I too really appreciate Clifford for being our big brother. He was the first to break the mold of the four girls, and we all welcomed him with open arms. He was Marvelle's boyfriend and we all loved him so. Then we found out that Clifford was going to be Marvelle's husband, and we all were thrilled. I remember the day they got married well. It was so exciting to not only have a boyfriend, but now he was going to be our brother-in-law. We all have had lots of fun with Clifford at the cabin, at their home, and whenever Clifford is around there is laughter and we all love him so. I marvel at Clifford the way he helps Marvelle in the house, at the office, and just goes along with anything Marvelle wants him to go along with. He is so accomodating. You were a hard act to follow. But Gayle, Dave and Ardell have modelled after you so much. They are all good husbands, and look after us four girls so well. Ardell says we are all a crazy bunch, but that is why he fits in so well with us all, he is crazy too.
Well I hope you get waited on hand and foot on this your special day, and I am sure you are getting razed about it being such a BIG BIRTHDAY!!!! as you all know he is the BIG 7 0!!!!!
Clifford you can't be that old. It just doesn't seem possible. But then I just turned the BIG 6 0, so I am not too far behind you. But then age is only a number, you are still very young looking and kind of cute at that. Have a great day and ENJOY!!
One month today we will be gone to Australia. It is just waiting out the month here and filling up the suitcases to get on that plane and we are OFFFFFFFFFFFFFF to Wagga Wagga.
Can't wait to go and Brian and Annette are waiting with baded breathe for us to get there also.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - CLIFFORD - YOU OLD FART!!!
Shirley
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Greetings from the Mighty Peace River Country
It is warm today. Only minus 9. Downright tropical!!
I got an email from Colleen and read her blog this morning and was very jealous of her and Dave and their cruise. That is also our favorite way to go.
***!!Happy Birthday to Clifford!!***
and a few words about him. He is the big brother we never had in our family until he joined us and I certainly love and appreciate him for all he does and for the wonderful big brother he is.
Hope you have a great day, Clifford. Lay in the sun by the pool for an extra few minutes for me and we will see you and celebrate your birthday in March.
You are now reading a blog written by the brand new Relief Society President in The Peace River Branch. The branch president here just doesn't take no for an answer. I thought I was off the hook when he said he would go back and rethink it but it didn't change his resolve. I felt bad, kind of like I had waltzed in and taken over. I worried that the women in the branch would feel that way but they are very accepting and some are downright thrilled that I would take the job. I went visit teaching last night to a little old lady an hour's drive away. She is the sweetest little lady and lives out in the middle of nowhere, kind of like 75% of the women here. So they really do need some new blood as the Primary Pres who went with me said. So I will be present and active as a RSP for about a month and then go down to Lethbridge to work for Brad for the summer and conduct the Relief Society affairs by email and conference calls.
Our phone number here for now is 780-624-8171. Give us a call. Gayle really missed talking with everyone just as I do. He says several times each evening, "See how boring it is when nobodyc calls."
Talk to you all later.
Love
LA
I got an email from Colleen and read her blog this morning and was very jealous of her and Dave and their cruise. That is also our favorite way to go.
***!!Happy Birthday to Clifford!!***
and a few words about him. He is the big brother we never had in our family until he joined us and I certainly love and appreciate him for all he does and for the wonderful big brother he is.
Hope you have a great day, Clifford. Lay in the sun by the pool for an extra few minutes for me and we will see you and celebrate your birthday in March.
You are now reading a blog written by the brand new Relief Society President in The Peace River Branch. The branch president here just doesn't take no for an answer. I thought I was off the hook when he said he would go back and rethink it but it didn't change his resolve. I felt bad, kind of like I had waltzed in and taken over. I worried that the women in the branch would feel that way but they are very accepting and some are downright thrilled that I would take the job. I went visit teaching last night to a little old lady an hour's drive away. She is the sweetest little lady and lives out in the middle of nowhere, kind of like 75% of the women here. So they really do need some new blood as the Primary Pres who went with me said. So I will be present and active as a RSP for about a month and then go down to Lethbridge to work for Brad for the summer and conduct the Relief Society affairs by email and conference calls.
Our phone number here for now is 780-624-8171. Give us a call. Gayle really missed talking with everyone just as I do. He says several times each evening, "See how boring it is when nobodyc calls."
Talk to you all later.
Love
LA
Monday, January 26, 2009
Cruising is awesome!
We are home again after a wonderful 2 weeks of cruising the Caribbean. It was a very relaxing and restful trip for us. We have never done 2 weeks long before, so we tried it this year. I think we could just get on the ship....go out in the middle of the ocean....and sit there. It doesn't really matter to us where they go....we just love the ship. The ports start to all look similar. They want you to do excursions, buy their souvenirs and spend lots of money. We just love relaxing on the ship. The weather is good, the people are friendly, and the meals are ...well...you know...always the best! Weather this year was a little cooler than usual (and really windy), but still better than home!
We did something new this year....we went swimming with the dolphins. I have to say we both loved it and will remember it for a long time. We got a video and lots of pictures. It was a great experience.
I also got well acquainted with the security and fire folks on the ship. I set off the smoke detector in our room twice. It is a really dumb the way it's designed. They have it right above the vanity, where women sit to do their hair. My curling iron kept setting it off. And I flooded our bathroom once, when I was showering. The drain wasn't working...not a really big deal. But when I finished the shower, it had overflowed out into the rest of the bathroom. Let's just say I was well acquainted with maintenance then too. What the hell....if you have to be famous...it has to be.
It's good to hear from everyone and know that you are all doing well and weathering out this cold winter. Marvelle: we are all really jealous and wish we could come live with you for the winter. It has been a very cold year at home! When we got home Sat. night from Ft. Lauderdale, it was -23 here. You really forget how cold that can be!
One lady from Florida said to us that she didn't know if she wanted to go home, because it was cold there this year. When I told her that I'd think of her, as I shovelled our snow, she was kinda quiet after that! Cry me a river!
We missed our kids. It's always good to go away, but even better to come home to those that you love. Alyssa was really funny yesterday. I think she had her arms around Papa's neck for an hour and wouldn't let him go. She really missed her Papa. When we called them last Sunday, she thought we were home and she could come over. When she realized we were still in Florida and had another week on the ship, she wouldn't even talk to us. Too funny.
Well, come see us, when you can. We are looking forward to our next family event....Ryan and Beth's baby comes in March. We can't wait to see our little guy!
Love to all,
Colleen
We did something new this year....we went swimming with the dolphins. I have to say we both loved it and will remember it for a long time. We got a video and lots of pictures. It was a great experience.
I also got well acquainted with the security and fire folks on the ship. I set off the smoke detector in our room twice. It is a really dumb the way it's designed. They have it right above the vanity, where women sit to do their hair. My curling iron kept setting it off. And I flooded our bathroom once, when I was showering. The drain wasn't working...not a really big deal. But when I finished the shower, it had overflowed out into the rest of the bathroom. Let's just say I was well acquainted with maintenance then too. What the hell....if you have to be famous...it has to be.
It's good to hear from everyone and know that you are all doing well and weathering out this cold winter. Marvelle: we are all really jealous and wish we could come live with you for the winter. It has been a very cold year at home! When we got home Sat. night from Ft. Lauderdale, it was -23 here. You really forget how cold that can be!
One lady from Florida said to us that she didn't know if she wanted to go home, because it was cold there this year. When I told her that I'd think of her, as I shovelled our snow, she was kinda quiet after that! Cry me a river!
We missed our kids. It's always good to go away, but even better to come home to those that you love. Alyssa was really funny yesterday. I think she had her arms around Papa's neck for an hour and wouldn't let him go. She really missed her Papa. When we called them last Sunday, she thought we were home and she could come over. When she realized we were still in Florida and had another week on the ship, she wouldn't even talk to us. Too funny.
Well, come see us, when you can. We are looking forward to our next family event....Ryan and Beth's baby comes in March. We can't wait to see our little guy!
Love to all,
Colleen
Sunday, January 18, 2009
TGI almost M!!
I'm always so glad when Monday rolls around. Weekends are so exhausting!
Our kids had early dismissal Friday. Jill went to her friends and built an amazing fort and Peirce and I went to the Science center. We wandered around for a while and then went to the Sea Monsters movie again. AMAZING! His favorite sea creature now is the dolichorhynchops! (We just call her Dolly though)
Friday Allen and Peirce went with their friends to a Hitmen hockey game. Peirce and his friend Zac had a great time giggling and talking and cheering and stomping and eating and carrying on. Peirce really loves to watch hockey. (I'm just glad he doesn't want to PLAY hockey!) :0) Allen's manager asked Peirce while we were skating with them at Christmas time if he was going to be a hockey player when he grows up. Peirce responded quickly, "No. I'm a swimmer."
On Saturday I worked like a mad woman all morning trying to find shoppers for my last two shops. Then we hurried off to High River for a swim meet for Jill. (Still didn't have all my work done but lucky for me the High River rec center has free WiFii!! Thank goodness for laptops! A little uncomfortable as far as working space goes...but you gotta do what you gotta do, right?!)
Jill beat her time in 3 of the 4 races. She might have beat her best time in that one too but she didn't show up for the race. Oops! I guess that's why we go to lots of swim meets. There's lots to learn! Good thing she usually only makes the same mistake once. :0)
Saturday night Jill and I went to Stomp. It was so AMAZING!! You can read about that here.
On Sunday Allen had his first High Council speaking assignment....and he did a terrific job. I'm finding tricks to getting more people to come to choir: FOOD!! I walked around with a container full of puffed wheat squares and people would ask me what they're for or if they could have one and I'd say, "You sure can! Just come to choir!" We had our best attendance yet. I'm thinking next week I'll bring a crockpot of soup and some unbaked muffins and put the muffins in half an hour before choir starts....or do you think that'd be too devious??! NAH!!
Anyway, I'm sure glad when the weekend is over. The kids friends have gone home from their Sunday afternoon play dates, dinner's cleaned up, and I'm pooped!! Weekends are exhausting!!
Our kids had early dismissal Friday. Jill went to her friends and built an amazing fort and Peirce and I went to the Science center. We wandered around for a while and then went to the Sea Monsters movie again. AMAZING! His favorite sea creature now is the dolichorhynchops! (We just call her Dolly though)
Friday Allen and Peirce went with their friends to a Hitmen hockey game. Peirce and his friend Zac had a great time giggling and talking and cheering and stomping and eating and carrying on. Peirce really loves to watch hockey. (I'm just glad he doesn't want to PLAY hockey!) :0) Allen's manager asked Peirce while we were skating with them at Christmas time if he was going to be a hockey player when he grows up. Peirce responded quickly, "No. I'm a swimmer."
On Saturday I worked like a mad woman all morning trying to find shoppers for my last two shops. Then we hurried off to High River for a swim meet for Jill. (Still didn't have all my work done but lucky for me the High River rec center has free WiFii!! Thank goodness for laptops! A little uncomfortable as far as working space goes...but you gotta do what you gotta do, right?!)
Jill beat her time in 3 of the 4 races. She might have beat her best time in that one too but she didn't show up for the race. Oops! I guess that's why we go to lots of swim meets. There's lots to learn! Good thing she usually only makes the same mistake once. :0)
Saturday night Jill and I went to Stomp. It was so AMAZING!! You can read about that here.
On Sunday Allen had his first High Council speaking assignment....and he did a terrific job. I'm finding tricks to getting more people to come to choir: FOOD!! I walked around with a container full of puffed wheat squares and people would ask me what they're for or if they could have one and I'd say, "You sure can! Just come to choir!" We had our best attendance yet. I'm thinking next week I'll bring a crockpot of soup and some unbaked muffins and put the muffins in half an hour before choir starts....or do you think that'd be too devious??! NAH!!
Anyway, I'm sure glad when the weekend is over. The kids friends have gone home from their Sunday afternoon play dates, dinner's cleaned up, and I'm pooped!! Weekends are exhausting!!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
From the Jensen House (where ever that is!!)
I agree, we need to get back to this. I really enjoy reading everyone's contributions but seem to be a bit slow at adding mine.
Christmas was great. With the funeral being on the 19th. that made it so Neil could just stay for Christmas. It was great having him here. It made it so we were all there at Gaylene's on Christmas day. Every one completely spoiled everyone and we discussed cutting back on all the presents, etc. We are considereing doing something different next Christmas. Don't know what yet, but we need to change the program. We could all go on a nice trip for what we all spent.
Gayle and I went back to Lethbridge on Christmas night and spent two days putting Christmas away and cleaning house so I could leave with him and come up to Peace River. Does that statement bring back shades of mother????? Oh well, I couldn't have people coming in to water my plants and seeing a dirty messy house. So we left on Saturday the 28th, stopped and spent some time with Colleen and Dave and then drove on to Edmonton. That made the rest of the trip to Peace River much more manageable.
It has been COLD here but since Tuesday it has been much nicer. It gets warm and there is no wind so it is very bearable. It is downright pretty with all the snow and the warmer weather. On Monday we took Gayle to Grande Prairie to a Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist. He said the polyp in Gayle's nose is a symptom of allergies. That surprised us as we weren't aware that he had any allergies. It does make sense though as he has been struggling with skin eruptions for about a year now. He saw a Dermatologist here in PR and he said it could be allergies too. So now we have to just figure out what he is allergic to and take the appropriate action.
Going to Church here has been most interesting. The first sunday I was here the Branch President pulled me into his office and called me as the RSP. I about fainted. When I told him I didn't plan to be here full time, he said, "Well we can work with that. You just call two good councillors and they carry the load when you are away." He said to go home and pray about it as he had been doing that and my name kept coming back to him. So I came home and worried about it for a week, prayed about it and got nothing but the stupor of thought. I feel guilty about turning it down. I have never done that before in my life. But the next sunday when I gave him a schedule of when I planned to be here and when I planned to be at home, he said, "Maybe I better go back and rethink it all." I was relieved but still felt bad for them. There were 7 women in RS on Sunday. They have the presidency and teachers on their board. That is it. I told him I would help them all I could but I didn't want to be a lame duck president.
So I have lots of time on my hands but I am keeping busy. I brought back all the Jensen family photos after the funeral and I am scanning and organizing them. I eats up the time really well. I also brought my sewing machine so I could hunker down and just enjoy myself. A sister called me yesterday and I went visiting teaching with her. That was nice. I enjoyed it.
So how and what is everyone else doing. We sure are looking forward to going to Phoenix in March. Taylor is really excited too. It should really be fun.
Talk to you all later.
Love from
LA and Gayle
Christmas was great. With the funeral being on the 19th. that made it so Neil could just stay for Christmas. It was great having him here. It made it so we were all there at Gaylene's on Christmas day. Every one completely spoiled everyone and we discussed cutting back on all the presents, etc. We are considereing doing something different next Christmas. Don't know what yet, but we need to change the program. We could all go on a nice trip for what we all spent.
Gayle and I went back to Lethbridge on Christmas night and spent two days putting Christmas away and cleaning house so I could leave with him and come up to Peace River. Does that statement bring back shades of mother????? Oh well, I couldn't have people coming in to water my plants and seeing a dirty messy house. So we left on Saturday the 28th, stopped and spent some time with Colleen and Dave and then drove on to Edmonton. That made the rest of the trip to Peace River much more manageable.
It has been COLD here but since Tuesday it has been much nicer. It gets warm and there is no wind so it is very bearable. It is downright pretty with all the snow and the warmer weather. On Monday we took Gayle to Grande Prairie to a Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist. He said the polyp in Gayle's nose is a symptom of allergies. That surprised us as we weren't aware that he had any allergies. It does make sense though as he has been struggling with skin eruptions for about a year now. He saw a Dermatologist here in PR and he said it could be allergies too. So now we have to just figure out what he is allergic to and take the appropriate action.
Going to Church here has been most interesting. The first sunday I was here the Branch President pulled me into his office and called me as the RSP. I about fainted. When I told him I didn't plan to be here full time, he said, "Well we can work with that. You just call two good councillors and they carry the load when you are away." He said to go home and pray about it as he had been doing that and my name kept coming back to him. So I came home and worried about it for a week, prayed about it and got nothing but the stupor of thought. I feel guilty about turning it down. I have never done that before in my life. But the next sunday when I gave him a schedule of when I planned to be here and when I planned to be at home, he said, "Maybe I better go back and rethink it all." I was relieved but still felt bad for them. There were 7 women in RS on Sunday. They have the presidency and teachers on their board. That is it. I told him I would help them all I could but I didn't want to be a lame duck president.
So I have lots of time on my hands but I am keeping busy. I brought back all the Jensen family photos after the funeral and I am scanning and organizing them. I eats up the time really well. I also brought my sewing machine so I could hunker down and just enjoy myself. A sister called me yesterday and I went visiting teaching with her. That was nice. I enjoyed it.
So how and what is everyone else doing. We sure are looking forward to going to Phoenix in March. Taylor is really excited too. It should really be fun.
Talk to you all later.
Love from
LA and Gayle
noble news #73 - Marvelle Reporter
Just read Shirley's blog and it was good enough to make me want to write. Christmas passed quickly. Too quickly for me but it was good. Brad and his kids and daughter-in-law went to Vegas for Christmas. It was nice - then Jessey and Shelbi stayed after New Years. We went home to Arizona. It was very good to see all the kids again. Cliff and I stayed with Brad at the Treasure Island. Shelbi and Dustyn and his bride stayed there too. Jessey stayed with Nickee. We are taking Maggie and Lola (the dogs) home when we go. We are going home ( to Cardston) the middle of March.
Then Brad had quite a kerfuffle in going home. We took him to the airport along with Dustyn and Julia and left them there just about noon on Monday. When we were at the show (at 8:00pm) Brad called to tell us they could leave Vegas but couldn't land in Great Falls as the runway was too slippery. So we went to pick them up. They stayed at Nickee's and left the following morning. The weather was bad when they got to Great Falls but they managed to get where they were going.
Nickee had a dinner on the Sunday after Christmas. We had gone down to their place Christmas Day, then Brad came on the 26th and left on the 29th.
We have been having a ball down here. I guess Bonnie had to go home for her health care was in Alberta. She had a bad stomach ache and then it was diagnosed as a bad stomach. Too bad. Anyway we have been going to exercise and then swimming in the afternoon. It has been wonderful.
In January the Vadnais and Sommerfeldts are coming. In February Brad and Helen and then in March Lester Ann and Taylor, and Gayle are coming. Vadnias are going to Mexico for his teeth, Ted and Carol come each year as does Brad and Helen. The Jensens are coming to see the ball games and then we are going home. Have a good time in Australia. Brad's son Jessey is supposed to be going to Australia for six months as as soon as he has enough money to go. He is going with a friend whose Aunt lives there.
Well will go for now.
love Marvelle
Then Brad had quite a kerfuffle in going home. We took him to the airport along with Dustyn and Julia and left them there just about noon on Monday. When we were at the show (at 8:00pm) Brad called to tell us they could leave Vegas but couldn't land in Great Falls as the runway was too slippery. So we went to pick them up. They stayed at Nickee's and left the following morning. The weather was bad when they got to Great Falls but they managed to get where they were going.
Nickee had a dinner on the Sunday after Christmas. We had gone down to their place Christmas Day, then Brad came on the 26th and left on the 29th.
We have been having a ball down here. I guess Bonnie had to go home for her health care was in Alberta. She had a bad stomach ache and then it was diagnosed as a bad stomach. Too bad. Anyway we have been going to exercise and then swimming in the afternoon. It has been wonderful.
In January the Vadnais and Sommerfeldts are coming. In February Brad and Helen and then in March Lester Ann and Taylor, and Gayle are coming. Vadnias are going to Mexico for his teeth, Ted and Carol come each year as does Brad and Helen. The Jensens are coming to see the ball games and then we are going home. Have a good time in Australia. Brad's son Jessey is supposed to be going to Australia for six months as as soon as he has enough money to go. He is going with a friend whose Aunt lives there.
Well will go for now.
love Marvelle
Thursday, January 15, 2009
New Years News at the Wilson's House
I guess no one in our family has any good news to post on our blog. I have been very busy getting ready to go to Australia. It is only 43 more sleeps - not that I am counting. I think Brian and Annette are counting more than I am. We leave February 27th and return on March 27th. I have our passports, our visas and the tickets all bought and paid for. That was our Cjhristmas presents for each other.
I had to go to Edmoton on Monday and Tuesday for Union meetings. It was a nightmare of a drive uo to Edmonton on Sunday. It was blowing snow from Ponoka all the way into Edmonton. When I got to Leduc it was an absolute whiteout from Leduc into Nisku. Then I went to the wrong hotel and tried to book into the West Harvest Inn and was supposed to be at the Hampton's Inn. All night Sunday the wind blew and the snow blew too, so we didn't venture too far from the hotel, just for meals. The meetings were good but the roads home were still bad. I have never seen the wind blow so bad as up there, and they says Southern Alberta is bad for wind.
I talked to Uncle Ivan but he didn't know who I was. He thought I was a neice but he didn't know which one, so then I got Frieda on the line and we had a good visit by phone. I would have like to gone and visited with them but it was just too cold to go anywhere., so I stayed at the hotel.
Now I have to go back again on the 26th again for one day of meetings. So other than that we don't have too much news. I am sick and tired of the cold weather. Today it is finally half decent weather. I think it was about 8 degrees this afternoon.
Well I sure hope you all get back to blogging once again, so I look forward to all your news since Christmas time.
Chow and all the Best in the New Year to everyone.
Shirley Wilson
I had to go to Edmoton on Monday and Tuesday for Union meetings. It was a nightmare of a drive uo to Edmonton on Sunday. It was blowing snow from Ponoka all the way into Edmonton. When I got to Leduc it was an absolute whiteout from Leduc into Nisku. Then I went to the wrong hotel and tried to book into the West Harvest Inn and was supposed to be at the Hampton's Inn. All night Sunday the wind blew and the snow blew too, so we didn't venture too far from the hotel, just for meals. The meetings were good but the roads home were still bad. I have never seen the wind blow so bad as up there, and they says Southern Alberta is bad for wind.
I talked to Uncle Ivan but he didn't know who I was. He thought I was a neice but he didn't know which one, so then I got Frieda on the line and we had a good visit by phone. I would have like to gone and visited with them but it was just too cold to go anywhere., so I stayed at the hotel.
Now I have to go back again on the 26th again for one day of meetings. So other than that we don't have too much news. I am sick and tired of the cold weather. Today it is finally half decent weather. I think it was about 8 degrees this afternoon.
Well I sure hope you all get back to blogging once again, so I look forward to all your news since Christmas time.
Chow and all the Best in the New Year to everyone.
Shirley Wilson
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