Thanksgiving Blessings

Thanksgiving 2013

It's not yet Thanksgiving Day, but it's Thanksgiving Week, and I want to write this and .losend it on to Seth, to wish him a Happy Thanksgiving and hope he's doing well.  And Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, as well.  We have so.     much to be thankful for this year:  Mark has a job, for one thing (his boss got transferred, and he's meeting the new Regional Director today, along with the Regional Nursing Director; the new boss won a big award for being a great Administrator, so we're hoping that Mark will learn lots from her!);  Hallelujah!!

We're in the lower middle-class squeeze, as it were, but we have enough for our needs, and that is a fantastic blessing!  Especially since Mark likes his job, and the location is sweet. :)

It's beautiful, secluded, and quiet.

We're also in a very nice ward here, which is a blessing, too.

The people here smile at you in a relaxed and friendly way,

and they seem to be happy with their own lives.

Another Hallelujah!

 Leto and Tut are still alive and kicking at 12 years old (at least 12).

Actually, Tut may be 13 years old now.

He's staying with Phillip and Nathan and Andrew now,

where they take shifts attending to his every need, I think.

We'll probably find them all suffocated under a mountain of cat fur someday!

Our family was joined this year by Caitlin Cripe,

the daughter of Ben and Linda, and sister to Josh and Bethany.

She was only 3 lbs. 3 oz., so we are especially thankful that she's home and doing well now.

I got to hold her for the first time at Justin and Tara's wedding!

That was in Utah, where they both work.l

Tara's children join them, and their names are:

Alexandria (the Divine) 

and

Eric (the Bold).

They are a cute, cute family, and we're so happy for them!

 Also, Haley and Dallin, and Hunter and Paige, moved back to Idaho!

They found their dream house near where Kattie lives,

and they are fixing it up and making it a great place for their kids.

Let's see...Megan's ready to start her third semester of RN school (she's in a four-semester program),

and Melinda is in the Pathways college program,

and Ben is studying to be a mortician (he already has the clinical experience),

and Phillip is working at Target (I want!  I want!),

and Seth is away, of course, but studying Spanish and Diesel Mechanics 

and other skills on his own, 

and we look forward to seeing him again this next spring!

Also, his baby Eden made her appearance in the family this year!

She lives in Alaska with her mother, Bre, and family,

and Eden looks just like Seth, with a gorgeous head of curly, bronze-red hair!

 

 

Also, this was the year we had a big Fourth of July reunion with Bonnie and Dennis

and the Ringer cousins!

And Megan and Brooks and family got to come back and stay with us, too!

 

We also lost our great-niece, Hannah Buchanan, this year.  She was only 15 years old, but her example of being loving and giving to others is blessing our lives, and we have grown closer as an extended family.

There's more I want to add, and maybe I'll do a part two later on.  Right now, just know that we really love you.  Take care of each other, and be especially kind to others, every day that you live!   Happy Thanksgiving!!   xoxoxo!!