MERRY CHRISTMAS......

......from Randy and Jillyn. Our hearts are so full of gratitude that we can be here in Pine Valley together enjoying this season and thinking of all of our friends and loved ones that we would like to visit with but know we can't. I appreciate all the cards we've received and admire those that take the time and effort to do cards. I gave up a while ago but it really isn't because I don't like it, I do. It's one of my favorite parts of Christmas, staying in touch with friends past and present and family. No excuses here, I just didn't do it this year so here is our Christmas card and holiday wishes for you and your family.

"Love so easily understands, 

What you can see is the smallest part.

You don't need Christmas in your hands,

When you have Christmas in your hearts".

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One of our favorite family traditions is our Gingerbread House Contest hosted by JoEllen each year. She and her family make all the houses, sometimes up to 20 and not just graham crackers, real gingerbread and we gather and decorate. I love watching the kids' creativity and personalities come out in these works of art and I especially love the family togetherness and fun we have. JoEllen, in the words of my mother......."bless your heart". 

"May your days be merry and bright......."

Oh, what do you do in the winter time......

......when all the mountain is white.? Well, I like to sit by the fire, read, knit, crochet, listen to conference talks and podcasts on Alexa or Christmas music, but my most favorite thing is to follow the sun either on my deck or as it shines into my upper bedrooms most of the day. Mostly, I go outside and sit in it and read or crochet but there isn't a day go by that I don't feel gratitude for my surroundings and especially for this house that is my comforter. Now, Randy is having a bit harder time in this winter wonderland than I am and he finds it difficult to stay busy but I think he is learning to find things to do. I offered to teach him to crochet but he politely refused but he loves to go fishing with his buddies when they call and I know he is grateful for whatever "inside" work he can get but I think he's learning that I don't like to be on the go in the winter so the days are long for him. He looks forward to his mail runs each day. I love it here and especially when anyone ventures up to our high place in them mountains. (I forgot to mention that I think Randy likes removing snow with his two snow blowers).

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We love having visitors but not many venture up this way. We had Randy's family for Thanksgiving dinner and had a grand time. We had 16 around the table and lots of good food and fun. It was pretty snowy outside but didn't deter the kids from playing in it and enjoying the hot tub. I need to get a better picture.

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Spencer's family joined us on Friday for a snow day. They always find fun in the snow. The boys built a snow cave and Randy pulled the sled behind our atv..

 BTW.......Laynee is headed to Iceland with her traveling friends for another adventure.

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It's always a good time to throw a party and Lauri did just that. Joyce and I bought all our grandkids (even the boys) American Girl dolls.......why, you may ask? There are a lot of cheaper knock-offs. Well, when I was little, I loved dolls and got one most every year and sometimes got the same one twice with lots and lots of clothes so when Molly asked for and sincerely wanted an American Girl Doll, there was no question that grandma could do this.....but the others would need them too so Molly's could have some friends......

These are my childhood dolls. I am hoping that my kids will love their's as much as I love mine and my mom didn't get me any "knock-offs. They were Madame Alexander except for a few "Ginny" dolls that were kinda knock-offs of MA but I loved them. I can still remember the feelings I had when I got my dolls for Christmas and carried them with me everywhere. 

Christmas time is here and I'm sure the families with the littles are enjoying the season. We are enjoying it in a different way here in this winter wonderland but I am able to go to town and partakes of some of the activities the kids are in. I was at Legacy Elementary School to enjoy Lucy's show choir performance.......

I was very impressed with the staff and what I saw of the school and I can tell Lauri's kids are very happy here. Molly rode with me and proudly let me know that she has only been in the school for just a little while but she really knows her way around.
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AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

I can't leave this post without recording our fun girlfriend trip to Austin to visit Kathy. She was a wonderful hostess and showed us a lot.

 Every years this wonderful group of friends gets together somewhere to celebrate that we've been together for over 50 years, some of us longer. Phyllis, Stef and Shirlee Ann go back to neighborhood and primary days which is a really long time. This year Kathy hosted us in Austin and it was an amazing week-end. We visited Magnolia, The Alamo and most important, (picture bottom right) Kathy's 97 year old Veteran father and had a wonderful visit and loved listening to his stories.

 Met this little guy at a restaurant and had some fun pic ops. It was just a whole bunch of fun. San Diego next years. While I had to be gone that week-end, one of the most important events of Kyle's career took place and I had to miss it. The grand opening of Atwood Innovation Plaza but I loved seeing the support of his brother and sisters. We are all so very proud of Kyle. HERE is a link to learn more about it.

 I love my family.......no greater reward for parenthood than to see them do well and especially loved each other.

My parties then......

....always a Halloween theme with my neighbors and friends from school. This one is classic. Back: left to right: Charlene Gregerson, Marsha Milne, Verlene Blake, Phyllis Squire, Sandra Arslanian behind me, Ruth Ann Larson behind Stefinee Esplin, Laurel Steed behind Robyn Arslanian, Lorna Miles. Front row: Linda Adams (cousin) Joyce, Thelora Wilcox and Linda Iverson. I hated that my mom made me wear risque outfits (anything sleeveless fit in that category). Mom always threw great birthday parties.  

My parties now......

This is one holiday I despise but one tradition I absolutely love. Every year on Halloween aka my birthday I would have a spread of food on the table for my kids, their friends and the neighbors to stop in throughout the day, hopefully to have something nourishing (the kids) before the sugar overload. Then I moved away and the tradition stopped but I still love my birthday. Lauri threw a party for me last year and it was really fun and since I'm going to be absent on my special day, I invited my favorite people up here to party with me and tho' the day was cold, they came. We ate, played games and raked the leaves. My Halloween birthday will always be special to me and 46 years ago my birthday present was Kyle, born on October 28, brought home on my birthday.

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This year, Randy and I were in San Diego in a beautiful room that overlooked the bay. We traveled to be with Ashley and Stephen on their wedding day on Nov. 1.  We wanted to try an airbandb so we booked earlier but couldn't check in until the next day so we headed over to Vista California to which we thought was the Flying Mermaid airbandb..........

...winding through a very sketchy neighborhood in a very "run-down" part of town looking for said Flying Mermaid. We got to the address and found it, but it wasn't anything like we saw on their website....but we wanted to be good sports so we started to settle in. The room was a converted garage with 2 small windows, very nice and very clean but I don't like staying in the room all the time and this is how we found the grounds.....

 ....the bottom left pic is me sitting at the nice little chair where I would like to have enjoyed the sunset but greeting me was the Aquafina bottle filled not only with water but cigarette butts, oodles of them from the previous guest. Everything plantwise was dead and in the back was a nice sitting area also with green chairs they had been painted white and the paint was peeling from the many months of being exposed to the weather but I didn't want my pants to be exposed to the paint so I didn't sit.

The top picture is from the website and the bottom is reality.  Not bad, and I'm usually not picky but just not quite up to my standards and not very welcoming to say the least. We went back inside where it really was nice but honestly, I would have stayed awake all night waiting for the robbers to come but I could handle that I guess.....but deep down, it just isn't right to present your place one way and then have it be another so we called the agency.  She told us to call the host but I said I didn't want to for fear what he might come kill us so she called him and he called us right back and told us that it was the most highly rated place in all of southern California. Then I felt really bad and wondered if I was just being snooty but I really wasn't, honestly. Three nights in that place, I just couldn't do it. He asked us what we wanted and I suggested that before the next guests arrive that he remove the water bottle of cigs........then we asked for our money back. He said if we wouldn't give him a rating on line.....so we agreed and headed over to a nice hotel and spent three lovely days celebrating with family. 

Kaila and Steve were there and we drove a short distance to the beach and walked out on the pier to Ruby's Diner and had a great time visiting with them.

I do love the ocean but it's only a "I'm here to look at it, hear it, smell it" kinda gal but I don't necessarily need to get in it so it was a good day. Then the big day. Never have I been to a more joyful wedding than Stephen and Ashley.....oh, my - they were so happy and the event was a total blast from just hanging around and meeting family, even Ashley's birth mom and family to watching them walk down the isle, btw, we were all crying. It was just such a wonderful event that I'm glad I got to be a part of.

The food was delish, the dancing was fun and sending them off with a barrage of bubbles........well..

what more can I say. 

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Can't remember which day but we did take in the Mormon Battalion Historic Site...really fun and Randy did such a good job as a soldier......

Randy had never been in San Diego so I HAD to take him to Seaport Village where my family has made a lot of fun memories through the years.

We did what we came to do and had a great time so we headed out a day earlier than planned (I always love to get home) and enjoyed Randy's birthday on Sunday. Yes, he did get his cake and he did eat it too.  We are both on the tail end of our 60's.....we live life large here in Pine Valley and find joy in each day.

We arranged for the newleyweds to have this cute honeymoon cabin here in Pine Valley and have enjoyed visiting with them each day.  We sure love these two.

 May their new life be blessed with joy each day too.  This truly is a match made in Heaven.

It's good to be back in Pine Valley and Halloween went on without me and it looks like all the kids had a great time. Here are some shots I found online....

 That's it for now. Just a reminder to y'all.....be sure to CHOOSE JOY..

Off to Austin for some girlfriend time.....safe travels to all of us. 

Joy abounds....

this week as the beautiful colors slowly fade into piles of leaves on the property but each day finds me chasing the sun......

"The Message, the Meaning and the Multitude".

...and finding my perch to do my "procrastiknitting" for a few hours in the sun. Beautiful day today and so much peace fills my soul here in Pine Valley. I feel so blessed to call this home. This past week found me listening to the sessions of conference I missed because of the St. George Marathon on conference Saturday and I was surprised to see that it started out with everyone's favorite, especially mine, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Message, the Meaning and the Multitude" and this talk reiterated to me the importance of church attendance each Sunday and mingling with the saints to be refreshed and uplifted each week......BTW.....I SAW ELDER HOLLAND TODAY just being a normal person and shopping at Harmon's with a very black jacket and very dark sunglasses. He was all alone in the same isle I was in and I didn't want to make a big deal but I couldn't just pass him by so I said with a big smile on my face...."you really think you can hide behind those glasses?" He just smiled, shook my hand and said "you're looking well".  Made my day.  I'm sure they just want to be ordinary once in a while but these men are NOT ordinary. They are called of God to lead us and guide us through the "din and drumbeat of our days".  Sisters and brothers, through the incessant din and drumbeat of our day, may we strive to see Christ at the center of our lives, of our faith, and of our service. That is where true meaning lies. And if some days our vision is limited or our confidence has waned or our belief is being tested and refined—as surely it will be—may we then cry out the louder, “Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.”¹² I promise with apostolic fervor and prophetic conviction that He will hear you and will say, soon or late, “Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.”¹³ Welcome to general conference. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.   

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It's almost birthday time, My New Year......and I won't be here. I'm pleased that Lauri told me she would miss me but Halloween is steeped in tradition in the Wells Fam so I'm going to celebrate early for my family with witches brew and the whole nine yards. This is one of my favorite traditions and we did it at Lauri's last year but this year, it's here in Pine Valley......

....we will be headed to Southern California for Randy's daughter's wedding and we are so very thrilled about it. Stephen is a really special guy and after all these years of being a single mom raising a kid, she has found gold and we are excited to go celebrate with her.

Congrats to Ashley and Stephen......family is what it's all about.

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Speaking of family, for the books and memories I want to post about the Wells' Family Reunion this past summer. Nancy, Rachel and the northern Wellses did a great job and kept us hoppin' for a couple of days. We began by meeting at the Provo City Temple where the adults did sealings and the kids did baptisms. So special to be in the sealing room with Scott's brothers and their wives and families. 

Then lots of great food and laughter at Rachel and Kevin's beautiful back yard.....lots of fun pics with the "Picture Treasure Hunt".......

.....tubing down the Provo River. Story.....I want to remember that as Randy and I were heading to the reunion, I caught a ride with Spencer as Randy was already up north and we were talking about the activities and I mentioned that I probably wouldn't be going to the temple and Spencer said "Mom....I'd like you in the temple" and so I went and was very glad I did and I told this story to my family and when it got time for the river tubing once again I was going to opt out until Kyle said..."if Spencer can say he wants you in the temple, I can say I'd like you to float the river with us"......and so I did.  These people we love have so much power over us, we do pretty much what they want us to. After the floating, we headed to a park and enjoyed some great food and a pie contest of which JoEllen won making our mom's lemon meringue pie recipe. Lots of good memories and so glad I married into this wonderful Wells Clan. We all had t-shirts with the Wells cattle brand and at the end, Greg and Nancy had hired someone to make the Wells brand and we all got to stamp it on a bread board.  I will post more pics as I find them.  Such a fun reunion.....guess we have to at least equal next year here in Pine Valley.

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Here's my beautiful home, pics taken on October 24, 2019.....very pretty.

 The evenings are so pretty here and the leaves are falling quickly getting ready for next season....

WINTER....We're ready.

 This what I've looked at this past month as I sit by my fire that Randy makes for me every morning....

This is taken off my upstairs deck.  Just can't get enough of this but it's about over.  

Marathon time.....

....is family time and maybe that's why I love it but I had 5 precious family members running this year and in past years I haven't put forth the effort to support but this year was the exception. I do love hosting the runners each year.......

...including the following: Jared, Mason, Mandy, Kyle, Laynee, Spencer and Mason's friends from South Jordan. It's fun to gather 'round the fire and feel of their angst and energy for the evening and then get up early and drive them to the line in Central and then head on to town to welcome them as they cross about the 24 mile point at Diagnonal (Janice's corner), snap a few pics, then head home to finish Conference.  I didn't try to go the finish line as the angst and energy of all the people there gets to me but I'm sorry I didn't.  I'll have to remember to put forth a little more effort next year. My people all finished with great times.....Kyle being the last but with not much training his athleticism carries him across the line a little over 4 hours.  He's been running since '91 taking a bit of a mid-life crisis rest but once you do it, you have to keep doing it, so they say. Every year I tell myself I'm going to train but it comes and goes and I can't even make myself get outside and walk. My watch reminds me to stand up every hour and that's about how often I have to go pee so I get credit for that and after each day, I've put in enough activity to close the red circle but the yellow exercise one seldom comes close to closure. Room for improvement is always good, right?

Here are my runners. Crazy kids but I always admire someone with passion and most of these people have it. This was Laynee's first because she's been in X-Country and her coach wouldn't let her but she did great, sore for 4 days but alive and well.  Love these runners of mine. Deep down I'm sure there's a runner in me, and that's where they get it......I wish.  I always say "I wish I wanted to run". This week-end led to a short family reunion. Mason is the only one that doesn't live here so when he comes to town, it's a party......thanks to Lauri, and pictures thanks to me. I know they hate it but I love it. Only missing George (missionary) but he was there in our hearts.

Love my grandkid line up.

I sure love this family of mine. Our one hour family reunions are the best....we eat, we talk, we laugh, we take pics then we go home. The best. Who says a family has to tolerate each other for a whole week.....not me.

We celebrated Mason's birthday and Matty got him this shirt because he refused to hug the last time they went to get their dental work done. Typical Mason but he's just hiding that sweet, generous heart that he shows everyone unless you are on his "Reasons Not to be Friends With You" list. We all love and laugh at his gruffness because we know it's just him hiding his vulnerability....and speaking of handsomeness.....Woody Harrelson look-a-like Russ, participated on Wall Street with his successful business.......Health Catalysts....and Mel Gibson look-a-like.......

.....Kyle was spotted at Orange Peel and the paparazzi took advantage of his cuteness. I saw a quote a while back that said.......

"No matter what life throws at me, at least I don't have ugly kids.......................... and I'm here to say, I have the cutest grand kids too, 20 of them and as enamored as I am with Pine Valley, all four seasons..................,

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my "enamoredness" spills over to my grandkids and these dollies. I was going to leave this for another post but why......I'm here and posting and nothing is in order because I procrastinated my summer away so here ya go with an amazing overdose of cuteness.

Molly wanted an American Girl doll.....so I got her one for her birthday and it was such a hit, the kids couldn't leave it alone so I decided "Lola" needed some friends so I got her some. They are having a blast and yesterday I even got Louis "Gabe". No pics yet but they really seem to love them. I loved dolls when I was a kid and I have all of them still. I told these kids that if they take care of them, their grandkids can enjoy them as I did. So here's to dolls....and tho they are not really dolls, I've been crocheting bears. The first one was in February when I was staying with Spencer's kids. I made one and Seth said "I want one"......I was quite surprised but I made him one and that started me making each grand child one for their birthday. I loved it because I was able to make it specifically for that child and it brought me loads of joy. When I started thinking too hard about it, it seemed "cheesy" but then I decided, it was more for me than them. I loved "making" something that would be unique and only from me.....so they each have a bear like this one to put on their shelf and hopefully remember a grandma that loves them "beary" much.

Then Max commissioned me to make him some "Gorbs"......which he sold for a buck to his friends. Soon everyone of them were putting in their orders. I love making stuff, and even more when the people I love want the stuff I make.

I'm making headway of capturing the summer. I'll head on to my crocheting, making scarves for my missionary, and more bears and blankets for the dolls. There's always something to do here in Pine Valley. I've been reading "My Dear Hamilton" and "Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties" and I've enjoyed Tad Callisters "A Case for the Book of Mormon" and Pres. Nelsons "Insights". More to come...........

Procrastination.....

....is my sin, it brings me endless sorrow. I really must stop doing it, in fact, I'll stop tomorrow. Well, it's today and here I am over 4 months (a whole summer) since I last blogged and so much of the summer stuff will be forgotten but I will remember some of the best. The very best.....as if I haven't said this before is living in Pine Valley. I have loved coming here all my life but I always had to go home. I could never call Pine Valley my home....but now I can and it gets sweeter every day.  I've gradually been able to let go of the negative voices in my head that "I'm not good enough for this place and that we can't take care of it like Spence and Josephine did" but I'm realizing that I'm taking care of it as good as I can and Randy is a great support and WE DON'T HAVE TO GO HOME. This is home. At first I needed everyone to love it as much as me....but now I don't. It doesn't matter but it sure brings a smile when I know this place brings a smile to someone. It's my place of peace and contentment almost to a fault. I don't like to stray too far from home. Lake Tahoe was nice and I'm grateful that we had the means to go there (a time share) but I was really anxious to get home.  I don't mind going to town but boy do I love heading back up that road. I'm most happy when I share my beautiful surroundings with family.....and I do know my grand kids love this place.

Lauri and James were having a gratitude lesson and this is what Louis is thankful for and I love it so much.  And part of what I love about it is that there are 4, yes you heard me, FOUR definite seasons and I love each one of them. Summer was so awesome and I will get to some of the fun we had but now it's Fall....and I'm having fun each day watching the leaves change color outside every window.

 These are some of the first color changes and we are high enough that ours change a bit before any of the trees down lower in the valley......

...and I love checking out my porch each day to see which ones have turned.  Randy painted the porch and it's so nice having it cleared out and looking nice and new. This is looking out my upstairs window.....today October 15 and 3:06 p.m.

The sun shines so bright on the yellow (the pic doesn't do it justice) and the sky is so blue....a perfect fall day and I get to be in the middle of it.

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Changing gears here for just a minute....we said goodbye to Randy's baby brother, Larry.  Monday night he had a terrible scooter accident and passed away from injuries. The funeral was wonderful and I was so proud of Randy and Tara for holding it together to give nice tributes to this fine man. He will be so missed by everyone.

He was the youngest of 6 and the first to go....not fair but haven't we all learned that life isn't fair and Larry would want you to..... "Look for something positive in every day, even if some days you have to look a little harder."   

Cute family: Josephine and Spencer - Mike, Randy, Jeff, Abby, Chris and Larry

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 Let me "leave" you this day with the most amazing sight in my front yard this day, October 15, 2019. I have so much to get caught up on but here's a little treat for ya today.....Fall overload for sure......