November 10, 2009

Dear Children,

This week just flew by along with Katie’s TOO SHORT visit here over the weekend. We did pack a lot in her two days here. Dad, Katie and I crossed our fingers as we headed to bed, after returning from the airport, hoping that the morning would be dry (we had a VERY wet weekend). It worked! Saturday morning we left early to go to the Portland Saturday Market. It has been many, many years since we have been down there. It reminded me a lot of Eugene’s street market: lots of beads, handmade clothing, scarves and hats and tons of jewelry. We tested a cupcake booth; their specialty was sweet potato cupcakes. Katie thought her cupcakes were superior. Speaking of Katie’s cupcakes, we hoped to find some blackberries so Katie could try another new recipe but no fruits and vegetables were to be found. On the way home we stopped at Haggen and hit the food sample jackpot. They were having a special holiday foods tasting day. We were served a miniature turkey dinner with most of the trimmings.

Katie and I picked up Grandma and headed for a special event at Macy’s in the afternoon. I had read in the Oregonian just the day before that Clinton Kelly form the show “What Not To Wear” was doing a fashion show with models with whom he had done a clothing make over. We stood in line for over an hour only to get the privilege to be escorted to the standing room only section in the back. It was still fun and kind of a once-I-will-do-that sort of thing. Katie loves that show.

Katie made the cupcakes on Sunday morning to go along with Dad’s omelets while I fretted over last minute details with the Children’s Sacrament Meeting President. I have seen enough of them that I should just know; whatever happens, happens. The presentation went very well but way too fast. We just clipped along and ended 10 minutes early. Thank goodness the bishop advisor was ready with remarks, although I don’t like it when an adult speaks on the children’s one day. I was happy this time!

While we had Katie here, Shawn and Aubrey were hosting Morty and Nate in California. Aubrey was a good sport to share her anniversary weekend with her brother-in-laws. They were up for the Stanford versus University of Oregon game. I didn’t even know that Nate was there also until Morty sent me his pictures.

We called Morty with some very sad news this week. While Dad and I were at the temple for our annual stake day at the temple, we learned that Keith Hansen passed away. It was always so enjoyable to run into him at the temple. He was so energetic, always running to his next assignment. He died scuba diving in Hawaii. Oddly enough, before he left he told another temple worker, “If I had to die I would like to die scuba diving.” His funeral is this Friday. I don’t know if I will be able to squeeze it into my day. I will be helping with Paige Jensen’s wedding flowers and making 100 cupcakes for the reception. Adrianne will be here to help!

Like I said, Dad and I were in the temple on Thursday I guess commemorating Shawn and Aubrey’s sealing date! We also were able to catch up with Kyre. She rode up with several ward friends for a temple baptism session. She looked very happy. We are glad she called and said that she would be there.

And many of you know, Bill had eye surgery this week and he is slowly healing so that his eye sight will be back to normal. Heidi had fun with his belated Halloween costume of an eye patch, threatening that she was going to buy a parrot for his shoulder. Rebekah had big news the week before last. She lost her first tooth. We are anxious to see her toothless smile.

There is still no work here for Dad so he has been catching up on yard projects and right now, has the guest bathroom sink and toilet taken apart. He grumbles each day that he is forced to come in early from his yard jobs bemoaning the fact that it now gets dark so early.

I recently tried a new card service called Send Out Cards. It is headquartered in Salt Lake City and it is a multilevel business. But, I like the service so well that I decided to join. The fact that it is a multilevel marketing business also kind of makes me sick to my stomach but, if I do interest other people in the product along the way, maybe I can make some money to help us through the winter. I certainly wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t absolutely love the product and think it is a great value in the long run. My cards will cost less than $2.00 to create and have someone else address and mail them. I am thinking of possibilities of creating cards for Dad’s business since you can download your own pictures to make the cards. There are all different packages that you can buy. I bought the wholesale one that allows you to even download your own handwriting (well, of course not a complete cursive) and your signatures. I am really looking forward to creating my Christmas card this year and printing my family letter right inside the cards, using all sorts of color and letting that company print it, stuff the envelope, put on the stamp and mail them for me. Yes! Remember all those years that I would beg anyone to sit at the dining room table and get out the Christmas cards assembly line style??? I won’t miss that process; I am excited to simplify.

Speaking of simplifying, I REALLY need to this year. Dad and I just extended our Thanksgiving and Utah trip. While Katie was here, she mentioned that she had tickets to several of the BYU performing groups’ Christmas shows the weekend after we are leaving. She suggested we stay and we gave it serious thought. We have always said it would be fun to visit the first week in December to catch all those shows. So, luckily a Southwest Ding came up just at the right time and we made the plunge. Yikes! I won’t get my tree and everything up until the second week of December! My baking and neighbor gifts will be alter this year. And, I certainly won’t have my Christmas shopping done since I won’t be here the day before and day after Thanksgiving. Adam comes just two days after we return so I am going to put him to work. It will be fun to have a little helper; he is so creative anyway. But, we will be enjoying a lot of new Christmas traditions by going to all those BYU performances, making chocolates with Grandma, seeing the temple lights and so on. It is going to be a fun-filled time.

I will end with a thought that I heard as I was walking and listening to the Relief Society broadcast on my iPod (Thank you for that gift last year)! Sister Beck quoted Camilla Kimball as saying, “Never suppress a generous thought.”

I love you all. Love, Mom