December, 2024

 Wow, December is here!  I love Christmas lights, music and the new spirit that seems to be in everyone's heart.  People are just a little more kind, patient and loving in this month of celebrations of our Savior's birth.  We got off to a good start by attending the Wednesday PM shift's Christmas party in Declo on the 5th.  We were the shift coordinators for this shift before our mission to El Salvador.  We have a special love for these people.  We had a wonderful potluck with homemade soups and salads.  Then Brother Weber recited a poem,

                                                    and Brother Bench got the music started.

He decided he needed a backup group to accompany his music, so he got a group of women to join him.

Sister Smith, Sister Thompson, Sister Mullin, Sister Allen

The do-op girls (aka the Shifters)

With the backup women in place, he next got a few more instruments to join him.

Brother Peterson with the rasp, Brother Barns on the drum, Brother Welch with the tambourine

Brother Molina came up to help sing "Feliz Navidad"

Then Lon joined President Tateoka in singing 

What a fun evening.  This shift really knows how to party.

We were invited to several other shift parties, but our temple schedule wouldn't let us get to any other one except the Friday Mid Shift.  They met at Idaho Joes for dinner after their shift and we were able to attend. 

With ward and family parties, our presidency changed our schedule almost weekly.  No one knew just when we would show up.  The evenings at the temple really dwindled in numbers, too many ward and work and family parties going on.  

Our first counselor, Derlin Taylor, has been having heart problems.  In October he left the temple in an ambulance.  He has been in and out of the hospital since then.  On the 17th, we got a call that he was back in the hospital and not doing well.  Lon wasn't feeling 100% but we went to the temple and did the PM shifts on Tuesday and Wednesday.  (our week off😏 )  

By Thursday, Lon is starting to feel better, but Derlin and Nancy have been advised by 3 cardiologists, one of them being President Harris, that it is time for them to be released so Derlin can concentrate on getting his heart condition under control. We are all heartbroken.  It has been so wonderful serving with this presidency.  We will miss the Taylors!  We aren't telling anyone until we can announce the new counselor.  We don't know how long that will take for sure.  

Ginger, Debbie and Jaikka are coming home for Christmas.  They will arrive on the 22nd, Sunday afternoon.  After our Christmas Sacrament Meeting, which was very good, we spent the afternoon getting supper ready.  We decided to make arepa's, easy and everyone likes them.  When we opened the door for them to come in, it wasn't them!  We were so thrilled to have Justin, Shayla, Riley, Hendrix, Braxton and Ryanne show up for dinner.  Ginger, Debbie and Jaikka arrived, and we had a wonderful evening eating chips and dip, arepa's with cheese, black beans and hamburger.  Shayla stayed and spent the night so she could spend time with Ginger.  (and remember that every day had a football game on.  It is the bowl season!)

11 of our family came to Janitzio's Restaurant for lunch on the 23rd.  Connie and Judy joined us, with Tracy, Chandler and Eisley along with Shayla, and Ginger's family.  We had a wonderful time visiting and eating.

Good looking group!

We spent Monday evening again watching football and a Christmas movie, eating leftovers from the night before and just enjoying each other.  Chandler came over and spent the evening with us.

Christmas Eve morning found Lon in the kitchen making whole wheat pancakes, bacon, sausage and eggs.  Ryanne and Matt stopped in on their way to Idaho Falls for breakfast.  It was a good visit for everyone.  Ginger's bunch headed to Twin Falls to check out the mall, Debbie walked the entire mall and was shocked as she said, "Is that all?".   They did come home with a few treasures.  We delivered pies to the Parson's, Wallaces and visited with Kurt and Linda.  

Christmas Eve!

After a Christmas feast of turkey and all the trimmings, I tried to recreate our Christmas's from long ago.  

Painting Christmas ornaments

Ashton provided the music background.

We played games and watched football and Christmas movies.  Another perfect day spent with family.

Merry Christmas December 25, 2024

Happy Birthday Lon, 3/4 of a century old, 75

We opened gifts and then went to Tracy and Sarah's for dinner.

We talked to Mindi and her family and Shayla, Justin and Gideon

who were enjoying the sunshine in Arizona on the golf course.

We had a wonderful Christmas.  We loved having Ginger, Debbie and Jaikka here but on the 26th, we had to open the temple and they headed for home.  Jaikka was excited when they woke up to snow.  They just needed one more day and Chandler would have taken her snowmobiling.

We were thankful that it was only a skiff so the roads would be dry to Boise

They made it to Boise without any trouble and arrived home safe and sound.  What a wonderful Christmas for us.  So thankful they were able to come.

On Friday the 27th, we received word that Frank Price was in the hospital and not doing good.  He has pancreatic cancer and kidney failure.  We hope to get up and see him but first we have to finish out the month on the PM shift. We are hoping he will hang on till our day off. 

I received an amazing gift from my little sister, Debbie.  Of course, it brought tears to my eyes.

When we emptied Mom's belongings, Debbie took these baby shoes.

What a thoughtful gift to each of us.  Mine is not put away for next year, it is on my shelf so I can see it daily and remember the love of my Mother and my little sister!  Thank you Debbie💓

We lost Mom, Dick, Dirk, Keith and Phylis, Brent Buhler, Lonnie Ambrose and Keenen Burnham this year.  So thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the sealing powers of the Temple.  We know that Families can be together forever and are so thankful for this gift from our loving Heavenly Father. 

And we say good-bye to 2024!