Thanksgiving Repeat

Okay, my sister and my daughter told me that part of my last post was gobbly goop. Here is what I quoted:

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings.

Author unknown

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

I got up early this morning to make rolls for other friend's and relative's Thanksgiving dinner, not ours. Today I am going to relax and enjoy the afternoon with my sister at the movies. Do not fear, our Thanksgiving dinner is on Saturday, when everyone will be there. Last night G-tew suggested we make lefsa, mmm what a treat! So I mixed up the mashed potatoes to cool. For those of you who do not know what lefsa is I will explain, tortillas made with potatoes. Lefsa is a German/Scandinavian dish, it is great with left over turkey and cranberry sauce, also warmed up with cinnamon and sugar. So we will mix a little of G-tew's Norwegian heritage with our Thanksgiving this year.



As I was kneading the dough I was thinking about my Mom, and all the Thanksgiving meals she prepared. My Mom was a great cook, she could take anything and make a meal out of it. When I was young we lived away from our extended family, so it was just the five of us, but Mom always made Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day meals grand, the good china, the nice tablecloth, the whole works, just for the five of us. Today I am missing my Mom, but I know where she is and she is happy. Today I am thankful for my testimony of the Plan of Salvation and eternal families, and I know that I will be with her again.




I think that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the colors of fall, and we still have cooler weather ahead, after Christmas it is a downhill slide to the summer. Maybe I like it because it does not involve a lot of money, but my family is together and we like each other, we laugh and play and clean up together and that is the best.

Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build you strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary because it means you've made a difference.
It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.
Author unknown

May your stuffing be tasty 

May your turkey plump, 

May your potatoes and gravy 

Have in them no lumps. 

May your yams be delicious 

And your pies take the prize, 

And may your Thanksgiving dinner 

Stay off your thighs! 

~Anonymous 

Hip Hip Hooray for Jessica!!!

Jessica passed her physical fitness test and will be graduating this week. Jessica has joined the Air Force and has been in Texas completing her basic training. She struggled completing the requirements for sit-ups, 45 in one minute, but she did it, and we are all pleased as punch about it. Now she will go to Florida for training in Signal Communications, Way to go Jess!

I returned this afternoon from our trip to Disneyland. Thanks to my daughters for treating me to a lovely time. And I will forgive them for finding so much amusement in Judy and I getting drenched while riding the Grizzly River ride. Except for the hot weather, we had a great time, no large crowds and not much wait time for rides. Now its back to work and getting ready for Thanksgiving.

Spelling correction

Please forgive the misspelling of 'filled up' in the second paragraph, its late and I'm going to bed!!

Fill up, pray some more and go on.

Well, I made it through another birthday. Somewhat depressing, but finally at peace with the election results. We had an amazing Stake Conference the Sunday before the election, where a lot was said about having faith and moving forward. One story that was told was about one of the first parties to be sent to Arizona from Utah. They went about fifty miles south of the Colorado River and ran out of water. They prayed that night and when they woke up, it had rained and there was snow on the ground. They filled there barrels and turned around and went back to Salt Lake City. When Brigham Young heard the story he was interviewing a Bro. Jones. He looked at Bro. Jones and asked him what he would do if he had been with that party. Bro. Jones said he would have filled up, prayed some more and gone on. Well, I think that is what I am going to do, fill up, pray some more and go on.

I have been thinking about my Dad today. He served in the army during WWII. His brother Junior and brother-in-law, Luther Nash, served also. Dad was in Hawaii for most of the time. I cannot imagine having a husband, father or son in harms way for so long. But I think my Mom and both of my Grandmothers must have 'fill upped, prayed some more and gone on'.

Luther Nash, my uncle and my Dad, in Hawaii

My father, J.T. Hunter, my grandfather, Albert J. Hunter, my uncle, Junior Hunter.
My grandfather served in WWI. All three of them have their names engraved on the War monument in Gilbert.

My mom had three brothers serving their country during the war.

This headline for this newspaper article say "This Family Rates One Gold Star, 3 Blue". Casper Nicoll served in the Army National Guard, Don Carlos Nicoll Jr. served with the Marines and Guy Nicoll served in the Navy. All returned home except Don who was killed on Iwo Jima.
I am thankful for those who served so that I can enjoy the freedom to 'fill up, pray some more and go on'.

Oh, how I love my new oven. Tonight we baked twenty plus dozen cookies for Halloween, and we did it half the time it used to take. Love it, love it love it. No more staying up till midnight baking the cookies.

Tomorrow is the Ward Fall Festival and Stew and I, with the help of a couple of friends will be making the fry bread. This is really kind of funny, cause everyone calls it Indian Fry Bread, but the recipe comes from my Norwiegen mother-in-law. Angie is bringing Abbie in her adorable lady bug costume. I will post pictures later.

Thursday we will be decorating the cookies. Megan promised to help since most of the cookies are for her friends at her job. Anyway, by the time Friday gets here I will be wiped out. All of this busyness (is that a word? makes sense to me) is a nice diversion from the liberal media and the election.

We filled out our ballots on Sunday, and they were mailed this morning. No waiting in line this year. Next week I will have either a really great birthday or a really depressing one. Either way I am going to Fuddruckers for dinner on Thursday.

Miss Molly

Here is the update on the new kitten. I spoke to Judy this morning, she has named her Molly Mouse, Dad calls her Miss Molly Malone. They are still bottle feeding her. Molly has taken a shine for Dad. She climbs up his leg and sits in his lap and goes to sleep. Judy said she hasn't pooped yet. I told her check under her bed (where Molly hides), and bet she finds the poop. So I guess Dad has a new friend who hasn't heard all of his stories. Check Megan's blog for a picture of Molly.

Sisterly love

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any damage my daughters do to each other in the name of revenge.

Shana and Kristin, before they thought of mean things to do to their sisters, they were so sweet.

Carly and Megan, before the war began.

As you can see, they were once sweet and innocent, but alas now they are up to shenanigans. I tried my very best to be the kind of mother who taught them to be loving and kind. But what can you do when their Dad's driving techniques border on revenge/road rage. It's that blasted Norwegian onriness.

G2's Gift

Abbie's Tutu
Nikki made Abbie this adorable tutu for her 1st birthday

Grandpa's Gift
G2 gave Abbie a rocking chair.
We celebrated Abbie first birthday with lots of family, aunts, uncles, cousin, grandmas and one grandpa. G2 searched high and low for the rocking chair, of course his search included a few thrift stores. Eventually he settled on Cracker Barrel for the chair, but it was a good excuse to go searching for used books, his favorite hobby. He came home tonight with more treasures. Maybe I will go to the fabric store tomorrow and find my own treasures.

Thank goodness for my daughter's patience, she very carefully walk me through the set up of this blog. Maybe tomorrow she will show me the rest. Isn't it amazing how much our children can figure these things out so quickly. I do know where the off/on switch is, so I shouldn't embarrass them to much. But it sure is easier to call them for help, than it is to read the instruction.