November began with Karen and Drew Miller coming to stay with us while they prepared for their daughter Melissa's sealing. They arrived on Thursday the 2nd. Karen and I, with the help of Katie, made three different kinds of soup to be served after the sealing for all of the wedding party. Drew spent most of the time helping to decorate the gym for the reception. Lon performed the sealing at 10:00 am, then we headed to Jerome to attend the funeral for Vern Clarkson, Dirk's dad. I had to lead the singing and Lon and I sang a duet also. Of course it snowed so the roads were a bit slick. The funeral began at 11:00. We arrived at 11:05 and thankfully the funeral was running a bit late so we made it in time.
We came home to grab a bite to eat and got to the 3:00 baptism that I had to play at. We left the baptism and drove straight to Twin for the reception for Melissa and David at 5:00. It snowed all day so it was nice not to have to be out real late. Drew and Karen arrived about 10:00, exhausted. We got the leftovers put away and we all crashed for the night. Sunday morning, they left to have breakfast with their kids and then drove home to Rigby. So thankful that we were able to help. It was a beautiful sealing and reception.
On Saturday the 11th, we had lunch with our Mission Family from El Salvador. The Kitley's have sold their home and are moving to Florida on the 30th of November. This will be the last time we are together for a long time, if ever again.
Los Petersen's in front
Los Gibbon's, Los Kitley's, Los Thompson's
We had a great time visiting and remembering our time together in El Salvador.
We spent the rest of the week getting things done and prepared for our trip to Georgia.
We served on our shift on the 14th then left for Orem. We spent the night with Farrell and AnnaVee. It is always so good to be with them. They drove us to the airport the following morning and we flew to Georgia. Mindi met us at the airport in Atlanta and we drove to their home, about an hour away in Canton.
Our attempt at a "selfie" on the plane
We met "Hope" for the first time when we arrived Wednesday night. She wasn't so sure of us and it took her a few days to accept us. This dog has stolen the hearts of this whole family. She is really a good dog, doesn't lick or jump on you. Just don't leave her alone for too long, she doesn't like it and can be a little destructive.
Mindi took us to the "Gibbs Gardens" on Friday. She had never been there either so it was really fun to see it with her for the first time. There are 220 acres of landscaped gardens adjacent to spring-fed streams, ponds, and lakes, surrounded by hillsides covered with mature woodlands. The fall colors were still very vibrant.
The water fall at the entrance of the gardens.
We took a bus up to the Manor House Gardens to begin our tour.
But first we enjoyed a sandwich in their little restaurant.
The Manor House and all the trails that you can explore. We walked through the trails to the lower Valley Gardens.
The Manor House where the owners still live.
Sure wish that the camera could capture what the eye can see.
Mindi, Nancy and Lon
Here are some photo's of the grounds around the Manor House.
Back of the Manor House
We walked back down the hill into the Valley Gardens
There are trails everywhere that you can walk through the gardens on. It would take hours to see everything. We went to the Japanese Gardens next.
This garden has 4 distinct seasons starting in March with the daffodils blooming. There is always something blooming or changing colors. We are glad to be here in the fall. We really missed the fall with all of its vibrant colors while we served on our missions to Central America. They don't have fall there as everything is always growing and green.
The reflections in the water are amazing. Wouldn't these photos make a great puzzle?
What a fun day. We stopped at the restaurant for some fried apple pie before we headed for home. Time to get the kids picked up and fed before they head out for their evening activities.
Saturday morning we did some shopping in preparation for Thanksgiving. Today is game day as BSU, Fresno State, and BYU all had games. It was a lot of football for one day, especially since we were on the east coast so the games are real late. Lon didn't come to bed until 1:30. We did take time between games to go into Wendy's for dinner.
We didn't even shake Hannah up as she took our orders. So proud of this girl and her dedication to her first job. She was very professional and handled Dad and Mom and Grandpa and Grandma without flinching.
Sunday morning, the Ward Choir was singing in Sacrament meeting so Mindi and I went to church early to practice. It was so fun to sing next to Mindi. We love to watch the boys as they prepare and pass the Sacrament to thier ward. These kids are growing up way too fast.
Lon got his "daddy do" list and Monday we went shopping for the materials to be able to accomplish these. With the help of Nathan and Isaac a door casing was changed out, a ceiling fan repaired, blinds hung on two doors, and a bridge built where the path had washed out in the back yard.
Even Hope tried to get involved with the project.
They finished the bridge Thanksgiving morning. This is for a merit badge for Isaac.
We went into the Atlanta Georgia Temple on Wednesday morning, the 22nd, with the whole family. Justin baptized Hannah, Mindi and me for ten of our ancestors each then Lon baptized the boys for another 10 ancestors apiece. Justin did most of the confirming. What a wonder morning. Hannah had searched out most of these ancestors.
We are so thrilled that these grandchildren have a love and reverence for the temple.
Isaac, Hannah, Grandma, Grandpa, Nathan
We took everyone out for Pizza on our way home. Lon worked on his "daddy do" list with the boys while Mindi and I made the pies this year. I think Lon was a little disappointed about not getting to help with the cooking, but the bridge had to be finished before the 24th cause the boys were going to be working at the Christmas Tree Farm again this year and not home to help.
Ginger sent us a Christmas puzzle to put together. What a surprise! We loved working on it together. When we got to about 25 pieces left, the boys and Justin came to help it get done. Love this tradition of our Thanksgiving together.
Thanksgiving dinner was delicious and we enjoyed some football and Christmas movies. On the 24th, Friday morning, Justin, Mindi, Lon and I headed to the temple again. We did a session and then got to seal this little family together. We went out for Chinese food to pay off the bet that Lon lost to Justin about BSU football.
Lon helped me make homemade noodles for Justin on Friday morning and he and Mindi got to play some tennis again. They got 3 games in and Mindi won them all. Lon has decided that he will try to play some during the summer with Brent Buhler so that he will be able to play better next year. He lost 0-6, 2-6, and 4-6 so he was improving the longer he played.
Sunday we were thrilled to be able to listen to Justin give a talk in Sacrament meeting. He did a great job. We helped decorate the tree and house for Christmas that evening.
Monday morning Justin and Mindi gave us our Christmas present. We took off to visit Tennessee.
We first drove about 2 hours to Chattanooga. We went to Lookout Mountain and toured this battle field where the Union and the Confederacy fought over Chattanooga. If the Union could capture Chattanooga it would cripple the Confederate supply lines and strike at the industrial heart of the Confederacy. This battle lasted from mid September to the end of November.
The Chattanooga River from the top of Lookout Mountain.
The museum about the battles
The entrance to the battle field
The monument in honor of the fallen solders.
The Union had horrible terrain to climb to try and take this mountain from the Confederacy
Can you imagine trying to climb up that rough mountain with horses pulling your big guns?
The rays of the sun making Lon appear like an angel
It is just so sad to think about all the thousands of lives that were taken in this place. We walked on Holy ground this day. So many young men never had a chance to experience life.
We walked around the park and museum for a few hours then went to lunch at a river side restaurant. Then on to Nashville, about another 2 hours.
We checked into our motel and went to tour the Country Music Hall of Fame. We only had about an hour before it closed so we had to keep moving but thoroughly enjoyed our time there.
This is the Hall of Fame Rotunda. They made the room round to ensure that every Hall of Fame member has a place of equal importance. Justin checking out some of the plaques
The plaque for Elvis Presley. On the third floor, we saw this car with a rifle on the back and the door knobs were pistols.
With the horns on the front and a saddle for the console with silver dollars all over it.
And this is Elvis's car
He had a TV in the middle with his gold records all over the roof and a microphone and recorder to use while he was driving somewhere. There were costumes and memorabilia from dozens of artists from the past and the present.
One of the dresses worn by Dolly Parton.
We drove from here over to the Grand Ole Opry House.
The grounds were decorated beautifully. We wondered around outside for a while.
The inside was amazing. The woodworking was so beautiful. It was so awesome to be in the Grand Ole Opry. Just thinking of all the artists who had performed in this place made us feel special.
We were a little early for the show so we spent some time roaming around the main floor and visiting the little shops.
Our seats were up stairs. The Country Music shows are not shown here anymore, they have a new facility down town. Lots of other kinds of productions are shown here now.
A selfie in our seats waiting for the show to begin
Justin and Lon checking out some of the products that were on sale
It is hard to describe the show. Justin says it is a cross between a circus and Alice in Wonderland. It was fabulous! The actors were dressed as Christmas Tree Ornaments. The costumes were bright and very beyond description. There was singing, dancing and circus type acts. The whole stage was constantly moving. It was just plain FUN!
Tuesday morning we drove back to Mindi and Justin's. What a wonderful Christmas gift. We had so much fun being with Justin and Mindi and visiting places in Tennessee. We spent our last evening with the Parker's and went to bed early as we had to be up and out of the house by 3:30AM to drive to Atlanta and catch our flight home.
We flew into Salt Lake City about 11:30 and Farrell and AnnaVee had our car there for us to head on home. There hadn't been any snow while we were gone so we had bare roads to drive on and arrived home safe and sound.
Lon had to work at BZ Thursday afternoon and I got us unpacked and started getting our Christmas tree and decorations up. And the month of November has come to an end.
No comments:
Post a Comment