Hats, Hats, Hats!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This year for Christmas, our missionary, Lyle, sent us all these great hats from Madeira. We just had to pose with them on. We actually wore them when we went to look at Christmas lights one night. There is this great house that you have to get out of the car and walk around because it has so many neat things to see. The weather was freezing and our hats kept us nice and warm. Of course our jackets and gloves helped as well...
We spent the holiday with our kids, grandson, my parents, and my sister. We ate and ate and ate and we STILL have food around. We played almost all our new games - Pictionary, Don't Forget the Lyrics, Trivial Pursuit 80's, Beatles Monopoly - we napped, and we even sang some Christmas carols. We also revealed our Secret Santa's, a tradition we have been sharing with our neighbors, Geri and Kirk Clements and family, for about 7 or 8 years. We enjoyed the story of the birth of our Savior shared once again by our children and we marveled at the love and blessings we have. It has been a truly blessed year.

Elder Nelson turns 20.

Elder Nelson(Lyle) turned 20 on Nov. 28. He is currently serving on the island of Madeira and the missionaries in his area have been 'adopted' by a couple living there from Provo, Utah. Brother Chrisman sent me an email with this picture of Lyle on his birthday. The missionaries in his area gave him a surprise birthday party, the Chrisman's baked him a cake, and I am comforted knowing he was loved and appreciated on this most special day. I am so grateful I have a son who can serve the Lord faithfully and share the gospel with God's children. My life has been blessed because of my son's service. Thank you, Lyle. I love you!

It's December!! The lights are up on the house and we've decorated inside and out. Joshua is enjoying our yard display of the nativity. Christmas music is playing and there is just a wee bit more shopping to do before I can settle back and enjoy the season completely. I love this time of year. I love the smell of our Christmas tree in spite of the fact that it makes my eyes run and my throat itch (Ah, allergies!!!) and the sound of Bing Crosby singing my favorite carols. I love the games we play, the cookies we bake, decorating gingerbread houses, and doing Secret Santa's with our friends. But most of all I love celebrating the birth of our Savior and reflecting on the awesome love of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. My wish for this Christmas season is that we can all become a little closer to them and feel more completely the love they have for each of us. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Thanksgiving

It is that time of year again when we can look back and think of all the things we are thankful for. I have a friend, an older woman who is suffering from Alzheimer's, but she still has great wisdom. She is fond of saying " We have eyes to see with; ears to hear; fingers; toes; legs to walk on; a nose to smell with... I am thankful for these things. There is a God in Heaven who watches out for us. I am thankful for Him." I would like to echo my friend's sentiments; I too am thankful for these things and for my family. They are my rock and my comfort. I am especially thankful for a little surprise I got on Monday morning. Melanie came home for the holiday!! She was supposed to be in Utah, but she told everyone she was coming home... everyone except me!! What a joyous surprise and a great start to my week. Thanks Mel!!
Remember to be grateful...it makes life shine a little brighter.

Kari - Alumni Softball Game

I've added a picture from the Butte College alumni softball game. Former players come back to play the current team. The alumni took the current team into extra innings and then lost. (I should mention that the alumni team was ahead at the end of regulation but they wanted to keep playing because they were having so much fun.) Kari played well, scoring at least one run and made several great defensive plays.

Family Reunion

Family - what an awesome thing it is. We just finished the 10th Nelson Family Reunion and while some of our many members couldn't make it, those who were there had a grand time. I think spending time with family is the best thing in the world. Renewing friendships, remembering the past, and making new memories are just some of the things that are important about a family reunion. We Nelsons enjoy silly games, skits in a bag, talking 'til all hours around the campfire and lots of laughing. This reunion we celebrated 2 birthdays and had a baby shower. We talked about our sons who are serving missions and how proud we are of the choices they have made in their lives. We missed those who couldn't be there and hope to see them soon. When it was time to say good-bye, there were lots of hugs and talk of when we will see each other again and even a few tears because good-byes are always hard. There is so much joy to be found with family and I am blessed to have a great one. I love you all!!