Our Missionaries

Missionary work.  I agree it is important to share the gospel with as many as will listen.  It is such a blessing and has changed the direction of my life, to my eternal good.  But I don't feel I'm very good at being a missionary myself.  We are on a mission now, but working with mostly members of the Church.  I've never quite gotten over my fear of sharing with non-members.  I sometimes worry that I will be held accountable for my cowardice.  But I celebrate that two of my grandchildren have joined the growing number of young missionaries taking the gospel all over the world.

Reed and Dorothy's Scott got his knee surgery finally done yesterday and it was successful.  His Utah doctor says he can re-enter the Missionary Training Center on Monday.  Hooray for that!  Audrey and Cliff's Allegra entered the MTC on Wednesday.  I wonder if they will meet up there.  So we have two active missionaries in the family now.  I can't help celebrating the sweet people that our family has produced so far.

Elder Scott Galbraith, soon to enter the MTC again and prepare
 for a mission in Thailand, hopefully with a healed knee.

Sister Allegra Adams-Hart, off to Wisconsin in a couple
of weeks as a missionary for the Church.

We've been home for almost a week now.  Home is always a sweet place to be.  Our Idaho weather has taken a turn towards almost warm with temperatures in the 40s now.  It's been warm enough to finally melt the snow and open up an opportunity to look for grandson Miles' lost Christmas helicopter.  The one we prayed to find.  Layne and I spent an hour to two looking but, again, we failed.  I guess it is lost forever.  Bummer.

We had a delightful time meeting with our Fremont gang for dinner last night.  It was at our house this time.  Layne found a new recipe he wanted me to prepare.  He was so sure it would be delicious that I overcame my reluctance to fix something untried for company.  It was a pork dish.  Sure enough, it was delicious.  Layne wanted to show them, once again, his current favorite movie, The Impossible.  We've seen it 6 times already.  But we watched it once again.  Our friends loved it, and it seemed to leave a lingering sweet feeling.  I say that because they all stayed until after midnight!  Unheard of for older folks like us.  But it was so great to be able to talk deeply and at length with these gal friends.  It turned out to be an unusually lovely evening.

After days of foggy inversion here, it is sunny today.  The sunlight streams through my kitchen windows as I write and it feels so cheerful.  Winter darkness doesn't bother me; I just keep my tree lights on and candles lit.  The fireplace warms our living room, my favorite winter place for reading.  I like winter.  But the sunlight is magical.

Seventy Two

January brings lots of family birthdays.  I am among them.  Once again I miss family but all my kids called me for my birthday and gave me some sweet conversations.  Except Ben.  He forgot me this year.  But I can see why; his Jessica also has a birthday this month and he put lots of thought into it.  Once he remembered, he called and apologized and was very sweet about it.  So I forgave him.

Layne bought me a ring I could not resist last November and called it my birthday present.  I was thrilled, especially when he told me he didn't mind if I wore it right away.  It's a lovely garnet and opal ring.  It ties his October and my January birthdays together, you see.  So he gave me flowers on my actual birthday.  And my friend Carol Wintersteen baked me carrot cookies.  I also received more than my share of goodies this year.  And, perhaps most special of all, Bob and Maryanne drove over from Salt Lake to spend the weekend last week with us.  It was wonderful to be able to spend a bit of time with them. So I felt celebrated.

Bob and Maryanne, shown below.

Maryanne and me.

Today was Allegra's missionary farewell.  Not wanting to miss it, we made yet another trip to California, arriving last Thursday.  Cliff made my favorite dinner, roasted chicken and mushrooms.  We spent Friday and Saturday babysitting Ben and Jessica's kids while they celebrated her birthday in Sonoma.  We had fun with those babes!  It is a wild ride for sure but the children are so loving and are willing to adjust to my way of doing things...at least temporarily while we are there.  Layne does the running around while I tend the home fires.  It works out well and I feel like we made a sweet connection with each of the kids.

Ben and Jessica's youngest, Victoria (Tia), wiping off the counter (and not crawling on it.)

Our BJ kids are "techie" to the max.  Here is Alexis playing with her ipod.  The kids spent most of their free time on the plentiful collection of tech gadgets that Ben loves to provide.

 Rayne had us girls (me, Allegra, Audrey and Dorothy) over for dinner on Saturday night at her new apartment.  It was great fun.  Today was the farewell, and Allegra did an amazing job speaking about the value of happiness.  She has a flair for speaking, I think.  We left for the airport and home right after her talk and missed the family bash this afternoon.  But we are home in time to attend our pornography addiction meeting tonight.

Sister Allegra Adams-Hart leaves for the MTC later this week.  Then on to Wisconsin.

Traveling always seems like such a pain at the front side, but feels so good at the back side.  I'm happy to be home, but loved our time with California family.

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.

An Unusual Christmas

I've spent a few years trying to establish traditions with our California family, especially at Christmas.  We had certain things that we did on Christmas Eve, like acting out the nativity, and certain things we did on Christmas Day, like a big brunch and a talent night.  It was such fun!  But since we have moved to Idaho that has, of course, changed.  Layne and I spent our Christmas Eve with friends and Christmas morning alone with just the two of us.  So this Christmas had a couple of firsts:  a solo Christmas and a white one.  We drove through a beautiful snow fall on Christmas Eve on our way to our friends Roger and Marianne Wilcox.  Our Christmas offered us a beautiful view of white.

                                                        Our White Christmas morning.

                                                   Our Christmas morning selfie.

Me, modeling Audrey and Cliff's Christmas gift to me, a cosy shawl.  Love it.

I guess I didn't mind having such a quiet holiday; it was nice in its way.  Well, OK, I miss the crazy, wonderful Christmas season surrounded by family.  The good news is that Chris, Jes and family arrived Christmas night!  Then Audrey, Cliff and family came two days later!  So now our house and our holiday is full of...family!  I love it.

Grandson Miles brought his favorite Christmas gift, a motorized helicopter.  He and his dad, Chris, spent lots of time flying it outside.  It had a camera inside that could take pictures.  We were amazed when we put its chip into my computer to see the pictures it came up with.  Wow.  Then he lost it somewhere in the back field.  They looked for it into the night yesterday.  Cliff offered a family prayer that we could find it.  So, after Church today, we all lined up in the field and marched forward, thinking that if we covered enough ground someone would spot it.  We offered prayers once again. We searched for quite awhile but no luck.  Prayers unanswered.  I thought it was the perfect opportunity for Miles to experience the Lord's help and perhaps increase his faith.  But no dice.  I'm kinda mad at the Lord at the moment.  It seemed like such a good opportunity for this little non-member grandson.  It goes to one of my ponderings.  I know the Lord CAN answer prayers and CAN work miracles, but I don't know if He actually WILL.  So that compromises my faith in Him to some extent.  This is a prime example.  I knew He could inspire us to look in the right spot for the helicopter.  But He didn't.

Our whole gang, out in the back field, looking for the lost helicopter.

We are having fun together though.  Our tramp in the snow in search of the missing toy was fun.  And we did it together.  Both son-in-law Chris and brother-in-law Bob had birthdays yesterday.  We celebrated with Chris with a special request dinner and other favors.  He is such a fine man; I hope he knows how much we love having him in our family.  My greatest wish is to do right by this sweet family that God has given to us.  Chris and Jes leave tomorrow but Audrey and Cliff will be here, on and off, for almost another week.  I'm looking forward to each sweet moment.

The birthday boy, son-in-law Chris, with son Miles and daughter, Peyton.

Layne with daughter Jessica.  Do they look alike?

Three generations: me, granddaughter Gemma and daughter Jessica.

Grandson Isaiah gave me these led lighted earrings.  Have you ever seen anything like it?

Almost Christmas

We've been home from California for almost 2 weeks now.  It has been a blur of activity as we worked to get Christmas in our home and attend various activities.  I sang with my singing group for the last week of our concert performances.  Tonight we have our final performance, for friends and family.  I'm finding that I really like singing.  More than before.  I am even thinking of taking a singing lesson or two.

Richard and Carol Cadle, friends from our Fremont days, spent some time with us.  It was so fun to be with people who know our children and something of our history.  I miss that about here.  But there are lots of great people here and we are finding it pretty easy to make friends.

                                                          Richard and Carol Cadle.

                                                         Layne in Dick's crazy hat.

I really wanted to make a trip to Salt Lake before Christmas, to see our siblings and to see the Salt Lake Temple lights.  Layne was not enthused.  But I talked it up enough that he finally went along and we made a 48 hour road trip there this week.  We spent time with my sister Maryanne and hub Bob as well as Layne's twin brother Lynn and wife Camille.  I love being with family.  Bob and Maryanne took us to temple square to see the lights.  I never imagined that so many people could crowd onto the temple grounds.  It seemed like half of Salt Lake was taking in the lights!  But we pressed our way through the crowd and managed to see some pretty amazing lighting.  I loved it.  All except for the people.  Actually I like people, just not so many in one place.  On the night we chose to go.

We had a sweet time with Bob and Mar, then went to lunch with Lynn and Camille.  We loved being with them too.  I feel quite strongly that we need to spend more time with our Salt Lake family.  I'd love to drive there and spend a week or so just reconnecting with family and the many friends that have moved there over the years.  Maybe I can talk Layne into it.  Sometime.

I am more excited about Christmas this year since daughter Jessica and her family are coming.  Audrey and family will follow later in the week.  Family. Here.  At Christmas.  How could it be any better than that?

                                                               Temple Square lights.

                                                   Maryanne and me on Temple Square.

                                       Bob and Maryanne, with Layne in the background.

                                                                Lynn and Camille

The Temple Hill Nutcracker, 2014

It has been a busy, happy week.  I've lunched with friends, and we visited our Fremont neighbors.  I love seeing old friends.  I never stop loving them!  Perhaps the neighbors we were closest to when we lived in Fremont for so many years were Don and Jean Harmon, who lived right next door and had three girls close in age to our own.  Don was strong as an ox and very strong willed, with a good heart.  In recent times he has struggled with Parkinson's Disease.  Refusing medication for it, he preferred to try various home remedies.  His condition has worsened, burdening him with increasing tremors that have made it hard for him to function.  It was a shock to find that, in trying to visit them, we found them gone!  Their home was sold and now is for rent.  I could hardly take it in; we have been so used to them being there and felt it was somehow a permanent settling place for them.  According to another neighbor, Rodell Merrill, they moved to Colorado in August, to be near their daughters, who all live there.  That's a good idea, I'm thinking, but I'm sad that they didn't tell us they were leaving.  I thought we were closer than that.  I guess the shock amounts to that; we didn't know.

Our Nutcracker performances were this weekend.  So the week has been mostly filled with it.  It has been sweet to get acquainted with some new couples in our opening scene dancing group.  And there are more boys in the scene, including a couple of little brothers that became our "grandsons."  They quickly took to us, which was such a pleasant thing.  Dancing this year was relaxed and fun.  Much more so than in past years.  Perhaps because this is our fifth year and we know the dances so well.  Both of us were more comfortable than we have ever been before, making it more fun than ever before.  All the additional boys added quite a spirit to our opening party scene, as they scooted around, teasing and playing spontaneously.  The best part of the party scene is that spontaneity is OK.  It is only the following scenes that demand exactness.  Thank heavens it is not required of us.  So we had fun!

Some of our Nutcracker boys sit in the midst of the Party scene dancers.  They were full of mischief this year.

Both performances were to full houses.  Nutcracker begins the Christmas month on Temple Hill.  After each performance, people flood into the magical Christmas decorations that light the whole area.  It is like a fairly place, filling the air with happiness.  There are always old friends that we meet afterwards.  Our local family attended the Friday night performance, meeting us afterwards for chocolate milk and cookies.

Temple Hill at Christmas time.

Our Nutcracker is a quality affair.  Rachel and Cheoh Tan are the creators of it.  Rachel is a genius at creating a near professional performance by her dancing students.  It is always awe-inspiring to see what those young dancers can do.  Professional costumes and sets show them off to perfection.  She is also very good at getting the help she needs to make things happen.  Cheoh is a wonderful supporter of this very special event.  It is a blessing to all associated with it.  But it costs them, in time, stress and money.  I hope they too feel blessed by their gifts, so freely given to so many.  We will lunch with them today.  Our visit with them will probably determine whether we will return next year or not.  Layne is determined that we will not, but the magic of Rachel could possibly change his resolve.  We shall see!

Here is my dance partner, at rest.

A California Thanksgiving

I feel like I am in a fertile field of love and friendship.  Every day we spend here puts us in the way of people that we have known and loved for many years.  It is wonderful to remember that we have a history!  This past week has brought us several happy encounters with family and friends.

My theory in dealing with grown children is basically to keep my mouth shut, unless invited to give advice or suggestions.  I am trying to give only what is asked for, and only in small doses.  I feel like I can look at my children and grandchildren and see much more clearly now what mistakes I have made and what can be done to avoid them with grandchildren.  But I rarely speak of it.  I think that advice is generally poorly received unless requested or presented in the most positive light.

We did some family sealings at the Oakland Temple on Wednesday with Audrey and Cliff.  Our grandchildren, Scott and Allegra provided the names!  I was surprised to see that the Christmas lights were up, BEFORE THANKSGIVING!

I don't mean to suggest that I feel my grandchildren are poorly cared for.  On the contrary, I feel quite joyful about the parenting they are receiving and grateful that the older ones seem to be turning into such good, quality people.  So I have great hopes for the future of our Galbraith, Gendreau and Adams-Hart children.  I am trying to discover what it is that I can contribute to their welfare and have decided that, perhaps, my efforts should center around building family ties through family history, and building patriotism by giving them information about the principles of freedom.  And spending time with them and loving them too, of course.

We had a sweet connection with our Sunol neighbors, Bev and Ernie Trutner.  They are buying a home in Sonoma, which we visited with them this week.  Ernie is having all sorts of health problems and it saddened me to see his struggles.  He is a vibrant, muscular man with a heart of gold.  But he is having problems with balance and prostrate cancer.  He uses a walker now and cannot lift anything.  It is hard to see him diminished, but I have hopes that his condition will improve.  I know it is the time of life for physical decline but it is still hard to see, and harder to anticipate.  The spirit within me still says, "no, not me; I'm not going there."  But I suppose I will.  And I suppose that I will accept what must be.

I helped Jessica rearrange and reorganize the girls' bedroom on Monday.  It was such fun and I think they all liked the results.  We rearranged but didn't finish the reorganization of things.  But the groundwork was laid.  On Wednesday I made 5 pies with the BJ kids for Thanksgiving.  Jess' parents, John and Judy Ault, were there.  I really like them.  When we talk we blend.

Thanksgiving was at Ben and Jessica's.  All the local kids came so the house was packed.  But it was fun to be all together in a blend of chaos and cheer.  It is not hard to give thanks in such happy circumstances.  Everyone contributed to the food, which was abundant and delicious.  Afterward there was a pleasant lingering.  I am so GRATEFUL!

Our Thanksgiving table at Ben and Jessica's home in Palo Alto.  Layne, Cliff, Rayne and Audrey are on the left.  Ben sits at the head of the table (phone in hand), Dorothy is next to him.  The empty place is mine.  Jessica's mom, Judy, is on the right.  Not seen is her husband, John, and Jessica, on the end.  Kids were at another couple of tables.

Ben is serving up his homemade ice cream for Thanksgiving dessert (along with the pies).  His youngest, Victoria, is "helping."

I'm anticipating another wonderful week of bonding and performing in the Nutcracker.  Then we will be homeward bound.  Christmas is in the air!


Grandson Vincent (son of Reed and Dorothy) is playing in a marching band during  small parade on Saturday.  It was such fun to see a hometown parade, supported by lots of onlookers.  It was short but full of lively, good spirits.  We loved it.