December 16, 2008

Dear Children,

I am getting so excited for Christmas with all of you! Dad and I have been working to make more sleeping areas so everyone is as comfortable as possible. We transformed Adrianne’s room, amazingly the largest bedroom in the house, into a great room for the Brady’s. I know many of you older children, who lost your “home room status” shortly after leaving home, will be secretly (or not so secretly) thrilled that the “baby” has lost her room-staying-the-same bragging rites.

Along with all of you, we have had some severe weather this week. It was a great blessing that Dad was able to gather larger crews last week and finish the last large job in Vancouver. Now he is checking it to see that the freeze didn’t ruined the fresh concrete. Upon learning that Dad would actually be done with the job days before all of you started arriving, I was so excited to know, with the forecasted storms, that I would have him home to help get the last things done before Christmas. I have been working on a big project that was going to need more than a few evenings of help from him so I am VERY grateful! My goal every night is to be in bed before the outdoor lights, on timers, go off. There have been a few nights that I have made that goal. Dad and I have had some fun projects for which I am SO excited!

The last of the decorations and outdoor lights are all in place and the tree is beautiful, as always. We did have a shock the other night, just before leaving for dinner at the Chandler’s home, when Dad discovered puddle water covering the fireplace marble and rug around the tree. Luckily the tree stand was not the culprit so we didn’t have to somehow replace that with the decorated tree intact. Dad pulled the tree from out of the corner and everything is drying up nicely, even the gifts that were touched by the water. Dad put the outdoor lights on a timer. My goal every night is: be in bed before the outdoor lights go off. Well, I made it a few nights!

Grandma shopped all around to find a fake tree, but only four foot, that looked real; she finally found one at Ludeman’s. I went with her to pick it up and Dad put it together for her. It looks pretty close to real. It reminds me of the nobles we used to get in California when I was young, a little sparser than the nobles we cut down here. The tree already has lights on it so when we left Grandma’s home that night she said, “Thank you for the tree lighting ceremony.” When Dad told her she was welcome and that he learned something new also, I asked him what new thing he which he was referring (after we were in our car). His rely was, “How to put those dumb trees together!” It is hard to convince an Oregonian that any fake tree is wonderful, no matter how pretty. I wonder how many years it will be before I have to eat my words and succumb to the curse of wanting a fake tree more than the work of a fresh one!

Except for the red and green fudge to go with our neighbor and friend gift of soup makings, I haven’t done much baking this holiday. So, in preparation of having family and especially the grandchildren, I spent a day making different cookie dough and freezing them into dough balls. I hope we get time to bake with the grandchildren and any of you that would like! We have a lot of dough balls in the freezer. I added snickerdoodles to the selection since that used to be the favorite cookie of some of you when you were in your teens.

I love being socked in by a snow storm but this one is really bad timing for those who had a lot of shopping left. Luckily, most of my preparations yet to be done are mostly projects at home. Dad put the chains on the Taurus so we could go to the Chandler’s for dinner on Sunday evening as planned; they had also invited Grandma. We would have never been able to get up her hill without the chains! We are just leaving them on as these chains are allowing me to get other commitments done such as finishing up my visiting teaching and picking up some things for Grandma plus some extra project supplies for me. I don’t like driving on icy roads but am getting the hang of it. I guess it is good practice so I can help Katie drive to St. Louis in January but that would be very nerve wracking to drive that trip as slow as chains require and I don’t necessarily want to be responsible to put them on!

The forecast of a snow storm was for Saturday or Sunday but Saturday night it still hadn’t snowed here. We deiced that maybe our Utah children would bring it with them later in the week. We laughed that Adrianne was no longer as snow crazy as she used to be while praying for snow days growing up. Although, she told me that she still loves the snow in Oregon as everything comes to a halt here when it snows. Dad made sure that he mowed the lawn on Saturday. She called during the storm to say our high and low temperatures were the same as their temperatures in Utah.

When asked why he mowed the lawn, he said that he had to vacuum all the remaining leaves up because a snowman isn’t pretty with leaves. The snow was actually so dry that very few snowmen were constructed in our area. We woke on Sunday morning to the quiet sound of snow; the snowfall became greater each minute and soon the deck was covered with deep snow. Dad said that we had Bill to thank since the snow came from Canada but after the snow on the deck crunched as he walked outside, he came back and exclaimed, “This is Utah snow, skiing snow!”

Morty called as I was maneuvering the snow packed roads on Monday afternoon to excitedly tell me that Las Vegas was getting a dose of snow. He took some pictures and sent them of the Red Rock area with its snow covered palm trees! This weather is crazy!

I called Morty one day while looking for salsa at Costco (not finding the one I like) since I know he buys his there also. He couldn’t talk long as he was rushing to catch a plane. I wondered where he was going this time. Then, that night, while Dad and I went to Grandma’s to do something there, we noticed the Blazer-Jazz game on TV and I remembered that he told me he was flying to Salt Lake for that game and for a BYUY-University of Portland game at the Marriott Center. We searched and searched for Morty, Katie or Nate in the audience of the game but never had any luck so we really enjoyed the pictures that Morty sent us. Katie had a media pass and was courtside so we were sure that we could get a picture of her on the TV but the camera angle was unreasonably focused on the game!

The weather has continued to be full of snow and ice this week. Katie surprised Dad and I on Thursday morning. She was supposed to arrive on Saturday. She has known for weeks that she was coming home earlier! Luckily, there were extra tickets to the concert, Michael Allen Harrison at the Old Church, Thursday night so that she could go with us. She sacrificed a Blazer game to go; her friends were stuck in Eugene and couldn’t go with her. Adrianne arrives on Thursday afternoon. Both of the girls came home tired; having little sleep all week with finals. It is fun to have the girls in the home again. We just love it!

We will see all of you in a few days or LESS!!! Remember to bring warm clothes and bring clothes for our family picture on Wednesday morning at 10:00 am. We have a great outdoor waterfall and rock shot planned but chances are, the weather won’t cooperate so we have found a suitable substitute indoor spot over by Doctor Barney and Goodrich’s offices. There is a nice wide indoor staircase that we could use. We are wearing jeans or tan pants and any combination of white or blue tops. I figure those colors should work for anyone.

Good news for the Jorgensen family: I had Logan here while they took Tate to his follow up appointment after the surgery to remove his eye. They doctor just received the report from the lab that the eye was destroyed by an aggressive form of Coat’s disease, not cancer. So, he will get a new eye that will be attached to muscles and track just like his good eye. They are understandably relieved.

Scott is looking forward to your visits. We had a nice quiet visit with him this week with being able to go midweek!

See you all soon! I love you, Mom

December 9, 2008

Dear Children,

I have so much about which to write that it is overwhelming to begin. I believe I will begin from the end and go backwards since so much has happened in the last couple of weeks.

Last night was our family home evening when we planned to deliver our neighbor and friend gifts. This year, in my efforts to make a more homemade, back to basics Christmas, I experimented with a recipe for bean soup for which I could make a dry mix to give to our friends. I knew I wanted to do something with my canning jars when I cleaned out my storage room and opted to give many of them away this fall to some of the young mothers in the ward. The gifts turned out really cute and the soup is VERY delicious also. I added one little treat, red (raspberry) and green (mint) fudge on the side. Grandma came over in the afternoon and helped me put everything together; it was fun to have someone helping again. It made making 23 gifts much more enjoyable rather than just a task to finish. I wanted to have it finished before Dad got home so he and I could spend his time delivering. We got a late start so we will finish tomorrow night when we deliver treats and invitations to the singles ward “ugly Christmas sweater” Christmas party.

Last night we could only go to the homes where they didn’t have small children since we were late but we did first stop by the Jorgensen’s to let them know we were thinking about them. I haven’t told all of you but they have had so much with which to face in the last year. First, Jaime’s dad was diagnosed with cancer and was in treatment. He is doing well. He was actually getting a cancer treatment two floors up from Jaime when she was in the hospital in August having their third son, Carter. In September, her mother, Kathleen, was diagnosed with a rapidly growing cancer and she had surgery immediately and is doing well also. But sadly, Jaime’s four year old, Tate, has had several diagnosis with the loss of sight in one eye. They were relieved when it was something other than cancer until last week, when the doctor changed the diagnosis since the damage was spreading. He was scheduled for a MRI today to learn if the cancer has spread to his brain and he is scheduled for surgery this Thursday to remove his eye. I know you all care for Jaime and her family. She could use your prayers.

Dad is still leaving in the dark and returning in the dark with the goal of finishing this last large job before any of you start arriving for the holidays. We feel extremely blessed to have the work and that the weather has held out this long on the most critical days. He is determined that the forecast for a winter chill this weekend and into next week will not thwart his plans. He did distract himself last night wondering if the tractor tires needed to be replaced so that he would be prepared to build a snow mountain in the cul-de-sac if the opportunity arose! The two neighbor girls across the street stuck right with him the evening that he was working to repair our Rudolph and sleigh light display, reminding him that Rudolph’s nose needed new lights, so there are more children in the neighborhood that would benefit from a snow mountain here. Dad misses not having Nate here to lift the display onto the roof but it actually shows up quite nicely on the front corner of the house. I like it there also, fewer chances to fall!

Dad and I enjoyed watching the First Presidency Broadcast on TV on Sunday evening. All the messages were so great and the music, as expected, was wonderful. Some year I would like to go to that in Salt Lake. I loved the emphasis in the messages of extending a willing hand and a loving heart to those in need. I enjoyed President Monson’s challenge of making a conscious, committed effort to bring Christ into our lives and home. He told us that down through the ages the message has always been the same, “Follow me.”

I keep forgetting to ask the boys if they threw streamers at the Missouri/Oklahoma game this last Saturday. Morty, Aaron and Nate were all in Kansas City to be a part of that play off. Dad caught a bit of the game on TV and remarked that he saw yellow streamers fly through the air after a touchdown; definitely a tradition of the boys!

Shawn caught me off guard when he called on Saturday afternoon with a band blaring in the background on his cell phone. He thought I might like to hear the Hayward High marching band. They were at a Christmas parade in Oakland (Their family does so many fun things). To tell you the truth, it never dawned on me that Hayward High’s band ever marched formally. Except for the time they marched behind us at the Downtown Rally (annual pep rally; not a protest rally!); I didn’t even guess that they performed anywhere except to play at games so we could perform our routines. I believe that I have admitted that I selfishly thought my dancing was the reason for a band! I have paid dearly for that selfish notion in the years I volunteered for our high school band. Speaking of which, both the Southridge band and football team took state championships this fall!

Kyre had fun on her birthday. Alina was the first one to phone her in the morning. Alina is so good to remember her mother’s important days! She also got to go to lunch with Meeja, Sunhee and Wendi. Her sister, Angie, brought them into Albany that afternoon.

This week was the week that Katie heard that she got her dream internship that goes from January to June. It sounds like a perfect opportunity. She will definitely be a poor, destitute student now as that is six months without earning an income but she is making a tremendous investment in her education and career training. Luckily, she gets to work three of the five days a week on sports broadcasting in the main St. Louis TV station, KSDK (two blocks from the Cardinal’s stadium). She will be in sports heaven; I wonder if she will take all her Cardinal memorabilia for her desk . . . well, I guess it wouldn’t fit on a desk really!!! She has already made a connection with someone in the singles ward there since she has to quickly work on a place to live. Carol has a relative in St. Louis but she hasn’t heard from them yet. When she asked if I would help her drive there I thought that sounded like lots of fun until it set in that I would be driving through the Rockies and icy plains of the Midwest in the dead of winter. I am trying to convince Katie that we need to take more than two days to drive it!

How will Katie want to leave St. Louis right in the middle of baseball season? Well, she may be very anxious to get back in time for Bill and Heidi’s baby to be born. Yes, I have been dying to announce their news but they hadn’t been able to correspond with everyone until now. They are expecting a baby in June, and Shawn and Aubrey in March so that will be nice that the two cousins will be close in age.

Dad and I ended our Thanksgiving week at a memorial for Mrs. Gueck on Saturday evening. Sharon outdid herself to create another nice gathering. This one was supposed to be the more public gathering but the family service, when she was buried just spontaneously grew. Sharon made even more displays of Mrs. Gueck life in pictures. It was held in a hotel in Wilsonville. Most of the people who spoke were former Gueck girls who felt that the opportunity that Mrs. Gueck had provided to them had changed their lives.

The Friday after Thanksgiving was a big day for me. That evening I drug Dad to do a little more shopping with me and to use my free hamburger certificate at Red Robin that Shawn and Aubrey sent for my birthday. In the afternoon, right before it started to get dark, we cut down our Christmas tree. Shawn sent Dad and I a picture message of himself looking for a Christmas tree in his shorts, sunglasses and T-shirt. I told him that I wouldn’t trade even though it looked pretty comfortable. I did my usual early morning run to get after-Thanksgiving Day specials and came home in time for a birthday party. Uncle Scott and Aunt Carla were leaving that afternoon and Dad had to work that morning so we planned a lunch get together; nothing sounded as good as leftover turkey sandwiches! So, Carla made a cream cheese-chocolate dessert that I love and we celebrated at home. There was so much we still wanted to do with Scott and Carla but we had a very enjoyable visit while they were here.

Thanksgiving was quiet but nice. It was very relaxing with three cooks sharing the work. Grandma made her jello, Aunt Carla did the pies the night before and we bought these great cranberry ciabatta rolls so Thanksgiving morning was a breeze. We even went on a bike ride to Grandma’s place after I stuffed the turkey. We figured that would allow us a piece of pie! Klaire and Kyre called to wish us Happy Thanksgiving. Klaire would say “giving” over and over again. And then when she called for my birthday, she would say, “Happy to you.” The Brady family sang to me on my birthday. I thought it was almost a solo from Rebekah, which sounded very excellent, but then I later learned that Rebekah was holding the phone for the rest of the family!

All the single siblings were in Las Vegas for Thanksgiving. It sounded like they had a great time. They were all invited to the family dinner at Aaron’s N9ne Steakhouse. Morty described all the foods they had: turkey, prime rib and shrimp. Katie said she had the best pumpkin cheesecake that she ever has tasted. That would be a fun destination next Thanksgiving! Nate and Katie had to get back to Provo early so they left on Friday but Adrianne stayed until Sunday afternoon allowing her to go with Morty to do their own early morning after-Thanksgiving Day sales shopping. It sounded like they had lots of success. The rest of the weekend Adrianne spent time cooking for her brothers: egg puff, chicken enchilada casserole, etc. Morty said she was “cooking up a storm.”

Monday through Wednesday we went to Long Beach with Aunt Carla, Uncle Scott and Grandma. We had never stayed there before. It was wonderful. We hit some pockets of great weather so it was perfect for exploring the area. Long Beach is a much more outdoorsy beach town although they have some very nice shops and an incredible bakery! They have a great bike path. Dad and Scott went on several rides. There was a long boardwalk right behind our place; Carla and I walked down to the end and then on the beach. It was very mild. They even have a whale skeleton right on the beach. The last day that we were there we took a hike to one of the lighthouses. I personally thought we were lost part of the time. I would love to go back and do more exploring around the town. We had a great time relaxing and playing lots of games. We didn’t convince Carla and Scott to go out to the pool in the rain (really sprinkles) though.

That part of Washington is called the Cranberry Coast. We even visited a cranberry museum and cranberry bogs! Dad was in seventh heaven; even gleaned some leftover cranberries right out of the bog and tried to convince us that they were sweet! It was a fun trek to the bogs and even educational. We tried to find Osterville where they bring in the oysters from the oyster beds but decided to turn around and go back to our place.

We really saw enough huge piles of oyster shells along the way. It is a very quaint area; I am anxious to go back. I booked it as soon as I heard that Carla and Scott were coming up. We stayed in their marketing room and made Scott and Carla attend the dreaded 90 minute presentation!

While we were in Long Beach, Shawn called us to give us the good news. He has a new job already! His goal was to get a new job within 30 days and he made it. He is working for an insurance company called Unum that writes disability insurance for large companies. It is right by their home so he doesn’t even have to get on the freeway. He said that he put a lot of applications in for work in San Francisco and is very glad he found this one so close. He likes the people that are working with him and says he is learning a lot. He worked very hard to get this new position.

Dad and I are getting very excited for the family to gather. It will be great fun to be together. For our family picture on Wednesday morning, do you all have jeans or a pair of khakis that you can bring? Maybe, if everyone also has a blue or white top, we could coordinate that much. Let me know if that won’t work for you as soon as possible please. Remember, if the weather is dry at that moment (Wednesday morning at 10:00 am), we will be taking the picture outside by the manmade lake at Grandma’s condo so bring warm white or blue tops. Thanks!

Dad and I had a nice visit with Scott. He told us about his first Thanksgiving at OSP. Olives are not usually served (last time was New Year’s day), but served that day. He convinced several other men to give him their olives. He took them back to his cell so he could put an olive on each finger and then eat them one by one in true holiday fashion! This will be especially hard for him to go through the holidays; last year was such shock and turmoil for him through the holidays since it was in the middle of his transfers from Washington County to Coffee Creek and then to Salem. I am sure he would love you all to send your Christmas cards and holiday news to him. He looks forward to seeing as any of you as possible.

His choir is performing several times there for the inmates and also The Singing Christmas Tree is going into sing to them. Plus, I believe that he said a choir form Keizer Stake was coming as my mind went forward several years to the off-chance that Alina could be in that choir and go in and sing (not that anyone would ever let that happen but it was my dream).

Thank you for sending Baby Ruth bars for Kyre’s birthday. She called after receiving ours and was so happy. She left a phone message saying, “How did you know that was my favorite candy bar? (then paused and said) Of course, Scott, he told you!” She can use any positive memory of the past.

Thank you for the small and simple kindly things you do for your family members. You are following the prophet’s counsel to lift others in need. Everyone has a need to be lifted.

I love you, Mom

Heidi-Scott’s cell mate is from Brownsville and I remember that one of your first Ricks College roommates was from there but I couldn’t remember her name to tell Scott.