Boxing Day

Today is “BOXING DAY” the 26th of December (the day after Christmas).

In England, where I served my first mission, Boxing Day is celebrated as a national holiday. It is the day that you give gifts to those that serve you. Such as the postman, the garbage man, the bus driver, the local policeman, etc. It is also the day that you clean-up from Christmas day. The day you “box things up”, today we had lots of things to box up.

Grandma and I had a great Christmas. We held our traditional family Christmas Eve dinner and program at the Bush home, with Amanda & Brady, Katrina, Carter and Tyler. We were joined by Becky & Ray, Lily, Gaby, Kaden, Kyle and Grandpa Mac. Also Megan & Ben, Thomas and Addie along with Elizabeth & Allen and Miles.

We are so grateful to have this time to get to know the “Utah tribe” and meet the sweet spirits that have joined our family. It has been especially fun to get to know Miles and Thomas. They cannot yet talk but “sing and swing” to music with gusto. It is obvious that they are “Saturday’s Warriors’ fresh from the throne of God.

Our First GRANDmissionary!

Last Sunday Grandma and I witnessed Christopher's ordination as a Elder and yesterday we got to attand the Temple and witness him receive his endowment.

W ELL IVE TRIED 3TIMES TO TITLE THIS BUT I KEEP SCREWING UP. ITS SATURDAY NIGHT AND WE JUST FINISHED PUTTING HANDLES ON THE KITCHEN CUPBOARDS. WE SPENT THE DAY WORKING ON SIGNS . THEN DAY WENT AND DELIVERED THEM. YESTERDAY I WASNT FEELING VERY GOOD MY KIDNEY WAS HURTING REAL BAD I HOPE ITS NOT A STONE ITS NOT TO BAD TODAY. last NIGHT THERE WAS A STAKE HIGH PRIEST DINNER, SO DAD WENT BY HIMSELF. TOMORROW CHRISTOPHER IS GETTING THE MEL PRIESTHOOD. SO WE ARE GOING TO THEIR MEETING TOMORROW, THEN OF COURSE DAD HAS TO BE AT OUR MEETINGS BECAUSE HE IS TEACHING THE FAMILY HISTORY CLASS AND THEN PRIESTHOOD. ALWAYS GOING 500 MILES PER HOUR. I HOPE TO GET HIM OUT OF HERE SOON I CANT WAIT TO. HE NEEDS SOME TIME OFF. WE ARE BOTH LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OUR LOVED ONES SOON. GET READY FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!! WELL I HOPE YOU CAN READ THIS BECAUSE IM NOT MAKING ANY CORRECTIONS.

just another weekend

When did you first realize you were you?

My earliest memory was of eating breakfast with my sister Corrie. She and I were sitting at a kitchen table eating cold cereal with milk. Corrie was pretending to read the ads on the cereal box. I couldn’t read and I knew she couldn’t. She told me I could read the milk carton, but I knew I couldn’t.

I’m not sure how old I was, but I know I was living in Arizona where my dad was in the Army Air Corps so I must have been under two years old. At that very young age I was me. I was an individual with feelings, desires, hopes and fears. Now over 60 years have passed and I am still an individual with feelings, desires, hopes and fears.

I share this thought because I believe it is the key to being a good parent.

Although children know they are individuals many parents don’t really think about it, and assume their children view things the way they (the parents) do and as a result fail to really understand their children.

A child’s limited experience makes it impossible for the child to understand what the parent understands and to see things they way their parents do. The good news is that since the parent was once a child, it is possible for the parent to see things the way the child does.

When parents make that attempt, miracles can happen and true communication will take place.

I don’t suggest that parent think and act like children, rather parents need to take the time to remember what it was like when they were children. They are then able to lead their children and enable them (the children) to learn from their (the parents) mistakes.

That requires that the parents admit their weaknesses and the mistakes they have made especially to their children. This simple act will inspire our children and allow them to become better than the previous generations.

To quote Winston Churchill, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it”. This applies to families as well as nations.

Love my family

I love our family!!!!! I love to read your blogs and I love to here from all of you. Yesterday we had to go into Anch. we had lunch with Tressa and Nic it was Nic's 11th birthday. It was also Gabe's birthday. Its amazing how old everyone is getting. [especially Dad and I] We went over to Tressa's and the big girls were making a dress for Tory to wear to work for Halloween. It reminded me so much of when you girls were younger and you would be in the dining room with all your projects, trying to decide who had the best ideas. I miss having kids around I think its a Mom thing. We are so excited about having new grandchildren sent from our Heavenly Father, they are all so special. In a few weeks I hope we,ll be going to the Temple with Christopher , what an giant step toward eternal life, also I hope Betsey will be going to the Temple soon to be sealed to the Earle family. I remember when we took the boys to the Hawaii Temple it was such a special time for all of us you all looked like Angel. Thats what the Temple Worker said "you were all special angel sent to us from our Heavenly Father" I'm proud of you all! You are all differant and most of you at this time are trying to set a good example for your siblings and your children. We pray for you all everyday. Keep up the good work and HANG IN THERE

Love Mom

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b

Today is Sunday and we have been home for a couple hours. Then when I got on to do the blog Amy skyped me. I love being able to visit with every one!!!! Any way I got a new calling I'm now the ward librarian strange calling but oh well. I will miss teaching RS. Dad and I ve been busy trying to get some things done around the house before winter settles in but so far the weather is holding off. We have had a beautiful long fall. We still need to fix part of the greenhouse roof and put some insulation in the floor above the crawl space hopefully that will help with our heating bill! We have been getting alot done around here thanks to our very helpful grandchildren! I've also been helping Aunt Lynn with her moving. She is leaving Tues. to go down to Yuma to stay with Grandpa Hanke and help him out. I will miss having her here , we have gotten very close the last year. Dad and I have had Flat Stanley with us for a few days, he is a friend of Sams. So we have been taking him around with us. He went with us last night when we went to a play that Kimber, Sabrina and Andrew were in . We had a great time and the kids did a great job. Kimber and Sabrina were witches and Andrew gave a recitation of the Tell tale Heart and did an awesome job.

Well I just posted but I spelled things wrong and left out the last word (blogs)

We'er on again!!!

Tonight Dad decided to make us a blog that we could share. So I am back on line again! Yea!! Hope I'll be able to write now and comment on different