Alive in 2015

Audrey, Cliff and family were here until after New Years.  Granddaughters Rayne and Allegra spent New Year's Eve with us while the rest went to Rexburg to spend some more time with grandson Chase and his wife Morgan.  We three girls were the only ones who welcomed in the New Year.  Layne went to bed.  We watched girl movies until midnight.  We wished each other a Happy, then went to bed too.  It was low key but nice.  And so here it is 2015.  I remember thinking, long ago in the last century, that the change of century was too far away to think about.  And here we are, 15 years into it.  And I am still here!

Allegra opened her missionary letter:  she is going to Wisconsin the end of this month!

Rayne, Allegra and I spent a day shopping for a missionary wardrobe for Allegra.  Rayne served as her personal shopper.  She is up on the latest look, thanks to her job at Norstrom's.  In short order she picked out 8 skirts and then 8 tops and they are interchangeable.  I was in awe.  Allegra was thrilled and looked cuter than I've ever seen her in her new duds.  You have to understand that, while Rayne is very into looking good (and she does!), Allegra is very not into how she looks.  Not that she isn't pretty, she just doesn't seem to care.  With a little attention and interest she could be quite the knockout.  Perhaps that will come to her yet.

Here are three generations of family men:  Isaiah, Layne, Cliff and Chase.

We've also got three generations of women:  me, Morgan (wife of Chase), Rayne, Audrey, and Allegra.

Morgan and Chase, looking a bit goofy.

Audrey, Cliff and Isaiah returned to our house and took everyone home with them except Allegra, who stayed with us for a few more days to work for us and earn a little missionary money.  She was very willing to take on whatever task I gave her and spent quite  bit of time trying to organize my family history.  She is quite good at that.  We spent our evenings on Poirot marathons.  It was such fun.

Allegra in front of the Boise Temple, where she got her endowments.  We made two visits here and another in the Oakland Temple.

Last Thursday it all ended in a flight back to California, where we stayed with Audrey and Cliff in order to see our grandson Zachary baptized.   I was blessed to again be able to speak at a grandchild's baptism.  I'm grateful for the chances I've been given to do that.  Layne said it was the best I have done so far.  I was so happy to hear him say that since I've been feeling out of touch with the Spirit lately.  I'm still a little mad at the Lord for not answering our prayers to find Miles' helicopter.  But I'm calming down.  A little.  He helped me with the baptismal talk so I guess I should be content to let Him do things His way instead of mine.

Zachary (Ben and Jessica's son), who was baptized Saturday, January 10th.

I may have forgotten to mention that our grandson Scott, who has been in the MTC preparing to go to Thailand, re-injured his knee playing basketball and has to have corrective surgery.  So he is now back home to get that done.  Once the surgery is complete, he will return to the MTC and, hopefully, Thailand.  He was so happy there and well prepared for his mission.  It is disappointing to have this glitch but his spirits are good and he feels that the Lord is blessing him and things will work out OK.  I think so too.  He is such a fine boy; I can't help feeling that there is a blessing in this.  We had a great visit with him on Friday, when we all went to the temple together.

We flew home Saturday evening.  On a confirmed flight.  It is such a joy to wait for a flight that we are sure to make instead of waiting as a standby.  And so, in one magical Saturday, we drove to Palo Alto and attended a baptism, watched grandson Will play basketball, enjoyed a family lunch, a flight back to Boise and a relaxing bond over the dining room table with chocolate milk and cookies.  What an amazing time to be alive.