Emily & Bronson's Visit

Emily & Bronson were not able to come for the Christmas holidays since Emily works full-time in a Rehabilitation Center in Orem, Ut. They flew to Portland on Dec. 15th. Gratefully, we had decided ahead of time to drive our Mazda to the Vance's home and have them pick them up at the airport on Thursday evening. It was a good thing, because we wouldn't have been able to get to the airport, or give them our car due to the snow and ice on our hill. They ended up staying the night with the Vance's and driving to Astoria the next morning. Once they got out of Vancouver, the roads were fine. This has been an unusual winter with early cold, wind, snow and ice!

We were stranded on our hill from Dec. 14th-18th. Fortunately, our neighbors, the Hatton's, helped me get to church, and then the Steve Lewis family brought me home. It felt so wonderful to finally get outside and be around other people. 

Later that day, the ice was finally breaking up enough that the family could come to our home for dinner, and Seth & Tiffany's family made it later that evening. 

The grandchildren acted out the nativity. As always, it was a combination of sweetness and humor. Our hope is that the meaning of this sacred event that ushered in our Savior to the world will always be cherished in their hearts.

I love having our family together. Monday they decorated Christmas cookies, a tradition with the grandchildren each year. Playing acquire was a favorite, and other games with family.

Each year I want to give up on the tradition of making caramel corn for our neighbors and friends because it wears me out so much. But each year Dad doesn't want to give it up. Emily, Bronson, and Dad were good to make it happen. I try to stay out of the kitchen as I'm just too particular, and want it to be just right. I'm hoping I can come up with a better alternative. But many comment on how much they love it and look forward to it at Christmas time. Traditions are great! But they definitely have their plus and minuses. 

Meredith was so kind to send me a beautiful, light-colored, bedspread/comforter and pillows for our bed. She knew I wasn't too excited about the gray and white one I had purchased earlier that year. I'm not sure what I was thinking but "gray" is not the color you want in your house in Oregon. We have so many dark days. This bedspread brightens my spirit and I love how it changed the feeling of my bedroom. Thank you so much, Meredith! Love you!

A special thanks to Bronson and Emily to paying for their tickets to fly to Oregon to be with us during these special season. It was wonderful to have them here. I appreciated the many things they both did to help me out while they were here.

Early December

Our December started with Addison's Shakespearean play "The Comedy of Errors." He played the part of Angelo. The costumes and acting were very good for a middle school. We loved the opportunity of being there for his performance. He is a good actor.

 

The winter weather hit early this year with snow and ice on Dec. 8th. We felt so badly to miss Bro. Wilford Stevenson's funeral, but we were grateful that we visited with him earlier in the week where he shared many experiences and memories of his life. What a great man of God. He was the first stake president in the Gresham area, and at one time was our Home Teacher who we loved and appreciated. He sealed Vivi & Brett in the Portland temple.

The roads finally cleared enough for us to get off our hill and on Saturday, December 10th to attend Julia & Bryson's piano recital in Vancouver and then Jackson and Addison's piano recital in Eugene that afternoon. Gratefully, there was enough time between them to make them both. Tiffany fixed a yummy dinner for us afterwards. Grandpa gave Addison some tips on building a fire, in their fireplace and we headed home that evening to prepare for Sunday. We enjoyed listening to an audio book as we drove. I love to read and so it was delightful for me to share a book together with Crismon.

Monday, Dec. 12th was our annual neighborhood Christmas gathering in our home. Each year the number gets larger and everyone seems to have such a good time. As Crismon had them go around the room and tell a little about themselves, everyone commented that this was the best neighborhood they had ever lived in. I know it has a lot to do with how Crismon has reached out to all of them and helped bring our neighborhood together. Everyone brought a treat to share, so that made it fun.

 

Then on Dec. 14th, we had more snow I called ahead and told my coordinator, Carol Buroker, that I wouldn't be able to come to the temple that day due to the predicted snow storm. I'm so grateful I did, as many temple workers had a great deal of problems getting home. One sister was on the road for 7 hours after the temple shift before making it back to her home in Eugene. The rest of the week we were pretty much stranded. 

Thanksgiving

There is so much to be grateful for! I love the Thanksgiving season and the gathering of family during this wonderful holiday, without the usual hectic schedule of Christmas. It was our treat to have Julia & Austin come this year for Thanksgiving. They arrived Monday evening, Nov. 21st. I was flying home that day from Utah after helping Alice-Anne with baby Claire. I had prepared an African Chicken Peanut Soup that Crismon pulled out of the freezer and had ready for them. I was proud of Dad for making the salad, and pulling muffins out of the freezer, too, so they had a good meal when they arrived. I arrived around 11:30 pm that evening.

Tuesday evening we all went to the Vance's to celebrate Isaac's 6th birthday. It was another fun evening with family. We love that little Isaac.

Wednesday we packed up and drove to Eugene to enjoy Thanksgiving with Seth & Tiffany's family. With them living so far away for many years, this was the first time we've had Thanksgiving with them. The Vance's arrived shortly after we soon the women were busy preparing pies, etc. 

Early Thanksgiving morning everyone headed to Springfield for their annual Turkey Trot. There was a large crowd from the community participating, and it was very exciting to see our family a part of that event. Dad and I stayed behind with Isaac and Paxton and waited the arrival of the runners. Afterwards the men and children stayed for the free swim in the pool, while the women headed back to finish Thanksgiving dinner. Tiffany's sister Katherine, her husband, Matt and their darling Amelie 2 1/2 was also with us. The Caudle's arrived in the afternoon Thanksgiving day to join us. 

In the evening we had a nice program where some of the grandchildren performed, and we each shared something we were particularly grateful for that year. These special times together help bind us together as a family. I'm so thankful for my family. I love Thanksgiving as we're focused more on family at that time. My cup runneth over with gratitude and love for each one. In the hymn "Our Savior's Love," in the last line of the 2nd verse it says, "And we are bound to Him by loving ties." I feel that way about my family, too. The love we have for each other binds us together through Christ and through the power of the Priesthood on earth.

Tiffany did a masterful job of decorating and making Thanksgiving extra special. Friday late morning Seth & Tiffany took us to the University of Oregon campus where Seth gave us a tour of the campus and his building and office. Seth presented to Dad a small book he had written along with another collegue entitled, "Boundaries of Journalism Professionalism, Practices and Participation." Shaping Inquiry in Culture, Communication and Media Studies.

We headed back to Gresham after a terrific few days together as family. Seth and Tiffany were great hosts and provided so much for all of us in food, and their hospitality. The big home they are renting has many large rooms for us to gather.

Baby Claire

One of my favorite things to do is to help my daughters, or daughter-in-laws with their new babies. It had been nearly two years since we had a new grandchild in our family, so going to Utah in November to help Alice-Anne was a special time for me. Not knowing exactly when the baby would come, I had booked 5 flights going to Salt Lake on Southwest Airlines and 3 returning flights. I purchased the flights through points, and then cancelled them as I didn't need them. Alice-Anne and I both felt good about me flying down on November 12th. I arrived that Saturday evening and was welcomed in with lots of love, attention, and of course, Gary's (or Alice-Anne's) yummy homemade bread. When I came up for breakfast on Sunday morning Gary informed me that Alice-Anne was resting as she was having lots of contractions and they were consistent. She wanted to make it to the children's performance in the Primary Sacrament Meeting program. So, although she was uncomfortable being in the early stages of labor, she made it to meetings to see her cute children say their parts and sing with the Primary children. It was wonderful to be there for that sweet time as well.

After a long labor all day Sunday and into the early hours of Monday, Alice-Anne gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Claire Myreel Johns, weighing 7 lb. 10 oz., 21 inches long, at 2:13 am, born in Murray, UT. They didn't know ahead the gender, so it was very exciting to learn it was a girl. All the kids were over-the-top with excitement, especially Kenna. She was thrilled to have a sister. I hurried to get the children ready for school and then we drove to the hospital to welcome cute Claire into the family. It was an incredible experience for me to see her when she was just a few hours old. Heaven is near with the birth of a baby and you could feel the special spirit she brought with her from the other side of the veil. After much excitement and a chance for all of them to hold Claire, Gary took the children on to school and he went home to clean up and get a much needed nap. I stayed and helped Alice-Anne which I loved. Holding that sweet bundle of joy was beyond words.

We were having beautiful, sunny weather, but the day after they came home from the hospital the weather turned dramatically, with a snowfall through the night. Emily worked for a half day, that day and then came up to see the baby, bring gifts, and help me with dinner. She was a huge blessing for me. Then she and Bronson came up on Sunday late afternoon and brought the entire meal. It was delicious and again, a big help for me.

Kenna worked with me on tying a fleece blanket for Claire. It was a fun project to do together. Elliot was delightful, talking nonstop whenever I saw him. Spencer always had some funny things to say. And they all adore Claire and smother her with endless kisses. I didn't stay as long as I would have liked, but Alice-Anne insisted I go ahead and go home as Julia & Austin were arriving Monday evening, Nov. 21st for the Thanksgiving holidays. I felt badly to leave then as Alice-Anne was feeling sick with a thrush infection and Claire was not nursing well. Later they learned that she had a tongue-tie, but even after getting that clipped, she still struggled with nursing. There are many adjustments with a newborn in the house, but also, so many blessings. It was so cute to see how tender and sweet the children were with her. Elliot slowed down long enough to hold and kiss her.

I love seeing my daughters be mothers. Alice-Anne is an amazing Mom. I don't know how she manages it all, but she does. Seeing her care and love this precious new baby was a rich and rewarding experience for me. She has trained the other three so well, that life carries on when she's busy with Claire. Kenna is a tremendous help to her. Love and happiness abounds in this home.

Crismon and I rejoice in the birth of each of the grandchildren. She makes our count 24, with 12 boys and 12 girls. It's thrilling to see our posterity grow and multiple.