A Week to be Grateful....

We had some good storms the first of the week...

The fall like weather is refreshing...

We really missed the different seasons while in Florida.

The sun was just coming up...

Through the clouds...

Everything was fresh and clean...

Fall...

 

I did a little visiting...

That was a good thing...

I am so grateful for the widows...

they have so much wisdom..

I am thankful for having Stan around.

The drain under the kitchen sink came lose and there was water everywhere.

I couldn't bend...

Don't know what I would have done if it happened when he was gone...

Wednesday...

Jayden and Sierra came over...

They cooked our meal for Thanksgiving...

They did a marvelous job.

 

The only part of the meal Stan and I were in charge of was the turkey...

It wasn't done...

They did the stuffing...

Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole...

they  baked 4 pies...

And

A green bean casserole.

They spent the night...

So we started a 1000 piece Puzzle.  

It has turned into a real project.

 

Chris and Jayden peeling and cutting potatoes

After dinner, Diana snitching...

 
 Stan snitching...
Stan snoozing...

 Reigan organizing something...
she had us all playing and having fun..

 

All hands are welcome in putting this puzzle together

The puzzle progressed quite nicely..
There were other games that were being played and so it goes...

Jayden came over Saturday to clean the house for me...
What would I do without these girls?
After the work we concentrated on the puzzle...

We have some pieces spread out on the counter...

Jayden put a lot of the animals together over there...

 There is so much to be grateful for...
The list would fill a good sized phone book.

"Our motives and thoughts ultimately 

influence our actions. 

Jesus repeatedly emphasized 

the power of good thoughts 

and proper motives:

 'Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not' 

 (D&C 6:36).

"In Proverbs we read, 

'For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he' "

(Proverbs 23:7)

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Your Right to Choose the Right," New Era, Aug. 2005, 6

Laying Low...

Monday I spent all day in Malta visiting...

It was such a rewarding day...

There are so many widows and widowers in our valley...

Tuesday I went to the doctor...

They suggested  Neurostimulation therapy..

Like a pace maker in my back...

Electrical shocks interrupt the pain and send out a tingling feeling.

they also suggested an MRI...

Ben Melissa Ross Steve and Becky met us at Golden Coral for lunch...

It was really a 'farm business' meeting.

 Ross front and center...

Left...

Melissa Becky Me

Right...

Ben Steve Stan

It is always fun when family get together even if it is for business...

I went back for the MRI...

Not a pleasant experience...

I would rather have 10 babies...

To say it was not fun would be an understatement.

I am grateful that modern technology is so they can see inside me to find what is wrong...

I studied the Neurostimulation therapy from the materals they gave me...

On the internet...

And sent out emails to family and friends...

I felt sure this was not what I was supposed to do.

Wednesday...

Back to Logan to get the results of my MRI...

I have a bulging/herniated disk...

I could have more shots...

I could have surgery...

I had a lot of response from my email.

Lay Low seemed to work...

So since Friday I haven't done anything of worth...

Stan is the man...

He is so good to do anything I ask...

BUT he is suffering as well.

His left shoulder...

It keeps him from sleeping..

Nothing keeps Stan from sleeping...

So I sat up and paid attention.

He never takes anything for pain...

he even has his teeth worked on without Novocaine...

He wanted some Advil...

Okay...

I am really concerned now...

He never ever complains...

let alone take anything for pain...

NOW...

How to get him to see a doctor...

Any suggestion?

We love Thursdays...

The temple is such a peaceful place...

Knowing we are helping those who come adds to our already full basket of gratitude...

We have been meeting up with Mike for lunch...

It isn't always convenient but when it is we take advantage of it.

Sunday our church was viewing the Boise Temple re dedication from our ward building.

No one under eight could go...

Everyone else had to have a temple recommend.

All children were interviewed and given a pass...

Since I am trying to lay low I stayed home with...

Reigan and Ross...

Now that was way to much fun.

We started with Primary...

They taught me what they knew about Jesus...

PROFOUND...

Out of the mouths of children are we taught...

We sang...

Then we played...

 Playing Old Maid and Go Fish...

 Ross was our Old Maid...

They made cookies..

played dogs...

That was entertaining..

they played with blocks..

Such great friends...

We had some beautiful rain Sunday...

What a blessing...

"Gratitude is a Spirit‑filled principle. 

It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God.

 Through it, 

we become spiritually aware of the wonder of the smallest things, 

which gladden our hearts with their messages of God's love. 

This grateful awareness heightens our sensitivity to divine direction. 

When we communicate gratitude, 

we can be filled with the Spirit and connected to those around us and the Lord.

 Gratitude inspires happiness and carries divine influence."

                                            Bonnie D. Parkin, "Gratitude: A Path to Happiness," Ensign, May 2007, 35

 

Veterans. Snow, Fun, Elections....

Today is Veterans day...

My Father Melvin J Ward...
My son Joseph Stanley Campbell...
Are the soldiers in my life.
Thank you for all you do and have done.


Sunday is a very special day. 
It doesn’t get the attention of Christmas and the Fourth of July, but it should.
As we celebrate Veterans Day this year...
Without the courage and dedication of our many veterans, we would not have a country in which to celebrate our great holidays or even our lives living in freedom for that matter.
We offer our deepest gratitude and special  thoughts of thanksgiving for our veterans. 
If you have one who lives in your house, reach over and give him or her a big hug and an extra long kiss and say thanks for all of us. 
God Bless our veterans.

Elections....
Another 4 years...
It could be a very depressing thought.
BUT...
As my daughter Mary put it...
We knew this was coming...
Let us press forward...
Pray for our leaders..
as the Prophet have asked us to do.

She was very positive..
and so we need to be...
We are not yet as Mormon and Moroni...
Who were all alone in Christ...
And
Being hunted.

We have so much to be grateful for.
We are so blessed.
I am so grateful for life, family, God and yes this wonderful country.


Snow...
Our first 'real' measurable snowfall this season...
Today Dani and I decided we are moving to Florida.
 Why don't we all move...
at least to Arizona!

 Snow slipping off the roof...

 The snow man is covered with leaves because we didn't rake before it snowed...
Dani Sierra Olivia

 Reigan and Ross...

Friday Raft River Football team played in the finals at the mini dome in Pocatello...
It was Angies #17 Birthday and that is what she wanted for her birthday.
Stan, aka Grandpa,
Drove Chris Angie and Jayden to Pocatello to witness the 'great' defeat.
Defeat is hardly the word...
34-0.
our guys are the 0
They still came in third in their division.
Good going Raft River Trojans...

Since school was out for the game...
Plan was...
I was going to take Sierra and Reigan to the craft fair in Garland...
Melissa was there with her crafts.
(Melissa left Thursday night and got back Saturday night)

BUT...
Olivia and Ross wanted to play...

SO WE PLAYED...
You saw the snow pictures above...

We played UNO...
I have always been the Queen of UNO...
I taught the below to play...
Little Reigan surprised us all by winning the first game..
Ross did join in on another game..
How much fun this was...

 Sierra Reigan Olivia

 The TV's up and down stairs had movies going...
Reigan and Ross were playing with blocks cars the memory game and Candy land.
Food, cookies, conversation.

Ben came over and crashed as well...
I talked him into cooking up some steaks...
He does it with apple wood and it is so good.

Dani wanted to make french fries...

 They were so good...

she cooked up onions and mushroom as well for the top of our steaks...
YUM

 Troops at the trough...

We have to make cookies if we are at Grandma's..
 
Dani and I baked enough cookies together...
she could supervise Ross and Reigan... 
The little ones can't use a mixer so I have always let them use their hands...
This was so cute.
These two are a real team.

What a fun day.
Stan Chris Jayden and Angid got there and we all sat around and had a good visit before everyone went home.

There isn't much I can do with this pinched nerve in my back...
I did make a trip into Malta Tuesday...
Penny Thompson just lost her husband and Tuesday was their 53 wedding anniversary.
We went to lunch which lasted about two hours...
what a fun time we had...
I did make several visits to my friends the widows before lunch.
I love these ladies...
they have so much to teach me...

I practice the piano...
they need more piano players at the temple.

 I do a lot from this recliner and the heating pad...

 I crocheted around four blankets this week...

 The chest is full of hemstitched blankets that need crocheted around...

 My pile of finished ones is small...

 I also exercise...
sit and be fit along with some of my Pilates from the chair and floor...

 And instead of sitting on a chair I sit on the ball...
helps the core muscles...
I do some walking around the yard, and sometimes over to see Melissa.

Yes I do a lot of studying. 
Teaching Gospel Doctrine is daunting...

Saturday...
I went to Garland Utah and attended the Craft Fair where Melissa sells her wares.

Melissa was with Gwen and Gay...
She has a prime spot to sell her crafts...

What a beautiful versatile display of crafts...
It was by far the biggest and best display there.

It is always fun to go and shop...
thank you Melissa. 

Melissa and her projects

Her workshop...

“Our leaders have consistently counseled us

 ‘to live with respect and appreciation for those not of our faith. 

There is so great a need for civility

 and mutual respect among those of differing beliefs 

and philosophies’ 

(Gordon B. Hinckley

 “It is equally important that we be loving and kind to members of our own faith, 

regardless of their level of commitment or activity.”

Quentin L. Cook,

 “Our Father’s Plan—Big Enough for All His Children,” Ensign, May 2009, 37