December activities.....

We have been working at the Bishop's Storehouse for four months now and they always have lots of extra pallets.  I saw a picture of how to make these Christmas trees out of wooden pallets and put Jim to work.  I think they turned out perfectly!

 Every year, Boerne has a fundraiser for the Hill Country Family Services, supporting those in need.
This year, I made some fabric Christmas boxes and filled with Christmas candy. I was going to make more, but the funeral slowed me down.

 This shows a picture of the room where items were sold.  My boxes were a big hit apparently because they sold out in less than two hours!!  Next year, I need to make more.

 This is a wall hanging I have been working on for a while in between trips and making other gifts.

This little tree ornament was made as a gift. It is the first time I have followed a video for how to embroider completely in one hoop.  I was pleased, but it took a lot of time.

 I called this quilt my "practice" quilt as it is the first one I quilted on my new long arm.
I gave it to this couple, Elayne and Jay, who are serving a mission at Lackland AF Base and are good friends.
I told them not to examine too closely as I was learning.  They still liked it!

For FHE in December, we went to the caroling at Natural Bridge Caverns.  It was wonderful to hear the singing inside the caverns.  

 The guys being goofy!

 We took a hayride through a pathway that had various light displays with free s'mores and hot chocolate afterwards. We had a wonderful night!

Jim celebrated his 70th birthday and the friends next door showed up with this decorated walker, as he was talking about using one after he hit 70 years old!!

Christmas eve, after serving in the storehouse, we went to Kathy's house and had a wonderful luncheon and celebration with all of Kathy & Hoyt's children and grandchildren.

 Camden and Eric came for Jim's birthday and Christmas.  They were Santa's helpers handing out presents after church and our traditional waffle breakfast.  I loved their Christmas sweaters!

We invited a friend who volunteers at the storehouse to share Christmas with us as he could not get leave until after Christmas.
We had a super holiday season!!

November activities...lots of events

We stated the month of November with a visit to our mission friends in San Diego.

We attended the Marine Corps Ball with everyone we had served with at MCRD.

 We also had several other very wonderful experiences while we were there.  We attended the sealing of one of our marines to his wife and child.  It meant so much to us to be able to share their special day.

 While in San Diego, I received a text message from the marine above sharing his testimony of praying to know that Heavenly Father was aware of him and how he felt Jim and I showing up in his line at the grocery store and talking to him about the church at MCRD was Heavenly Father's way of letting him know He was aware of him.  He was stationed at Camp Pendleton and we were able to get together and catch up over dinner.

 We spent Veteran's Day morning with President Jon Schmitt and his wife Sister Alexis Schmitt.  It was so great to see them.

 We attended the LDS graduates reception and I took this picture of Brother Bullick looking at Jim.
I love it!
He was standing at attention while the new Marines were singing the Marine Corps hymn.

Unfortunately, while we were in San Diego enjoying our visit, I received word that my youngest sister, Lisa, was found dead in her apartment on November 9th, two days after my Dad turned 87.  We headed home one day early and quickly turned around and flew to New Jersey for the funeral.

 Cindy (my other sister) really had a hard time as she and my father had to arrange the funeral, etc.
I did the program and helped as much as I could.  The picture below is Dad with Brother Jones, his stake president, as well as his friend.

 Dad and my brother, Dan at the graveyard.  Lisa is buried near, my stepmother, Jane and my step-sister, Laurie.

 Betsi, my step-sister who lives with Dad and has helped him so much after the death of her mother.

My brother, Tim and his girlfriend, Kathy.
I was so thankful for the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and the blessing of a belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 Amy came up to New Jersey from Maryland and her children were so good as she helped and was supportive.  Some even sang, "I am a Child of God" at the funeral service.  My Dad said that watching his great grandchildren sing made him cry.


 Dad really enjoyed explaining his various
inventions and projects with Amy, Jim and
the great grandchildren.

My dear friend Elayne brought me the sweet
sister statue.  It is so lovely.


















Next was Thanksgiving.
Becky and family came to share the holiday with us.

Becky had a special art event on the same weekend.

We also went to Dickens on the Main in Boerne and the grandchildren had a good time winning prizes and petting animals.

Playing catch up with the blog...

I am so excited to go to the Houston Quilt show this year, I had to create a shirt to wear!!

 I also made a new shirt for my Dad, who had another one just like it but wore it so much that it had holes.  Dan (my brother) also mentioned he would like one too.  I hardly ever get to see Dan, but he was such a big help with our reunion this summer and I was very happy to make something for him as a thank you.

 My friend, Elayne who is serving a mission here with her husband, loves Halloween.  I got this great embroidery pattern for a haunted house and created a little something for her.  She can use it for a fall/thanksgiving centerpiece after Halloween is over because the backing fabric is fall pumpkins!

I had fun making some more snowflake ornaments and soon will try some other colors, just for fun!

Elayne and Jay came for a visit to the Bishop's storehouse where we are serving once again and what a surprise, it turns out they went to school with LaRee (her and her husband are the managers) in Utah and are old friends! Small world!

While Elayne and Jay are serving here, they wanted to see the Texas beach, so we went for three days to Corpus Christi.  We had a wonderful time collecting shells, eating good food and giving them the tour of the area.

 Foxy came too, but was not a fan of the wig!!!  She loved running on the beach! It was her favorite!

We also took a quick trip to Arkansas to take some furniture to Becky and Cameron.  While it was a long drive, we loved spending time with them and the grand children!!

 Becky has a studio now!
 It is so nice for her to be able to paint whenever the kids are in school or Moms day out..  She hopes to be able to set up a place to have live models for her paintings.

Of course we had fun shopping for the little princess who was destined to be a Rat for Halloween.
We loved buying her a cute little costume and were excited to see her in it.

 Mom and Dad love putting the boys Legos together too!!

 The boys were so proud of finishing them.

There is a funny story about Noelle and her spider.  She is fascinated by spider pictures, so we bought one home from our shopping trip.
Cameron immediately set up a way that the spider would drop on Becky's head when she came home.
It worked!!  She screamed and he was so pleased with his own accomplishment :-)

He did it to the kids, but they were not surprised by it and knew it was just one of Dad's tricks :-)