It has been 21 days since I started this iteration of my journey! I have missed posting only 1 day! I am pretty excited about the changes I am experiencing in my life. I have become a weekly temple attendee. I notice more people around me being interested in Family History..I am not claiming that it is my influence that has caused that. I know it is the Spirit of Elijah working to encourage all people whatever their religious beliefs to seek for connection to the past, to hear and tell stories, and to share love and concern.
This holiday weekend has been so memorable! Jessica, my oldest daughter, was here for Thanksgiving Dinner and the whole weekend. I hadn’t planned on her at all because she had to work on Thanksgiving Day but one of her co-workers volunteered to work her shift! It was so wonderful to see her walk in the door on Thursday afternoon. I think it was a blessing from the Lord. Nicole came home for Thanksgiving also and she helped me with pie-making on Wednesday and a lot of cooking on Thursday. Samantha helped out a lot with cooking and running errands on Thursday. We got to spend time with Cassandra on Friday and Saturday.
Nicole’s cherry pie 
Nicole and Samantha cooking Thanksgiving Dinner 
Nicole, M’Kaylee, Samantha at bowling Alley 
Parkin Bowling
Last night, all of our girls, Gil, Dan (Samantha’s boyfriend) and I met at Schmidts Christmas Tree Corner and picked out a Christmas tree. That has long been a family tradition to buy a fresh-cut Christmas tree. The girls will run around the lot in between the trees playing hide and seek whatever the weather. There was no running around last night but we were all together and got a picture together. The tree is still in the garage and not decorated but we will get to that tomorrow night hopefully. We have never bought our Christmas tree this early but we were all together and it seemed important to do.
Tonight, I had the opportunity to listen to Gil senior tell about playing Santa Claus for a family in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania when he was in the Navy. I wish I would have recorded it on Family Search. I am going to write it up and then have him edit it and maybe then I can get him to record it while reading it.
I have learned a lot about using this blog and I know I have a lot to learn but it is coming. This week I will be getting up at 4:15 to do my Family History. I do so much better in my day when I give my best to the Lord early in the day.