November, 2024

 November began with a beautiful day.  Lon actually was able to golf 18 holes with Richard Reynolds. I went to lunch with Barb.  It was a nice day off with nothing pressing to do.  It's nice to have a play day once in a while.  The new Burley Idaho Temple President and Matron were announced today.  We are so thrilled for Burley.  Paul and Nadine Tateoka were in our Stake for years. 

President Tateoka was our Stake President when we went on our first two missions.  Then Hazelton was moved to the Paul Stake.  They are the shift coordinators for our Wednesday PM Shift at the temple.  She speaks Spanish.  We just love them.  

November the 2nd, Saturday, we spent the morning getting some chili made, did some shopping and Lon and LaRon worked on Lon's boat.  We then met Tracy, Sarah and Ashton at the temple to do some sealings.  We were the only patrons in this session, so we were able to get all of the names done that we had with us.  We were asked if we would like to do a few temple shared names. The sealer, Brother Bodily, pulled out the top sheet and the first name was from Korea, where Ashton had served his mission.  The second name was from Finland, where Tracy had served his mission.  The third name was Spanish, where Lon had served.  The last two were in English for Sarah and me.  What a beautiful tender mercy and reminder that our Heavenly Father knows us and is aware of us.  We didn't get to go to dinner with Tracy's bunch as we had to stay at the temple and close for the Taylors.  They went to their stake conference.  What a nice beginning to a new month.  

We began special choir practices for our ward's Christmas Sacrament meeting.  Carson and Sue are in charge of this.  Lon is concerned that he can learn the music, And the Glory of the Lord from the Messiah, and I am just thrilled to be able to do this.  

Judy, Connie and I went to lunch on Monday the 4th.  I just love spending time with my sisters.  

We were off Tuesday, so we went to Twin Falls to visit with Elsie and Tommy Williams.   We began serving in the Boise Idaho Temple on the same day and the same shift in 1998.  They are dear friends.  Their health is not so good anymore and have had to quit serving in the temple.  We had a wonderful visit and left knowing that we may not see them again in this life but will look forward to a reunion when they will be well and whole in the next.

Friday morning, the 8th, we opened the temple and the Taylor's came in at 9:30 to take over our shift.  We were able to attend the funeral for Lon's Aunt Phyllis Thompson, 97 years old.  We are thrilled that she is now alert and with Keith who died earlier this year. 

Phyllis served as my secretary when I was the Relief Society President.  Keith was our bishop.

Photo taken in 2022

Phyllis had dementia very bad in the end. They are LaRon's parents (Lon's fishing partner)

The funeral was a nice tribute to Phyllis, and we saw many of Lon's cousins. 😖(We didn't take any pictures) 
Farrell and AnnaVee came up from Utah, Tara and her 3 children brought them.  It is a tough weekend for us to have company as we are on the morning shift. Tara and family got a motel, so the kids had a swimming pool.  Farrell and AnnaVee stayed with us.  We put the TV on the sports channel and hoped that they would find enough to eat while we were gone on Saturday morning to the temple.  The 4 of us went to an early dinner at Kurt and Linda's.  Neither Linda nor AnnaVee are doing well.

Sunday all of Farrell's bunch went to church with us.  We had our quarterly Shift Coordinator's meeting that afternoon so again we had to leave our company. I had made a big pot of stew so that was pretty much what Farrell and AnnaVee ate.  On Monday Craig and Robbie came to town and after a lunch of arepa's, the men went golfing.  Tara picked up Farrell at the golf course and they headed home.  Tomorrow, we begin our big week, we are tired before it even begins.

On Sunday the 17th, Drew and Karen came to spend the night. It's always fun to have them come.  We stay up way too late talking and continue in the morning.  We had to head to Boise Monday morning so after breakfast we said good-bye and they headed to Melissa's to spend time with the grandbabies.  

Scotty, Craig's son, is a dentist and Lon needed a new crown.  Lon had given Scotty a gun, the long-tom, and Scotty is using his dentistry to repay.

Scotty built this fireplace and mantal to display the gun

He even has a spotlight on it.

Lon then traded Scotty the 30-30 that Grandpa Willis bought in 1951 for a lifetime of dental service.  

We are thrilled that the gun went to someone who really appreciates it.

1951, Lynn, Willis, Lon, Kurt with the 30-30 on antlers

We didn't get out of Scotties office till 5:30.  With it being rush hour in Boise, we drove straight out of town and stopped at the Truck Stop outside of Boise for supper.  Didn't get home till 8.

We had a wonderful surprise on Friday the 22nd.  Ryanne, Gideon and Aydan stopped by for lunch!

We fed them crappie, french fries and cookie salad.  

We had a great visit.  Gideon and Ryanne went on to Idaho Falls to visit with that side of the family.

We spent the 27th cooking in preparation for Thanksgiving tomorrow.  

Lon got his pies baked, and tested the apple to make sure it was good.😁and before the night was over, tested the pecan also.  We brought in the picnic table so we would have enough seating.

Justin and Shayla's family came for dinner.

Riley and Josh, Kyleigh and Tyler, Adam, Aydan, Justin and Shayla, Gideon, Mason, and the boys, Braxton and Hendrix.  Justin's mother also came, Janis -  15 in all.

The fisher price toys are still a hit for the boys

Braxton (Riley) and Hendrix (Kyleigh)

Of course football was on!

Justin, Adam (Riley) and Lon

Tyler, Josh, Mason

Nancy, Kyleigh, Riley, Janis, Gideon, Aydan

We were missing Ryanne, Dillin and Jasmine.

We cooked a turkey, Shayla brought a ham, and we had all the trimmings, potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, rolls, shrimp and celery salad, broccoli casserole and cookie salad.  With pie and ice cream for dessert. The meal was wonderful and the company excellent.  On this Thanksgiving Day, it was easy to remember what we have to give thanks for.  We love our family and are always so thrilled to spend time with them.  15 is about all this little house's limit, but we did miss everyone else.

Weston

Hadley

Mindi and Justin family celebrated in Utah

Claire holding Weston and Isaac, Justin and Mindi, Nathan and Loren, Hannah and Jacob

Hadley was taking a much needed nap!

Ginger's bunch in California

Jessica, Ginger, Jaikka, Italian boyfriend Luca, Debbie, Janet, Debbie's mother

Tracy's bunch were in Korea, touring Ashton's mission

Chandler, Eisley, Tracy, Sarah and Ashton

I think that we all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, from our varies locations.  We give thanks for all we have, but especially for our family.  Our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are the joy of our lives.  We love them so.  We have amazing siblings who have been such great examples to us.  We are blessed with a loving temple family, ward family, and dear friends who inspire us to be a little better each day.  Life really is wonderful!