Thankful, oh so Thankful!

From Grandpa: 

"In the aftermath of Thanksgiving--what am I thankful for? My life, at least one more period; my assignment gives me opportunity to see the good in people and how they live and do many positive things for themselves, their families, and those around them.

"My Thanksgiving joke:  What did the turkey say to the grower?  Gobble Gobble Gooble...eeeeek!  

(Grandma's translation, for all who are scratching their heads, like Dandy the dog:  Mr. Turkey realized which line he was in...he had no more reason to gobble!) 

What is new in your life this season?"

From Grandma:  After a luscious meal on Thursday at our branch president's beautiful home, we celebrated with his children and grandchildren by flinging halves of potatoes and tangerines with a catapult-type sling over a hill toward balloons and beanbags set up to be our mark.  From the Book of Mormon, we learned who is the mark.   

  

 I love my young adult friends.  Watching each try their hand. 

 I am grateful as I see them pilot possibilities--this is gratifying, more so than slinging produce over a hill. 

Targets on our hills demand aim, steadiness.  We acknowledge parents of young ones who wrestle table restlessness.  Appreciating friends willing to take risks, to "keep working," and polish line by line.

Grateful for an author and finisher of our Faith.  

President Andersen invited branch council men to join the sisters in President Nelson's "finish by the end of the year" race in traversing through our copies of the Book of Mormon.  We are nearing and passing a half way mark, breathing in a father's advice for his young adult sons, coveting the "steady" part as we learn about harnessing (or bridling) our wishes (and passions) to become filled with love.

A passion for Grandma:  watching new friends connect, serve one another, and grow.  Martha Melendez, our favorite Tuesday cook opened up her home 

  to her sisters and friends

   in connecting boughs and bows.

We find it true--when two or three gather.  

       Joy attends gathering 

As we approach the expected season

prepared (or maybe less) so in our perch.

Grateful for bad and good hair days...Appreciating grandchildren whose sights and hair-dos point upward.  

Glad for goals to tutor, to connect, to lift others in their own language or another

(Thank you, Elders!  Appreciating your offering!)

 Understanding that intimate groups are key.

Sometimes, one on one, with a loving, all-powerful Creator.  

 Returning thanks for blessings we have received...appreciating hearing of abundance in your lives. 

Grateful to have circles of warmth and thankfulness surrounding us--inviting you in!  

A little California Sunshine 

and Love 

from Val and Laurene

First Fruits

 Come, ye thankful people, come;

Raise the song of harvest home.

All is safely gathered in

Ere the winter storms begin.

God, our Maker, doth provide

For our wants to be supplied.

Come to God's own temple, come;

Raise the song of harvest home. 

 All the world is God's own field,

Fruit unto his praise to yield,

Wheat and tares together sown,

Unto joy or sorrow grown.

First the blade, and then the ear,

Then the full corn shall appear.

Lord of harvest, grant that we

Wholesome grain and pure may be.

News from the Fresno front:

We join our neighbors in Kaysville to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of an amazing and wonderful friend, Lori Morgan.  

Val was blessed to visit this family several years as a ministering brother.  Laurene and daughters appreciated her busy green thumbs working beside us at the chapel, in young women, young single adults, and teaching one by one the blessings that flow in saying thanks in a handwritten note.  Pasta and beautiful plates commemorated each of our foreign missions with rapt ears and encouraging smiles.  We love Lori...Heaven now is brighter with her talents in making beauty blossom.  And a neighborhood, of Kaysville and beyond, is determined to walk with nurturing hands outstretched a little further.  

At a zone conference this past week, we learned from a west northwest mission president's conference that the time has come to focus upon a true harvest--intensified gathering.  Missionaries will replace dinners with members with finding, and teaching.  

Laurene was invited to speak about First Fruits (Primer a Dios) and tithing this past Sunday.  Her husband led our four songs as we thanked Heavenly Father for a prophet, a sacred house, pledging to offer our best to Him and to those around us ("Because I have been given much, I too, must give...")

We are grateful to hear happy news from an amazing engineer daughter, celebrate "great to be eight" and promise of a vibrant family planning to relocate  into our Crows Landing branch (from San Jose and Colombia) in a few short weeks.  

From Val:
"With a new week, we have a clarification of priorities, a new twist.  Last week during a zone conference they announced some new priority-based changes.  God's Kingdom is focused on the gathering of Israel.  So of course our marching orders are to keep that focus.   In other words not do any thing that distracts from that focus.  We are preparing and inviting all to come to the Lord's kingdom and be prepared, for He is Coming.  The major change is  5-7 pm each day is prime finding time.

We have various interesting events:  

1. Celebrating a birthday of the father in a family we are teaching   

2. another father we have been working to assist in finding work now has tickets from their son to go to Mexico for 6 week. Job hunt postponed  

3. We had the best support for cleaning the building from the branch we have ever had."  

This week brings English class, craft class, and more blessings than we can count.  Counting YOU as part.  The better part.  

Love, 

Laurene, Val (AKA:  Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa)