December is filled with family, faith and miracles!

Just as the Savior would want it to be.

The Tremonton Third Ward celebrated Chritmas in Nauvoo on December 12, 2012.

We learned about early Saints and experienced a taste of how the may have celebrated the Saviors birth.

Tanner portrayed George Albert Smith in a reenactment. The Nauvoo Post Office had supplies for members to write letters and cards to our missionaries and we could drop them in the mailbox. What a great idea! 

Brother Howard Rawlinson has always been a quiet and good friend to our family.

Tanner was freezing, so he went home shortly after winning at the stick pull and writing a letter to his missionary brother, Steven. I knew he was really cold when he allowed me to place my shawl over his shoulders. The shawl is actually the afghan that was given to my mother, when I was a baby in June of 1963.

  Look at it closely! My Great Grandfather David William King made it. He had been a heavy smoker for many years. When he quit, he needed something to do with his massive hands. His wife taught him to knit and crochet. I am thankful to still have this treasured family heirloom. He died, five years after giving this afghan to us.

See the tiny detailed stitches. It amazes me!

Now....we move on to the Housley Family Christmas Party. 

It was held at the Richmond, Utah LDS Stake Center on December 22, 2012.

Grandma Housley, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and friends were in attendance.

Santa made his annual appearance and each child received a small bag of candy.

Molly quit stressing when she saw the candy in the bag!

"You did WHAT, this year?"

Lots of love in this picture.

Hurry Tanner, Santa is getting hot, in this suit!

 It had been a big day for Tanner! He participated in a two day wrestling tournament at Weber High School. Candice had flown in from Portland, earlier that afternoon and was a bit weary as well.

We took a moment for another family photo, before driving back to Tremonton.

Brandt & Chantel Larsen, Molly, Candice, Owen, Lindsey, Jake, Grandma Jene Housley, Dennis, Becky, Tanner

***Christmas Connections***

We read the story of Christ's birth in the book of Luke, exchanged gifts, hugs and a few germs. Steven called and skyped with us on Christmas afternoon and it was soooo ncie to see and hear from him. The Dallas mission seems like the happiest place on earth.(Even if your package from home is locked in the apartment office.) Maybe the fact that it was snowing heavily in Frisco, made things easier. He later, told us that he loved the new ties and the 2013 calendar, with our family photos on it.

Candice baked enough ginger bread for four houses, on Christmas eve.

 

 

 

We built and decorated 3 of the 4, on Christmas Day. Molly did the ginger bread man. SWEET!

Tanner & Grandma H. had fun creating this house together. He later added snow to the ground.

This father and daughter duo made a snowman's dream house along with a few happy memories.

What does Santa bring to the Bishop?

Well,...something he has wanted for over three years!

 A recumbent bike.

Our miracles are many. But, making three years of being cancer free is a great one! Our friend, Jodi is also saying prayers of thanks for Christmas miracles concerning breast cancer. Faith, fasting and prayers are so powerful! When you combine them with priesthood blessings, you are truly in the Lord's hands. 

2013

It is an odd number and I am planning to make it an odd year!

I will do this by being odd or different from the world's ways. I will strive to be truly thankful in all things and a bit odd or different by being more kind and thoughtful.

Owen reminded me to search the scriptures for my answers, on a recent visit.

Thanks Buddy!

 

November has been sneaky and arrived long before we thought it was possible. The fun and energy of October whirled  by, just like the bright red, green and golden leaves in the Tremonton winds. Halloween candy, trick or treaters, parties with costumes and scary house spider decorations prevented us from boredom. Ha ha! Had a howling good time with soup and games and fine company. Thanks to Aunt Denise, for planning the shindig! (Wish everyone could have been there.)

Grandma Kathleen & Grandpa Elmo

A game of Red Rover

Any guesses on the identity of this clown?

Jared, Ryan and Tanner

Brandt & Chantel

Tanner finished his Cross Country season and Lindsey, Molly and Owen literally ran over to Sugar House Park to see his final race! Grandma and Grandpa Christensen were also there to cheer and support. Family means everything! After the race, I went to a local park, so Molly could play on the swings and slides. Owen even got a turn to slide with Molly and be in the swing. It is always so fun to be with them. They make me feel happiness and love. We enjoyed a yummy soup at their home, later that evening.

 

Late summer brings with it a lot of busy work. We begin to harvest from the gardens and strive to catch up with the weeds. I was able to pick elder berries with my sweet mother in law, in Bear River City. I then, took the 3 1/2 bushels home to extract juice from each and every tiny little berry. The next day, I cooked and bottled over 40 jars of elder berry jam! Whew!!! It took a little extra boiling to get it to gel, but I have some wonderful gifts for dear friends, this winter.

Our crop of wheat was harvested at the end of July and we were so relieved to see the big hungry combine mow his way through the fields. Another successful crop delivered to Scoular, in Ogden, Utah. Dennis always worries about fire danger, until it is safely in the bins. Now, Tanner and Dennis have been working the ground and preparing for watering and then planting of more soft white wheat in our 30 acres. Tanner has dealt with dust, hard ground and broken equipment, but handles it all like a trooper. What a great guy!

Dennis creates a dust storm.

July has been filled with fun, friends, family and great memories.

We traveled to sunny hot St. George to attend IFA's Summer meetings.

It was 115 degrees at 6:45 p.m.!!!!

I visited and hiked in Zion National Park, while Dennis worked. We went to the movie, Spider Man.

We also stayed an extra night and attended the St. George temple.

Tanner was at home taking care of everything for us.

I have a great Daughter in law, who helped me to begin a blog today. Thanks to all of the wonderful people in my life.

My Family 2012