December 31, 2023

2023

Ending far better than it began. 

Lots happened. Good things. Hard things. Always always relying on my Savior Jesus Christ.

Thankful for the many many good things. 

Thankful for the support in all the hard things. 

Indexing final tally: 16430

Review final tally:    23,773

Now on to 2024.

        

Week of December 24 - December 30, 2023

Spiritual

Sunday was our Christmas Eve program at church. Primary sang two songs and the choir (I was in) sang three songs. Very nice program!!

Dad was able to attend the temple this week late Thursday evening. 

My daily morning foundation of General Conference talk(s), prayer, scripture study and Come Follow Me study continues each day. 

I have indexed 16,317 records and reviewed 23,736 records so far this year.

Family

The Wilkins Family

The Wilkins had a great Christmas and we enjoyed watching them open stockings on Marco Polo. 

The Ethan Rice Family

Ethan and Cameo got a new Christmas Tree at a great discount and the kids enjoyed decorating it. 

On Christmas Eve, they went to church with some friends. Christmas Eve church is the best!!

We spoke with them via Facetime on Sunday night as they decorated a gingerbread train and a gingerbread house. They also Facetimed on Christmas Morning and we watched them open gifts and they watched us. 

Happy Birthday, Kaylee on Tuesday. She had a great day, a wonderful birthday party and a sleepover with a couple of friends. 

The Doran Rice Family

Doran, Amber and family spent last Saturday evening viewing the lights at the Mesa Arizona temple. 

Morgan

Morgan was sick this week and stayed in bed. 

Kayty

Kayty had a good work week and got off early on Friday. 

1 major low on Christmas morning. 

The Nathan Rice Family

We Facetimed with Nathan, Jessica, and their family on Sunday as they opened their stocking gifts. Also, we chatted with Nathan on Christmas Day as they were on their way to a park to play while dinner finished. Work is going well and he is doing great. I received the most darling Christmas Card and a gift from the family. That family artwork is framable. 

Dad's Garden

Garden is doing well. Lots of radishes, chard, romaine and collards are being harvested. We also got our first snow peas this week. 

 

Other highlights

Best Christmas Gift??? Talking to every single one of our precious six children on Christmas Day. There was nothing anywhere better than that!!!

I was walking out to my hut on Tuesday, and i saw a snakey face staring at my right by the door. After very loud and unheard screaming, I went and got dad. He removed the nasty thing...nearly five feet long and obviously full of at least two small rodents. I am surprised the screams were not heard by all of you! It returned again on Friday! 

I have discussed it with dad and if that thing returns yet again, he will be soon meeting Satan!

By Friday, I had all the Christmas decorations down and put away. Love everything up. Love everything put away. 

Week of December 17 - December 23, 2023

Spiritual

Sacrament Meeting was great. Two missionaries spoke about their missionary service: a sister in Brazil and an elder in Ohio. 

We were not able to attend the temple this week. 

My daily morning foundation of General Conference talk(s), prayer, scripture study, and Come Follow Me study continues each day. 

I have indexed 15,914 records and reviewed 23,479 records so far this year.

Family

The Wilkins Family

Busy Christmas preparations are underway. Allison planned a wonderful party for her second graders with gingerbread house decorating, ornaments, and good treats. She is completing one more class for this semester of her teaching certificate program. Mike continues to work extra hours at Amazon. Adam is still working at the theater and really likes it. Grace completed her first college semester. She is most happy about not riding the city bus home at the end of the day. She will need to write a book someday about her adventures. She enjoyed getting together with friends and spending the night. Josh is doing great and is busy and active as ever. Sam is the sweetest and is looking forward to visiting with Santa at Bass Pro Shop this coming week. They have great plans to accomplish some family traditions including lights in Boulder and the Giving Machine. All are excited for time off school and the upcoming holiday. 

The Ethan Rice Family

Cameo shared:

Been meaning to post about the really awesome Christmas concert that we attended last weekend. We first met for dinner right next to the Atlanta Braves stadium. After dinner, we all headed on over to the concert. They had a live orchestra, and singers and dancers of all ages. Lots of talent.

Everyone in Georgia is excited for Christmas to come. 

The Doran Rice Family

We were blessed to be able to go and see Koopers Christmas Concert at school this week. He did a great job. 

They went and saw Christmas Lights at the Mesa Arizona Temple on Saturday night. 

Morgan

Morgan is doing well. He is working for a diesel mechanic so they have been permitted to park their "home" on the property. This saves them 30 miles of driving each day. 

Kayty

Kayty had a good few days at work. She baked and decorated some lovely snowflake cookies and gave them to her coworkers. She was off the rest of the week. 

The Nathan Rice Family

Happy Birthday to Eve on Friday. We even got a brief surprise facetime call from Eve herself on Saturday morning. She kept saying Hi and I told her she was the birthday girl. 

Dad's Garden

Radishes are still plentiful. Dad has been squeezing lime juice like crazy. Collards are growing and Dad spent time turning under another garden bed for the tomatoes to be planted later. 

Other highlights

I visited Mom on Wednesday. She is doing the same. One of her caregivers had painted her fingernails. 

Week of December 10 - December 16, 2023

Spiritual

We enjoyed learning about two new members of our ward this Sunday. Primary went well and we had a great singing practice for the kids. Choir was enjoyable. 

Dad was able to attend the temple on Friday evening this week. 

My daily morning foundation of General Conference talk(s), prayer, scripture study and Come Follow Me study continues daily. 

I have indexed 15,738 records and reviewed 23,230 records so far this year.

Family

The Wilkins Family

The Wilkins Family had a good week. All were busy with work and the last week of school before Christmas break. 

The Ethan Rice Family

Happy Birthday Ethan on Wednesday!

His day included presents, a wonderful tomato round steak dinner with family and this lovely birthday cake. 

Here are some pics from last weekend's Canton Christmas Parade.

The Doran Rice Family

Here are some pics from this family's Vegas Christmas Adventure last week. 

Morgan

No news from Morgan this week.

Kayty

Kayty had a good week at work and enjoyed a company party on site on Friday afternoon. 

The Nathan Rice Family

I was able to FaceTime with the girls this week. They told me about their elf, Rosie's adventures and the treat she shared this week. They are so excited to have this be the last week of their school and co-op for 2023. 

Dad's Garden

We continue to harvest radishes, chard, collards and spinach from our garden. Chickens have been pretty good at laying eggs and we get 4 or 5 a day. 

 

Other highlights

Watched a few more Christmas movies this week. All packages were mailed and delivered and gift money was sent out. 

Week of December 3 - December 9, 2023

Spiritual

It was a wonderful Sunday. Fast and Testimony Meeting was full of inspiring shared testimonies. Primary music went overtime, so I didn't get to teach the lesson I had prepared but our chorister taught them the message while teaching them music so it was wonderful! Dorrie came by for a visit and we later watched the First Presidency Christmas Broadcast. 

Dad was able to attend the temple on Thursday evening. 

My daily morning foundation of General Conference talk(s), prayer, scripture study and Come Follow Me study continues each day. 

I have indexed 15,602 records and reviewed 23,075 records so far this year.

Family

The Wilkins Family

The Wilkins Family is doing well. Mike has been blessed with extra work hours which is always welcome at Christmas. Allison passed her exam for teaching and is progressing toward her degree. She has the house decorated for Christmas and it looks lovely! Adam continues working at his job. Grace is doing well in school. She is preparing for a debate at school on homework and its value. She has to prepare both sides of the debate since she will only find out which side she will take on the day of the debate. She got her graduation date: May 21. Joshua had a great birthday. He had his favorite Capn Crunch cereal for breakfast. For dinner, Mike grilled steaks and they had masked potatoes and cheesecake for his birthday celebration. Sam is a very busy guy. He has two parts in his school's performance of "Annie". He likes the student council a lot. He is still waiting for his baritone to be repaired. They had a wonderful ward Christmas party with yummy food and great entertainment, including a hilarious number by the youth, of which Grace was one of the principal performers. 

The Ethan Rice Family

Kaylee and the new rabbit, Oreo, are growing in friendship. Wade is beginning to feel better after a rough weekend with a stomach bug. Unfortunately, Ethan and Kaylee were his with the same bug and Wade just didn't feel totally well, so Cameo took him to the doctor and strep was the diagnosis. Antibiotics worked wonders and he was able to take his cupcakes to school to celebrate with his classmates. Kaylee had a field trip Friday to watch a high school choir performance and on Saturday, she was scheduled to participate in a parade but it was decided they shouldn't. They did watch the parade later. 

The Doran Rice Family

Doran, Amber and the kids headed for a weekend in Vegas on Friday.

Morgan

Morgan is enjoying working for a mechanic. 

Kayty

Kayty had a good work week. Sold a few bracelets in her evening shows too. 

The Nathan Rice Family

The girls are wonderful to share with me where their elf, Rosie, is. She brought four chocolate Santas on Sunday, and she has spent the week hiding and watching. 

Dad's Garden

Harvesting continues of basil, radishes, romaine, collards, and chard. Dad's tomato seeds are sprouting. 

 

Other highlights

Dad has hurt his back and knee, so we took advantage of a few quiet evenings and watched Elf, and The Santa Clause 1 and 2. 

Lots of tomatoes from Market on the Move meant two days of dehydrating and processing tomatoes. I have four batches of tomato soup base in the freezer and he has new bottles of his favorite barbeque sauce. 

Week of November 26 - December 2, 2023

Spiritual

We heard two very good talks from new ward members on Sunday. We also enjoyed a wonderful solo by our former primary president. Primary was all music as we learned a Christmas song we will sing on Christmas Eve. This new presidency had allowed for many children to be out of town for Thanksgiving...and many were. However, my class had every single child there. It was rather long for them to sit and pay attention. 

We were able to attend the temple this week. I attended a session on Tuesday morning and Dad attended a session on Saturday afternoon.

My daily morning foundation of General Conference talk(s), prayer, scripture study and Come Follow Me study continues each day. 

I have indexed 15,472 records and reviewed 22,917 records so far this year.

Family

The Wilkins Family

Happy Birthday, Joshua on Friday. This was a busy week with school and work. Josh celebrated his birthday on Friday.

The Ethan Rice Family

Happy Birthday, Wade, on Friday. Wade was awakened early birthday morning with tummy troubles and a fever that lasted his entire birthday. Still he was able to enjoy opening gifts and hopefully he is able to someday eat his birthday cupcake. 

On Friday, Kaylee's beloved rabbit, Lola, passed away. She had been so many places camping with them and was such a good friend. They held a funeral for her on Saturday.

 Now Oreo, joined their family. 

The Doran Rice Family

Doran, Amber, Kelsie, and Kooper had a good week at work and at school.

Morgan

Morgan and Cassie are doing well. Work at holiday time is a struggle, but Morgan has taken on an additional position at an auto shop. They are staying warm and dry and like their new location in Northern Arizona. They even built a snowman on Saturday morning. 

Kayty

Kayty had a good week at work. Jewelry sales have been slow but it seems the entire sales group is selling little product. 

The Nathan Rice Family

The girls called on Friday. They have been sharing their elf, Rosie's adventures. They were heading out to co-op but shared that last Saturday they spent the day putting lights on their home for Christmas. 

Dad's Garden

Harvesting of chard, romaine, and radishes continues. Dad is readying to plant seeds for next year indoors. 

 

Other highlights

Nice rain early Friday morning. 

Our neighbors have done it again this Christmas...