by the marker.

There is often recounted in the family as I remember it a story told of Mary Goble Pay's little sister. I love this story and dad has told it before in his sharing of testimony and talks. What he gains from the story is the impact that one little girl, very young, Her stay very short upon the earth, but oh the impact that she has had on generations of people.

while coming from England to Ut. The family of Mary Penfold and Richard Goble started out with many children, well and healthy. But as time moved on, and through circumstances of illness, the harsh elements, lack of food, many of the children as well as the mother died along the crossing from England to Ut. When one of these children passed on, a sweet daughter named Edith, they buried her in a shallow grave on plains. It was more than her sister mary could stand. Mary cried and lamanated over her baby sisters grave and not wanted to leave it, stayed behind. The father made a marker and tried to console mary, who was worried about the wolves digging up the grave. It was a difficult time for the Pay family. Years later a marker was found by a man--he researched the name goble and put the marker in the hands of Uncle Doug and aunt Evelyn, aunt Joanne and aunt doreen. Then later someone by the name of rogers painted a picture depicting their imagery of the scene of mary by the marker--I took a picture of that rendition as it is posted here. There was also a song made up in honor of this story. For years, and years. generations of the family have passed down the story of the crossing of the plains with the details of Mary Goble and her parents and sibblings and their plight in martins cove (as part of the hodge company) along with the Willie handcarts. For years we have revered not only those on the plains of wyoming but of little Edith back in Iowa too.

So though her life was short by comparisson that time here on earth made a great impact.

I just wanted to share this to remind us again of two things. We can learn so much from those who have gone before and two: that each of you where ever you are and what ever you are doing to work out your salvation and live the gospel, have a will make a great impact too. Like mary goble or Edith, you may not think you are anything out of the ordinary, but your lives impact many other lives.