28

That's Sean's ACT score! It came today in the mail. Not bad for taking it at the beginning of his Junior year. 28 is a very high score.... actually enough to get into BYU easy, and with his high GPA and extra-curricular activities, he is breathing a sigh of relief about getting into BYU. Great job, Sean !!!!

Faith in the South

First, Art and Sherry are in Houston as I type waiting to get on a plane headed back to California. Art was released this morning, and the discharge papers said "no flying" but he is doing it anyway. I will be glad when he gets home and sees his doctor. This is probably their last visit to see us, until graduations, mission farewells and wedding receptions.

I wanted to comment about how people really turn to the Savior here in the South. When I was in the ICU waiting room, I couldn't help overhearing a few conversations. They always included them talking about thier faith in Jesus Christ and prayers for their loved ones in the hospital.

At the clinic Christmas party in Livingston, they started it out with a prayer. The person saying the prayer even asked the Lord to bless me in my new job. How nice was that? People are not afraid to show their faith here. The church parking lots on Sundays are always full. I think that is a big reason why people are so hospitable in the South too. They try to go out of their way to make you feel welcomed. Our Church is small, but it is a community that has strong faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Lacey and I drove Sean to Louisiana tonight to spend a couple days with the twins who came down from Mississippi. Here is Brett, Kyle, Sean (doing a jig?) and Trevor.

Brett, Kyle, Sean, Trevor and Shane getting ready for a 3 day sleepover in Bossier City without parents.... a good idea? we shall see... I mean, how much trouble can a group of teenage boys get into unsupervised?

Lacey says goodbye to her high school buddy, Talon, as he goes off to bootcamp and his family moves to California.

Doing Better

Art had an angiogram last night and although there is damage to a few arteries to his heart, they have decided that they don't need immediate attention. His heart attack was a mild one, but he needs to see his cardiologist soon to work out a game plan on how to handle the blockages. That sure is good news. They want to keep him in the hospital for a couple more days, but I know he wants to get out and go home. What a way to end a vacation.

In the ER last night

We had some bad news. Yesterday afternoon Sean was playing tennis with his Grandpa, when Grandpa started to feel bad. Grandma and Page were at the courts watching. Grandpa went and layed down, with shortness of breath. We ended up giving him a blessing. After a couple hours, we finally talked him to going to the ER. Well, they ended up keeping him overnight, and determined he had a heart attack! Page and Grandma rushed up to the hospital at 3 am when we got a call that he was being moved to ICU. They were supposed to fly back home tomorrow, but now looks like he will have to get an angioplasty this afternoon, and see what kind of damage is there. Grandpa had a 6-way bypass 16 years ago and a pace maker put in this last year. He wants to go home and have his own doctor take care of him, but Page told me that he probably has to stay for 8 more days. That pushes off the trip to Rexburg to get Lacey's things too. Keep us in your prayers. One good thing, the hospital he is in is ranked in the top 5% nationally for best cardiology care. He is in a good place.

Grandma Gilmore's Birthday

My Grandma, Mildred Woolsey Gilmore would have been 102 today. I loved talking to my Grandma. She had so many interesting stories to tell. She was a tough lady who worked most of her life. She raised 7 kids almost on her own during the depression. She was born in Thatcher Arizona before it was even a state. She grew up on a ranch in Safford, AZ. Her Dad had the first car ever in the Gila River Valley. She married the school teacher's son, Percy Gilmore, when she was only 16 and moved to California. My kids had the good fortune to know their great grandma too. Her family line was the one who joined the Church in Kentucky and moved to Nauvoo and traveled West to Utah with the Saints. Her grandma was one of our favorite pioneers, Mary Larsen, from Denmark. I think it's neat that she knew Mary Larsen, and we knew Grandma... there is a link there. I always thought it was terrible Grandma's birthday was the day after Christmas. Getting all her presents at the same time during the year, but we always tried to have a separate celebration and give her birthday gifts in addition to christmas gifts. She died at the age of 93 and really wanted to live to see the year 2000, but didn't make it, but she had a great life never the less. She lived at home, independently, until the day she died. I use to be amazed when I would see her on the streets of Lakewood in her orange mustang, driving, well into her 90s. I hope I live as long and can take care of myself at that age. Happy Birthday, Grandma!

We went to Church on Christmas morning

Grandpa and Grandma got to spend Christmas with us from California

Anybody want to kiss Lacey? She is under the mistletoe!... wait! is that hollyberry?

Lacey gets her penguin PJs

I get a Rose Bowl cap from Page. Fight On, Trojans! Beat Texas.

Sean is collecting Star Wars now

Christmas has arrived!

Joy to the World! The Lord is Come!

Unto Us A Child Is Born

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a child is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosover believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

I'm grateful for the birth of the Savior and for his atonement for me. I love the Chirstmas season, when it seems people are a little nicer, there is a little more love in the world, because of this baby born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. Merry Christmas to all who read this.

Me and Sean at the courthouse. I better watch out, he is almost as tall as me now.

Grandma wanted a picture with Santa in the background

Look at the gingerbread house