Williams Blessing Day & More

Wed. Dec. 27th we were able to serve in the temple. We stayed to do a session that evening, but Crismon was beginning to chill and feel extremely tired. We came home to find that Julia had made some delicious home made bread. It was wonderful! I seemed to have a lot of energy that day and I took care of Crismon the rest of the evening and that day was over 8400 steps which is a lot for me. I felt sick by the next morning.

Emily & Bronson joined us by Thursday, the 28th. We shared Christmas gifts with them when they arrived. It was delightful to have them here and they were a big help to me. Julia & Austin flew to Hawaii to tend Meredith and Bryan’s children on Dec. 29th, their 5th wedding Anniversary. Meredith & Bryan and new baby Ivan, flew to Portland on Dad's 69th birthday, Dec. 30th, for the wedding of his sister, Tesa to Dalton Boyles, son of Lisa Tapasa, very good friends of ours.

We had a Sister's Breakfast on Saturday morning after Meredith & Bryan arrived. Emily prepared a delicious breakfast of special baked eggs with whipping cream. I was so sick I just showed up when family arrived. Emily rescued me that weekend. I wouldn't not have managed without her. It was so fun to be together a Lewis Women. We, of course, missed Julia & Alice-Anne. Meredith & Ondalynn surprised Vivi with a special gift. They bought her a ticket to fly to Hawaii in March to visit Meredith's family. She had been wanted to go so badly. They worked things out with Brett ahead of time and he offered to take care of the children so she could go. Vivi has never been so surprised in her life!

It was nice Meredith & Bryan were able to bless baby Ivan in our ward on Dec. 31st. Seth's family drove up that morning, the Vance's, Caudle's, Emily & Bronson, and all the William's family were there. We increased the ward numbers by 60 or more that day. Bryan pronounced a beautiful blessing on Ivan Finn Williams. There was the potential of 14 brethren that could have been in the circle with all the brothers and brother-in-laws. Both have very big families and all are active, so that could have been a very big circle. Dad suggested he keep it to just brothers, so Bryan did. There was Herb Williams (father) Herb, Cody, Taylor, & Jacob Bryan's brothers and Crismon (Grandpa), and Seth. I was not well, but went anyway, of course. After Sacrament meeting, Ondalynn, Tiffany and some of the children that were not well came back to our home. Tiffany helped me with dinner preparations. Ondalynn was feeling sick so went to rest. Soon I went to lay down and Tiffany kept everything going for family to arrive. She was a big help as she was also baking the lasagna for the Williams family for their dinner at the church later that afternoon.

The wedding was in the Portland temple on Jan. 2nd. Bryan and his family worked very hard on Monday the 1st decorating the cultural hall. Keren Williams does an amazing job. Meredith went later to help, then they went to a late night movie that night. Crismon & I were sick with the flu the entire time Meredith was here which we feel very badly about. I got especially ill right before Crismon was going to leave for the wedding. I'm so grateful he stayed home to help me. I was delirious and I couldn't have functioned on my own. Crismon had never see me so sick and he was about to take me to the hospital.

The next day the Williams had lunch with his parents and then visited the Vance's and the Caudle's before returning that evening for dinner. We visited and then they helped take down the Christmas decorations. I was very fragile because of the sickness, but managed to sit there and help direct items for packing away. I was bearing able to hold Ivan for a quick picture. I had hardly held him their entire visit for fear of getting him sick. The timing of this illness was not good of course! They left early the next morning.

I'm writing this now on Jan. 9th. It's been about two weeks of illness. Crismon and I have been so very sick. I didn't go to Church on Sunday, but Crismon had important church meetings as his stake president duties that need to be taken care of. Today I encouraged him to go see the doctor as his cough took a turn for the worse. He has pneumonia. Yesterday he managed to speak at Donna Norr's funeral, Cathy Hansen was so good to go to the grocery store for us and bring us soup and peaches for dinner. Friends are the best.

We've had a great year. We have been blessed tremendously by the hand of the Lord. He has watched over us and helped us so much. We are indebted to Him. How we love Him and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Christmas with the Vance's

We were so grateful to finally arrive at the Vance's after about a 3-hour drive from Eugene. Entering Portland we hit a bad snow and ice storm. It was treacherous driving, and so it was such a relief to finally arrive. The Vance's had invited their friends, the Matt & Kristin Green family and Danny & Janneke Marquez family to join them for the evening of appetizers, games, nativity, singing, and some of the children performing. It was nice to have Grandma Vance join them, too. It took Gary awhile to pick up his Mom from the airport and to help stranded vehicles on his way home, too. I'm glad Dad and I could clean up so Gary & Ondalynn could focus on setting up for Christmas. Julia & Austin were a good help to with wrapping gifts and helping with final preparations. 

It was fun to spend the night and to see the children walk in on Christmas morning to the fun surprises from Santa Claus. Our children were so good to give us a DNA testing for me and Crismon. That will be interesting to find out the results. We received many other nice gifts. We were spoiled! The gift was Ondalynn & Gary giving Julia & Austin their electric piano. This is such a blessing for Julia to be able to give piano lessons. We were pretty much stranded until that afternoon. Gratefully we made it home ok and up our hill. Because we were able to get up the hill, Seth's family came that evening, the Vance's and the Caudle's. I provided the meal of soup, bread and salad. I'm glad we could all be together on Christmas despite the roads.

 

Eugene Pre-Christmas

We went to Eugene on Saturday, the 23rd to be at Seth & Tiffany’s for the musical evening in their home with members from their ward. The evening started out with Seth's family singing, "Mele Kalikimaka." It's fun to meet their friends and enjoy the beautiful music. Singing the Christmas Carols together is such a treat. On Christmas Eve day, the 24th, Sunday, it was especially wonderful to be in their ward to hear the choir sing, and the narration for the program. Tiffany, as choir director put in all together and it was beautiful.

We had a short program with them before heading back to Portland. Julia & Austin were Mary & Joseph for their nativity. Driving back home on Sunday, we hit a very bad snow and ice storm as we entered the Portland area. We drove directly to Ondalynn and Gary’s home for Christmas Eve.

The other family members were having their own special Christmas Eve's in their homes, and family pictures taken on Sunday, Dec. 24th. Sacrament was just one hour so families could be together. Meredith & Bryan's family had their Christmas Day on the 24th as Bryan had to work the next day. Their children are always up early so they were done in time for their 10 am Church meeting.