Happy Anniversary!

Salt Lake Temple - November 30, 1981

"In your arms I can still feel the way you want me when you hold me. I can still hear the words you whispered when you told me I can stay right here forever in your arms. And there ain't no way I'm lettin' you go now, 'cause I'm keeping you forever and for always. We will be together all of our days... I'm keeping you forever and for always!!"

Reception in Cheyenne - December 1981

I am so grateful to have such a loving companion who is also a great father. Tim has worked hard to provide for us. We have been blessed beyond measure for 27 years and look forward to at least 27 more. We love our boys and our sweet daughter-in-law Tiffani. Soon Chris will have a wife and we know in the next few years grandbabies will come!! We want to serve a mission and who knows what other things will come our way. Happy Anniversary to the one I love!

Christmas Lights!!

How Did the Tradition Begin?

Originally, Christmas lights were used in Germany (where my ancestors are from) in the homes of only the very wealthy as long ago as the 17th century. This was before electricity, and the lights were actually candles. They were only used on trees at that time, and were strategically placed to illuminate the ornaments that hung from the branches. The candles were held in place by either gluing melted wax to a tree branch or using pins to hold the candle. Around 1900, candleholders were being used, and by 1915 small lanterns and glass balls became a means of holding the candles in place.

Then, in 1882, Thomas Edison’s assistant, Edward Johnson, came up with the idea of electric Christmas lights. He lit up a Christmas tree in New York City with 80 small electric bulbs. Within 20 years, stores were displaying electric lights and they were being mass-produced and sold to customers. A tragic fire in New York City in 1917, caused by the continuing practice of lighting the highly flammable tree with candles, gave 15-year-old Albert Sadacca an idea. Now it just so happened that Albert’s family, who had come from Spain, had a novelty business selling wicker cages with imitation birds in them that lit up. Albert Sadacca then invented safety lights for Christmas trees and created a multimillion dollar company that became the largest Christmas lighting company in the world (NOMA Electric Company).

The outdoor Christmas tree that ran on electric lights became very popular throughout North America and the use of them began to regularly take place all over the world shortly thereafter. Decorating a live Christmas tree outdoors became the attractive thing to do, and many people still do it today, some even going as far as to decorate it as well as they would their own indoor tree.

This slowly evolved into using electric lights on trees not only outdoors, but indoors as well. It also led to the use of lights for houses that everyone uses today. It took many years for Christmas lights to become what they are today, and many ideas and inventions helped lead us to the brightly lit and decorated homes and yards we see every year.
-Anne Clarke

I love Christmas lights!!

Tim does not share my enthusiasm but because he loves me,

he puts them up every year.

Sometimes Chris and Mark are around to help. I

am very grateful they will put them on the house.

Many of our neighbors have them professionally strung

but Tim does it the old-fashioned way!!

It's November 28 and we still have leaves on the trees (this would not happen in Wyoming!) But before the weather turns colder Tim and Chris begin stringing the lights.

The result won't look like Temple Square in Salt Lake City or...

Tivoli Gardens in Denmark (we saw this when we went to pick up Mark from his mission) ...

but I love it the same. It looks beautiful to me and it adds to the spirit of the Christmas season.

Thanksgiving Eve B-Ball with the guys!

Chris checking the stock quotes before hitting the hardwood!

Tim ready to take the shot. Look at that form...


Mike catching some air. Dustin looking John Stockton-ish!

Bob and Mark - MVP's of the game!

Don't know if they fouled (fowled) out or .... are warming the bench?
Dustin, Mike and Chris

Thanksgiving 2008

Christopher and Tim - expert turkey carvers. Ready to go to Mike and Pam's for our family dinner.

Greatest blessing - our family!!

Our man Dustin preparing a deep fried turkey, it was clearly the BEST tasting turkey!! Way to go!!

Pam works her magic - The table looks beautiful and we are ready to enjoy a wonderful meal together.

Lee made a fun drink that entertained the children.

The newest star of the Jackson family - Poppy!!

Brooke looking fabulous!

Uncle Lee with Brooke and Poppy.

Happy Bella with her beautiful Mom, Vanessa.

Grandma practice with Bella!

A very content Mark and Tiffani. Notice Mike sacked out in the corner. Thanks to Pam for all the preparation and a wonderful day with family!!

Quote for the week of 11-24-2008

As I Look Back

As I look back on my life

I find myself wondering.....
Did I remember to thank you for all that you have done for me?

For all of the times you were by my side

to help me celebrate my successes and accept my defeats?

Or for teaching me the value of hard work,

good judgement, courage, and honesty?

I wonder if I've ever thanked you for the simple things...
The laughter, smiles, and quiet times we've shared?

If I have forgotten to express my gratitude

For any of these things, I am thanking you now....
and I am hoping that you've known all along,

how very much you are loved and appreciated.

- Author Unknown

My Mom, Nelle - Tim's Mom, Johnnie Belle - Pam's Mom, Billie

Thanksgiving 1998

I am grateful for our mother's - for all the Thanksgiving meals they lovingly prepared year after year. I am thankful they showed us how important it is to gather together and give thanks for our abundant blessings. Happy Thanksgiving to all the mothers in my life, old and young. May we keep the tradition alive!!

The Gathering of Goddesses!!

The celebration continues at Susan's beautiful home.

She adds her special touch to everything she does!

I love Autumn and all the amazing colors.

Look at the table Susan created!
 

Once again Lorie made my birthday cake. This year it was carrot cake -- the best I have ever tasted. It looks like a cake for goddesses!!

You are never too old to make a wish and blow out the candles!

Billie Nixon - Becky Doxey - Cindy Horrocks -

Eileen - Beckie Rainer - Denise Nydegger - Susan Savage

Another picture - add Lorie Lisonbee (Barbara Evans was out of town)

The Gathering Of Goddesses

It is a known fact that goddesses attract other goddesses.

But the really cool thing is that quite often they flock together

long before they reach their true, lofty status of "Goddess".

By the time they become goddesses, they've been gathering

together for so long, giving, sharing, loving and caring,

that they know intimate details about each other's lives,

making their bond unbreakable. Whether shopping,

going out to lunch, lounging over a pedicure or sitting

on the beach, the gathering of goddesses can't be missed.

Just listen for the buzz of friendship, the tears of shared

sorrows and the fits of irrepressible laughter.

You'll know in a second, you're in the presence of greatness.

My "Dream Team"

Ann Adamson, secretary - Valerie Blain, 1st counselor

Eileen, president - Val Peterson, 2nd counselor

This is my presidency and they are wonderful women. We work so well together and have a lot of fun!

Tricia Alworth was my 2nd counselor but she was asked to serve as a ward president. I reluctantly let her go and she is doing a great job in her new calling!!

I served with Jesse Schoenfeld for a year a half before being called as stake Relief Society president. I love Jesse, serving with her was the perfect preparation for my calling. I learned so much for her sweet example.

Sweet Sisters at the Developmental Center

The turkey line-up!

One of the most rewarding things we have done as a stake Relief Society presidency is providing activities a few times a year for the Relief Society sisters at the Developmental Center.

The sisters are so loving and appreciate anything you do for them.

My counselor, Valerie Blain with one of the sisters.

She loves her turkey! We also helped them make fleece scarves with fringe and beads followed up with milk and cookies!

Abby Manuela is the president of the Developmental Center ward in my stake. She is genuine, kind, sweet and devoted. She has been serving for over 12 years. Many of the sisters do not have any family support and are in group homes around the area. Abby and her counselors pick up some of the sisters who do not have transportation and bring them to the church for Relief Society every Wednesday night. They adore Abby as they would their own mother.

Quotes for the week

"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts.

No Americans have been more impoverished than these,

who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving."

- H.U. Westermayer

"How wonderful it would be if we could help our children and grandchildren to learn thanksgiving at an early age. Thanksgiving opens the doors. It changes a child's personality.

A child is resentful, negative, or thankful. Thankful children want to give, they radiate happiness, they draw people."

- Sir John Templeton

Thanksgiving at Grandpa and Grandma Williams

November 1988

Christopher, Grandma Johnnie Belle, Matt, Becca, Lee and Mark

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

Tim's New Office

Tim's new office is in the Highland Executive Suites located at the intersection of the Alpine Highway and the road leading to the mouth of the American Fork Canyon. They just completed construction and it's a beautiful building. His address is 5255 W. 11000 N. Suite 150, Highland Utah 84003. Phone 801-770-6848.

It's just minutes away from our home! He can ride his scooter when the weather is nice and comes home for lunch.

New, very nice looking office furniture.

He has a great view of Mt. Timpanogos, and his windows overlook hole #2 at the Alpine Country Club. He's says he sees a lot of people miss a 3 foot putt. I tell him to get to work and quit looking out the window, but I admit it's a beautiful view.

Tim has been reading and studying night and day to prepare for the official opening of his Estate Planning practice. I am so proud of him. He has worked so hard to take care of us. He is so smart, is a wonderful teacher, enjoys learning new things and loves a challenge. He chose Estate Planning because he sees it as something that people really need to have done in their lives, to protect and take care of their loved ones when they are gone.

He still needs to spruce things up with some plants and art work. He's put me on that job so I'm excited to find things that will make his office pleasant and inviting for his clients.

11-11-57

 
 Eileen Renee Federer Williams

November 11, 1957

Born at Memorial Hospital

Cheyenne, Wyoming

My Mom arrived at the hospital about 5 minutes before I was born! My sister was the only girl for a long time. She loved her 4 brothers but she told everyone if I was a boy, she would have drowned me in the horse trough!

Today I turned 51, I feel really good.

My body's still working quite well - knock on wood!

My hair's not gray, my wrinkles are but a few,

I can still touch my toes - thanks to yoga, (Can you?)

I'm quite full of vigour, just avoiding the hype.

But they now print the phone book in much smaller type.

My hearing's still good, What's that you say?

Speak clearly, don't mumble, your voice wafts away.

Inside the old body I'm still young, but then

If life starts at 40, I'm really just 11!

Christopher took me to lunch at P.F. Chang's - Kung Pao shrimp!!

I had dinner with Tim, Mark and Tiff. We started out at the new Olive Garden in American Fork but there was a long wait. We walked across the parking lot to Paradise Bakery. I enjoyed it very much. I had a wonderful day. Being with my family is all I could ever want. I love them so much. Thanks to family and friends for the phone calls, visit, gifts and the different renditions of Happy Birthday, especially George's -- it was the BEST!!

Birthday with friends - 2007

"A friend is someone who knows all 
about you and loves just the same"

Lorie Lisonbee, Cindy Horrocks, Beckie Rainer, Barbara Evans,

Billie Nixon, Denise Nygegger and Susan Savage - BFF.

Surrounded by 7 of my closest friends we celebrated at Susan's home!

"Have friends not for the sake of receiving but of giving"

Lorie outdid herself with a delicious chocolate cake.

"We have been friends together in sunshine and in shade"

Denise made this unbelievably gorgeous quilt. The label said: "But what is a stitch for? To hold. It binds past to present, heart to heart, from generation to generation. It is said that she who sleeps under a quilt is comforted by love - You have comforted us all with your sweet friendship for all the years we have known you - Happy 50th Birthday!"

"We are not old friends because of the laughs

we spend -- but the the tears we've saved"

Susan collected letters from over 50 people, including family and friends and presented them to me in a beautiful book. I read them again today. So many heartfelt letters that I will cherish forever. I was trying to thank them through my tears...