Holiday Summary

Mon Sun January 2009

How sweet it was! The 2008 Holiday Season couldn’t have been better! Having the family together during the Thanksgiving week-end was the highlight of the year. And then Christmas - again, family, food, trees, lights, expressions of love, remembering the “Why” of Christmas and what makes it such a special time.

First, Thanksgiving week. Feast day was preceded by a rousing tennis match featuring Ryan and Parker vs. Tim and Bob Burton (our bishop). A few more practices and these guys are ready for Wimbledon.. The next day was Stuff-Your-Face day - and how nice it was to have our out-of-towners here: Ryan, Doris, Parker and Mary; Teral and Eddie and Eden; Cole and Kristi and Ellis and Grant and Hugh; Tim and Jordan, Bronwyn, Julian; Conrad, Debbie, Melissa, Lindsey and Jace, Tyler and Elizabeth, Kelly and Mindy, Travis and Liberty and all the children; Kristin and Jason (from way out in Washington D,C.) plus all the local aunts and uncles and cousins. Headquarters was rockin’! When Grandma and I look over our posterity we are so grateful we have been blessed with such exceptional children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The day after Thanksgiving was the BIG EVENT - Stuart and Allie’s wedding at l0 a.m. in the Bountiful temple. I was privileged to perform the ceremony. And all of our children and their spouses were there. Brad’s spirit was there also. This makes two choice grandchildren married in the temple this year. Our cup truly runneth over!

After the ceremony there was a luncheon at the Joseph Smith Memorial building with toasts to the bride and groom. (Who will ever forget Cole’s calling Tim Rowse the true Afro-American!). That evening we journeyed to the Creative Arts Academy for the reception. No one wanted to leave. It was like a big homecoming.

Saturday was another highlight. We accompanied Kaelyn to the Bountiful temple for her endowments prior to leaving on a mission. She will serve in Connecticut - her Dad’s old mission stomping grounds - and enters the MTC in February. Talk about a prepared missionary! The mission president will love her!

Events leading up to Christmas added to the Holiday enjoyment. Grandma and I had luncheons with some old DR friends and also a couple we knew from Nauvoo. Shopping is always a fun experience - at least that’s what Grandma tells me. My effort in this direction is to look through several food gift catalogs, pick a present for my sister and brother, call up and order and voila! Christmas shopping done.

The evening before the Big Day the adults went to Craig and Sandy’s for a - how would you describe it? “Scrumptious” comes to mind - dinner. The next morning we went to Sean and Jana’s to watch the girls open their presents and then have brunch, Afterwards to our place to prepare for a continuous buffet that day. The food bar was open till evening and everyone stopped by at one time or another.


Now - the Big One! My birthday next day had it all. Lots of laughs, lots of food, lots of love, plenty of emotion tugging at the heart strings, especially when I was handed my 80th birthday tribute with pictures and words from the family.Thank you, thank you, thank you. I will treasure your kind thoughts forever.

Another winner: our children’s thoughtfulness to bring us into the 21st century with a digital camera, Imagine! No more going down to Dick’s to buy film and then taking the film back to have it processed. Will wonders never cease? And then… The Cruise! Whoa! How did we ever merit such generosity and kindness! The September dates in the calendar already have a big red circle around them. Nor can we forget the DVD’s, the books, the gift certificates for more books. It seems so inadequate to merely say, “Thank you” for your thoughtfulness. But I do mean it from the bottom of my heart and I know Mother shares the same feelings.

Another highlight to our grand Holiday Season was the visit of Mackie and Kui and their children after Christmas. They stayed overnight so everyone got to visit with them and we all had a delightful time. They are such a neat family. Kui has cut down her piano teaching which makes sense with four non-teenage children at home. Mackie’s new situation with NIH gives him a nice retirement package plus PX privileges at Army or Navy bases.


This Holiday experience has only strengthened even more our love for all of you. You are so precious to us. You are the heart and soul of our lives. You are everything to us.

Mom (Grandma) and Dad (Grandpa).