Three Phone Calls

Now I know that I promised I was catching up with December and the holidays first, but I haven't taken time for that yet, but did want to write about today and my three phone calls.....

As a preface, I wanted to say that last week was a difficult week with many appointments for Ben and generally a hard week with him and his illness.  Things had calmed down by the weekend,( and we both had a nice day Saturday, Gary bowling with Jena and me attending a Broadway production of "South Pacific" and dinner with Gary's mom and sisters) but Saturday night Gary and I sat and watched a bowl game and then a "ondemand" TV show we like...five hours of just watching TV and doing NOTHING.  We were exhausted.

I promised myself that this week would be better and it has been.  And it became a great week with three phone calls.................

the first was one that I finally made to my sister Valerie.  It has been over a month since we have actually spoken on the phone together and I have been wanting to talk to her, just for fun.  In addition, she has become a grandmother for the first time since we last spoke so we had lots to talk about.  We had an hour chat until she had to run her daughter to piano lessons.

the next came from a neighbor, Michelle.  It was short but great too as we finalizated some long delayed plans to go to the temple together tomorrow.  It is great to have nearby friends to go to the temple with.  We don't do things together nearly enough.

Not long after I hung up from that phone call, I got a call from my dear friend, Eileen, calling me from Hong Kong on her vonage line.  Oh the wonders of our new age.  We spoke for an hour about my upcoming trip to Hong Kong and our dear friends who will gather with us.  It was as if we had just seen each other last week in Church although it has been since last July that we visited last.

Isn't it an amazing gift to have connections with family and friends, near and far?  I have been blessed by a great family and amazing friends where ever we have lived and they all are such a blessing in my life.  Thanks to Valerie, Michelle, and Eileen and to everyone who makes an impact in my life.

I think I will be making more phone calls this year.  :)

Parties and more parties

Lost my camera to computer cable so I am now playing catch up for the month of December is there will be a few posts dated today.  Using my pictures as my reminders, I will try to catch-up with everything.

We held our annual (almost) Adult Christmas Party.  We had around 30 people and had great fun with Chrsitmas Family Feud, a Christmas Getting to Know You game, and the ever popular White Elephant Exchange (and yes, the lizard continues its reign as the visiting guest after 22 years or so.)

The next day we held our Giberson Christmas dinner.  We played some of the same games after having a great dinner together.  The only sad thing was that my dad and his wife weren't able to make it at the last minute because my dad had to make a quick trip to the ER.  After a few hours he was home again and recoving and is doing fine, but they missed the fun.  We recruited Gary's sister and her husband to help us eat food and having fun.  It was a fun evening but next year we are planning on Grandpa and Nana Giberson to be there.

Gary, Judy, Megan Ipsong, Danielle, Siera, Jenna, David (Dodsons),
Niles and Rachel Giberson,
Jena, Ben, and Valerie and Allan Burk
(Gary's mom took the picture)

The other adventure was when people came to get their shoes, Sierra's shoes which were actually slippers were missing.  We found them out in the backyard with chew marks.  Needless to say, they wre "history".  Fortunately, Ben was able to find the exact pair on line so we ordered new ones and sent them to hers.  Silly dogs.

Backyard Visitor

Ben happened to be looking out our window and saw this beautiful pheasant sitting on our neighbor's fence.  He got this picture while I ran to grab my camera and try to get a picture (I didn't).  It was amazing to see such a wonderful bird in the backyards of our subdivsion.

Good Night Thanksgiving!



I don't know about you, but it makes me a bit sad to take down my Thanksgiving decorations at the end of November (and actually they aren't completely down yet and the only Christmas change I have made is on this blog page.)  It is not because I have such wonderful decorations or that I don't like my Christmas things.  I just like the simple reminders of thankfulness and the colors of fall in my house.  I don't like the rush to Christmas lights and trees even before the turkey is cooked.  If you are one who does that, it is great.  Christmas is wonderful, too.  But for me, it is just now time to say "Good Night Thanksgiving".


Thanks for the blessings that abound in our lives of food, shelter, employment, and most of all, the gospel.

Thanks for family---Halls and Gibersons of all ages.
So exciting to add twins, Max and Sophee Giberson (nephew Paul and wife Randee), right before the holiday.

Thanks for friends, community, and the beautiful fall colors of Utah

depsite the amazing windstorm on Friday.

I felt like I was right at home--in Richland, WA, or Amarillo, TX--both known
for daily winds.  However many of our friends and others nearer
the mountains had winds over 100 miles fly in and many lost fences, roofs, trees, etc.



Thanks for the reminders to stop and count blessings even when things are tough.
They are there to be counted everyday.
I helped Jena record three blessings she saw each day for the weeks before Thanksgiving.
That was a sweet experience as I saw life a bit more from her eyes.
You certainly want to be counted as a blessing by Jena--as all of her dad, siblings, sweet YW leaders, Bishop, seminary teacher, and friends were.



Thanks to the pilgrims who came to this country and for this county itself.
How luck we are to be Americans.



Thanks for another reminder to remember!



Thanks!



So, good night Thanksgiving

and the cute decorations.

Hopefully we won't forget your messages to be thanksful and remember to count our many blessings.

Now let the Christmas Fun begin.........

shopping is well underway, packages ready to be mailed, the "Hall Almost Annual Adult Christmas Party" is set for Saturday, and Christmas Card letter almost prepared.  I am so excited....

if only I could think of what to give Gary.