Dear all of you!
My first time to write 2017...seems like I was just getting used to writing 2016. I believe the years go by faster as we get older.
We had a nice New Years Eve; we stayed at home and puttered around. Then in the evening we went to Spencer and Shalisa Bowman's wedding reception. It was mostly attended by family and Aunt Venae had all her kids and grandkids there, so Dad took a family picture for her. Shalisa's mother (Stacy) and grandmother (Betty) have been co-worker/friends of mine at the hospital. Grandma had gone to town with Beth earlier in the day and just met us there, then came home with us.
Christmas here was so wonderful. We had the Mobley's with us! They arrived the evening of the 23rd and were able to stay until the morning of the 29th. Lots of game playing, puzzle put togethering, snow fort building, eating, playing with Moose...and by the way, Moose seemed kind of lost or depressed for a day or two after they left; no fun kids to play with! I was able to get the 24th and 25th off and then again the 27th, so it was really nice to be able to spend time with Aimee, James, Steve, Anne, Ellen, Naomi, Noah and Spencer. The girls slept on our hide-a-bed and Aimee, James and the boys stayed next door with Grandma. She LOVES having company...she gets so lonely. We've been trying to be more diligent about having her over for at least one meal a day.
Gran enjoyed the visit too, but spent 2 or 3 nights in with Jocie and Janie. I know she had a nice time, but she really wanted to be here and was so happy to get back home in time to play games and puzzles with the kids.
We received so many lovely gifts from you all. I won't list them here but have them in another email to myself so I can always remember. Thank you, each family; you're so thoughtful to us.
It's supposed to get really cold this week; I hope it won't be as bad as they are predicting! Dad put a new battery in my car for me; I don't think we've ever had to do that for it before. Anyhow, it should be okay through the cold spell.
I'm super excited...I have tomorrow off! I'm going to take down the Christmas tree, catch up on some laundry and go through my closet and send a bunch of stuff to DI.
Today in Sacrament meeting we sang Hymn number 123, Oh, May My Soul Commune with Thee. I'm not sure why...well I do know why it affected my like it did. Anyhow, I had just been saying to Dad that I feel like I'm hanging on by my fingernails and can't seem to get my act together, spiritually, or in any other way. The words of the hymn really struck me, even the page number seemed appropriate, 123...what could be more simple? Each verse was just what I needed today and I'm so grateful for them. Here are the words:
Oh, May My Soul Commune with Thee
31243, Hymns, Oh, May My Soul Commune with Thee, no. 123
1. Oh, may my soul commune with thee
And find thy holy peace;
From worldly care and pain of fear,
Please bring me sweet release.
2. Oh, bless me when I worship thee
To keep my heart in tune,
That I may hear thy still, small voice,
And, Lord, with thee commune.
3. Enfold me in thy quiet hour
And gently guide my mind
To seek thy will, to know thy ways,
And thy sweet Spirit find.
4. Lord, grant me thy abiding love
And make my turmoil cease.
Oh, may my soul commune with thee
And find thy holy peace.
Text and music: Lorin F. Wheelwright, 1909-1987. © 1958, 1985
When I am affected so powerfully by something someone else has written, like today by these words by Lorin F. Wheelwright, or recently by the words of Charles Dickens as I listened to "A Christmas Carol," I find myself wanting to thank them. I also am amazed that they could write something so long ago that would be just what I need right now. It's that way with the scriptures, isn't it? We can bless each others lives without knowing that we are doing it. I love and appreciate each of you and the blessing you are in my life.
Love and Happy New Year! Mom/Johanna/Nana
Hello everyone!
Mom, I love it when you include a hymn or scripture or any of your thoughts. I still learn so much from you!
We had a kind of busy, but pretty good New Years. The whole family went over to our neighbor's (the Roise's) house for a snacky supper. Then we all headed home about 8 so we could put the younger boys to bed and Stephen and Annie could get ready for the stake dance. They had a Yule Ball! I think it went well. Neither of them said very much about it. James and I also left about the same time to go to our friends' house. We played games and ate more food. We had planned to come home around 10, but were having so much fun we didn't look at the clock till almost 11:30, so we stayed till midnight. Mom, Bishop Zollinger and his wife were there and James mentioned that we got to see a picture of his dad from high school. He thought that was great but said we really missed out because that must not have been a picture from his senior year. Evidently he had a sort of George Washington hair style and everyone in their family has a copy of it because it is just so funny. Does that hair sound familiar to you?
We got more snow early Sunday morning. We are having a real winter hear and the kids are loving it! We have about 18 inches in the yard and piles of snow everywhere. And more coming next week!
Noah and I got to go to lunch and then bowling yesterday for his Christmas date. We bowled two games. He won the first one and I won the second. Neither of us are very good at it, but we sure had fun! Then we went grocery shopping and got donuts too.
The kids all started back to school today. All except Noah. He woke up with a fever of 101 this morning. No one was very excited about going back, but they all survived!
I got to go to a baby shower tonight for a girl that used to babysit our kids. It was so fun and neat to see her grown up and having her first baby. And it was a lot of fun to go shopping for a baby girl outfit!
Well, that's about it. Lots of love to all of you!
Aimee
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