Merry Christmas

Today was a special day. We were able to skype with Frazier in Orlando and Howard in Porto Alegre. The last time we tried to skype with Frazier was when he was in Manaus and the connection was so bad, it ended up being a telephone call. He is well taken care of in Orlando by all the members. For Howard, he will be home in just 5 weeks or so. We are so excited to welcome him home. 

Christmas is Coming

 I found this great pattern and have made two of these so far. The letters can be quite large so I used up a lot of fusible web. My favorite is Heat 'n Bond Lite. Then I quilt it to death. Wouldn't this be cute with a dark background and bright colors for the tree? Or make the tree look more like a "Grinch" tree?

Thanksgiving with the Birks

 The family decided to go to Salt Lake for Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't. With Christmas coming, I have too many quilts to finish. So I stayed home and was invited to have Thanksgiving with the Birks. They had a pie bar afterwards that was to die for. So grateful for them!

Baltimore Album

 When I served as president of Camano Island Quilt Guild for two years, the applique group created this beautiful top for me as a gift. I was surprised to receive it with a beautiful back and quilt label, ready for me to quilt myself. I've grown to know many of these wonderful women personally and love them very much. Some were sweet enough to stitch their names into their blocks.

Marnie's Braces Reveal

 Marnie's braces came off today! She looks so lovely. We really appreciate Joel Gardner for taking care of our children. 

Happy Halloween

 Marnie is all ready for Halloween and looking like her regular ballerina self. I wonder if anyone will make her do some pirouettes for candy.

Frazier's Surgery

 Frazier was required to come home from Manaus, Brazil for gallbladder surgery. I was so happy to see him, but he had lost a lot of weight. Nothing was agreeing with his system, so he couldn't eat much. 

The surgery went well but the amount of disease was quite extensive. While in Manaus, doctors fit him with a heart monitor vest because his heart rate was low and erratic. Once the surgery was done, his heart returned to a regular, low rhythm.

I have the picture, but I just can't post it because it's too gross.

Cemetery Searches

 In Ferndale, Paul's great grandparents are buried. Paul took Marnie to show her the marker.

James Howard Willard and Georgiana Davis joined the Church in Illinois in 1913. Their daughters Naomi and Emily were little girls at that time. George Howard was born the next year. 

He was enticed to Utah by one of the missionaries who taught him. He worked for a sugar beet company for awhile and then moved up to Sugar City with his work. They had Ruth in 1922, but she died in 1924 and is buried there.

The family moved to Bellingham where he was known for his incredible gardening skill. He could plunge a 6' pole into his backyard friable soil. The photo was taken at their 50th wedding anniversary.

Georgiana passed away in 1977 and James in 1979, both in Bellingham and are interred at Green Acres Memorial Park in Ferndale, Washington.

Tami's Funeral

 On Sunday morning, July 28, I received a call from my mother to tell me my sister Tami had passed away. I remember my knees gave out. She was only 50 years old. When I later arrived at church I couldn't tell anyone. I knew if I did I would be inconsolable. I had 2 hours of Primary singing time to lead. Paul and I flew to San Diego and drove to Temecula to meet with my parents. The funeral was to be in Julian, where Tami had been living with Bill.

Everyone in Julian knew Tami since she had lived there so long and worked for so many businesses. All three of her former spouses attended the funeral. The director couldn't believe how kind they all were. It's says a lot about the men in her life.

Tami's daughters are so young to lose their mother. We were miserable for them.

I love talking with Don and Jerri, especially because Jerri remembers things I do not. She is ten years older than me and had many more memories with Tami.

Tad is local and spent more time with Tami than any of us. Of course, he would know the name of this dog.

So many wonderful people came to pay their respects. Nana read the lyrics to "How do you solve a problem like Maria?" with her own twist. One of Tami's birth siblings came and spoke. Tad and I were surprised that a former boyfriend from high school came. He worked at Licorice Pizza and he still was in the business of vinyl. He now owns a vintage record store in Oceanside.

Here are the three of us girls at Bear Lake. We are all very different. We all come from different parents. But we do love each other and learn from each other.

Posts from Calvin

 It is fun to receive messages from Calvin in Porto Alegre. He doesn't write very much, but he is very consistent. If I time my day very carefully, I can catch him online as he writes and we can have a written conversation. I know he struggled with Portuguese, but I think he has really caught it now.

National Jamboree

 Paul and Jackson had the opportunity to fly to Charlotte and travel by bus to West Virginia for Boy Scout National Jamboree. They went to the Summit Bechtel Reserve to spend almost two weeks. Instead of participants, they were on staff at Brownsea Island Exhibit. Paul event practiced his British accent, reenacting the first scout camp.

Paul leads NYLT

 Paul has been busy training youth leaders up at Black Mountain near the Canadian border. The camp is called National Youth Leadership Training. He has been doing this for years and is happy to volunteer his time each summer to these young men.

Katie's Wedding

 We enjoyed a wonderful wedding at the Mount Timpanogos Temple. We told Katie she could choose the location for her wedding since the Brazil boys are out of the country. She chose American Fork. Because she is the oldest, she benefitted from the most grandparents attending. 

Marnie and April looking beautiful as well!

My mom and dad made the trip from San Diego.

Paul's family including Krommenhoeks and Willards are on the left. Kristi's family is on the right, including McKays and Munks.

Frazier arrives at the São Paulo MTC

We're excited to see that Frazier has made it to the Brazil MTC in São Paulo. He spent about 3 weeks in the Provo MTC before his visa was ready. Now both brothers are in country. Of course they will not be able to see each other. If you could choose two missions that were the furthest apart, you would choose Manaus and Porto Alegre.

Camano Island Quilt Show

 It's time for another quilt show for CIQ. I love setting up shows because I get to handle the quilts. We don't judge them ahead of time, but allow the patrons to vote for their favorites. I've included one of my quilts and many of my favorites from the show.

This little town square is mine. It started as a Block of the Month Club. I learned how to do a lot of applique and silk ribbon embroidery.

Marnie is selling treats to hungry quilters and raising money to go to Disneyland with the marching band. She has practically grown up in the guild. I brought her with me to my first meeting when she was 1 year old. The grandmas of the guild expect to see her!

The little house challenge was a delight. Mine is the light Dresden ring. Each of the wedges is a house.

I loved this little paper pieced house.

Opal created this cute owl. She is fearless with fabric and practices drawing everyday.

I don't know why I love this quilt so much. But I do. Everyone has their own taste and though I can appreciate each unique work of art, some are just my style.