This Week

This week. . .

WES & LORI

AND LUCY,

HEAR GOOD NEWS!

CHEMO FREE STILL!







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This week . . .

Sandy has a birthday,

Emma has a birthday . . .

The house is coming
together . . .
sometimes it seems like
it will always
look like this.

Going Home

There is something

to be said

about going home

on Sunday . . .

What better time
to reunite . . .
with
family gone
before,
with the love of his life,
his Marjorie,
With prophets
of the past
and with
THE KING OF KINGS!
We'll miss his smile,
his humor
and his gift to make us
feel like we could be like him!

Happy

Birthday!

We love you,

Marci!

Our little Mother, Grandmother is back "home" and we are all feeling better. Have been thinking about the opportunities and challenges we all face and this morning this phrase came to mind:

"Cast not away ...your confidence," and when I read the verse again it gave me hope, that when we have enough faith we can go "boldly to the throne of God and find help and grace . "

Maybe it is because Elder Holland is a hometown boy but whenever he speaks I seem to listen more intently and the stories he shares seem so familiar. "With any major decision there are cautions and considerations to make, but once there has been illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don’t give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly don’t give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. “Cast not away therefore your confidence.” Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you."

Lots of major decisions being made, congratulations, Vince and Jill! The "beauty of life" is blossoming for your family right now Laurie, Vince getting married, Matt going on a mission, Tess being baptized, and a new baby for Rachel and Dennis, makes me think of Mother telling me when I was a young mother and I thought I was busier than anyone, that the care and concern just layer and layer and as the family expands your love does too. What a good Mama and how wise.

Kaleidoscope of Christmas

Kaleidoscope of Christmas images

Kate

with a Christmas

treasure,

Grandpa and Wes with

Lucy's "favorite"

present

Festival of Lights

at the

Springs Preserve - - -

An after Christmas

Gingerbread

CONSTRUCTION

Christmas Eve

at Suzy's

Christmas Morning

with

Lucy

Christmas morning

breakfast. . .

Gunlock Christmas

Party

Grandpa and Lucy

read after church

Rachel

sings her

Melody song

on Christmas eve . .

HOPE YOUR CHRISTMAS

WAS FULL OF

IMAGES OF WONDER!

I remember Christmas in Gunlock, the program Christmas eve, the singing, the reading of Luke 2 and the Nativity; Santa coming and giving all of us a present, the one we opened Christmas Eve. Walking out of the church in the dark brittle cold and looking up at the blanket of stars, our breath small white clouds and our feet crunching.

I remember hanging up one of Dad's white socks and finding an orange in it on Christmas morning.

One Christmas there was a Bride Doll with golden hair and a beautiful smile, another a little cupboard with shelves and drawers, full of dishes.

But most of all I remember the feeling of Christmas, the excitement, the family, and the love!

So long ago. . . and still here in my heart.

What do you remember about Christmas?

Here Comes Suzy Snowflake . . .

"I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED DECEMBER. . .

as a special time of year. . ."

We celebrate the birth of baby Jesus,

and the world is quiet and

cold, and waiting. . .

and

because that is when

Suzy arrived!

And she has blessed my life

since the day she was born!

Happy Birthday Suzy!