Beneath the Wraps

 I wish I had planned better and just taken two weeks after Thanksgiving and then returned.  Three weeks may have been too long on my immune system.  Ryan says I was a tremendous help.  I'm grateful that he thinks that.  I did not feel as productive as I was hoping for.  I suppose I did do at least one productive thing each week I was there.  The day after I had arrived one of my granddaughters had expressed having missed me while she was at school. Ryan and Chelsey's youngest was born two days after I arrived.  Chelsey had already made arrangements with one of her brothers to take the kids while they were at the hospital.  They did return to take the girls to the school on Monday.  Because I was there the aunt was free to drive each girl without having to load up the car with everybody else (as she has three of her own).  Once they brought the baby home the kids were much more interested in their baby sister than they were in spend...

           Roland got off at 5:00 on Tuesday and we met him in the driveway.   Jenna had a carry-on and boarding pass in hand.   We arrived at the airport in just over an hour and Jenna walked through the gate by herself.   I should have taken some pictures but did not even think about it until now.   Thus this is the only picture we have of us in Medford.            The next picture she took was after she arrived in Las Vegas.     I ’ m guessing that she must have gone out to the curb to meet Randy as she was not aware that Devan was with him until later on the ride toward St. George.   Randy took this picture of Jenna under the Arizona sign as there is a piece of road from Nevada to Utah that goes through the state of Arizona.   I think it is kind of funny as there is no access from Arizona and so if there is an accident on that road even though that part may be in Arizona, the em...

             I thought I would be able to create at least one post today, but Roland just informed me that he has the day off.   I suspect that can change as his boss is a flake. We took Jenna to the airport last night and will be returning for her on Friday.   Tomorrow’s Thanksgiving.   That makes for more wait until I am able to sort my thoughts and post something.           On Friday, the 19 th , we spent the majority of the day in Ashland.   We toured the campus at Southern Oregon University.   I wore myself out.   Jenna ran into one of her friends and made friends with another also majoring in theatre.   Layne will be gone by the time Jenna arrives – unless she chooses to go elsewhere.   Today she will be touring the Dixie State campus only ten minutes away from her brother’s house.           Parent/Teacher conferen...

            Over the years Jenna has had many photos taken with Santa.  This one taken in 2010  is my absolute favorite and I don ’ t even know who took it.    We had been living in West Valley for only a week and were still not familiar with most of the ward members.   I did not have my camera and someone waiting in line to take pictures of her own children offered to take some pictures from her phone and said she would send them to me.   It is rare that anybody from my past has taken pictures for me promising to send them and 20 years later I am still waiting knowing fully well that they will never be sent.   But this sister – who was only visiting our ward and not a member of it - took three shots of Jenna and she did send them to me.   For that I will always be grateful. Roland asked me to send it to him so he could use it for the upcoming Christmas card.   He recreated this Norman Rockwell using ...

  It is colder outside than  I remember it being the entire  time we've lived in Oregon.   I have even been sleeping with  blankets which is highly unusual.  I don't use blankets all too often  except around my feet.   Jenna has school for the next two days  but will not be attending seminary at all.   The students who attend the local high  school are off for the week and  thus is seminary.   She wants things to return to normal.   Most people do.   We have an upcoming holiday in the U.S.  It is called Thanksgiving. There are many people who will  spend the holiday with extended  family members to eat a traditional  meal that many include turkey,  sweet potatoes,  cranberry sauce and  pumpkin pie among many  other side dishes.   Our governor has asked us to limit  Thanksgiving to only six people this year.   Though not...

Yesterday was Thanksgiving.   We had told those we had invited that dinner would be at 4:00.   Except for the turkey, I think everything was ready to eat at 11:00.   Well, most everything.   Roland had not bothered with the rolls or peas until after Chris arrived – which was shortly before 3:00. Chris is on of Jenna’s friends from school.   The invitation was extended to Chris’ entire family – but Jenna did not communicate that.   Grandma had already taken the turkey out of the freezer to thaw by the time she got word.   And so it was just the four of us. I remember having had small Thanksgivings before.   Two years ago we had invited a couple.   And there were only five of us with mom on Thanksgiving Day.   We had had our Thanksgiving dinner on a Saturday when Patrick and Sunny were in town.   There were 18 of us.   But on Thursday it was just my mom, Roland, Jenna, Biff and I.   He had known Jeanie at that poin...

             My head seems to be disconnected from my body.   Pretty much the entire week I didn't remember what I was supposed to be doing. Jenna was off from school, Roland took off work, but I still had school.             It rained on Wednesday. It was great as we have needed (and continue to need) the moisture. My class instructor was late getting started on the live lecture. When he finally did get to the topic of conversation, I had to leave before he got into the meat of the assignment.             Jenna and I had hair appointments.   I normally appreciate the feel and look of my new fresh cut hair, but am having problems with not hating it this time around.             On Thanksgiving day we went to the Grand Victorian for a potluck combination Thanksgivin...

       The primary had their program yesterday and only one practice.   I didn't understand as it feels so late in the year.   I don't recall there being a primary program this late in the year - not with any of the wards I've been in - including this one.   Last year we had more practice and performed on October 18.          This is the first year that Jenna wasn't on the stage as she is no longer in primary.   But as I looked out in the audience, I could see her singing along, and it really made me smile.   I'd have to honestly say that it was my favorite part about having the primary program.   I think the children did quite well for only one practice.        Growing up, my favorite thing about Thanksgiving was spending it with a different group of people than the year prior as I mentioned here .  The smallest Thanksgivings I can remember incl...

Pie Making          I can’t find a reference to mom’s traditional pie making event. I suppose it could have started with her children.  I do recall having assisted with pies at least once in my childhood.   Kayla says she remembers a time when it was just her and Corey that did it with mom.   I don’t think I ever viewed it as an actual tradition until Ellen and Kimball were small.             My mom made a huge assortment of pies on the Wednesday before   Thanksgiving each year.   The grandkids looked forward to assisting with rolling out the dough and filling the pie with whatever they chose.               We’d have apple pie, banana cream pies, coconut cream, chocolate cream, cherry, lemon meringue and of course, pumpkin.   More pies were added to the dinner each time new grandkids wer...

Our future daughter-in-law has two brothers who are still living.   One lives in Texas where his wife is from.   The other lives in a posh neighborhood at the south and east end of the valley. Yesterday we went to the posh neighborhood to meet Jeanie’s family and to have Thanksgiving dinner.   Biff had asked us to bring rice pudding – which to be honest with you - I have never had as part of a Thanksgiving dinner before.   Roland tried a new recipe (which was really very good by the way) and I found a container to put it in. I must admit that I felt out of place offering this pathetic container as we entered their fancy kitchen and saw dozens of dishes that seemed to make the rice pudding even smaller – shrinking with each passing minute until I felt like what we had contributed to the meal had only a cup of runny rice.   Jenna played with boys (Jeanie's nephews) while Roland and I visited with various family members.   Not only w...