Levan Homestead: December 2015

Visit to Temple Square (Dec. 10, 2015)

I took JHS Concert Choir to Temple Square for two performances. Dad came with me.

One of the wise men. The Temple Square Nativity.

Shepherds abiding in the fields.

The Christus and white poinsettias. Dad and some sister missionaries.

The new African nativity.

This tree was almost fully leaved out.

Like many trees, the leaves are dry, but did not fall.

LEVAN HOMESTEAD NEWS: December 2015 Edition

Dad: My last day at work was on the 2^nd of Dec. It feels really good to think that I don’t have to see Ash Grove any more. We went to the Ashgrove “winter party.” It isn’t a Christmas party any more. They eat, have a wet bar and gamble. There wasn’t one word about Christmas or Christ, so that is the last one of those I will every go to. We took Grandma Anna and Grandpa Marvin to see the lights in Spanish Fork Canyon and around Salem Pond on the 5^th. I think they really enjoyed the little outing. The lights are so fun to see. On our way back to Payson we went past Kim and Karen Montague’s house. Their whole yard is full of lights, and it is something to behold. As most of you know I had hip replacement surgery on Dec. 7. My brothers have helped take good care of me. Of course the van radiator went out the day before so, Gord put a new radiator in the van for us. On Dec. 13^th, I had Marvin come over and help me bury Abby. That is a loss that we have felt. He has also pushed the snow on our lane a couple of times. We went to Grandma Anna’s house on Christmas day to talk to Andrea. I think everyone enjoyed the time we had with Andrea. We appreciated Colton setting things up and making it happen. Mom and I went up on Dec. 28^th and moved Bethany’s horses to our house. The next day we moved Bethany and the kids home. The move went smoothly. Love ya all and hope you have a good new year. Dad

Mom: Dad has been home more this December than any I remember and it was lovely. He and I went to Temple Square on a bus run prior to his surgery. We got trapped in a parking lot and pulled over by the Highway patrol, but other than that it was a good trip. The week of Dad’s surgery was also the week of the ward Christmas Party and I was on the committee for that event. Needless to say, I easily had my 10,000 steps in every day that week. I made 200 sugar cookies and enough stuffing for 225 people. We served pork loin roasts, herbed potatoes, green salad, and mixed veggies along with the cookies and stuffing. I also helped with a musical number for the program with my Activity Day girls. It turned out great, but as I had feared-- it was the same day Dad came home from the hospital, so it was a rather exhausting day.

Bethany and kids came down for a visit mid-month and to check on Dad. He surely appreciated all the calls, texts, visits, and Facetime sessions with family. Grandpa Marvin’s 84^th birthday was on Dec. 17^th. All my brothers and spouses, but Blake met at Sizzler’s in Provo. Mary joined us as well. Grandpa didn’t say much, but I know he was pleased. My last driving day of the year was Dec. 18^th. The long vacation has been so busy I don’t think I would have had time to drive. We had the Marvin Christmas party, I went to Wil’s heart appointment with Bethany; had an activity day Christmas party here at home; cleaned, reorganized and de-junked the basement; participated in the famous Levan 2^nd Ward Christmas Sacrament Meeting Program; and had a private Shepherd’s dinner and very meaningful Christmas Eve with Dad. (That was just the first week!) Janna called from Florida and Maggie called from prison that night for a visit and added to the Spirit of the evening.

Christmas morning was very different for us because it was our very first to be just the two of us in our entire marriage. Thanks to Facetime was got to share Christmas with the Smiths and Shirleys. By the end of the day we had some form or contact with each of our kids, including Andrea. That was definitely a highlight for me. We started at Grandma Anna’s and ended at Grandpa Marvin’s. Sadly, Grandma Anna was doing poorly and ended up in the hospital that night. She has made slow, but steady improvement since.

The Davis Christmas Party was on Dec. 26^th. We were jointly in charge of it with Uncle Richard’s family. It was well attended and there was an extra sweet spirit there. As Dad mentioned, we spent a couple of days moving Bethany home. Malea and Colton helped us with the actual move, along with several others. (T and two very buff friends, plus Shawn, Rebecca and Rachel.) Bethany is more content and happy than she has been for a long time. The move went better than we had hoped and we’ve had lots of fun since she arrived. Christmas Eve we discovered that when it is 20 below, you can blow bubbles and they do indeed freeze before hitting the ground! Our predictions for the year did not include world peace, but rather an increase in personal and family peace. May that be our blessing! Happy 2016!

Sister Andrea Kenison: See andreaapril.blogspot.com

Date with Dallin! (Dec. 5, 2015)

Dallin and I had a date to the Hale Theater's "A Christmas Carol" Jr.

We followed up by going out to lunch at Chuckie Cheese.

This is Dallin with a fist full of tickets.

(I intended to introduce him to musical theater, but I think I

mostly created an appetite for Chuckie Cheese. :()

THANKSGIVING 2015 (Nov. 26)

This is the reason for this season.

No wonder Wil thinks his Grandma is hilarious!

Display courtesy of Katie Wilkins.

Check out those who attended.

Crafting after the dinner....followed by games at home.

LEVAN HOMESTEAD NEWS: NOVEMBER 2015 EDITION

Dad: We went to Jacob’s on the 5^th for a six day visit. We stayed the first 3 nights at a motel because we got a good deal through Sam’s and it gave Jake and the girls a place to go swimming one day while Megan went to take some pictures. We fell in love with Ephraim right away. He has a great big smile just like Jake had as a baby. His eyes even disappear when he smiles. Some of fun things we did were: see Old Town and the Mormon Battalion Visitor’s Center, Coronado Island, Sea Port Village and the Ocean Front and an old town called, Julian, where we toured an old gold mine. We took the truck so we could bring Jake’s motorcycle back. I was glad we did, because the weather was cold and we came home to snow.

We got an even bigger snow storm on the 16^th. We got about 8 inches of snow and it was a very wet snow. It is nearly gone now, but we still have part of Mom’s snowman in the front yard.

Mom had a long activity run on Nov. 21^st, so I went up and got her. We went to the temple with Blake, and out to Red Lobster for lunch with the gift certificate Mary gave Mom for her birthday. We ran a few errands, too.

Thanksgiving was a good day. We met in the Levan Church and we had a good group. We enjoyed the food, visiting and activities. Katie and Tyler stayed for a few days following. They stayed long enough to help us get the Christmas tree up and the Polar Express train out. Luke loved to drive the train forward, then backwards, then forwards, then backwards---giggling all the way.

We finished the month out by going to the Forgotten Carol’s. Our Utah girls bought us tickets for Christmas and it was better than I remembered. It was a fun night. That morning we had Lucas here for breakfast and a short visit. He brought chocolate and Swiss Nutella. It was good to see him.

Mom: This month we experienced the circle of life within our family with Wil’s blessing, Samuel birth and Charlie Shaw’s passing. Brenda tended so Bethany could attend the funeral. She represented our family and reported that it was really wonderful. Charlie was endowed and had served a service mission from home. His YSA branch president had recently given him a blessing and felt impressed to tell him that should the doors of heaven open, he should feel free to go as it had completed all he was sent to do. Wow! All of us long to hear that assurance.

Dad mentioned our trip to visit Jake. Let me add that we also attended an early morning session at the San Diego Temple. It was amazingly beautiful inside and very unique. The Spirit was extra sweet there as well. It was good to add that temple to our list of temples visited. If you haven’t been inside, you should really plan on it someday. In addition, Meghan had planned for a three generation photo-shoot during our visit, complete with matching attire and a lovely spot to do it. I can’t wait to see how they turned out. I was so grateful for her foresight and planning. They will be more priceless as the years go on.

Dad and I have been pretty focused on getting all the things done we need to before his surgery. We spent a whole day cutting up, splitting, hauling and stacking wood. That evening Dad and I went to the new Snoopy Movie with Richard and Joyce Johnson. It was fun, heart-warming, and a bit nostalgic with a solid message. It was certainly worth seeing once. The wood shed looks pretty good now. It has become Abby’s new home with a cushy pillow bed and heated water dish. She has gone steadily downhill since Andrea left and it is sad to watch. We don’t suppose she will make it through the winter, but Dad is giving her lots of TLC. Happy Birthday to Meghan, Angela, Hayden, Eliza and welcome Little Samuel James Smith! We love and miss you all!

Sister Andrea Kenison: See andreaapril.blogspot.com