Happy Birthday Meg!

 25 Years Old

Thanksgiving in Jordan

I don't know if they had turkey at their Thanksgiving get-together with the other BYU students.  But I'm sure whatever Lexy and Ellis contributed it would have been good.  The big news for their Thanksgiving was the celebration and recognition for completing the work he went there to do.  Good job Ellis!  Now they are heading to Morocco and then to Spain since going to Israel was no longer an option.

 

Thanksgiving in Mexico!

Wait--there is no Thanksgiving in Mexico.  But from what Ruth told her mom when she called  home on Monday she was extremely thankful for the sister missionaries who are serving with her in the area.  Ruth's apartment still has no electricity so they are staying with the other missionaries in their apartment.  She told her mom that she got seriously ill with a bad headache, then a high fever and chills, followed by vomiting and (you can probably figure that one out).  She was seriously sick and much of the time unaware of what was happening.  But she said that each of the sisters took turns sitting by her bed and wiped her face and kept cool rags on her until the fever broke.  She loves them so much and it seems that  they feel the same about her.

Ava

Ava was able to finish out the football season at a band and color guard competition.  Previous to this competition her color guard team earned first place at an area competition.  While Perry was visiting he was able to watch her when they competed state wide in Sacramento.  Her guard earned third place in the state competition.  In the Spring she will be finishing up her time in high school with a final set of competitions before she graduates.  Way to go Ava!

The California Duncan's

Perry took a 15 hour train trip to California (I don't think he will do it again😊) He went the Friday before Thanksgiving and was able to see Ava's final competition, visit the zoo and Folsom's Prison.  He got to visit with his Nana and Papa and spent the rest of the time on a California adventure with his parents, Caleb, and Ava.  Uncle Andy wrote; "For our thanksgiving weekend we did a little traveling. It was fun to have Perry with us too. We went to Pinnacles National Park and did some hiking and cave exploring. I saw a California Condor. We stayed in a cabin at a nearby campground and I saw some some good birds there but also some feral pigs and some deer. We headed up to see the mission at San Juan Bautista and toured that and some other historical buildings in the area. We drove through Salinas and I saw John Steinbeck's childhood home. Then we went south to San Luis Obispo and Pismo beach where we saw the monarch butterfly migration (this time with actual monarch butterflies)."

Thanksgiving at the Illinois Duncans

Everyone was home for Thanksgiving.  A special treat was Aunt Becky's mother and brother were able to come for a visit.  All the family together--can't get any better than that!

Cello Recital

                   Jane performed with other cello students tonight.                                     There was some beautiful music being made.         Especially by Jane!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I love every holiday but Thanksgiving is my favorite.  I thought I had an extra week but at a recent meeting I found that it had crept up on me so I got busy.  Between Halloween and Christmas it definitely gets overlooked but it is a wonderful time to remember what great blessings we each have.  I loved the turkey wreath I made.  

I Tried to Warn Him

You may not believe this but Duncan can eat like no other!  I thought you may like to see an updated picture of this kid with the voracious appetite.   

The Last Book Club

Eden and her friends came together for their last book club.  The book was A Little Princess.  Eden planned the menu with her mom.  They wanted to imitate a part in the book where she gets a surprise from next door.  Much like the Shirley Temple version of the story.  So they had a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, make your own yogurt parfait, hash browns, and hot chocolate.  On their chairs was a pair of pink slippers for each girl as a gift from Eden and they got a gift bag to take home.  They were all so excited and loved the book.  Eden came up with questions to ask about the story and they found the question under their plates at the table.  Eden asked her mom if they could do book club next year but Aunt Amy said no.  It was definitely a labor of love and one I think the girls will remember in years to come!

Happy Birthday Evangeline!

 25 Years Old

She's Arrived!

 Ruth is now in Mexico at the mission home before she goes to her new area.  All is well so far.  On the plane she was the only Sister with five Elders.  The other Sisters took another flight and by the time her Visa came there were no more seats on the plane.  She was well  taken care of and got to call home and let her parents know she was in her mission now.  She found out she will be with two others sisters in the area she is serving in.  She loves her new Mission President and his wife.

Grandma Update!

 I would be unstoppable if 

only I could get started!

Proud Moment

Today I saw something that absolutely took my breath away.  I pick up Duncan each day from his school in Phoenix.  It has been one of the nicest part of my day and I have enjoyed the time he and I spend together during the drive home.  Duncan is unique and extremely loving and kind.  He is also full of energy and has a great imagination and a great sense of humor.  Most of you know that he has severe dyslexia and when he left Highland Park he was reading at a second grade level.  The change of schools where they actually worked to help Duncan learn to read and with the love and encouragement from his parents he has slowly moved forward in that struggle.  By the way--he is a math whiz!  When I was waiting out front of the school for him he came out of the gate reading a book!  He was so engaged that he bumped into a couple of people.  I didn't think I would ever see something that would mean so much but today that happened and it touched my heart.  Way to go Duncan!  

The book he was reading was a story about a Irish family in Nazi Germany who were actually spying for England.  It was interesting and Duncan can tell you all about it.

Where's Hermana Whitney?

I got this picture from Aunt Amy.  While in the MTC Ruth participated in the choir and on Tuesday Elder Uchtdorf came and spoke to the missionaries.  Someone took a picture of the choir and guess who was in it?  She was so excited be able to hear him speak and also to sing.  Tomorrow morning she flies out to begin her mission in Mexico.  

Jeremy

 Jeremy was able to participate in a special Jazz Festival with other students from his high school.  He and Peter have done a great job of adapting to their new high school in Illinois.