The California Duncans

Uncle Andy sent me two pictures this week.  One is a critter that showed up in their yard and the other one is Caleb showing the mark on a tree they saw on a hike which showed  how high the flooding was last year.  

Gratitude!

Granddad

 100 Years Old

Happy Birthday Lexy!

 24 Years Old

Gratitude!

 

What do you do?

 In Illinois after a storm and don't feel like walking?  You slide!

In Arizona after you got caught in a storm on the way home from school and are freezing!  You take a hot bath with a lot of rubber duckies!

Ruth's Plaque

 

Gratitude!

 Gratitude brings warmth to the giver

and the receiver alike.

Robert D. Hales

My Favorite Family Picture

In going through some picture recently I came across a picture that I loved.  Thanks to a photographer who took our family picture showing the challenges of getting little ones ready for the picture.  There was a newsman who use to say "and this is the rest of the story."  I would title this "and this is the real story."  Family pictures are always fun but when you have little ones there is a lot that goes into making it camera ready.  I wanted to share this with the before and after.  

Happy Birthday Owen!

 26 Years Old

Happy Birthday Jeremy!

 17 Years Old

Gratitude!

 "Gratitude is the most beauitful way to express all that's in your heart with just two words,,,Thank You!"

Katrina Mayer

Italy

Stone Roberts my great nephew is serving a mission in Italy.  He sent these pictures today.  

Thank you Aunt Becky!

Flat Stanley was so happy to be home but had a great time visiting the Illinois Duncan's.  He is home to stay but has had so many great adventures these past years.  He was in California and enjoyed a trip to Disneyland.  In New Hampshire where he learned about indexing probate records and seeing all the amazing sights of New England.  In Fargo for his first visit to see the North Dakota Duncan's and had such a great time that he went back to see their new house and explore the area around Illinois.  He had a great time and is now ready to rest and just hang out with Graham.  Thanks Aunt Becky for making him feel so welcome!

Friends

I love being around so many nice people.  I mentioned to a friend that I had been in the hospital because of a kidney stone and she said that her husband had a terrible time with those until a doctor told him to drink 1/4 cup of pure lemon juice each morning.  He started drinking it and since then never had another kidney stone.  I said I would get some and try it.  The next day I had been gone and that evening when I got home there was a big bottle of lemon juice on my door step.  I drank my first lemon juice this morning and it wasn't bad!

Ava's Winter Formal

 

Good News--I Was Sick!

I spent most of Saturday feeling sick but not sure what it was.  I first thought that I had hurt myself while hanging pictures and going up and down the step ladder to many times to adjust and readjust.  By bedtime I was really feeling terrible and finally at 11:30 I texted Uncle Christian and asked if he could come over and take me to the hospital emergency room.  I had taken some ibuprofen about 11.  Once at the hospital the pain was a 10 and I was shaking.  After blood work, urine samples, and an MRI the doctor came in and told me there was a small kidney stone that was working it's way through my body.  Pathetically, I was so glad that I was really sick!  So six hours later I was home and with the help of some medication the doctor prescribed I am definitely on the mend.  Hope this is the only drama my body produces but at least this time it wasn't nothing!  A special thanks to Uncle Christian who refused to leave me at the door and come back when I called him.  He is a gifted and kind caregiver.

New Wall!

One of the projects for the new year was to redo my family wall in my livingroom.  I finished it and I love how it turned out.  

Original Creation from Lexy!

 This is the shrimp cake Lexy made to celebrate Ellis turning 23!

Happy Birthday Ellis!

 23 Years Old

Happy Anniversary!

 Ben & Becky

27 Years

Gratitude!

 When some things go wrong,  

take a moment to be thankful

for the many things going right!

I Smiled

On Sunday I finished reading the Old Testament.  I had to smile as I got to the last chapter of Malachi because at the close of the verse in capital letters it said--THE END OF THE PROPHETS.  For the Old Testament that was true, but how grateful I am that in the New Testament we see the birth and ministry of the Savior and his call to humble men to be   Apostles and carry the work forward when the Savior was no longer among them.  And in the Book of Mormon another set of Prophets and Apostles we called to serve when the Savior visited the American continent.  And it has continued with the knowledge that God didn't shut the door and leave us without inspired counsel by a Prophet and Apostles to lead us in these latter-days.  How grateful and I am that we are still being lead by President Russell M. Nelson who leads all of us to be better and do better.  Along with him we are given additional guidance to follow from apostles called to serve with President Nelson.  How grateful I am that we have not come to the end of the prophets!

Piano Recital

Caleb and Ava had their Christmas piano recital.  Uncle Andy said they did a great job.  They are both very accompliashed pianists and all their practice has paid off.  After the recital they went out for dinner and a special guest joined them!

Love These Guys!

While in Utah Uncle Andy, who has been called to serve as a High Councilman in California was able to be ordained as a High Priest by Perry.  He and Uncle Bill were able to lay their hands on Uncle Andy's head to perform the ordinance together. 

Winter Visit

The California Duncan's visited family in Utah the week after Christmas.  

Fear Not--I am with Thee!

This  year I had the opportunity to read the New Testament, twice and the Book of Mormon, twice.  When I finished I decided I needed to read the Old Testament.  Believe me it isn't the first time that I read the Old Testament and I would be lying if I said my mind didn't occasionally wander but I made a commitment to myself to read it again and I am so glad I did.  It must be my age because I kept breaking out in song with all the references in the scriptures that have become wonderful hymns that we often sing.  For me the greatest reminder I received was that God is in charge and He means business.  His love is most manifest in the sacrifice of His Son and our Savior so that we can again come in His presence.  As I read Job this time I was so touched by Job's testimony.  Oh to be so strong!  Each story I read I felt like there was a clarity that I had never experienced before.  Maybe reading the Book of Mormon and the New Testament twice made that happen!  I think the greatest thing that continually ran through my mind is the knowledge that we don't need to panic no matter what is ahead because our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ said to each of us--Fear Not, I am with Thee!

New Year's Resolution

Happy New Year!  I am so excited to begin again an exciting new year full of opportunities and adventures.  I put away my year end notebook of goals that I worked on through the last year and spent yesterday preparing my 2024 notebook that I hope to fill with wonderful things.  My theme (thanks to Annt Angela!) is to Cultivate Connections with the Savior, Family, Friends, and the Community.   I added one more section to my goals for the year--Acknowledgeing and and Expressing Gratitude.  Each night before I get ready to say my evening prayers I will list the things that happened that day that I am grateful for.  All morning the thoughts of things I'm grateful for have come to my mind.  I suspect my challenge will be narrowing my list!  

Elder Wirthlin taught, "Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things, like the scent of rain, the taste of your favorite food, or the sound of your loved one's voice."  I agree completely and hope that I am able to recognize the most simple to the most exceptional experiences I have each day.  I have been saving quotes on Pinterst and plan to share one of them each week to help all of us remember the importance of gratitude.  

I would also like to invite each of you to join me this year in recognizing gratitude.  In thanking those around us that provide love, support and service.  I learned much about kindness when I cared for Grandpa and came to recognize that even the smallest recognition from others in talking with Grandpa or me made all the difference in my life.   We are living in difficult times with much uncertainty but we never can forget that Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ know the ending and that knowledge should be worth celebrating each day.  How grateful I am for each of you, for the gospel that has always made my life better, and for the opportunities to help others feel loved and needed.