December 2015 Highlights

A lot has happened in the past month so wanted to record some of it. It would take way to long to write all of it, but wanted to record some highlights.

On November 1st one of my dear friends from our ward, Robin Valentine had a cardiac arrest during the Sacrament hymn at church. The Bishop got up and had us "hold" passing the sacrament while two members of our ward and Russ went down to see what was happening to Robin. When I looked back to see what was going on and saw Robin I was shocked....she looked gone!! Everyone was perfectly still and praying for Robin. It seemed like eternity until the paramedics got there! In the meantime Russ & the others gave CPR to Robin in the foyer. Over the next several days Robin was in a medically induced coma. The doctors told her husband that she wouldn't make it and if she did they didn't know if she would have brain function or not. Our ward had a special fast for her and countless people were praying diligently for her. I had flown to SLC the day after it happened to help my sister after a surgery she had had and felt so helpless. When I returned on Friday Russ drove me to the hospital to see her. She was still in a coma and had all kinds of tubes in her. It was very hard on me and I got very faint and had to sit down. Robin and I have served in 3 presidencies together over the years. She has always been one you could count on! On the following Sunday Russ and I went to see her again and this is the picture I got!! Robin is literally a living MIRACLE!! She was told by many doctors at the hospital that they had never seen anyone come in with what she had and made it out alive, let along with no brain damage. I KNOW she is alive and well today from all the prayers and fasting in her behalf.

Robin & I at the hospital

I had a cookie exchange at my house with some friends and it was Robin's first outing after being home from the hospital. Love these ladies.

December kept me busy baking, visiting, several firesides, parties, meetings, our local festival of lights & choir practice!! Yes, I was actually in the ward choir this year for our Christmas program. I'm not a very good singer, but I like to sing & I noticed the more I sang the better I could hold the notes:) Amazing isn't it?

So if I don't have enough crazy ideas already, I told Russ for Christmas I wanted to go to Kristy's house. I looked into airline tickets and they were WAY over priced and assured Russ we could drive there! After 66 total hours of driving in the car he truly questioned my sanity! I would do it all over again to see their reaction and be able to see so many of my loved ones on the way. We stopped in SLC to pick up Jared and saw both of our parents, Jan, Jeff & my sister Christine.

This is down towards Price, Utah on one of our stretches with good, clear roads. We went through Denver and the 11,000 ft. pass was a blizzard!

Kansas

We had lots of screaming and crying when we arrived at Kristy's house and they opened the door and saw us there!! It was SO fun:)

Silly Kids!

It was so beautiful on Christmas Eve we played Kick Ball with the kids. They have a circle next to their house and it was the perfect spot.

We made a couple of puzzles I brought.

Christmas Morning!!

Jared got a new computer

I helped Jazlyn clean and rearrange her room.
 She got this cute purple bean bag chair for Christmas.

We went to the movies with the kids. We saw the Charlie Brown movie. I really liked it.
The three guys went to Star Wars.

After the movie we had some good old Kansas City barbecue...Russ was in heaven!

Kristy's family got a new game for Christmas where you put cream on a paddle. You take turns passing it around and crank some knobs. You never know who is going to get a "slap" in the face.

On our drive home we spent the night with Lindsey's family. We didn't get there until 6:30 at night and left at 7:00 in the morning, but it was worth the couple extras hours to see them. We had fun playing with the kids and playing our new favorite game, "Cover Your Assets"

As we were leaving the next morning the sky was just beginning to get light. I know this isn't a great picture, but you can see Lindsey and Tyrel live out in the middle of no where, but its lovely and they love it. 

When we got to Baker City in Oregon they had closed the Interstate again!! We couldn't believe it, so we had to take back roads to Pendleton, which took us 5 hours. You can see why by some of these pictures. It was really pretty though.

Jared drove back to Washington with us, but could only stay for two days. We went shooting one night and all did pretty good.

It was really nice to hear some "live" music in our home again. Jared got out both of his saxophones and played some Christmas and Star Wars songs. He also played a lot of different hymns on the piano

which I really enjoyed. 

As if we hadn't driven in the car enough we decided to take a little one night get-a-way up to Lynden, Washington. Its right on the Canadian border. We spent the night in Port Townsend & I finally saw the new Star Wars movie. We stayed in Ann Starrett Mansion that was built in 1889. The man who built it had it built as a wedding present for his bride!

The next morning we had to take the ferry to get over to I-5. Just as we were leaving I noticed this bald eagle perched on this railing. We got to watch the sun come up and it was cold, but beautiful!

Mt. Baker

Deception Pass

Lynden was settled by Dutch immigrants.

It was a memorable December and I'm so thankful for our safety in all of our travels. I know we were watched over. I'm also thankful to see many of those whom I love dearly. We missed seeing Jacob, but he had fun with his other new family. 

We do feel bad that someone broke into our shed where we keep all of our yard equipment while we were in Kansas and stole many items, but feel so blessed it wasn't our home.

Happy New Year!!