December Odds and Ends

We attended Amy's flute concert.  

The only complaint was it was over too soon.

With "Giving Machines" in new places, more of our family could participate.

Salem Pond!

FAITH Vs. vain hope!

Andrea and Hyrum found me on my choir trip to temple square.

Sarah-Jane and the Polar Express

Sarah-Jane's 2nd grade class presented the Polar Express.  

Sarah had a solo singing part that made us all proud of her.

Sarah-Jane and Grandma Anderson

Marvin Party Dec. 7, 2019

December 7: Today was our annual Marvin Family Christmas party.  Our family was in charge and I had worked hard to make it a memorable event.  We had a Christmas carnival that was designed for primary aged children because we have a lot of those currently.  Darrel had helped make the needed equipment for some of the games.  Kent had made arrangements for a building in Payson and we arrived early to set up.  I was grateful that Ben and Amy came to help with that.  With over ten events, getting set up was a challenge.  The party was well attended.  Gratefully, we had volunteers step up last minute to man the games as our family was in small number. The children had so much fun.  Each family brought canned items to trade for tickets to play the games. Bethany made the pinata.  The meal was great, but the finale was amazing.  I had an idea of doing a family 2019 video as the program.  I wanted everyone to be involved even if they were far away, and I felt being more familiar with what is going on in each other’s lives would be a good thing.  It was more successful than I imagined.  Kent had 30 plus hours into the project and it is priceless! 

A day of miracles- Dec. 2, 20109

December 2:  Today was a very emotional day for me.  Janna called first thing to announce an accident she and Abby had been in.  She clearly down played it as they were broadsided by a semi going 60-65 miles per hour.  Their van is totaled , but miraculously Abby was fine and Janna will recover.  Thousands of daily prayers for safety were answered this day.  The outcome should have and could have been so different.  I could not refrain from thinking about alternate outcomes and how those would have impacted our family, especially from the distance we are apart.   They were almost unbearable to consider.  Then I would remind myself that they had been divinely protected and were okay, and I would be overcome with a gratitude that I can’t really express.  The cycle created an emotional roller-coaster day for me.  I was able to put our Christmas things up.  The joy I find in that blended well with the deep feelings of my heart.   Mitchell’s last little guinea pig (Abbie) passed away today.  

 

The accident did not prevent her scheduled surgery two days later. 

It was a tough month.  She may not have survived it without Laura's visit.  

By the end of the month Janna was back to the temple with some friends.

NOVEMBER AT AT GLANCE

NOVEMBER  2019 AT A GLANCE!

Nov. 1-4:  I was in Arizona with Katie and family.  We attended Time out for Women together Nov. 1-2.  She got us an AirB&B, so we had a mom and daughter retreat.  When President Nelson issued the challenge to pay the price now to increase our capacity to recognize and respond to the Spirit, I was a bit frustrated.  It was clear there was higher ground available to me, but I didn’t know how to get there.  I had already established the pattern of doing many things that invite the Spirit on a consistent, regular basis.  I just needed a boast to understand how to get to the next level.  “Time Out of Women” did that for me.  It was such a blessing and a direct answer to my prayers.  Luke’s baptism preview was on Sunday and I was grateful to be there with him for that.  I flew home on Nov. 4^th, and went directly to check on my Dad who had his first cancer spot on his face removed today.  It went well and the doctor felt confident he got all cancer cells on Dad’s chin. 

Nov. 5: I had a mammogram and all looks normal and healthy. 

Nov. 10: Gordon was made our new Bishop today.  We are so thrilled for him to have a chance to shine and have full confidence that he will.  Corey Christensen and Jason Worwood are his counselors.  We were invited to see him set apart.  I took notes that I will include below.

Nov 10: Tonight was our annual Ordinance Worker Fireside. 

November 13:  I had a colonoscopy today and I’m cleared for another 5 years.

November 18: Darrel and I helped clean the Payson Temple.

November 19: Bethany turned her dogs loose this morning and they literally disappeared.  She and Hans rode the 4 wheeler all over the valley looking for them with no success. We watched for them all day and had decided someone had picked them up or they had been killed some way.  As soon as Bethany returned from her afternoon run I ran our Thanksgiving Dinner contributions up to Andrea Echols.  I felt prompted to ask her if they had all they needed to complete their project.  She said they had everything but potatoes.  I thought little of it until I picked up the mail and headed for the car.  The thought came to my mind that if I would go pick up potatoes for the ward Thanksgiving project, we would be guided to find the dogs.  I headed immediately for Nephi to pick up potatoes. As I was driving down Main Street, Marv called and said he had seen the dogs west of Shepherds.  I called Darrel who hustled down on the four-wheeler and found them.  They had been gone for hours and my faith was strengthened as we received the needed direction before I had completed my part of the bargain.  I picked up 25 pounds of potatoes and dropped them off the our YW president, Sister Echols with a grateful heart.  

Nov. 23: Darrel and I went to the Salt Lake Temple for the last time before it closes for four years for renovations.  It was so busy!  We were there plenty early on a normal day, but it appeared we may not make it through in time to be at the Bells on Temple Square Concert because of the number of patrons.  Through a tiny miracle, we ended up at just the right place at the right time to be shuffled into a room that allowed us to be a part of a session more quickly.  Every session was filled to capacity.  The next session started as soon as the creation room was empty.  We ended up staying in the world room for the terrestrial portion of the session because the room a head of us was full.  Getting patrons through the veil was a huge deal that day and I was impressed with how well the workers handled the number of people who had come.  We were done in time to race back to the parking garage, change clothes, grab and quick bit to eat and enjoy the concert which included the historic organ and members of the orchestra at temple square as well.  It was a nearly perfect day! 

Nov. 28:  We hosted Thanksgiving this year.  Tyler, Katie and the kids drove up from Arizona. Ben and Amy were down for a few days as were Jordan, Andrea and Hyrum.  We met at the city building for the meal and an afternoon of crafting.  Mellors joined us that day, along with Joe and Magdalene Cummings.  I was so grateful that we had snow fall that weekend.  There was just the right amount of snow to build snowmen and sleigh ride, yet the temperatures were not frigid. We actually set up the tent in the garage for the girls.  Two heaters from Costco kept them warm enough to sleep well.  Everyone had such a good time.  It was a beautiful finale to a wonderful year for us and a perfect prelude to our Christmas season.