Sunday, November 24, 2013

Dear Kids,
          So much is going on! Yesterday Dad and I helped Nora and James with their move to the cabin. Nearly everything they were taking fit into the back of our truck! They also filled a very large U-Haul truck with other things going to their storage unit in Woods Cross. Luckily there were a lot of people helping out at the house in Kaysville: Donna and Bevan, a nice family of neighbors, Dave Michelson, James’s brother Paul, and of course all of Nora and James’s children, besides Dad and myself. Donna thought it would take all day, but we were out of there by noon. Dad and I drove Donna most of the way back, and then at Keatley Junction we dropped her off where she’d left her car, and picked up Tom, who came to the cabin with us to help unload. Then he and Dad went to Home Depot to buy insulation for his basement. I stayed at the cabin to start a fire, and when Nora and James’s family arrived, it heated up really nicely, with all those warm bodies. I hope they’re settling in OK. They’re in our ward now, and it was fun having them at church today (although Adelaide had to go home early because of a headache.) I think the cabin is glad to have people in it again. 
          On Thursday John and Heather closed on the house they’re buying. Dad and I haven’t even seen it yet, we’ve been so busy. But we’ve given them all our empty boxes, to pack their stuff in. I think they’re moving the end of next week. John has already arranged to swap us his car for the truck. 
          Meanwhile, Thanksgiving is coming up on Thursday. I’m making the turkey, dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pies. Stefanie is making a yam bake. Donna’s making rolls. Nora usually does the potatoes, so maybe she could do that again. That leaves salad and/or a vegetable, extra pies or other desserts, and the drink. Maybe there’s something else I haven’t thought of. Call me if you don’t have an assignment, OK?
          Dad and I visited with Grandpa on Friday. He’s still living at Nancy and Bruce’s house, while they’re waiting for a spot to open up at a care center in Spanish Fork. Grandpa was very pleasant, and always tells us how wonderful we are, which is always nice to hear. Dad and I looked through the book Andy put together (our internet isn’t fast enough to see it online) and we’re very happy about how it turned out. Thanks to all of you for sending in your pictures!
          Life is good! Lots of love, Mom

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Dear Kids,
          It’s already bedtime, and I’m just getting around to writing my family letter. Dad and I have had an extremely busy Sunday. It started at 8 this morning when we both had meetings–Dad for the Sunday School presidency, and me for the Relief Society. Then, we both gave talks in Sacrament meeting, besides Dad conducting the music and me playing the organ. We came home from church and had dinner, and the bishop dropped by to chat with us. Unfortunately, it was for a calling we couldn’t accept. By then we were late to go home teaching (I’m Dad’s companion,) but we visited all three of his families anyway. Then we came home and went to the Messiah practice in Heber. (We dropped off boxes at John’s house on the way.) We had to leave the practice a little early, though, because we had arranged for the young men in the ward to come by our house and "lift where you stand." We needed them to move our grand piano out of the living room, and then lay out a rug we bought and lift it back again. (We had already discovered that you can’t do it by lifting one leg at a time.) They came on schedule, and it only took a few minutes. We were very grateful to them. Now we’re just catching our breath and winding down. 
          Nora and James are moving again a week from Saturday–most likely to the cabin. Their new house in Centerville has a foundation, and Mark Ulrich is expecting them to close by January 23rd, but they have to be out of the Michelson’s house right away, and they need someplace to live temporarily. Besides, won’t it be fun to have them close by for Thanksgiving and Christmas? Nora’s planning to put her kids in school here, even if it’s just for a short time. Dad’s going to drive them in the morning. And there will also be sledding on the hill and swimming at the fitness center, plus all the magic of the cabin. I can tell you, the cabin wants people again! It has been crying since we moved out. Even the moose is downhearted. This will be a good development. 
          Yesterday was Isaac’s birthday, and Nora had invited us to come celebrate with them. We met at the house they’re moving out of, and then we drove to their new lot. What a spectacular view they’re going to have! The front of their house faces the mountain, with a little park across the street, and the back faces the whole valley. It’s a small lot, but James is excited not to mow much lawn. We hope everything goes well during the construction. We really hope they have a better time of it than we had!
          Let me know your Thanksgiving plans! It’s coming up fast!
          Love, Mom

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Dear Kids,
          Dad and I had a wonderful time in Goblin Valley with Donna and Bevan–at least the first day. We hiked Little Wild Horse Canyon, where there are slot canyons a couple of hundred feet deep, and cottonwoods, and red rock, and sand . . . very beautiful. (Definitely not the Telestial world, if you know what I mean.) After the hike we came back to our camp site, and by then the wind had really picked up. We had the best spot in the campground, behind a red rock fin, but the wind whistled through it, and it had carried Donna and Bevan’s tent 100 feet up the hill. Some nice person had pulled our poles out of our tent, so it was OK, except for a snapped fly pole. We tried to set things right, but the wind got stronger. (We later saw on the news that it uprooted a tree in Cedar City.) We sent Dad and Bevan over to the ranger station to see if we could get one of the yerts for that night, but they were both taken. We thought about getting a motel room in Hanksville, but I was sure it would cost $100 and be full of cockroaches and bad smells. Donna is such a die-hard that she didn’t want to give up, but there were little cyclones twisting across the desert floor, and the wind was so strong we could barely stand upright. So we finally packed up our stuff to go home. But first, we had to drive over and see the valley of the goblins (where a scoutmaster pushed off the head of one, as you probably heard.) Then we headed back to civilization. By the time we got to Price it was starting to rain, and going over Soldier Summit we were in a blizzard, of course. It rained and snowed the rest of the way home. But it was still a great trip. Goblin Valley would be a great place for a family reunion, just not in July or August. It’s all red rock and sand, and there’s a nice group camp site. Just thinking . . .
          Thanksgiving is coming up! Al’s family is most likely going to be there, and also Paul and Stefanie. I’ll call each of you when it gets closer. The cabin is up for it! (Not the new house, of course. It’s too wimpy.) 
          Dad and I are going to sing in the Messiah in Heber. The first practice is tonight, and I’m very excited. Tom will be in it too, of course. We’re putting it on December 14th and 15th.
          Hope you’re all doin’ great and lovin’ it! Mom