December 31 2023

 Wow this has been a great holiday season!! Very different from any ever but so grateful on Christmas we talked to all of our children!!  This season has probably been focused more on Christ than any so it’s a goal I have for the future!  Busy is not always good!!  Only when we are busy doing his work and good better best is a real concept!  Easy to justify good when just a bit of  a tweek would get to better or best!!  

We have our first mission call for our next generation as Kaley, Joshua and Crystals daughter , got her call on Christmas but opened next day. She is going to Tucson Arizona may 13. Thrilled for her!!!!  We enjoyed joining them on FaceTime for the open!!

We have had an organization week to get back together after a very busy month!  I got called Wednesday morning while at the temple to be an ordinance worker. Gary wasn’t there cause woke up not well but we went back later for me to get set apart by Pres. Metcalf.  Kind of ironic!  The old stake Pres. here was Gary Cox too! His wife was Joyce!!  Guess we are supposed to be here!!

I got a new Temple dress and got it hemmed so I am ready to start Wednesday morning on a regular shift!!  I c also got last of quilting supplies back to owners. It was a good project!!

We have a good association with senior missionaries and got together Christmas, for a movie,Boys in the Boat and and 52 anniversay dinner for Kuerths yesterday!!  We always enjoy being together and we laugh a lot.  Newman’s come from Palmer and it’s a fun group! Badgers came home from Utah and we picked them up at the airport last night!  Glad they are back for new years festivities tomorrow!!

We got advertising out and flyers up for our Waffle night Wednesday night at the institute!!  WE have a couple of weeks before institute starts back up so hoping to get a council in place before!!

We have been enjoying this beautiful place and take short rides in daylight and dark to gaze at the hoar frost and Christmas lights!  It has been spectacular!! We were -12 one morning so the trees are covered in snow and frost. We decided it feels like Narnia. A magical frozen world!! 

Then last night we came home and had butter cookies and hot chocolate and played like we were with family at Island Park!!  It’s wonderful!!!! I even did a puzzle over the month!!

We walked at the mall a couple of times this week! It’s been too cold to be outside for walking but I still can do elyptical in the garage!!  We hope to stay well! Chalaes family have been coviding and Jarilyn’s everything else so hope they all get better for a new years start.  With a lot of challenges. But more blessings and miracles we say goodbye to 2023 and look forward to an amazing 2024!!