Let's Go Forward With Faith

Our Mansfield Thiots

Ricky and Becky's home has a gorgeous garage door that they have been wanting to freshen up with a fresh staining.  Saturday was the day to remove the old stain and reapply two new coats of stain.  What a great team Ricky had to help him.  Becky and the girls are amazing and the garage is looking like brand new.  Our Garage door is needing a paint job.  You have inspired us to get on it!  Yay, Go Forward with Faith! Ricky said that he understands why people charge $700. to do this.  It's a lot of work but boy does it look great!  Way to go Thiots!

Our Medford Granges

Lone Peek Elementary school where the kids have Virtual school from, has adopted another Elementary school that was devastated by the recent wild fires.  Each student was invited to make a poster to be given to this elementary school to cheer them up and let them know they are loved and being thought of.  Each of our school kids wanted to participate and worked hard to bring some Joy to these other students.  Even Charlie boy wanted to make one.  That made me happy too! Yay! Go Forward with Faith!

Our Carmichael Thiots

3917 Garfield Avenue was  not on the market for long.  As soon as this sweet family saw it, they knew it could be their forever home and they made an offer.  Inspections and paper work are on going and hopefully if all the ducks line up in a row, they will be set to purchase the home by November 15th.  What a blessing for our Carmichael Thiots.  YAHOO!!!! As a celebration, Jen and Charlie's families went to the pumpkin patch and hay ride and had a fabulous time Friday night.  Go Forward with Faith!

Our LA Thiots

Jackson was working on a project this week and he had an accident of trimming not only the paper but also his finger.  A quick trip to insta care and he was back in business. It's so hard when those scary things happen so quickly.  I've often wished I had a rewind switch that could back up just a few seconds and do things differently.  I'm sure Jackson was wishing for that too.  He's a very good sport and is sporting a rather large green bandage which he told me has a pillow inside to keep his finger safe and help it to heal up.  I'm so grateful Heavenly Father made our bodies so smart to know how to heal. Another fun thing this week is a new movie that is supposed to come out the 23rd of October.  It's called Connected.  Pierce sent me the trailer this week and asked me if in fact I had written the screen play.  It's about a family who is a bit tooooo connected to the internet and needs some family connection time.  I wish I could go see if with all of my family.  Let's go forward with Faith! 

 We Plano Thiots

We got to help our friend Kumar celebrate his birthday this week.  What a great young man he is. We enjoyed dinner and playing games after very socially distanced.  

When Dick got ready for work one day this week, he was so bright and cheery I told him he could be working as a crossing guard at the school.  He said he thought he would love that job and will consider that when he retires. 

When I noticed that the clock in Dick's office ALWAYS said it was 11 minutes before 7, I replaced the battery and noticed that the name of the clock was CHANEY.  I have a nephew named Chandler that I have always called Chaney since he was born.  I loved snapping a photo of the clock and sending it to him all the way in Pocatello Idaho where he and his family are living while he attends school there.

I loved the two new pumpkins that came home after a walmart run.  Love how that little sugar pumpkin turned into a little pink piggy.  So cute.  The big Daniel Tiger pumpkin makes me smile too. 

Thursday was my Uncle Buddy's Birthday.  What fun it was to get to visit with him on the phone.  He said he had gotten more phone calls and messages than he had in the entire year to date.  That made me happy.   

Friday was my Zoom Seminary class and I had invited Officer Christopher Bianez (Brother B) to join our class and talk to our students about obeying the laws and how to conduct an investigation as we studied Helaman 8-9.  He is so great and we loved having him in class with us. 

Our Golden Chick restaurant has been serving the Texas State Fair Corny Dogs this month.  We couldn't resist having one more before they discontinue them. 

On Saturday morning, my friend Sister Boone shared with me about the Washington Prayer March 2020.  It was so good to see so many people united in prayer for the United States of America.  I do believe, this is the key to uniting our country.  One Nation Under God! 

 This week, I have listened to and read the biography of Gordon B. Hinckley who was the Prophet of our church and who I love very much.  The book is titled Go Forward With Faith.  He truly did every day of his life and that is what I want to learn to do too.  Yes, it was a great reminder and such an inspiration. So this week, Let's all go forward with faith and we prepare for October Conference next weekend.  SLY Robynn

PS: Dick just came out of the bathroom ready to head up to the Stake Presidency Meeting he gets to attend early Sunday morning with hardly any voice.  I was trying to figure out what had happened to his voice and then he shared it was a TRIPLE WIN LAST NIGHT.  The Ranger Baseball Team won, The Dallas Stars won and the BYU Cougars won.  That was a LOT of cheering that he and Sky got to do last night!  WOWSERS!  Might be worth to have given up your voice for.  I can't believe I slept though all the  cheering going on.  

To The Rescue

 

We Plano Thiots

Blogger.com has a new format which I am not good at quite yet.  I added my photos and it put them in the opposite order that I had put them in.  Oh well since Dick is in his meeting, he is not available to Come to the Rescue and so we will just go in a different order this week.  I've been listening to the Biography of Thomas S. Monson, To the Rescue,  this week.  The author Heidi Swinton was on a podcast ALL In that I listened to last week telling about writing his Biography.  I have had the book for years on my bookshelf and it's been long enough that my memory of it had past and it was like reading it all over again.  I have loved it. On Wednesday,  I loved celebrating my Dad's birthday  It's always a good day to think about him and remember the lessons he has taught me.  I miss him a bunch.  I loved talking to his brother Uncle Bud the day after his birthday.  He shared some of his fun memories with me too.  On Thursday, Dick and I were invited to attend the temple with Elder Hunter Liang who leaves for the mission field on Tuesday.  He is going to Orlando Florida where he will teach the gospel in Mandarin Chinese.  It had been seven months since we have been able to attend the temple.  We have many times driven to the temple grounds  and loved that, but it's so  much better inside.  It felt like coming home again 

Our LA Thiots

This week was a fun one in acquiring some Halloween Costumes.  Jackson has been dreaming of being Spider man and he looks great in the costume.  Sorry I don't have a photo of him, but take my word, he looks great.  Adelaide is a t-rex and is very believable.  What nifty costumes they make these days.  WOWSERS! To the Rescue! It was Garage Sale Saturday and the costumers were lining up early on Saturday morning to get some great deals.  This is all that was left after a successful morning of selling.  I've always loved the red pie saver.  I was wishing I could scoot to LA and buy it.  Then I remember my house if almost filled to the brim.

Our Carmichael Thiots

Charlie's house is officially on the market, and with multiple showings this weekend, he had to be out of the house and so a bike ride was in order.  Callum and Keelie were with their mama and Keelie got her hair trimmed up.  In order to get it even, they straightened her curls.  She looks so different without her beautiful curls,  I love you both ways Miss Keelie!  The top photo is a photo of the new home they are having built from the top of the hill.  Can't wait! 

Our Medford Granges

Everyone is loving on line school in Medford.  The fire danger and air quality have both improved and everyone is happy.  So glad those firefighters came to the rescue.  I love this photo of the three big boys at Sherm's the grocery store enjoying an ice cream cone after grocery shopping with Jake.  Jake said he came to the rescue for the boys in helping to lick their cones before any drips got out of control.  What a great dad! Happy 9 months old Gracie and Simon!  How we love you both! 

Our Mansfield Thiots

Last Sunday morning when Dick finished with his early morning meetings, he had the great idea of driving to Mansfield to take Becky her Birthday gift.  He called Ricky to be sure that was ok and we jumped in the car and headed south.  What a delight it was to see our three beautiful granddaughters and their parents too of course.  We loved being in their home and watching Becky open her gift.  Skyler had given me this cordless vacuum for my birthday and Becky thought it looked pretty cool so we got one for her too.  Its funny when I use mine, I'm always thinking now where is the cord?  Cordless is pretty handy for sure.  I LOVED this photo Ricky shared of Harper at her soccer game on Saturday.  Love how her team is practicing social distancing.  She's a great soccer player.  Ricky isn't coaching her team this season but is always there to cheer her on and come to the rescue if needful. 

In Come Follow Me this week, I loved the scripture in 3 Nephi 10:4 where the Savior is speaking and telling us that how oft he would have gathered us to Him as a Hen Gathers her chickens under her wings if we would come unto Him. If you know me, you know that I love hens and chickens.  I printed off the picture of the mother hen with her chicks and gave each of those little chicks a name of one of my grandchildren.  I love them so.   My friend Alice send me a photo of her chinese bible from the scripture like it in Matthew 23: 37  I loved it and couldn't resist sharing that cute illustration with our Elder Liang as he went to the temple on Thursday tied to fresh donuts to enjoy after we came out.  Yum! I hope you have had a good week and that you have noticed times that you too have been rescued this week and that you too have been able to rescue someone in need.  SLY Robynn

Happy 92nd Birthday Dad!!!

 

Lessons learned from Dad/Grandpa

 

1. Water will be fine when dining out

 

2. Always leave the driveway in a clean car, even if it makes you a little late to have dad wash it while you are trying to back out

 

3. Always mow the yard early in the morning, even if your neighbors may still be sleeping

 

4. Never pay more than $2.00 for a haircut and always give a generous $1.00 tip

 

5. Always take a walk every day and look for people to visit with or for someone who might just need a little help with something your good at.

 

6. Always try o work in a nap in the afternoon.  The couch is a really good spot and try to have a dog napping with you for added warmth

 

7. Try to keep the thermostat low in the winter and pretty high in the summer time to save a dime.

 

8. Always treat your house guests to a delicious breakfast when they stay over.

 

9. Be sure to keep all the fixen’s for spaghetti in your food storage as it’s a wonderful meal to make in a jiffy when company stop by at dinner time

 

10. Call your siblings on the telephone as regularly as your phone bill will allow.

 

11. When you go to the sizzler, always order something great and then get the salad bar too. Get a to go box for your dinner and you will already have breakfast prepared for tomorrow.

 

12. Left over fondue meat makes for the finest steak and eggs the next morning too

 

13. Don’t buy new cars, buy used and save the difference

 

14. When going on vacation, you really only need to pack fresh underwear, as you can wear the same outfit all week long.

 

15. As much as you can, keep moving, doing, serving, helping and working  It’s when you stop that you will die.

 

16. Always take good care of your dogs, treat them well, feed them well, as they may be your very best friends.

 

17. He’s showed us how to have  lasting marriage of 57 years

 

18. It’s ok to have a little dirt and grease under your fingernails

 

19. A whopper tastes so much better when you pay .99 cents instead of 2.99

 

20. Working hard is a good skill to have

 

21. Don’t waste time, use time wisely

 

22. He’s a great example of how to be Christ like.

 

23. He taught me how to take care of my car

 

Happy Birthday Dad! Thanks for ALL the Important Life Lessons you have taught me.  I miss you and think of you so often.  Cheerio!  

 

 

Lift up your heads and Be of Good Cheer!

Our Mansfield Thiots

The girls returned to Face to Face school on Tuesday. All three of them were so happy to be back to school.  They are all three at different schools with different start and release times.  It makes it a bit tricky getting everyone where they need to be.  So far so good! Saturday was their last day at Hawaiian Falls the water park right near their home.  They've spent many a hot day this summer cooling off being socially distanced.  Our weather took a bit of a dip this week giving us a promise that Autumn Time is not far behind.  We've got a birthday gift waiting for Becky.  We need to see you Mansfield Thiots!

Our Medford Granges

After a wonderful Grange Family reunion, they said good bye to all their company and the two big kids started back to school on Tuesday morning.  It was a very brief start back as due to wild fires so close by, school was cancelled for the rest of the week.  They were under a level one evacuation order on Tuesday, had their car filled with gas and loaded up with everything important just waiting for the level to change to GET OUT OF TOWN.  Jakes family and a fellow co worker had both offered them a safe place to come too.  Tatia was so grateful they didn't have to leave and it's been a crazy week with hazadous air outside.  So grateful they are safe.  Four Miles is a bit too close for comfort.  I wish we could pray all of our rain to head west to California and Oregon.  Crazy Times!

Our Carmichael Thiots

The Realtor send the photographers for a photo shoot of Charlie's home to be officially on the market on Friday.  He has been so busy with getting all the last minute things done.  The house is painted, the gates replaced, the master bathroom looking beautiful and hopefully, somebody that is looking for a great home has their pockets filled with money and ready to make a great offer.  The last and Charlie said one of the sadest parts was taking down the swing out of his huge back yard trees.  He has a friend who they gifted it too with three little kids the ages Charlie's kids were when he built it for them.  Today is Jen's daughter Miss Lilly's birthday.  She is 15 years old!  Happy Happy Birthday Lilly Jane! 

Our LA Thiots

It happened, on Saturday morning, Adelaide pulled her 5th tooth and can now sing the song, I'll I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!  She is quite a master dentist.  That little tooth has been so wiggly but refused to come out until she called Uncle Ricky, who works in dentist offices every day, and he encouraged her over a video chat to pull it!  Way to go Adelaide.  She was rewarded with a new bracelet from her mama's bracelet shop.  What fun it was to watch her pick a gorgeous pink one.  Way to go Adelaide!  Graypa is predicting that Adelaide will grow up to be a dentist.  The best tooth pulling dentist EVER! 

We Plano Thiots

My favorite scripture this week from Come Follow Me was found in 3 Nephi 1:13  "Lift up your heads and be of Good Cheer." Nephi had given this command to his people during a very difficult time to remind them that even in difficulty, we have many things to be thankful for. Yes, how true that is.  Skyler and I had fun fixing up a corner of my sewing room to share with Elie for her on line Preschool room. What fun to have her get to come and go to preschool here.  We are loving it.   In honor of my dad, who LOVED BYU Football, we watched BYU play NAVY on Monday night for Family Night..  Laurie send me a yummy recipe for a treat that we made and enjoyed.  What fun it was to cheer the cougars on to victory.   We loved celebrating President Russell M Nelson's 96th birthday with him on Wednesday.  I took Muffins to my seminary class with candles in them and we were able to celebrate with him.  Friday was my day to teach Seminary over ZOOM.  We each wore our Helping Hands vests to participate in the National Day of Service.  Each student thought of something wonderful they could do to help serve right in their own homes.  We also, under the direction of Mornoni in Alma 43-46 created our very own Title of Liberty.  They did a super job on theirs and I hope they will remind them of how important our Religious Freedoms are to us today as well as in the Book of Mormon Days.  Skyler had a new shipment of shirts arrive and we had a fun Saturday folding and sorting shirts and Sky created the labels in preparation for packaging and shipping.  We are awaiting the arrival of more packaging to get them out the door.  Dick is the greatest folder of hoodies.  He won the award!  Thanks for letting us help Sky!  Hope you have had a good week and can look for reasons to Lift up your heads and be of Good Cheer.  Sure Love you, Robynn

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You can substitute the corn flakes for rice krispies or special K YUM!

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Our Mansfield Thiots

Last winter, Ricky and Becky made plans to spend Becky's birthday with friends in Hawaii.  As you know, lots of our plans have had to be rearranged and so they planned a trip with the girls to the gulf coast in Alabama.  It's become a favorite place for their family.  They love the warm beaches and it's not crowded at all.  It's not as close as they would like but the girls are great travelers and with a couple of shows they can be there.  I'm glad they are having a great time.  Happy Belated Birthday Becky on the 4th! I love this picture that Tatia took of Ricky and Becky the first time she met Becky.  

Our Medford Granges

Jakes family planned the Grange family reunion in Medford this weekend.  Tatia has been busy getting her home arranged to fit extra people.  They have 10 kids under 10 this weekend.  What fun!  I love this picture of Tootie's baby Linnie with Gracie and Simon.  She is catching up to them.  Tatia's birthday was on Tuesday and they celebrated on Monday with their trip to the coast and the redwoods.  For her birthday Jake cleaned all the hardwood floors in their home while Tatia got to do some grocery shopping and back to school shopping.  School in Medford starts on Tuesday morning and will be on line for the first month until they see if it is safe to go back.  Max sent me a photo of the rocks they painted this week.  I love them all and I especially love Max's feet in the photo.  Thanks Max! I love that there is a crumbl Cookie store in Medford that delivers birthday cookies.  YUM!

Our Carmichael Thiots

Charlie's family continues to get their Garfield Avenue home ready to put on the market.  The master bathroom was the project of the week.  The shower was torn out and rebuilt and looks so nice.  Charlie has a friend who is amazing with tile.  So grateful for his help.  After a busy Saturday, everyone took a break and headed to SONIC for a tasty treat and then home for some games.  Doesn't get much better than that.  Jen's family makes work and play so  much more fun.  

Our LA Thiots

The labor day weekend started early in LA with no school on Friday.  That made for a fun excuse to head to the beach.  Adelaide and Jackson both got to do a bit of surfing and with the practice they've been doing on their trampoline, they both have some sweet skills.  Pierce and Stacy are both great surf instructors.  This was the week for dentist appointments and Jackson had one cavity to fill and I'm proud ot report he was an excellent patient.  He sat so still and didn't complain.  Go Jackson! Adelaide has a few more loose teeth.  She is quiet a dentist herself as she has pulled each of her teeth.  Go Girl!

We Plano Thiots

Skyler's actual birthday was Monday even though we celebrated a bit on Saturday, the real deal was Monday.  Skyler and Dick's favorite sushi place made a special birthday dinner for him and it did not disappoint.  The US Open Tennis Tournament was playing and they made for some fun entertainment.  

This has been quite a week and I'm glad to report we have all survived.  We've had some gray clouds but this photo Skyler took on his birthday with the rays of sunshine coming through the clouds is such a welcome relief.  God is there, He knows what's happening in our lives and wants to shine his light and send his blessings to us all.  

I hope you all have a nice Labor Day weekend.  We started ours out with our traditional garage clean out.  It's looking a lot better out there.  Keep Smiling as my dad would say, Keep Swimming as Dori would say!  SLY Robynn