Thanksgiving Week

Monday, November 22nd

We received the exercise bike we ordered, and after Paul assembled it Shirleen rode it for 12 minutes.  It is a start!  We had an online Family Home Evening with Michael & LeAnn and Amy & Bryce & their five children.  Lizzie gave a nice lesson on Thanksgiving and asked thought-provoking questions.  Maylee accompanied the opening song.  Karsten gave the opening prayer.  After the lesson, Maylee had an activity where she had blanks for each letter and we tried to figure out the words.  She was happy to tell us they were all spiritual words.

Tuesday, November 23rd

The two of us went to a scheduled appointment at the Gilbert Temple (Initiatory).  Shirleen is always touched by the words in this ordinance and encouraged to try harder to improve.  We went from there to the Mesa Temple site to get some photographs.  Here's one:

We then went to pick up Melody and take her to preschool.  She was ready early for her Thanksgiving feast at preschool..  She colored her feather to complete her costume.  Here's a photo Amy sent:

The children made their costumes at preschool last week.  Later, Paul took her home, and he  went shopping.  Shirleen added a minute for her biking and indexed in several small segments.

Wednesday, November 24th

We went shopping and bought 19 fleece remnants that will make 30 baby blankets and 3 twin blankets after adding a few pieces we already had.  Shirleen worked all afternoon and until late at night cutting out the fleece blankets and matching them with yarn.  Now they are ready to piece before scoring them to crochet around.  We were very happy to get the news from Jeanne that Leo Lines is cancer-free.  Here's Shirleen exercising; she is trying to add a minute a day:

Thursday, November 25th

Thanksgiving Day!  Michael & LeAnn and Amy & Bryce & their five children came for a Thanksgiving Day luncheon.  We started by each saying what we are thankful for.  LeAnn's "fruit cake" was spectacular; she also brought a delicious green salad, coconut pie and banana cream pie;  Amy made Aunt Lani's rolls, fresh green beans, pumpkin pie with date and pecan crust, and a relish from a flower in their yard that tasted similar to cranberry sauce;  Shirleen made sweet potato bonbons, Grandma Lunt's raw cranberry relish, the mashed potatoes, stuffing, and an apple pie (we searched unsuccessfully for rhubarb all week).  LeAnn suggested we have rotisserie chicken instead of a turkey this year.  We may have a new tradition!  Here's the food:

And here we are at the table (except Paul, who took the picture):

Clockwise:  Maylee, Bryce, Michael, LeAnn, Melody, Amy, James, Karsten, Shirleen, Lizzie

And here are some backyard activities:

Maylee, James, Melody

Maylee

Karsten

Swinging:  James and Karsten                       
              In the Sand:  Melody, Maylee, and Lizzie

Mike & LeAnn left to go to a family gathering at LeAnn's sister's home in Gilbert.  After a while, Amy, Bryce & kids left and had dinner with Bryce's family at his Aunt Gay's and Uncle Bruce's.  And later, we had nice phone visits with Jim & Irene and Sarah & Craig.  We enjoyed Thanksgiving greetings from Annette, Lani, and Bruce, too.

What a wonderful way to celebrate Thanksgiving - with family near and far!  We love being able to be with and connect with our family.

Friday, November 26th

Here's a photograph of the pond in Emerald Park:

We went shopping at JoAnn Fabric & Crafts and Hobby Lobby for fleece to complete two more twin blankets and to get more yarn and flannel.   Now Shirleen has the supplies to keep her busy for the next several months.  After sending birthday greetings to Janae, we were happy to get a nice reply.  The two of us are online from time to time playing Sudoku (the Milesoft version Michael created, and which is available from the App Store, etc.).  We actually tied at the "Easy" level:  1 minute each!

Saturday, November 27th

Shirleen continued indexing and Paul vacuumed the house.  Amy and her children came to visit this afternoon.  Shirleen and Amy enjoyed the time just talking while Paul played with the children.  Ryan Ward brought the plastic canvas rattles his mother made, and we will take them when we make donations in December.  Shirleen added ribbon handles to them.

Sunday, November 28th

Paul attended a bishopric meeting in the morning, then he & Shirleen attended church, went to choir practice, and then met with the bishop for Tithing Settlement.  That evening Michael & LeAnn came to our house, and after dinner the four of us played a round of Quirkle Rummy.  Paul then left to attend a stake leadership meeting.  Mike, LeAnn, and Shirleen played Quixx and visited.  After they left Shirleen indexed until Paul got home.  We had so many blessings this week:  connecting with family, being in the temple, receiving answers to prayers, and being able to give service.