THANKSGIVING WEEK

THANKSGIVING WEEK 
SUNDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2015
Our Grandson Jacob Michael Hansen,was ordained, by his father, to be a teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood today.  We now have three teachers in this family!  Congratulations Jacob!  This is Jacob on Thanksgiving day.

TUESDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2015

So we finished, our lessons for the week, this morning, Yay, tomorrow we can sleep in!  Hoot, Hoot.  We spoke of Leprosy and how overcoming this disease is like overcoming sin in our day.  This was a sensitive topic.  The sacrifices of Lambs and Goats brought questions and answers.

Leviticus 16–18

The Lord instructs Israel concerning the Day of Atonement and commands them not to follow the wicked practices of other nations.  

The Day of Atonement was the most sacred and holy day of the year for the Israelites. It was a day of fasting, prayer, and deep contemplation of the mission of the Messiah (Jesus Christ).  Does that sound appropriate for our day?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEK

Leviticus 14:4-7 Explains the bird offerings.

I hope we all enjoy our crispy bird offerings!

The Lord gives laws and ordinances that pertain to physical cleanliness and sanitation....shaving & bathing is required when the leprous person has been cleansed.

Grandpa Arthur left, immediately, to serve in the temple, after class.   He presented himself, before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in the OKC Tempe, in Yukon, Oklahoma.  I'm sure he will enjoy serving this THANKSGIVING WEEK.

 I have a doctor appointment this afternoon.  If I pass I can start swimming again, soon! ( I did not pass...one more surgery required to catch all the stray veins that survived the other surgeries.  Oh well, better to finish now while still healing.)

Yesterday we spent the morning cutting dead branches from our trees in the front yard.   Grandpa Arthur enjoys using his new pole saw in our "open field".

"Um, Grandpa, that branch doesn't look like it was dead".  Grandpa Arthur replied, "now the grass will grow really well under the tree this spring"!  And he says I get scissor happy when I cut his hair?  So we hauled all the branches, living and dead, into the gully.  It was a fun day to work in the yard.  The sun was shinning and it was a beautiful fall day.

I noticed, this morning, that the Christmas Cactus is starting to bloom, just a wee bit early.  It is beautiful and looks like there are going to be blooms during the whole Holiday.  Welcome Home for the Christmas Season!  It is great to be back in Edmond Oklahoma for THANKSGIVING WEEK!

WEDNESDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 2015

Dentist for a cleaning so the crispy turkey can be politely chewed! 

This is a photo of my son-in-law dentist, Michael, after our Thanksgiving feast the next day.  He even had an emergency patient to take care of before our feast began...and once his tummy was full... we hope you relaxed and didn't dream of teeth Mike!  He is a great dad too.

Lily ran errands with Grandma Gene in the afternoon.  Thank's for your help Lily!

THURSDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 2015

It is raining outside!  The earth is having a big drink of water, in Oklahoma, for the Thanksgiving week.  We need the rain so no one is complaining.  We went to Sarah and Ryan's for our Holiday feast.  Here are some highlights of our Feast Day.  Our Turkey was served on the plate we purchased on our New York Mission.  Not picture perfect, but moist and tender...fell off the bones.

 We got a photo of all the adults who created this great feast.  Thanksgiving dinner is really good when everyone does their part.  We work well as a team!

 Our Lily and Brenna were glad to feast together on this scrumptious dinner.

 Grandpa Arthur cut the turkey sack and prepared to put the turkey on the plater.

 Grandpa Arthur called Ryan in to help lift this bird.

 "I'm here to help my daddy", said Ryan!

Sarah set up beautiful table settings.

 Time for prayer...let the feast begin.

Luke and Rachel, " We love our Turkey feast Grandma Gene".

 "Look Grandma Gene, I'm a cub scout, this is my pin", said Cannon

 Rachel knows how to use the computer better than Grandma Gene, go figure.

Leif and Cannon having turkey!  Such enthusiasm! 

Happy Thanksgiving Week everyone

To end this fun day, I put Christmas pillowcases on our sleeping pillows tonight.  Sweet Christmas dreams Grandpa Arthur.  Igloo's & happy feet in the cave!

FRIDAY,  27 NOVEMBER 2015

We got 1 1/2 inches of rain yesterday and awoke to rain today.  It is a good day to stay in.  Black Friday shopping is online, but I don't shop much.

We just received news that Charles Devol passed away on Thanksgiving Day.  His wife Evelyn's funeral was in September.  What a great THANKSGIVING they are having.  Blessings to their families.  We loved Evelyn & Charles and will look forward to a reunion with them again someday. Evelyn considered Charles her handsome prince and they collected frogs together!  I hope they both feel "loved" this THANKSGIVING WEEK.

Frequently rely on God! 

FROG

SATURDAY, 28 NOVEMBER 2015

Grandpa Arthur is serving in the temple today.  I am listening to branches crack around the cave.

Edmond: 4 INCHES OF RAIN

Woke up to ice everywhere and branches all over the grounds.  We have lost at least 20 branches to the ice.

It is beautiful!

 This branch looks like it has arms and legs and is going to dance the ice away!

 I doubt our boy on the weather vane is going fishing anytime soon!

We had to listen to the BYU-Utah State game on the internet radio because the ice knocked the Cox channel off.  BYU won 51-28!  Way to go sons of Bronco!  

Logan Taele great play!  OU also beat OSU in a exciting game.

SUNDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2015

GREAT SUNDAY

We drove through fallen branches to our Ward meetings.  We all met together third hour...everyone discussed how their property was damaged by the ice.  Our lilac bush is going to need a good trimming as it got smashed by a huge tree limb.  Some members are going to receive help from the Priesthood in cleaning up.  Bishop Christensen taught a great lesson on strengthening our families.  We came home and enjoyed a quiet evening.  We took the film "Once I was a Beehive" up to our daughters and enjoyed watching it with her children.  We are taking it to Ryan's family to watch this Monday evening.  This is just the cutest movie...and reminds us of our own younger years.  I'm going to find time to share it with our Seminary youth too.

MONDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2015

The deer have been wandering our yard again, now that the ice has melted.

The one thing we learned, this past "icic" week is that God's power can chop trees limbs off way higher than Grandpa Art's chain pole saw can reach!  We have quite the selection of tree limbs down, all over the yard.  Grandpa Arthur said they won't be near as fun to cut up and throw in the gully as when he hand picks them himself.  Oh well, with just a little bit of water we can see the damage ice can do.  The Lord is trimming up this area.

Today we learned, in Seminary, that The Lord taught Israel how to be Holy.  Leviticus 19:28 reminds us: "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you." Moses wrote this over 4000 years ago and here we are today....I have piercings in my ears...what about the rest of you, are you becoming Holy?  We best get our "Acts" together,  Our "Numbers" may be next!

We are still eating our crispy bird offering from this THANKSGIVING WEEK. Bon appetit!  

Merry Christmas!

Hug's Always,

Grandpa Arthur & Grandma Gene

Arthur & Gene

THANKFUL

TUESDAY,  17 NOVEMBER 2015

We had rain all evening, it was great.

I took our grandsons to school for my daughter today.  She had pulled some of her Christmas out and had put up some decorations.   The Merry Christmas sign was above the fish tank. 

 There is a beautiful wreath in her mirror.  Leif and Luke wanted me to see they are the same size as the box inside the fireplace!  We were on our mission last Christmas, so I missed all these beautiful 

decorations in their new home.

Well, my daughter got me to thinking about my own decorations...what I had left here.  So I dug out my Christmas boxes in the storage room.  I mostly have nativity scenes left from all I did not give away before we took off on our mission.  I saved from "paper to plastic"! Ha!  This is the Book of Mormon nativity I cut out of the friend years ago.

 Keate, Grandpa Arts step father, made this little napkin holder years ago for us.

 When you live in a cave, away from neighbors...decorating is for us to see.  I put our wreaths and some colored lights in the kitchen window...I will wait until after Thanksgiving to keep them lit!

 Elder and Sister Southward gave us this 14 piece Willow Nativity as our farewell from our Presidency...three years ago.  Thank's Southwards!  This is my favorite nativity and I am thinking it is so inspirational to us that I just might leave it up all year.  We are so THANKFUL that we had our temple experience with the Southwards, Murnans, Fishes and all the temple workers.  Now that makes for perfect Christmas memories.

 Our ceramic church that has a steeple and lights..."Open the door and see all the people"!

We are in the middle of studying Moses still, in Seminary, and the 10 Commandments.  Of course today we studied Exodus when the Israelites built the Golden Calf...and Moses appeared with the tablets of stone after 40 days of being on Mount Sinai.  "Why did you build this idol, Aaron"?  "We melted the gold and it just turned into a Golden Calf".  Yah, Right!  Does this remind us of Santa Claus, presents and the true meaning of Christmas?  Hum?  I think this Christmas may be a little different for us all as we open our gifts and remember our blessings of The Savior's Birthday.   Moses throws down the stones and breaks them as the people are not worthy to worship what is on them.  The Lord destroys 3,000 people because of this golden idol they chose to worship.  Moses is told to make two new stones and go back up into to Mount Sinai where he receives "the lesser laws".  Sad to see we as a society still struggle with these "New Tablets of Stone".

 So now the meeting place or new tabernacle or tent of meeting has been removed to the outer edges of the camp.  Here the people may practice "the carnal commandments" and perfect themselves once again in The Lords eyes.  Moses returns with the 10 commandments to help his people repent and once again turn to The Lord and His Higher Priesthood.  And here we are removing the 10 commandments from our State Capital in Oklahoma...hum...I suppose they need to be written on stone in our hearts and hearths.  Not an easy task for me...how are you all doing?
Then the Children of Israel are asked to give of their substance to build the tabernacle...and to wash and anoint Aaron and his sons & place the newly built holy objects within the tabernacle....Have you made an appointment with your Bishop (Moses) to declare your tithing so you can serve in the Temple like Aaron and his sons?

The scriptures hold the keys to The Lords teachings in this life.  Will we become perfect on this earth?  "A chapter a day will light your way".

I saw this beautiful "song" on facebook today.  I learned one of my Young Women, from days gone by, wrote these beautiful words.  Thank you, Erin, for your grown up example.  Love these comforting words, they are beautiful. 

"In a sea of shifting values
Tossed on every wave
While the winds wail around me
I will not be afraid
To call out for my captain
To calm the waves in me
When I stand a little taller
It's only then I finally see...

I stand in holy places
Protected from the storm
Anchored safe in harbor
Though my sails are ripped and worn
I stand in holy places
And I will not move
Until the Lord is come 
And says 'well done'
He is the hope I hold onto"

Erin Jones Shepherd

 I begin serving in the temple office this evening.  These words help me to know I can do that and still get up early and teach our class.  Life is good.

WEDNESDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2015
Yep, the lesson went well this morning because I served in the temple last evening...now for a nap!
SATURDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2015
Burr...it is freezing in Oklahoma today!  Here are some highlights of the last few days.
Grandpa just threw tons of branches into the gully.

The basket ball goal at the Hansen's is now available to back up into again...not!

 Brenna and her mom Sarah after Brenna sang in the play "Legally Blond".  Great job Brenna!

I got a picture with Brenna after the play on Friday night.

The Hansen family and Grandma Gene, on Thursday evening, waiting for Brenna's play to begin.

We are so thankful that our daughter, Heather, is healing from her heart surgery so well.

Morning snuggles with the Hansen's...to my delight!

Our Princess Rachel at Brenna's play.

Brenna's brother and parents before the play began on Thursday night.  We are so thankful that Ryan has a job now with Sonic.

Luke spent all Friday evening coloring his Thanksgiving booklet he made at school.  Thanks for reading me your book Luke!

Grandpa is cleaning our shower this morning and preparing to watch BYU play football this afternoon...BYU won their basketball game last evening...Yay Cougars!  Great game this afternoon

also!  It was a good "Senior Day"!  BYU beat Fresno State 52-10...even Moroni played!  Great game

sons of Bronco!  We are watching OSU playing Baylor right now and it is a tense game...stay tuned! 

The Baylor Bears are growling....

Our Seminary class, on Friday, was about the Lord commanding Moses to set the tabernacle in order for the entrance into Canaan the promised land.  I purchased some peach water for them to drink during our lesson...I figured they would not want to drink milk and honey!  Peaches and cream water is almost like crimson and cream, OU colors, right?   I found this bottled water that had the perfect expiration date...a sign for me.  Because I had two parents "expire" from this life on July 16th.  Remember only Caleb and Joshua, of the first generation, were allowed to enter the promised land.  The rest of the first generation to depart from Egypt were not allowed entrance...thus they wandered the desert for 40 years.  Ug!  

“I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye

 have no promise” (D&C 82:10).

"Grandma, take a picture of me please"...said "Cannon".

Is he sliding on a bannister in the promised land?

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  John 20:29

So this has been a good week.  We teach two days next week...while some of our grandchildren are off of school for the whole week.  It will be good for us to concentrate on the scriptures before Thanksgiving.  We are so THANKFUL for each of you.  We are THANKFUL for Moses and his teachings.  We are especially THANKFUL for The Savior and His Atonement.  We are THANKFUL for our family and the blessings they are to us.  We love each of them and you.  Remember to be kind and especially let your children know they are loved.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EACH OF YOU AND TO AMERICA...THE LAND OF PROMISE!

The other land of milk and honey is our homeland.

God Bless The U S A

Hug's always,

Grandpa Arthur and Grandma

Arthur & Gene

A NOVEMBER WEEK

SUNDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2015

We had a great Regional Conference for our Sabbath meetings today.  Elder Dallin H. Oaks was the presiding Authority.  Thank's to each of you for the great talks.  We are so thankful that we attended.  It was great to only go for two hours also.  

We celebrated our two Grandchildren's birthdays in the afternoon.  Jake turned 14 and Brenna turned 12.  They are cousins forever!

Brenna graduated from Primary and had her first Young Women meeting this evening.

Jakes mom made her famous chocolate cake that we all enjoy.

 Ryan & Sarah gave Jake a game...his parents are like me and don't like to play games...we need the Hansen grandparents to visit again soon!

We all enjoyed singing the birthday song to these two beautiful grandchildren.  We are so thankful for both of them!

FRIDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2015
FINALLY!
Our daughter had her heart surgery on Tuesday and I have been being the mom to her children since then.  I have taken them to school, picked them up and bused them to their evening activities.  I know I did this with my own, but that was years ago.  This is why we have children when we are young right?  I have loved being with them and enjoy their enthusiasm.  I weep with their sorrows and laugh at their jokes.  They all are great, and I am so thankful their mother is doing well and about to take back her position of being chief bottle washer and bus driver.  Whew, it has been a very long week.  Thank's to all her friends and family who have brought food, flowers, text's and visits.  She is doing quite well, and is very thankful for all the kindness shown to her family.
This is a picture of Heather with "our" Doctor Hennebry just before she went in to surgery.  We thank this great doctor and the staff and medical professionals at Mercy Heart Hospital for their tender mercies in caring for our daughter.  We feel she is very blessed.  Our love and prayers are with her recovery.  She has a hematoma she is struggling with on her right groin, but her heart surgery was performed perfectly!  Now the healing begins.

Grandpa Arthur got his Christmas present early too...we can do that when we are old and carefree right?

How does this thing fit together?

"This is my smile".  Grandpa Arthur is ready to saw away at the high branches of the trees.

He spent three hours blowing all the leaves off the driveway and porch yesterday.  Then he mulched them all up with the lawnmower.  He is the man!

Grandpa has been teaching about The Ten Commandment's in Seminary and about the Tabernacle and the Sanctuary (Temple) in Moses' time.  The Students have learned how powerful The Atonement can be in their own lives.  We are obligated to learn the same lessons that were taught to the Israelites decades ago.  "Follow The Prophet".

Grandpa Arthur and I attended a funeral for Jim Peery, in the afternoon.  He and Dagmar have a lovely daughter Ily Murdock and four cute grandsons.  The oldest grandson, Isaac gave the closing prayer and that was a teary moment for me.  We pray for this good family.  They gave a great tribute to James Carl Peery, the scrapper.  Grandpa and I decided we need to be kind to all we greet in this life, for someday we too will meet with Jesus Christ.  Blessings to Jim and his family.

Allyson & Todd brought Tanner and Elizabeth up, from Dallas, to visit their cousins, before they move to Austin.  We are thankful they arrived safely last evening.

And thus ended Friday the 13th of November 2015: over 120 family's in sorrow this evening in Paris.  Please, God, Bless America, and provide hope and peace for Paris, France.

SATURDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 2015

We have an inservice meeting at the Institute building in Edmond this morning.  We look forward to receiving help for this Seminary calling.   Then this evening our family gathered at our sons Ryan's home for dinner.  We had home made noodles again.  Sarah filled the kitchen with noodles drying and great aroma's!

Jake enjoyed playing games with his Uncles!

As did Brenna!

Tanner stuffed grapes in his cheeks as his sister Elizabeth looked on.

 Cannon enjoyed doing crafts with Aunt Allyson.

Rachel and Elizabeth spent time together blowing bubbles and catching them with their gloves.

It was a great evening spent with the Hansen's and Bushman's.  We felt very blessed as we had 9 of our grandchildren there.  Thank you for the lovely evening Ryan and Sarah.

We hurried home so Grandpa Arthur could watch Missouri beat BYU 20-16.  Boys, sons of Bronco, that put a damper on a lovely evening!  The Missouri team were dressed like Clone Troopers from the Galactica Empire!  We should have known we were doomed fighting the Jedi Order.  Both teams played a great game.  Go Cougars!

Utah teams lost Oklahoma teams won!

SUNDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2015

As I write this my daughters dog is weeping at my window.  Please, Grandma Gene, bacon!  Its a good thing I like my grandchildren's dogs.  I enjoy pets when I don't have to take care of them!

It is about time to leave for our Sabbath Meetings.  We hope all enjoy this day.  We are supposedly having rain, but so far just gray clouds.  Grandpa Arthur and I have tithing settlement after church today.  We consider tithing...oil for the hinges of the Heavenly Pearly Gates!  We are hoping this is the year they swing those gates in Heaven open wide!

Till then we hope to continue having the health and strength to enter the Temple Gates....blessings to each of you.  Remember to tell your children you love them.  We will continue to rake leaves and enjoy this month of Thanksgiving...A NOVEMBER WEEK OF MEMORIES...Thank's for the memories!

Hug's always,

Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Gene

Arthur & Gene