Thursday, November 23, 2017

Thanksgiving Day!

What a great day this has been!  We drove to Fredericksburg, Virginia, to have dinner with David and Lisa Gibbon and their family.  There was a lot of ice on the windshield at 6:30 a.m. but Glade was prepared with a scraper and the car was soon frost-free and warm.  Because of all the horrific stories of traffic issues on the freeways here, we went prepared for the hour and a half drive with blankets, water, and extra warm clothes in case we were stranded for hours. 

However, there was no need.  The day was beautiful and sunny, the freeways were busy but not congested, and the GPS sent us spot-on to our destination.  Kerry and Eli had been invited, too, but they had car trouble and couldn’t get an alternator replaced until tomorrow.  Ryan and Lisa Bell, their three children and Lisa’s mother were also there for dinner providing a total of six little children which lent a sweet, nostalgic feel to Thanksgiving.  

Below left:  Emily, David, Megan, Josh, and Lisa (McFaddon) Gibbon 

Below right:  Lisa, Heather, Liliana, Ryan, and John Bell

 Gorgeous Car Ride

David and Lisa's  house

Ryan, Lisa, Lisa's mother, Glade

·        We are so grateful to the Lord for the bounty of blessings bestowed upon us and our family. 

·        We are grateful to have been born of goodly parents and to have a pioneer heritage of faithful Saints willing to sacrifice everything for the Gospel. 

·        We are grateful for the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for Latter-day prophets and apostles, and for the Word of the Lord in the scriptures.

·        We are so very grateful for honest, hard-working, faithful children, their spouses and families, and that they are honoring their covenants and are temple worthy.

·        We are grateful for each other, the love, patience, and care that we continually put into our relationship to nurture and build it for the eternal life to come.

·        We are grateful for our temple marriage—the culmination of all our efforts here.   

We send you all our love on this special holiday and pray that as you count your blessings, the list will include your marriages. We pray that you will make a further commitment to each other to love, honor, and cherish your relationship and put each other first and foremost in your lives.  When it’s all said and done in this life and the children and jobs and all things temporal are gone, only the two of you will be standing together.  May you stand strong and love one another.  If you work together, your marriage can be whatever you want it to be.  AIM HIGH! 

We send our love and gratitude for each of you and your families.  :)