Day Family News for November 2013

December 1, 2013

NEWS FROM THE DAYS:

First of all, how could it possibly be December? But since we just celebrated Thanksgiving, it makes sense. Stephanie invited everyone to her house in Syracuse for turkey this year. She has wanted to host Thanksgiving forever, and finally had the home and room to do so this year. Wiggins girls love to make pies, and they ended up bring 6 or 7 pies – this in addition to our apple pie. We had twelve around the table, with Katie/Bill and Debbie /Stuart with their spouse’s family this year. Stephanie did a superb job and we all left full, happy and thankful.

Last week, Linda’s knee got very sore and swollen. The doctor said it was infected, and she is on the tail end of a week’s supply of antibiotics. It’s feeling somewhat better, but Linda had to forgo her part time work at Macys for a week, and still doesn’t know if she will be OK until she returns to the Doc next week.

We haven’t had snow to speak of yet, and I spent a few hours hanging Christmas wreaths around our outside front lights, and placing our reindeer that light up for the holidays. I’ve also been attempting to mouse proof the house, as our cat has presented us with a few mice these past few months, and we have heard one running across the false ceiling in our family room. Upon close examination outside, I found two different openings where the air conditioning tubes enter our home, as well as the main power line. I’ve closed these up, assuming mice could get into our ceiling downstairs from these small outside openings.

Linda and I decided to get new flooring in our upstairs kitchen and downstairs laundry room/kitchen for Christmas. We spent one afternoon painting the downstairs kitchen after the flooring had been laid. There have been seams coming up on the linoleum in this room for years and years, and it’s nice to have new paint and seamless flooring. Next week, they will replace our upstairs tile (with all its cracks) with new tile. We’re in 7th heaven.

I finally finished reading Robinson Crusoe, and then quickly read two books I received for my birthday last month. First, “Killing Jesus”, by the same authors that wrote “Killing Lincoln” and “Killing Kennedy”. A good and insightful read. I’ve loaned it to the former Catholic Priest I trained at my work in hopes of getting his expert opinion on the book. I just finished reading “My Story”, by Elizabeth Smart. A riveting and well written book about her ordeal being kidnapped by a religious fanatic for 9 months. A must read if you ask me. Now I’m onto a book written about Johnny Carson by his former attorney – a little lighter read I hope, although so far it’s not all laughs. Linda just finished reading “Catching Fire”, part two of the Hunger Games saga. I still read by the page, while Linda has gone digital with her Kindle.

Katie announced that she is due May 1st, and it will be a girl. We look forward to welcoming our 9th and in all likelihood our last, grandchild. There are always more great grandchildren to look forward to. We celebrated Bill’s birthday this past week, and both of our great grandchildren came, and little Jax is walking like a pro, while Emry is growing up and looks a lot like the child actress Judy Garland of long ago.

Linda has enjoyed working the few shifts she was able to work before her knee went on the blink. I got in one last round of golf earlier in the month before the colder weather started making appearances. Linda noticed an interesting event one Sunday in the newspaper and we decided to attend. It was held at the Calvary Chapel in the Murray area, and the visiting evangelist was Shiela Raye Charles, daughter of Ray Charles. An outstanding and interesting evening. Shiela was a 20 year drug addict, had 3 crack babies by 3 different men (not her husband), was sexually abused (not by Ray Charles) in her childhood, had an alcoholic mother, and was in her 3rd federal prison sentence when she found Jesus and was called to preach to anyone and everyone who would hear her story, and specializes in visiting prisons. She sang some of Ray Charles songs, but intermixed her sermon with gospel and popular (although she used religious lyrics instead) music. I didn’t find Jesus, but did read the Jesus book I mentioned earlier.

I had to succumb to the dreaded 10 yr. colonoscopy exam this past month, and am now free for another 5 years. Linda and I had dinner with some friends – Brent & Karen Wilkes, who were in town because of ill health of Karen’s brother. We also attended Kaylee’s (Debbie’s 8 yr. old) baptism in Herriman, and a nice lunch afterword.

I’m off to pick up Danny at the airport, as he’s returning from Maryland where he spent Thanksgiving with the Farnes. He’ll spend Christmas with us this year, so send his gifts here. I know it’s early, but have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Tom & Linda