Merry Christmas to Everyone!!!!

We have spent time visitng with Aunt Connie and making lots of quilts. I have pictured only one of about eight! We have had so many friends and family come by to enjoy the holiday with.

We were able to make 63 bags for the homeless this year and we had a lot of help and a lot of fun making them. We could have made 1000 and it still would not have been enought but we get such joy out of helping the people who need it so badly. Next year we are going to try for 100 bags!

Our family all comes home Christmas Eve and we open gifts between each other. Then Christmas morning we have Santa. Christmas Day we spent at Heidi and Larry's and had a wonderful turkey and ham dinner with all the sides. It was wonderful. That's what it is all about: family, friends, sharing, giving, loving....

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. We love you all.

Sorry I haven't written in quite some time but we have been so busy enjoying Aunt Connie that there has hardly been time to write. We have restored two quilts and have made five new ones! We still have plenty to go but Aunt Connie will be here until Easter so have no doubt we will get them finished. We went through one sewing machine but Auntie bought Judy and I a new one for our Christmas present this year. Wow, we are so excited and grateful.

Speaking of grandchildren~my sister, Debra, is going to be a grandmother again. Her son Joey and his wife are expecting another baby. We are all hoping for a girl but, as you know, we think boys are great!!!! If a girl, they want to incorporate my mother's name as the baby's middle name. I suggested Bella Faye but they are leaning toward Anna Faye which is very nice.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, we did! I also hope you all have a ver Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This, in case I am slow in writing again.

Saturday, we got together with Heidi and Larry and went down to Old Town for lunch. We had Mexican food at Guadalajara's and it was delicious again!! Next we went down to the wharf and walked around the "Star of India" and just enjoyed the sea air and people watching. After all the good sea air, we were ready for dessert and went to Extraordinary Desserts for a wonderful ending to our day.

Coda, Heidi and Larry's chocolate lab had to go to the hospital for emergency surgery on Sunday. Her stomach had flipped and she had an intestinal blockage. She came home from the hospital Tuesday night and I nursed her all day Wednesday. I am happy to report she is doing fantastic. She's fantastic and it is amazing how fast our wonderful dogs can recover from major surgery as compared to ourselves.

Tuesday night Katie' brought Judy and I some amazing chocolate truffles that she made. And when I say that they were delicious, that is an understatement!! She is very considerate and we appreciate her thinking of us. Judy is going to try to find out how to make them. Yummy.... Thanks, Katie'!

Where's the RAIN and Flu Shots

Well, as usual, the weather people are wrong--no rain--at least for Spring Valley. But the day was not a loss, Judy, Michael, and I went and got our flu shots. They were not giving out the H1N1 shots so don't know if and when they'll be given out. Heard on the news today that a five year old girl died of the swine flu today. I think I'll get the shot for my family, if it is made available.

Rain????

Weather forecasters are saying we are going to get some rain tonight and tomorrow. I hope they are right, we certainly need the water.

Fun Weekend

It feels strange to be writing again. It's been awhile. With everyone not feeling up to par, I just didn't have much to write about. But, everyone is well again and I'm so thankful for that.

Judy had another three day weekend and it was so nice having so much time together. We went out Friday and just fooled around. Went to Sonic and had our usual dollar menu lunch, which is perfect. Saturday, Heidi called and wanted to go on a girl's shopping trip. What fun we had. Heidi got some beautiful clothes and also treated Judy and I. Next, she planned lunch at a French Bistro and the food was wonderful. We also went to Big Lots to start buying the supplies for our Christmas bags we make up at Christmas to give to the Homeless. It's so gratifying but does take a lot of time, money and effort. We have friends that donate and help assemble and distribute. We look forward to doing this every year that we are able to. Any-
way, after all the shopping and lunch, we returned to Heidi and Larry's and to my surprise!!!my son, Larry, wants to take me for my postponed birthday celebration for dinner and banana splits!!! What a day!!! What a family!!! I am blessed...

Sunday, since I am still prone to anxiety and panic attacks around a lot of people, we did not attend Church. It was Stake Conference and I knew there would be a lot of people. Maybe someday it won't bother me to be in those circumstances. Judy made banana bread, oatmeal cookies and we had a late dinner of bar-be-cued chicken and fried potatoes (which were so good because we never have them anymore)! Watched a little television and went to bed.

Thursday

Judy, Taylor, Ashley and I are suppose to go to the temple tonight. Yet, Taylor and I are still fighting head colds. I'm up to it and I think Taylor will be, too.

Termites, bathroom sink plugged up, kitchen faucet replaced and now kitchen sink plugged up--what next????? Just waiting for the plumber to call. We are going to be on first name basis. If anyone needs a good plumber, strictly for unplugging drains, I know the BEST! Just let me know and I'll tell you.

Talked to Auntie last night and they are leaving on the 2nd of November for sure. They should be here by the 5th or 6th. We're so excited, we just can't hide it!!!

Judy's cough is finally going away. She has had a heck of a time with it. Michael went back to school today. So I'm really thankful that they are feeling better.

Wednesday

Sorry, haven't been posting lately. We've all had coughs, sore throats, ear infections, and sinusitis. It goes from one of us to the other and back again but, I believe we are all starting to feel better.

Happy Birthday "shout outs" to Hayley and Ben. Their birthdays were yesterday and although I didn't speak to them, I thought of them. I simply can't believe how fast time is going by. Another year almost gone.

Sunday, Heidi and I went up and visited Michael. He was doing pretty good. We stayed almost the usual amount of time- 40 minutes-after a two hour drive up and a two hour return trip home. Heidi and I enjoyed ourselves and talked about our road trip several years ago, played games and just enjoyed being with each other. Judy was still coughing so she stayed home and went to church. Melissa, the boys mother, has been going to church with us. I know the boys like this. I hope she continues to go with us.

Yesterday, Debra and Joe stopped in for a visit. They were only here for a couple of hours but it was so nice visiting with them. I did worry about them being around all our germs but they didn't seem to be worried.

Every year I do Dr. Mebust's Christmas cards. I'm starting them early this year because I want to be done when Aunt Connie gets here. She called and said Adam is trying to clear it with his commanding officer for departure around the 2nd of November. We are all so excited and can hardly wait to get our arms around our dear aunt.

Roxanne is still planning on moving to Idaho. She's going up around Boise where her sister, my other precious cousins, Rhonda and Darwin, live. I am going to miss her like crazy but I think she will be happy in Idaho...at least I hope that she will be. She will be closer to more of her immediate family.

Judy and I have been working on jewelry for gift giving. Judy is really good at it. I get shaky sometimes but then Judy takes over for me. We hope to do some "Stampin" too. I really love making cards.

I still haven't heard anything about my knee surgeries. I do know the surgeon had a heart attack and is back at work but he had to catch up (which he is close to doing) so it shouldn't be much longer. Hopefully, we'll get our flu shots soon. They suggest waiting until all our other symptoms are gone. Hopefully, that will be soon.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Today I am 59 years old...WOW, as "Bob" would say. I'm amazed at how fast time has gone by. I started the day off with calls from all my loved ones: Taylor, Little Michael, Jamie, Heidi, Judy, Aunt Connie and Michelle, Debra, Big Michael and Roxanne. Then two "angels" came to the door (Sister Desingano and Sister Joy Prescott) and they sang Happy Birthday to me too! Voices of angels from them and all my family that sang to me. They also brought me delicious cookies and banana bread. Yum! So far, a great start to my day. I am a lucky woman. It's not so bad- looking forward to 60! I thought I was going to have a hard time with that but I'm good!

Cousin Ben

Our cousin, Benjamin (Ben) Jones, was in town over the weekend. He was here with his peers and Professor from BYU presenting an exhibit on subjects concerning primates (because I can't remember the correct terminology). We were fortunate enough to be able to attend the presentation which was held at the Bahia Resort and really learned a lot and enjoyed ourselves tremendously. We don't get to be with Ben a lot so it is a real blessing when the opportunity comes. He is studying to be an E.R. doctor. We met his friends, William and Brad and also had the pleasure of meeting his esteemed Professor. The presentation was one of many and was judged. Winners will be announced later and presentation published.

After we left the Bahia, Heidi, Judy, Ben, Michael and I went to the Mona Lisa for pizza. It's the best pizza in San Diego!! We returned home and, of course, stayed up late -- too late-- visiting. We didn't wake up in time for church! When we did all get up, Ben and Michael had a jam session. Ben played guitar and sang and Michael did "fake" drums. Luke chimed in to the tones of the harmonica. It was good. Ben has a beautiful voice. I could listen to him all day. Later we went to Heidi's and Larry's house to visit and swim. Larry and the boys had gone to Barona to race and didn't get home until late afternoon. They had gone for a long weekend before we even knew that Ben was going to be here. We spent the entire day. We held our own Olympics. Judy, Heidi and I were the judges. The three: Ben, Taylor and Michael kind of balanced out on the amount of gold, silver and bronze medals. We did have to eliminate Michael for two rounds for poor sportsmanship but he bounced right back and was the better for it. Heidi and I went to Taco Bell and she bought "everything on the menu"! It was great...Little Larry talked cars with Ben and showed him his dragster even strapping him in to show him what it feels like to be in the car. I think Ben enjoyed it as much as I know Larry did. Of course, Chris and Michael tried to annoy them but it didn't work. We left Heidi's and stopped at Sonic where Ben treated us to ice cream. After returning home, more visiting but not as late because we knew Ben had to leave early and the boys had to go to school and Judy to work. Brother and Sister Prescott, Sr. came by and Bro. Prescott and Ben gave Judy a Healing Blessing. She still has a horrible cough. The Prescott's are just like family and Ben enjoyed getting to meet and visit with them, too.

Ben has left and already I miss him. He is a special human being and a great cousin. He is so much the product of his father and mother, Blaine and Claudia. Blaine is my uncle but we are very close in age and grew up together so we are more like a brother and sister and I love him and admire him so much. Claudia is a fantastic mother and a great wife and I admire her as well. They have a heck of great son!!!