Smithfield Scoop

At this point in time, I think I should title our post "Smithfield Suspicions." As I have been scheduling January appointments, I feel suspicious that someone has sped up the clock! Who did it?? What do you mean, the year is almost over? How on earth did that happen??

We have had snow this week. We have had lovely sunshine this week. We had some rain earlier this week. But through it all, we have had VERY cold temperatures. It is rather chilly here. More precisely, it is plain cold - freezing, actually. But that's okay, because it's December and it's winter and it's Christmas, so it's supposed to be cold. If it wasn't cold, I would be suspicious...

Our utmost gratitude to Elise, Alex, Joe, Jack, Peter, Joy and Jake who came to help finish painting the basement. They arrived Thursday morning and attacked the job with incredible energy! I had great plans to help, but ended up running to a birth and left them and Dad to do the work, as well as make lunch and dinner. I arrived home in time to eat and see the job beautifully done. After dinner, Dad and I left to take the Bennetts to a concert at USU, while Harts stayed and put the last coat on the bedroom walls. We couldn't possibly be more grateful to you all! It looks amazing. We are overwhelmed at the kindness and generosity of our family. Dad continues to work in the basement cleaning up, touching up baseboards and door frames. All should be ready by the time the carpet arrives to be installed. Again, thanks to everyone for your kindness and help.

We were very happy to have Peter and Joy and Jake grab paintbrushes and help downstairs, but I was especially grateful that they were willing to decorate the Christmas tree that we had only managed to get the lights put on. The ornaments are all hung on the bottom half of the tree, because that's as high as the decorators could reach, but it is lovely. 

Other happenings this week include getting all of the locks in our house re-keyed. We have some extra sets and will put one set outside somewhere so any of you can come and stay even if we are not here! We also had the piano tuned (by a piano major friend of Lauren's and former member of Dad's stake), so you can play the piano while you are here. It sounds much better! We got a couple of packages off to Emma, then remembered some other things I was going to send. Maybe she'll get three packages this year! Additionally, I was on the committee for the North Logan 7th Ward Christmas party. My assignment was table decorations. I filled 120 canning jars of various sizes (thanks to Ruth for lending me some of her extras!) with sand and tea lights. We helped set up on Friday and refilled food trays and directed traffic. The sister missionaries sought me out to give them a ride to an appointment, so I missed the whole program at the party. Oh, well. We helped clean up and said goodbye to that ward. There are great people there and we made some sweet friendships that we treasure in that short time.

 We look forward to your updates - about the health status of those who have been sick, the outcomes of Garrett's latest Spartan activities in California, about your ward Christmas parties, the travels of Thomas and Victoria in the big city, and any other news you care to report! We love you all and can't wait to see you in the coming couple of weeks!!