So Many Blessings

With Thanksgiving just past and Christmas coming soon, I am feeling very thankful for so many blessings. We have had a really rough year with my cancer diagnosis, multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, losing my hair, missing lots of work, along with Gary's ailments, surgery, and other health problems. But through it all I have come to appreciate all of my many blessings that I sometimes take for granted. I have the most wonderful family in the world, who are always there for me, showing so much love, support, and setting such good examples. I live in a fantastic Ward that helps out whenever help is needed. I have a great job and friends that are so supportive. I am especially thankful for the gift of the Holy Ghost. He is always there to comfort me. In the hardest times I have felt cradled in the arms of the Lord. What a blessing that has been.

We have also had a lot of fun lately! Here are a bunch of pictures to show what we've been up to!

Sweet Lauryn turned 4 years old on July 30!

Cute Nolan turned 3 years old on September 2!

Nolan and Jason shared blowing out candles on a Birthday cake!

We had a wonderful time camping on Labor Day weekend!

Heather and Ethan looking kind of like twins. :o)

Connor and Lauryn having fun.

Going for a walk!

The rest of the walkers!

We had a really fun Tiffany Family Reunion that Jana & Max planned!

We made potato race cars to race on a Pinewood Derby track! Here is Sophiya's entry!

Granny and Gary getting ready to watch the races.

April, Ethan, and Gavin eating some snacks.

The Ward Halloween Party was lots of fun. The Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, and Rapunzel made an appearance!

Gary and I went to our 1970 Mesa High School Class Reunion. It was lots of fun to see old friends!

One of my best friends growing up, Mickey Williams, was there!

I turned 58 on November 17th. Mom made me a yummy German Chocolate cake!

Molly turned 4 on October 31! She had a fun Princess party in her backyard! Becky went all out with lots of amazing goodies!

Here's funny Nolan!

Crazy Marina and Lauryn!

Molly the Birthday Princess, Marina, Lauryn, and Nolan! So adorable!


We went to Utah for Thanksgiving to visit Tyler and Natalie. On the drive up we went through a rain storm, a sand storm, and a blizzard! Poor April had to drive through most of the blizzard! But she did a great job for never having driven on slippery roads before! We did have to stop and put on snow chains! And poor Gary had just had his hernia surgery a few days before. He ended up driving the last leg of the trip, because April and I had had enough!

This is just before the blizzard.

While we had to stop to wait for a car to be pulled back onto the road, I got out and threw a couple snowballs!


It was absolutely beautiful at Tyler and Natalie's house! Look at those gorgeous mountains! (but soooo cold!!) The kids had a ball building snowmen.

Everyone was amazed that you can really roll a snowball into a huge ball to make the snowmen! See the tracks in the yard!

Ethan decided to build a snowchicken! He's so creative! Hadley helped him finish it!

We went for a walk to a nearby park! It was probably 20 degrees out! Brrrrrrrrr!

Melissa, Blake, Brooke, and Tanner came for Thanksgiving dinner! It was fun to have them come down from Logan!

We had lots of good food, family, and fun!

Our last day there we went to Temple Square. This is the view from the top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

Another freezing day! But fun!

Gary and I in front of the Salt Lake Temple.

The kids in the Tabernacle.

Gavin, Hadley, Ethan, Cole, and Sophiya. A fun time was had by all!

I just had my last reconstruction surgery yesterday, and I'm feeling pretty good today! So many things to be thankful for!