November 2012

November has truly been a month to give thanks.  How thankful we are for all of you. You are the joy of our lives. I know everything isn't perfect in any of our lives, but we have so many blessings that it's almost embarrassing in the face of things some others have to deal with. I was visiting teaching Una Mae Larson this month, our friend who is in a wheelchair, who goes to church with us every Sunday.  We were talking about being thankful for our blessings, and she said how thankful she is for her wheelchair!  That really gave me pause. I might, in her situation, say, "Why do I have to be in a wheelchair?" But not Una Mae.  She said she is so grateful to have a wheelchair because it allows her to get around when she would otherwise not be able to. As we look at the activities of our family this month, I hope we will all remember how incredibly blessed and beloved of the Lord we are, and how our trials are sometimes our greatest blessings in disguise.

One of my trials this month has been this blog!  I have had a horrible time with it.  Thomas finally figured out that if I log in as him, using his name and password, I could get it done.  Thank goodness for smart kids.

November is the month we have the fewest birthdays.  It's a good thing they are such important ones...just Allison and me.

Allison turned 22 on the 2nd

I turned 67 on the 8th

Dad had to go to Mesa on the first of November for a condo board meeting (he is president of the board...the members are all women who email him daily) so we were able to be there to go to Daynen and Tayte's play and even were able to be in on the opening of Levi's mission call!  We went by to see Esther and her family on the way in.  She told all her kids that if they would give me their Halloween candy, she would give them $10.00 each!  I was amazed that the little ones agreed to do it!  I will use it in my Santa bags, so those of you who are here on Christmas Eve will get the Brown's Halloween candy.

Daynen and Tayte were in a community youth theater play.  It was surprisingly well done for a youth production.  It was an operetta and Daynen and Tayte were dancing and singing villagers.  They were soooo good, and, of course, the cutest ones.

Diana was there with her brother to see her neice perform so we got a picture of her too.  Of course, I'm sure, she would agree with me that our kids were the best.

We went to a Mexican grill afterwards with Jeremy's family.  I had never been there before, but it reminded me of food we have eaten in Mexico when we visited Thomas and Jenn.  When we were in the car, Reygan was playing a song on her music device (?) that she and Hayden were dancing to while buckled in their seats, so when they got out, I made them dance for us.

The next day we went to see Grandma and Grandpa, and Esther and her boys went with us.  Afterwards we went to El Charro.  Another generation of El Charro lovers.

That evening, we went to Joel and Stephanie's to be with Levi when he opened his mission call.  He had come home from school for the occasion.  We were all speculating, of course, about where he would go...everywhere from Chinle to New Zealand.  But only Docker guessed Argentina.  Actually, in his letter that week, Stetson guessed Cordoba, Argentina, but we all just disregarded his guess as wishful thinking.  

But he was absolutely right! Look at Stephanie and Docker.  Their faces tell the whole story.  We were all so surprised, yet not surprised at all.  Where else? I immediately called everyone to tell them the good news, and when I got Daniel, I asked him to guess and he said, "Does it started with A R and end with gentina?" Now we have two sets of siblings in or going to Argentina.  I guess we are just going to have to go there and check it out sometime.

The next morning, Saturday, Dad went with Docker and his family to the Diabetes Walk at Tempe Town Lake.

We had my birthday lunch on Monday, the 5th, because Rebecca was going to be gone to Idaho to visit Allison on the 8th.  We got Chinese food.  It was very special to me to have these four sweet girls here to celebrate with me...also Jared and Henry.

I received some of my favorite things as early gifts. In fact, my earliest gift was from 

Esther while we were in Mesa..."The Life of Pi." Can't wait to see the movie.

On the 6th of November was the election of the President of the United States.  In fact, I was glad to get that over with finally.  I was just so tired of hearing, over and over again, how horrible both of the candidates were.  Of course, I was hoping, along with everyone else around here, that Mitt Romney would win.  I didn't think he would, but I hoped he would anyway.  I wanted him to win, not because he is a Mormon, but in spite of it.  I was uncomfortable with all the "real truth about the Mormons" programs I had been seeing, and I wasn't sure I wanted the Church criticized in the way all US presidents are.  Of course, no other president's church is criticized for his actions, as that wouldn't be politically correct, but as we all know, Mormons are different.  The media feels free to tell whateaver lies and half truths it wants to about Mormons.

Here, Thomas is watching the returns on his iPad as well as on the television.

Bethany had her friend, Becky, over to watch the returns with us.  They watched on their laptops and followed all the projections.

On my very birthday, Dad surprised me with an iPad Mini with a carnation pink cover.  I love it.  Then, Jenn and the kids surprised me with balloons and a yummy fruit breakfast.

I also received flowers from Joel and Stephanie.

All the little kids came by to wish me a happy birthday.  I especially loved receiving calls from each and every one of my children.

November is the month, along with a month in the spring, of the Safford Stake Conference...of course all the stakes in Arizona had stake conference this November...and Rachel has Tony's responsibility of feeding all the stake leaders, and visitors, when they come.  They also invite any  stake workers who were being released at this conference.  Rachel always puts on such a feast, cooking it all herself.  Tony and her siblings always help with the set up and serving, of course, but Rebecca was in Idaho this time, so Rachel was glad she still had Mary and Thomas to help.

After Stake Conference we had everyone over for dinner since it was one of the only Sundays when we were all finished with our Sunday meetings at the same time.

We went back to Mesa in the middle of the month to go through the Temple with Levi, so we went to Chick-Fil-A with Esther's family the night before.  We had never been there before, but always wanted to because they are closed on Sunday so we want to patronize them.

Being with Levi when he went through the Temple for the first time was such a wonderful experience. I've said before, and I'll say again that a person doesn't know whether he or she has done a good job as a parent until we see how our children raise their own children.  Going with them to receive their endowments is an affirmation that means more than almost anything else.  Levi was glad to have aunts, uncles, grandparents and parents with him for this special day.

When we got home, we found that Jenn had organized my wrapping paper cupboard!  An amazing accomplishment.

Lillian's Frolic was this month.  Her mom, grandma and aunts all worked to turn her out.  How beautiful she looks!

We went to Colorado for Thanksgiving.  The weather was absolutely beautiful! It was almost like Arizona.  Dad brought along his rocket launcher and the boys had such a good time with it.

We also played games and learned card tricks...one of which I could actually do but still don't know why it works.  Albert refused to divulge the secret.

The host and hostess and the feast.

It was so balmy that we actually ate outside on the deck.

The next day we went out to look for a Christmas tree and found a herd of elk.  We sat right on the road and watched them leap over the fence.  I have seen elk before around St. Johns, but never a herd this size.

Before we found the tree, the boys did some clay pigeon shooting.

We decided to give the kids their Christmas presents while we were there.

We also met the granddaughter of Carol Jean Clark, Grandma Hiatt's first cousin.  Her great grandmother is Virginia Driggs, Grandma Brinton's sister.  This girl's name is Sarah and she is Daniel and Connie's Bishop's wife.  The picture she is holding is one her mother made of the "Matriarchal Line."

We took the scenic route home, through Monument Valley.

We got to Mesa just in time to go to Leslie Hiatt's wedding reception.  Here, she is singing a love song to her husband, Magarin...pronounced MaGAREin.  We saw Grandma and Grandpa, Esther and Shad, who went with us, and Jeremy and Erika who brought Bethany along.  Bethany spent Thanksgiving with them.

On Sunday, the next day, Levi came over for dinner and put his picture up on the missionary board.  If we get any more Argentinian missionaries, we are going to have to switch to just one pin for Argentina with multiple strings attached to it.

Mary came the next day to put up our Christmas lights and help Dad set up the lawn nativity scene.

Thomas and Jenn and their family helped decorate the house.

At the very last of the month, we had a visit from Nathan.  Actually, his kids had a visit from him and we got to watch.  Here, they are face-timing Shauna and Hannah.

On the very last day, we had "Grandpa's Polar  Express Party."  The deal is that we keep all the grandkids for a couple of hours and give the parents a chance to do some Christmas shopping or go out to eat or whatever they want to do.  DeWitt had other plans and Bethany went to a movie and out to eat with her dad and siblings, so I didn't even tell Levi about it because I didn't want him to feel obligated to come and hang out with all the little kids.  Knowing Levi, though, he probably would have done it and been a good sport about it.

Maya, dressed in the spirit of the occasion.  Everyone else wore pajamas.

All the grandkids...this is the serious picture...

...this is the silly one.

Watching Grandpa's train circle the table.  When Dad first got the train for Christmas, about 5 years ago, Luke's and Bridger's eyes barely reached over the top of the table.

Mary gave us the book "Polar Express" and we had all the kids sign it.

These pictures are deceptive.  Most of the time they didn't just lie there and watch the movie...they ran around, sang, danced and jumped all over each other.

We could not have even held the party without the help of Lillian and Rylie.  They just pitched right in without being asked and helped with the hot chocolate, popcorn and cleanup.

Mary made these cute little candy trains to give all the kids at the end of the party.

When it was all over and the adults came back, it did not suddenly get quieter!

It was fun to have Nathan and Esther there.  Of course it was fun to have everyone else, too.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE FAMILY

Veterans Day was cold and windy, but Thomas and Jenn and their kids went to the park to celebrate being out of school

Rachel and Tony's family always go to visit his grandfather's grave on Veteran's Day.  He was a WWII  veteran and they take this opportunity to talk to their kids about the blessings of living in a free country. He was the original "Papa Mac."

One night, early in November, Isabel went outside to their back porch and was confronted with two rattlesnakes!  She ran inside to get her brave mom, who killed them both with a skateboard-kind-of-thing.  She couldn't find a shovel, which is her snake-killing weapon of choice.  The one Izzie is holding is without head or rattles.

Rebecca and Scott took a trip to Idaho to visit Allison.  They woke up the first day to a campus covered in snow.

Daynen got a job at Harkins Theater, his favorite place to be...even if he has to sweep the floors!

Daniel and Connie took their kids to Orlando, Disney World, to visit Devynne.  Because she is a Disney employee, she was able to get them discounts all over the park, and even in the hotel.  They really had a fantastic time and Devynne loved being able to give her family such a memorable treat.

The opening of "Breaking Dawn 2" was so momentous that it brought Rachel and Mary to Mesa to go to the all-day  Twilight showing with Esther and Stephanie.  They watched all the movies, from the first to the very last.  I don't think they were out until after midnight.  But they said it was fun.  Rebecca was going to go but she had a stake meeting she had to attend.  She has been called to be the Safford Stake Young Women's President.  Rachel has been called as her counselor!  I think that is very smart.  Rachel is definitely an idea girl and every president needs an idea girl.  They'll have so much fun together.  Not only that, but Tony's  High Council assignment has recently been changed to...Guess what!...Young Women's!! This has been a month of new callings.  Joel has been called to be the Stake Clerk in his stake and Thomas was called to be the 5th Ward Executive Secretary, and Shad was called to be in his Elders' Quorum Presidency.

Joel received an award of appreciation from the City of Gilbert

Lillian was used as a model for a girl in beauty school.  She made her up to look like a beautiful witch and did her hair appropriately.

Hannah's All State Choir program was this month.

Nathan had to make a business trip to New York.  He visited the 9-11 Memorial

OUR STUDENTS

DeWitt either had a huge party or a rumble. They look pretty tough to me.

Is Polly teaching him to cook, in preparation for his mission?  It looks as if they are ready to use every utensil in Rebecca's kitchen.

Devynne loved having her family come to Disney  World, but it was hard to say "Goodbye" and have Thanksgiving without them, especially when she knew she wouldn't be going home for Christmas!  She has to work Christmas Day...evidently, it is the busiest day of the year for Disney World.

Bethany and her friend made a gingerbread house.

Here, she and her (former) boyfriend, William, are going out on a date.

Allison is really enjoying BYU Idaho.  Here, with her roommates.

And with her best friend...Mom.   See the Idaho Falls Temple in the background?

Josh and Nicole are enjoying their first Christmas together, with their very first Christmas tree.

Levi went home to take this girl to the Christmas dance.

OUR MISSIONARIES

Our missionaries are doing very well, working hard and totally immersed in doing the Lord's work in Argentina.  They even think in Spanish, as evidenced by their English letters home.  They are both having a mixture of success and disappointments, but they are both staying positive and happy in the work.  It's getting to be summer there, so they are feeling the heat just as we are beginning to feel the cold.

A p-day visit to an ancient South American inhabitant.

Dallin with one of the branches he serves.

Stetson and companion (can you guess which one he is?) at lunch with one of their families.

November has been a month full of loving, reaching out and giving thanks.  What a good lead-in to December when we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world...to whom and for whom we feel ultimate gratitude.

SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE