Wednesday, January 10, 2024

41 Years Together

Today my sweetie went to Shawano to Qualheim's and came home with his plumbing supplies and these beautiful flowers to celebrate our 41st wedding anniversary.
I am always amazed at how our love for one another has deepened over the years.  I cannot imagine what life would have been like without him.
We were just kids when we got married.  I was 20 and Pat was 22.
We got married in the temple because that's what we were supposed to do.  I guess I understood that marriage could be eternal in no other way, but I don't think I had the comprehension of all that transpired that day.
We were young and skinny!  We had little money to our names but we paid our tithing and Pat assured me that all would be taken care of.  And it was!
Today we are not so skinny and have hair that has taken on a color of it's own.  But, we've had amazing adventures both at home and out somewhere else.  In honor of our 41 years together here are 41 things that are different from 1983.
1. Five amazing people that call us Mom and Dad.
2. Nine glorious people that call us Nana and Papa.
3. Aches and pains that come from nowhere overnight.
4. Not living paycheck to paycheck.
5. Callings that have stretched us.
6. Meeting people we would not have met had those callings not been ours.
7. Knowing just what it feels like in Hawaii instead of just seeing it on Hawaii 5-0.
8. Having no mortgage.
9. Reliable vehicles that we own.
10. No debt!
11. Friends from all over the country.
12. Both of us having missionary name tags.
13. Being able to attend the temple each month.
14. Weight gain and loss and gain.
15. Hair with a color other than what we had on our wedding day.
16. Abilities to do things we didn't know how to do before.
17. Development of talents.
18. Four people we call our children due to marriage.
19. The ability to buy a new furnace and pay cash for it.
20. The ability to buy most anything we want without worry of how to pay for it.
21. Knowing how to take care of elderly/disabled/sick family members.
22. Knowing how to plan a funeral.
23. The knowledge of how to run a meeting as the president.
24. The ability to help children financially when needed.
25. Going to bed on New Year's Eve and not caring that it is only 10pm.
26. Not caring about another birthday.
27. Being computer literate.
28. Having social media accounts.
29. Memorized temple covenants/ceremonies.
30. The ability to take vacations where and when we want.
31. Creating a new bathroom in our home.
32. Being an official for basketball and volleyball.
33. Both of us having been a coach.
34. Been on a cruise.
35. Enjoying the splendor of a glacier.
36. Being able to work together side and side.
37. Enjoying going zip-lining.
38. Finally being able to maintain a garden.
39. Building an addition (by ourselves) onto the garage.
40. Facing mortality because of a heart attack.
41. Loving one another more than we ever dreamed possible.

Our life together is grand and we are amazed as we continue to fall in love with one another over and over again.  Here's to many more!

Sunday, January 7, 2024

ABBA Mania

 Pat and I went to see an ABBA tribute band last week.  
I really enjoy their music and so does he.  It reminds us of our youth!

There were only a few pieces of music that I didn't recognize.  The costumes were crazy though.
Some things we sang along to while other times we were asked to get up and dance.
I would recommend seeing a tribute band if you enjoy the music of that group.
It was a fun night with my sweetheart!

Christmas 2023

A lovely Christmas was had by our family this year.  It began on December 16th.  Our family was asked to be the Christmas program this year.  Gwen had the vision of a family home evening setting with everyone around.  She asked Bishop and Erica Hoffman to each sing a Christmas song that I had to work into the program.  I know it was through the inspiration of the Spirit that I was able to put a rough draft script together.  Thanks to Sammi for some ideas with that.  
I was amazed how many people came up to me and expressed how much they loved our presentation.  I think Tom singing Silent Night solo and then being the angel surprised a lot of people.  They were unaware of his skills in memorizing.  The spirit was strong.  Our only mishap was Henry being squeezed off of the stage while the children decorated the tree.
Henry and Lydia had an afternoon concert that Pat and I attended.  It was cute.  Lots of snow and Santa songs but that's what our world does.

At Gresham school, Eli and Butchy helped the penguins save Christmas.  They did a great job in singing.  The entire elementary sang together.r

I couldn't stay to watch Brock's band and choir as I promised Evelyn that I would come to her concert.  She had a solo and did it fabulously!  
As a family we went swimming at the Clintonville rec the week between Christmas and New Year's eve.  We went to A&W for cones afterward.  
On Christmas eve we played some games.  
The new game was to try to see how many candles you could blow out in a row.  It is a lot harder than it seems.  
We also played the "cup" game but in a different way and I don't think anyone was very happy about how it turned out except for those that won big prizes.
We of course, did the nativity again.  The Shawano Sisters came along and we had a great time.  Pat had them each pick out the kind of pen that they wanted and he made them the next day so Sammi could take them to them before transfers.  Neither was transferred but very grateful for their pen.
Santa and his elf came over again on Christmas day with goodie bags for all the children.  Marty Loftus so enjoys being Santa and Robin is the cutest elf.  
Pat mentioned that Robin, again this year, mentioned how she feels something special when she comes into our home.  He made sure Marty knew it was because the Spirit resides here.  
I love Christmas!  Even though Andrew, Cierra and Eddie leave us for approximately two weeks, which I totally understand, it is a special time together as a family.  Everyone loved their gifts and I loved mine!



 

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Family

Clint was unable to come to Nauvoo for the actual wedding of Erin and Jacob so we had to get a family picture just prior to the beginning of the wedding reception.  
This is our posterity as of 2023.  So many wonderful people!
When I look at the people in this photo, I see just how blessed I am.  Not only has each of our children found their eternal companion, but they have added some wonderful people to their individual families as well.  I'm especially grateful that they are all keeping their covenants and holding fast to their testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  There is nothing greater that they could give me than their love of our Savior and following His example.  
Pat and I are so blessed!
 

Wedding Reception

I don't know who decided, but soup was chosen for the main course at the wedding reception in Gresham.  I made this huge Nesco of broccoli cheese soup.  
I also made rolls, snickerdoodles, punch and and ice box cake which was the "wedding cake".  We had enough food and a little extra which is always good for the next day.  
The decorations were beautiful as well.  Dave Sua' volunteered to come from Independence to be our DJ for the dance.  I told him I would pay for his gas if he came.  I gave him enough and to spare. 
The dance was really fun.  I believe a lot of people enjoyed themselves.
I wouldn't normally invite the stake president, but since the Lonsdales both bonded with Erin, I thought it was ok.  They came and danced and had a great time.
Melody and Pat danced a bit even though her knee is still bothering her. 
It seems that group dances always go over the best.  Even Lauren's little Abby did the YMCA.
Henry layed on the floor while everyone around him did the chicken dance. 
Even Tom dances when the chicken dance begins.  
We didn't go until 9pm as was advertised, but that was ok too.  
Our littles and bigger grandchildren danced the night away.
Cami sang two songs while playing her guitar.  One of them she wrote herself!  What a talented young woman!
It was good to see some of the cousins that came. Alexa and Gunner's children had a good time!
This is the last wedding reception I ever have to give.
It was a lot of work but many hands made it go so much smoother.  I feel so blessed to have another son-in-law who fits into our family!
 

Jacob & Erin

A cool but sunny day for Erin and Jacob to be married.  At last Erin has found the man she has searched for.  They are so good together.
A huge perk of Pat being a temple sealer is that he can get authorization to marry his children and grandchldren in any temple.  That was the case on this special day.  
Perhaps is was the shortest sealing ever.  The ordinance was slow and methodical which is how it should be.  But the instruction beforehand was short and sweet.  Also how it should be.  
We had Casey's pizza at the chapel afterward with all the family that attended.  Then we headed to the open house in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  A nice evening getting to know Jacob's family and eating delicious food.  A spectacular day!
 

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Branson

Pat and I planned a trip to Branson, MO in late October.  I have wanted to go there for years and it seemed like it was a good time to go.  I was finished with officiating volleyball and the basketball season had not yet begun.
We had several shows planned but nothing for Monday night.  Therefore we bought tickets to see SIX.  This is a group of six brothers who are an a capella group.
Some of them have a full head of hair while others are bald.  This brother wanted to stand out with his choice of hair styles.  They were phenomenal!  I really enjoyed them immensely.
On Tuesday late afternoon we went to have dinner and a show on board the Branson Belle paddleboat.  We were to paddle around the lake while we were on board but due to weather, we stayed docked.  I didn't mind that at all.  
The dinner was excellent and the show was entertaining.  Music with singing and dancing as well as a magician.  He did the normal magic tricks which I really liked.  We were finished in time to get to our next show which was Pierce Arrow.  
Pierce Arrow is a quartet of very talented singers.  They sing mostly country music which I always enjoy.  Between sets they had a comedian name "Gene" who came out and entertained us.  I laughed and laughed.  Maybe too much but he was funny!  I would highly recommend this show!
During the day we found some local things to do.  We toured the Veterans Museum which was very detailed with all the wars beginning with WWI.
This room had the walls filled with names of those who died in WWII.  It was the one place while walking through the museum where I got choked up.  Behind each of those names is a real person who didn't come home. 
One of our freebies was to go to Shepherd's Chapel and go up in the tower.  This is the view from up there.  Another week or two and it would be even more impressive with the fall colors.  
Outside the theatre where we saw SIX were some classic cars including these two.  As I walked in front of Mader, he said some phrases.  It was so cute.  
We had to FaceTime Henry and Eddie.
A morning show we saw was a tribute to the Beach Boys done by these four talented people.  They did some other "beachy" songs as well.  It was a cute show!
Queen Esther was by far the most impressive in the Sight and Sound theatre.  It began with this huge stage before us but then the side curtains opened up and it was really impressive.  
It was a long show but telling the story of Esther surely wasn't an easy task.  The set was massive.  This theatre does shows from the Bible.  Previously there was a show about Noah with real animals.  Queen Esther also had horses and goats and hawks flying.  We both loved it!
The Shanghai Circus was our last day show.  So many incredible agile people doing amazing things.  Again, I am not a big fan of the circus.  It was entertaining just the same. 
When we saw this giant chicken we figured that we neeed to eat at this place.  It was ok.  Nothing to write home about but a great server!
The final show we saw was REZA.  He did some really over the top illusions that were so unbelievable.  We both really enjoyed watching a double stuff oreo refilling itself rather than watching a lady get impaled by a giant drill or having another sucked into a giant fan.  He did involve the crowd and those were my favorite illusions.
We visited the Titanic museum which was very interesting. 
This was a recreation of a First Class suite.
The ceiling above the Grand Staircase.  Everything was decorated for Christmas.
The wheel that steered that giant ship.  Outside of this was a room where you could see the night sky.  Walking through that room was cold.  They keep it at the temperature of that fateful night.
The Grand Staircase is very impressive!
I love the intricate carving around th eclock.
We enjoyed our time there.  When you enter you are given a card of someone who was on board.  Each of our people were First Class and ultimately survived.  Then, Pat of course, had to look them up on familysearch.org to see if they have their temple work done.  They do!
What trip to a southern state is complete without a trip to the Waffle House?  We had breakfast coupons for the hotel we stayed in but I didn't need a 4th day of the same exact food.  Waffle House for the win!
It was a great trip and I think we need to go back again sometime to see and do some of the things we didn't get to do and see.