Thanksgiving Time

I just have a few minutes while to post a few pictures from Thanksgiving at the Gale's house. Hopefully I will be able to write more about my feelings at Thanksgiving time, but right now I am needed elsewhere.

Color Blind

Did someone forget to tell Matt Hall that his team is white and blue, not white and red?

Last Year at the Big Game

And what were you doing last year for the big game? We were in Hyde Park for the weekend. We went to the Christmas fair (looked at train cars I believe), Morgan and Chantel had tickets to The Nutcracker (was that it?) and we stayed home to watch the game. But Barrett didn't get the game at their house? What to do..what to do. Call the Elwoods and see if they had it next door. Happily for us, they did, and they invited us over to watch it. Didn't realize they were having the whole family over to make gingerbread houses. What a fun tradition that we probably won't be able to do. Anyway, it was a great game, full of excitement. But they are all Ute fans, and wasn't too happy about the last few minutes. I remember wanting to cheer really loudly, but kept my composure as we quietly thanked them for their kindness and walked out the door, waiting until we got into Barrett's house to yell with excitement. Hope it is an exciting game today. How can it not be?

Update

We haven't done anything fun and exciting at all this week, but live hasn't been boring. We have just been busy going to work/school and living an uneventful week, which is a nice break for us. The most excitment came while sitting by the stove watching Survivor! Wasn't that a great show! I bet that goes down as one of the best episodes every. I loved the look on Randy's face when he found out the idol wasn't real! It was a classic. Now we have to wait two whole weeks to find out if Bob is telling the truth about the other idol being hidden somewhere on the island. Is it a lie to lead people's attention in another direction, or is he trying to get a stronger alliance? It will be interesting to see what happens. But nothing will beat getting Randy off the show. I don't think I have ever disliked a player like I dislike him. I don't understand how he ever made it this far. So, that is our exciting lives.

This week in school we had our traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, but we made it a little bit nicer. We had "real" chairs, not the benches at the tables, place setting, centerpieces, the whole nine-yards. The pie was already set at each place setting and we asked all the kids to dress up a little bit. The teachers all wore dresses, except Mr. Winn and Mr. Jones, who had on nicer shirts and ties (yes, and pants as well!) Mr. Jones met us at the door and took us 8 at a time to the tables to be seated. The teachers sat with their class where we all practiced our good manners. We had talked about table etiquette (I had to look up that word), how the boys should help seat the girls, using your napkins, asking for rolls, butter, etc. Everyone had to wait until everyone had been served before they could start eating, then they had to stay in their seats until everyone was done. I wasn't sure I would like this, but it turned out really nice. I did have to tell a few boys they couldn't pick up their pumpkin pie with their hands, and remind them to use their knives to cut their turkey (yes, we did have plastic knives.) All in all, it was a very nice dinner and a good experience for the kids. The best comment came when we were talking about what was going to happen and how it would be like eating at a very nice expensive restuarant. One cute little girl raised her hand and asked, "What did we do to deserve this?" She was so serious and couldn't imagine being treated so well. She stole my heart, but then, I have loved having her sisters in my class before and she is a cute as they are.
I wished I had my camera there for the shot of the day: During lunch recess the sixth graders always play basketball, and there was Lexi Huntington, a tall sixth-grade girl, playing basketball in her high-heels! And she was beating out all the boys! It was so funny. (Can't spell hilarious).

So that, was our week. Nice and quiet but too much to do. Now I am off to read about 5 chapters in a boring math book so I am prepared to read it again tomorrow in my math class. So much for fun!

Thanks, Chantel's Grandmother

I got a sweet letter in the mail yesterday from Chantel's grandmother, Lima. She sent me a pattern for a crocheted altar cloth. Barrett had told me to be looking for it. I am honored that thought enough to help me out. She said she has crocheted this cloth for other temples and has received thank-you notes from the matrons in Logan, Ogden, Salt Lake, Palmyra, and Nauvoo. What a great honor for her! That was very sweet of her. I have a thank-you note ready to send to her, but just thought I would post about her kindness here. Chantel, please tell her how much I appreciate her thoughtfulness.

It is Amazing

You can infer the most awesome things when you look through your sitemetet on your blogs. I look at mine quite regularly and I am getting pretty good at inferring who is "coming to visit." I can tell from the company subscriber without even looking at all the details. I know Nancy is Cox and Barrett/Chantel are swbell. Nicky is a bunch of numbers from Myriad and Tammy is .... I forgot but I know it when I see it. I assume Mitchell is USU and Chelsie is Orem. I get a few ETV so I know people from EC are here, could be family or friends. Although I love you all, it is interesting to also see those from other places and see how they got here.
If you are looking for the first time, or visiting again, please do not take offense at me "checking you out." I am just interested in where my visitors are coming from and how they got here.
Today I saw someone from South Africa. They googled "life changer and peace giver", which resulted in a few of my entries about the Peace Giver. I see from the google search that life changer and peace giver must also be some song title. But this person spent a long time reading many pages. It made me think about the things I am writing and what we are asked to do as member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Am I a good example for someone's first experience with the church? Am I spreading the good news of the gospel as I write about my daily experiences?
There was another visiter today from Kentucky who googled "pattern LDS temple cloth alter". That was very interesting to me because I am assuming that someone who is LDS must be looking for a crochet pattern for a temple alter cloth, just as I did a few weeks ago. Another sister looking for the same information! How exciting!
Do any of the rest of you think it is interesting to see how visitors come to your blogs? You are all into so many different interests so I am sure you have different people checking you out. One person I read regularly said if you want more people to come to your blog you should put more tags or labels for your posts, and link to more articles and blogs because this will get your entries into more google searches. Just a thought.
I am really enjoying reading these two blogs lately. They are both wonderful women who are teaching me a lot. Sophia is from Cache Valley and is raising her now adopted grandchildren. They were sealed in the temple a few weeks ago and she has recorded some wonderful tearjerking events. Her decorations are awesome and she is to on the go it makes me tired to just read her adventures. The other one is Annie from Liberty who decorates beautifully. (I think I will hire her.) She is so thoughtful of others. One day when she was in Oregon (?) visiting her daughter, she wanted to teach her grandchildren about giving, so she went to the local homeless shelter and found a family. She asked them to come back the next day at an appointed time. She brought her grandchildren with her, along with items she knew the family would need for the winter. The children were able to see how grateful someone was for their kindness. I would never have thought of something so personal. Take your stuff to the DI is about all I would come up with. What a lesson to learn from her. She is a great person.
Of course I check in on my friends (Sandra!) and family. I enjoy a leisure time checking out those who are checking out me. It sure it interesting!

A Fun Visit

It was so great to have Tammy's family here this weekend. They arrived late Friday night and stayed until Saturday evening. I, unfortunately, had a math class where attendance is 80% of the grade, so I had to spend some time there. I stayed at home as long as I could Saturday morning, came back for lunch, got back there about 10 minutes late, left early (really the class let out a little bit early). I spent the afternoon watching the kids playing outside. They seemed to really love having space to run around and just have fun. Kayden wouldn't let Grandpa out of his sight, and Koy was close behind.
Grandpa said Koy was standing on the kitchen table calling "Sally" which was a bit heart-breaking. Kayden was so cute in the morning when he came into our bedroom. He announced himself with "I'm awake now!" then he climbed into bed with us and just grinned. Soon Lexi was there, along with Koy. Why does everyone like to climb into our bed? It was fun to just snuggle with all of them.
We spent some time watching the last quarter of the BYU game, then they had to leave. Kayden wasn't going to go, but we assured him he would be able to spend some time here in a few weeks. I will bring them all here for the weekend of Thanksgiving since we have the time off and Tammy, Josh, and Nicky all work. They can help us put up our Christmas decorations! That should be fun!
We miss having all the kids here for fun and play. We miss having all of our grandchild around, but we know their parents are doing what they need to be doing right now. Just know that we love and miss you all. We think of you every day, wondering what you are all doing. We pray for you and send you all our love.

I am spending time doing on-line Christmas shopping, so your suggestions are appreciated. Let me know sizes and interests since they all change so much during the year.

Love you all so much!

A Good Time

We rode to the temple with Scott and Mindi last night. It was our stake conference temple session with a chapel session at 7:00. We usually get there a bit early (Garth Labrum time)but we didn't get there until just a few minutes before the session started. I was hoping to get there and maybe get a chance to play the organ again, but someone from the temple was already there. We heard short talks of welcome from the second councilor in the temple presidency and his wife. They are Emery County natives. In fact, Sister Jensen is the daughter of "Grandma" Helma Robertson who I am sure you kids all remember from third ward. She grew up with the Ware boys here in town. She is also the one who called me and asked me to crochet the altar cloths.
The temple session was very nice with about half of the people there from our stake. I tried really hard to study the patterns of the altar cloths from my vantage point and decided the one I am working on has is too "lacey" with too many loops and lines that will be too difficult to stretch out into place when washed.
There is a small sealing room right off the celestial room that is not used as a sealing room, it is more of a display room for people to see the pioneer workmanship. It is roped off but you are encouraged to look through the doorway at the beautiful altar, so I did, checking out that crocheted covering which was very beautiful. There is also a hallway leading off the back end of the celestial room that goes to three more sealing rooms that are used all the time. Because these rooms are off the celestial room, people using these rooms must be dressed in white, even if they don't attend a full endowment session. Nancy, Dallas, and Tyler were sealed in the first room. I asked the temple workers if I could go in and look at the coveres in these room and the sister graciously took me into each one where I went clear up to the altars to check them out. The covers were all very different and just left me with more wondering. (I also know from past experience that there is a beautiful "lavoratory" at the end of this hall, for those patrons who need these services before going down the long stairway back to the lower hallway and dressing rooms.)
While we were in the celestial room President Sharp hugged me and told me he was looking for me because he wanted me to play the organ. I told him I was hoping to but it was Scott's fault that I didn't get there any earlier. He said he had to settle for second best and I assured him I would be there early next time.
We had a good ride home because I slept most of the way home. I woke up at the power plant and couldn't really tell where we were. I was a bit confused until we made the turn into town.
Tonight we went to the Adult Session of stake conference where we learned how concerned we should be about our children and grandchildren and how we can help protect them from the troubles in the world today. Some days I wish you were all living right here where I could have you all near me so I could watch you and protect you from everything. But I know you are all where you need to be and that if I do what I should do, the Lord will protect you. But one thing I can do is leave you my love and my testimony of Christ.
I know that Christ knows each of us and that He loves us. He knows what we need to learn in this life and He is there to help us as we learn these lessons. He wants each of us to return to Him and our Father in Heaven, so we can live as extended families in His presence. He will bless us with those blessing we need if we pray, study the scriptures, and love of Him. We need to do our part so He can do His. When Grandpa and Grandma can't be there, He can be. He will help you and bless you.
I love you all so very, very much. You are in our thoughts and prayers all the time. We know you parents are doing everything you can to teach your children about their Father in Heaven and His son, Jesus Christ. We love you all.

Chantel's Business

I am adding a bling on my blog to help spread the news of Chantel's business. She makes adorable headbands and bows for little, and big, girls. You can also find bracelets made by her business partner. Check it out!

Saturday Morning

It is a beautiful morning here in EC and I am just relaxing before I get going with the day. Yes, it is 10:06 and I haven't started doing anything yet. What a lazy person I am today. But, hey, I deserve a break after Halloween with 26 third-graders. We had parent/teacher conferences on Thursday after school. I started Thursday morning at school by 7:00 am, school goes from 8:25-2:55, conferenced from 3:15-9:15 pm. When home and collasped in bed, didn't even watch the news (And I can't find Glen Beck to watch at night!) Started Friday morning school at 7:30, yes I was slow, tried to keep the kids somewhat civil all day with owl pellets, spider math, Halloween stories, class party and Halloween costume parade. So relieved when the bell rang at 2:55. I stayed at school with the doors closed until 5:00 just so I wasn't bothered and could get some work done. When Garth came home we decided to go to Price to pick up stuff at Wal-mart. We didn't have to go to the carnival, so that was bitter-sweet. No little spooks at our house at all. Sure missed seeing the grandkids in their costumes. Hope they all had fun!

I have one question: Where did the month of October go? I was making my lesson plans for last week and it hit me so hard that I had almost forgotten about the owl pellets! So we spent Friday morning with the remains of owls lunches. But this year the kids couldn't have cared less. They just weren't interested at all. It is an odd group. Kids are usually into the pellets so intently for hours. This year after 20 minutes they were asking if they could throw them away. What a group!

So, here is it Saturday morning, Garth is gone to Castle Service and I need to get busy getting some cleaning done. He informed me where the vacumn is so I guess I need to use it, darn it anyway. And we bought a new shower liner so I guess that means I need to clean up the bathroom. And the kitchen, and more laundry soap means the laundry can be done. I think I will do it at 4:00 while we watch the BYU football game and the UofU game after that. We will be hermits living in the basement tonight. Just fine with me, watching the football games, the washer going, crocheting on the alter cloths (I finally found a pattern I kind of like), and just doing nothing. But, hey, I deserve it!