Celebrate Christ's birth

Tis a month before Christmas and we've been celebrating all year
As Jesus Christ is most prominent in our hearts and we  cheer
At soccer, basketball, swimming, orchestra and dance
A lot of travel and visits for a fabulous year.

Our family challenged ourselves mentally with college,
work and inventions.
And physically in the water, on tracks and on bikes.
Both long and sprints and hitting the waves
and on hikes.

Highlights for our  family are mostly mentioned above,
But  specifically  remembered are:
Tanner's wedding, Peter's baptism, College for Megan and Conner
And many graduations.. Karina, Blake, Conner, And Alyish and Logan.
 \
We continue to serve the Lord as Pathway Worldwide Senior Missionaries
Merry Christmas to All and to all a Healthy New Year

Most thankful in Michigan with the Mercados

whenever we visit family, that is the biggest and best activity---just being together. This time we went the last day the famous cider mill was open and got to enjoy Michigan famous apple cider and donuts. We were excited to share this cold evening and family tradition/

More family traditions are playing games.

preparing to run. even if it is too cold and wet and slippery to go out, we figure out another way to get our heart going before the big feast.

making gifts  for others

more game playing

Jason is the best turkey man ever

after the feast Val and Victoria got their Christmas going by getting tickets to the Moscow Ballet of the Nutcracker

we got to celebrate Eriks 7th birthday and then

just before we left he lost his front tooth!

Celebrating with Val and her family always is joyful, active, and full of love. We love being together, especially watching foot ball with Jason. They always find repairs and service projects for Jim! This year was more challenging for me when I got the text about Blake coming home, but, sharing it with family made it easier. 

more thankful

So many friends from California are suffering from tragedies this week. As I ponder this season of thanksgiving I am thankful for friends, family, faith, fun and food! Here are some of my neighbors who we shared a meal and  our California stories.

Every knee shall bow by J Kirk Richards, an artist here in Utah Valley shared his talent with us in a lecture reminding me of all the talents we have been given including the gift of good friends

We enjoyed good cross town competition between UVU and BYU with healthy active family.

my sister and cousin

my Val

and Karina and Derek

our Pathway Mission students

traveling with fun friends

Friends forever share love and memories

Thankful

Trying to coordinate  all on a beautiful Saturday morning at the same temple in Provo is harder than I thought. Even though we have cell phones and all knew that we were going to the temple,Nattie, Jake, Mariah and Jim ended up at Prove Center and we, Calvin, Nik, Peter , and Ike ended up at Provo. Hoping for a fun group photo, I am thankful that we all got to spend a great weekend together.

Derek and Missy had a weekend away in Northern Calif, and we got to spend the time with their 4 kids and most of Karina's. I am  thankful that I live near the grandchildren and can spend time... at the park, in the hot tub, baking and preparing meals, going to the library and church, reading books and we even got to make pictures for Elder McDonald.

This time of year reminds us to stop and list and ponder what we are thankful for. One of the things that I discovered in the past few weeks is listening to the scriptures. During this busy weekend listening while exercising turned out to be the best use of my time. It is now a new favorite way for me to study and listen as I follow the challenge to have the Book of Mormon read by the end of the year.

the importance of finding the right coat

Growing up in Pennsylvania, getting a new coat each year was a necessity. Yes, we lived near Valley Forge, the same place that George Washington and his troops camped during that cold winter protecting the newly formed new nation. 

One fun memory during elementary school, we missed many days of school because of a winter storm. We had 10 feet snow drifts , no electricity, but much fun camping out like pioneers and building ice castles, sledding, ice skating, and trying to figure out how to cook meals and keep warm. I loved every minute especially because I had a warm coat.

When I became more interested in style I remember getting my camels hair coast with fur on the collar. One year I got a white coat with green trim, it was the latest craze, My senior year  I got my first ski parka, a baby blue white stag. When I went to college in Provo, again it was necessary to have the perfect coat, As anyone remembers, most of the time our friends only saw us walking across campus in our coat. Mine was a soft green coat with soft leather capizio  shoes, I soon learned that I needed something warmer. Next I got my Dr, Zhivago, a long black coat with a thick belt and wide collar. Yes, I can remember all my coats. But, then I moved to California and really didnt need a warm coat. 

 Since serving missions  in Switzerland and Philadelphia, I again need to find the perfect coat. Now, living in Utah, I have found that coats are again an important part of my wardrobe. It is most fun searching in consignment stores in better off communities. Last week we went to Aspen Colorado and had a fun time looking for hidden treasures. Jim found a London Fog to replace the one that was stolen at church in Philadelphia. I found many treasures. Now I need to get clean up and give away things I dont want.

When we returned from Aspen, I went down to the food storage room to clean out some of my old winter coats and discovered a leak. Lucky for us ! We had a pipe burst while we were  travelling and had to remove and cleanup all of our stored food. Luck for us that I had  stored coats in there and felt the need to give the extras away.

Too cold 

Faithful Fall Colors

School starts and I am working in the classroom, learning and growing with them. Most important at this time is seeing Peter grow in the gospel and get baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Here we are celebrating Peters baptism.

 Blake is getting ready to leave for his Spanish speaking mission to New Mexico. head for  Albuquerque  

This is the Draper temple, very close to Dereks home. We tried to take a selfie there but finally ended up with this.

The new kitten is loved by,, almost all! He has not won over everyone yet. Nattie is cheering for Orem High now so we get to enjoy more local events.

Here are Karina and her girls, and look, they are almost all the same height! 

We loved being at Peters baptism, mostly because we have seen him grow and see what a great boy he is.  In a few days Blake will be off to the Mission Training Center to prepare for his Spanish speaking mission to Albuquerque.

Spending time with these two buddies of mine brings me great joy, They are loving bringing in the fruits of our labors, swimming in the hot tub, sharing toys,  and hugs. I am so glad that we get to share the fruits of  our life with so many of the grandkids. I love them and hope that they feel my love for them and for the sacrifice of our Savior.   

Mercado's and me in Michigan

Getting all the kids together smiling is  tricky, but we caught all the kids and got the smile and i

here are some of talents that I got to see during my visit.. violins and viola

cheering

dancing

triathlon

yoga/strength

cooking

EATING

Jason is one lucky guy with this red hot mama!

too bad, boys sleeping on the job!

Me and my pal Val, THANKS for sharing your love and time, I love you ALL!