February 2007 Newsletter

Here are a couple of pictures of my older brother, Greg. He was killed at 21 in Viet Nam on February 18, 1971 - the first deep sorrow of my life - I was 18 and a freshman at BYU at the time. I've devoted most of our Feb. Newsletter to sharing some of my memories of him and more pictures. In this first one, he's 6 years old and the other one is how I remember him best.

Welcome!

Welcome to Katie and Mandy (our newest bloggers in the family)! I followed Rheanna's lead and added the family blog links (I labeled them by the wives' names, since I haven't seen any male involvement in the blogging so far). We are in the deep freeze here in East Dover. It was 17 below this morning! Thankfully no wind.

Dad went for a wlk and I should have too, but I opted to stay in where it's warm. Here's a summery picture for you. This was taken in July of 2004. I call it "Breakfast on the Porch" makes me anxious for summer to arrive!

Morning Surprise

What a difference this morning! We were surprised to find a winter wonderland out sour window - the weatherman hadn't predicted it. This is taken from our porch looking down toward Gram's.


Here's the chicken house with the new addition Dad put on this fall. The chickens now have 3 windows on the south side so they have solar heat on sunny winter days. I know you can't see much of it, but I didn't want to leave the porch and get my feet wet. :)

Here's Dad leaving for the Church to give a Patriarchal Blessing this morning. That's his new phone behind him on the wall. It came with 2 additional handsets, so now we have one in the living room and one in our bedroom - very nice.

Have a great January 8th, everyone!

Thank you Mr. Goose!

Dad gave me a down comforter for Christmas. It is so light yet so warm and cozy - we only need it and a sheet - no other blankets. I am amazed because we don't heat out bedroom at all. I need to make or buy a duvet to protect it. It is wonderful!

a winter afternoon

It is unseasonably warm in Maine this winter and we've had very little snow - not like the west. Ammon has been shoveling like crazy in Colorado and even built an igloo and slept in it one night. Justin says they have more snow than usual where he is in Utah and Spencer has probably had his fill of driving through blizzards and flipping trucks and such. But here we have bare pavement on the roads - just icy driveways. Dad is giving a blessing this afternoon and I have been searching for women's arrangements of LDS music online for an upcoming stake enrichment meeting - any ideas? We have been feeling the need to organize and sort through our belongings in preparation for serving a mission next fall - it's a big job, but we have made a start. Gram is feeling better. At least she went to Church today, but she said on the way home that she was feeling worn out and was going to take a nap. We had a very small turn-out at Church today. Last Sunday only 55 came and there were even less today. Hope Page told me today that they plan to move to Arizona in 10 years - mostly for Steve's health. Makes me wonder if the Church is ever going to really grow in Maine - so many move west. Bob and Rosa-Lee's call to our home mission makes me suspect it will be the same for us, but maybe not. We'll go wherever called.

Justin and Rheanna's family have already bought their plane tickets for next summer. They fly into Boston late on July 24 and fly back to SLC on Aug 7th. We are sure looking forward to having everyone together. Todd and Katie are planning to drive and so are Susannah and Dade. No word yet on the rest. Dad's already thinking of putting some extra beds in the basement, but maybe tents would be better. Some can sleep at Gram's. We'll figure it out. We can set up 3 tables in the dining room. It will be great fun. Talk to you all soon.