Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2009

We drove down to Salt Lake City area for Thanksgiving this year.  What a wonderful day we had!  My sister Rhonda and her husband Doug hosted the dinner at their house this year.  They went all out, even to making a scavenger hunt for the younger kids.  

Here, Kenzie, Rhonda's daughter,  (almost 16) is helping the girls find their things.

Sammy, (15 1/2), helped the younger boys find their list of things.  It was a contest, boys against the girls.  It was a great filler for them while we were still getting the food ready.

My brother Aaron and his wife Brock came from southern California with their two kids, Cameron and Kyle.  

J.J was pretty tired after football practice in the morning, but we was there hanging out with everybody.  He's holding Kass's Callahan.  Mom holding Aaron's Kyle, and Sam holding daughter Aliza :)

Thanks Rhonda and Doug for opening your home and for a memorable Thanksgiving year.

Blessing #45 Church Callings

I am a few weeks behind on my blessing project, so I am doing a few today.  

I wish I would have taken a picture of my class at church.  Today I was set apart for my calling, Sunday school teacher for the 14 year olds.  I actually received and was sustained with this calling back in May.  It was a combined class at first, having 9-13 students, but now I have between 5 and 7, depending if they come to class.  I do miss the Primary kids a lot, but it is fun to be with these youth.  Sammy is one of my students, and it is a joy to see his knowledge and wittiness in a different aspect.  

With each knew calling comes more growth.  I know I grew enormously with my last calling as Primary President, but I find myself growing in different ways with this calling too.  I get to prepare a lesson each week, which can be tricky.  We use the same manual as the Gospel Doctrine class, so I have to find ways to make it fun for these youth.  (Once I read from my journal from when I was 15 to show the kids the importance of journal writing, they got a kick out of that).  I am thankful for callings, I know we are called by the Lord at the time WE need them.  

Blessing #44 Church Magazines

As I've been reading the conference issue this month, I have felt blessed to have these magazines in my life.  I enjoy, each month, reading the articles that help better our lives and others.  I am thankful that the children have a magazine to read that pertain to them in there lives right now.  I am thankful for the people who are inspired to put these together.  We are truly blessed to have the words of our Prophet and Apostles in our homes every month.

Blessing #43 Lazy Day Reading a Book

Is this a Blessing?  I'm not sure, but it sure felt like one on Tuesday.

The whole day wasn't a wash, but this is how it went:

• 6:00 - Got up and took Sammy to Seminary
• 6:05 - Got Jackson up to study for a test
• 6:30 - Got Aliza up to study for a test
• 6:30-8:00 - Helped get kids ready for school and Sam for work
• 8:00 - Was going to go to gym to exercise then run some errands, but laid              down for a second and fell back to sleep. (darn I think that started                my lazy day)
• 9:30 - Woke up and was going to exercise at home, but started reading a                book that Sam wanted me to read (The Lost Symbol)
• 12:00 - Decided I better jump in the shower before Sam came home for                    lunch so he didn't think I wasn't doing anything, then went back to                reading
• 3:00 - Went to pick up kids from school/read in car while waiting
• 4:00 - Helped kids with homework/made dinner
• 4:30 - Took Sammy to work
• 5:15 - Took Maren and Jackson to gymnastics and Aliza to reading clinic
• 6:15 - Read while Maren and Jackson were at gymnastics
• 6:45 - Maren finished with her class, Jackson stayed and I took Maren to                pick up Aliza from reading clinic
• 7:50 - Got home with girls, helped them with reading and to bed
• 8:30 - Read until.......
• 12:00 - Went to bed

I haven't had a day were I read like that for a long time.  I didn't get such a day on Wednesday, but I did get to read a little hear and there, and I finished the book on Thursday.  I was hesitant to start the book, because if it is a good one, I don't like to put it down.  But it sure felt good to sit in my bed most the day and read.  AAH.

Blessing #42 My Father-in-Law

I've been wanting to post this man as a blessing for a while, but Fathers Day came and went, his birthday would have been a good time, but it didn't happen.  So, I thought since today is Veteran's Day, this would be a great time to honor Samuel Lyle Pollock.

Growing up, he was called "Lyle".   I still hear some people call him this, but......

after he left home he started to be called Sam.  He served a mission in New York and opened up the Bronx and was key in getting Spanish speaking missionaries in there.  He was known as one of the best missionaries there.  When he got home he married one of his mission companion/roommate at college John Oleson's sister, LaRae, in the Salt Lake Temple.

Two months after they were married, and while he was in his first year of Law School, he was drafted into the Vietnam War.  He received a blessing from his father before he left saying that if he would keep the commandments as he had been taught, he would not receive a scratch in combat.

He had many combat stories that are amazing to hear, most are of combat experiences that should have killed him, but was spared.  He earned several medals, including 2 silver stars and 1 bronze.

After coming home, he and LaRae started their family (my Sam being the oldest).  They ended up having 9 wonderful children.

When I came into the family, 16 years ago, he had written and produced several songs and put them on tape, and later made another series of songs and put them on CD about the Vietnam War.  They were made to help those who were Vietnam Vets and were having a hard time because of it.  I never knew much about the war, because I was born at that time, but learned a lot through those songs.  What an inspired man.  I have heard story after story on how those songs have help men in pain, even 30 some years after the war. 

He lost his wife, LaRae,  7 years ago due to cancer, leaving him to raise his two youngest sons, Steven and David alone.  He has done a fabulous job.

Steven, Nick, Clint, Sam, Kenny, David

Dana, Sam L, Kelli, Megan

He also has been very involved with bringing in-active members and families back to the church.  He has taught Stake Presidents and even some of the Quorum of the Twelve his formula, and it has been a great success.

Sam loves fishing.  That is my Sam's favorite memories with his father (some not so fondly..... lots of walking).  When he is not fishing, he is working at the Rock Shop at Bryce Canyon or out finding petrified wood, cutting it in slabs, polishing it up, and selling it.

When Sammy and Jackson were young, my Sam would tell them the bed time stories that he was told growing up.  When dad heard about this, he decided to make a tape of all the stories he had told his kids.  My kids have listened to that tape over and over for 10 years now.  They love listening to "Grandpa's tape".  

Sam is such a wonderful grandfather, making each child seem like they are the one and only.  He is a wonderful father, and father-in-law.  I lost my father at 16 years old.  When I married into this family, it felt great to have a father again.  I look up to this man with great respect and awe.  I am very BLESSED to have him in my life!

(I know this post doesn't do justice, but I had to try)

Maren's First Mini Meet

This year, Maren moved up to Level 1 in gymnastics.  She was excited, until she didn't get to do the fun stuff that she used to do.  (She really has to do gymnastics this year)

The girls each did a little routine on bars, floor, beam and vault.  She did a fabulous job and got all blue ribbons. 

Way to go Maren.  Your Awesome! 

Do We Look A Like?

People have told me that Maren looks just like me.  Every once in a while I will see it.  When I got her 1st grade pictures back this year, I pulled my 1st grade picture out to compare.

So, what do you think?  Look a likes? (Check out our smile with the same tooth missing)

Blessing #41 My Bed

Oh how I love getting in my bed at night after a long hard day. I usually crave my bed by 6:00 (especially now that it's dark earlier), and some days am in bed by 8:30 or 9:00 (I used to make fun of my mom for going to bed that early, I can understand now). I may not be going to sleep at that time, but I'll read, watch t.v., or work on my computer while enjoying the soft comfort of my Tempur-Pedic mattress. Sometimes I'll have the kids come at lay with me and read to me for their reading log.

I'm thankful for the BLESSING of a comfy bed!

Halloween 2009

This year was a pretty easy Halloween.  Even though I sometimes do, I'm not big on buying costumes.  This year, the kids chose what they wanted to be, and thank goodness, we didn't have to buy much.

Sammy was the hardest.  He wanted to be Aragorn, from Lord of the Rings, (he already had his sword), he told me what he wanted, and I thought maybe I could whip one up.  (I'm not a sewer either).  I borrowed Amy's sewing machine, did a little cutting and sewing from two flat sheets.  Not bad huh?

Jackson wanted to be an old lady.  We already had the wig, borrowed a cane, found some of my "grandma" clothes, and bought some cheep magnifying glasses.  He wore it at school all day, but after hunting most the day on Sat. he was tired when he got home and didn't feel like putting a skirt on for the trunk or treat, so he didn't go around for any candy.

Aliza wanted to be some sort of dress up person but with fangs, we talked about being Miss America, then went with "Miss Halloween", with fangs and a crown that matched.

Maren wanted to be a Vampire Princess.  We had the cape, she wore her black dress, tights and shoes.  We found a cheep crown and looked EVERYWHERE for some plastic fangs.  (the one Aliza got was too scary looking for Maren).  We decided she didn't need fangs, which I was glad for, but then Friday, while I was at Albertsons, I found some that she could use.  YAEH!

The young men and women put some booths together for a carnival.  Sammy (the teachers) were in charge of the ring toss.  He didn't put that sword down once.  

Not bad for Trunk or Treat and going to some homes down Amy's street.

After Trunk or Treat at the church, Aliza went around our neighborhood with her friend Hannah and her mom.  She had a lot of candy too.

On our way home from Trunk or Treat, we did stop by our neighbor's house, and Jackson did trick or treat there.  He got three pieces of candy from there, then Maren gave him a couple of pieces too.  He was happy.  The bag of M&M's was from our home, he thinks it's his.

Now Halloween has come and gone.  I'm glad I don't have to think about it for another year.

Memory Monday

I found this picture in my album.  Halloween in 1979, 30 years ago.

Becca, Anny, Lisa Lone Elk, and Kass