Thanksgiving Weekend 2024

Grammy hosted Thanksgiving.  I had to work:( All the regular Spokane peps were there plus Ryan, Angela, Kathleen, Brandon, Marsha, and Suzi.  Michelle even got to come! I did get to sneak away from work at about 4:30pm.  I missed dinner but got there in time to do the dishes. And I got there for the best part.  We all went around the room and told Michelle a memory we had about her or something we loved about her.  It was so sweet.  I was so glad that I got to be there for that.  

Garret, Katie, Pompa, Grammy, Brandon, and Kathleen did baptisms for the dead on Friday after Thanksgiving.

The Crandall's came over Sunday night! It was fun to see Mady (and of course the reast of the Crandall's)

 

Lunch with the Girls

Katie's friend Rhett's mom invited Katie and Olivia to lunch.  Katie and Olivia hung out a lot at Rhett's house before their missions. Rhett's mom Amanda is the cool mom and just loved having the kids at her house.  Rhett is still on his mission, but Amanda wanted to see Katie and Olivia so she invited them to lunch.  Carrie and I invited ourselves along.  It was really fun! Amanda really is a cool lady. 

 

GG's Funeral

We celebrated my grandma's life today.  It was a wonderful service.  Courtney, Alex, Nayla, and my dad spoke. We all shared some wonderful memories about grandma. 

 

Handel's Messiah

Katie got invited to go to Handel's Messiah with Shannan Skidmore, Glynis Hull, and Allen Skidmore

 

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

They made a movie of the book "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever".  My mom used to read this book to us kids every Christmas, and I read it to my kids lots of Christmas's.  It is such a good story.  They did a really good job with the movie.  It has such a great message.  Best line from the movie. Narrator: "Mom, why don't we just kick the Herdmans out of the play?" Mom: "The whole point of the story is that Jesus was born for the Herdmans just as much as for us."

 

Grandma and Grandpa Christensen Visit

Grandma and Grandpa Christensen came to visit from November 21-25th.  They came to watch Garret play some basketball games.  It was kind of a crazy time because Jessy was in town to visit and because it was my Grandma Spear's funeral but we still had a good visit and got to play a few games of Settlers. 

 

Michelle Comes Home

Michelle got to come home from the hospital today.  Another miracle.  I helped Jon break her free.  They were so cute holding hands on the car ride home that I had to snap a picture.

Michelle Gets To Go To Beauty And The Beast

Miracles happen. Michelle was able to get out of the hospital today (technically she was discharged and reamitted, but the fact that they were able to save her room for her was another miracle) and go to Sadie, Ike, and Scarlett's play Beauty and the Beast.  

She's made it back and got her room back!

 

Welcome Home Katie

Flying home from Panama (through Atlanta and Seattle) to Spokane.  Katie's first time home in 18 months.

Walking to baggage claim

First Katie sighting!

First hug with Grammy

So many people came to show their love! Grammy, Pompa, Jon, Nixon, Sadie, Ike, Scarlett, Cam, Rachelle, Maddie, Ollie, Ender, Finn, Marsha, Shauna Crandall, Olivia Tolley, Craig and Carrie Wilkinson, Sarah Hawkins and Karen Hawkins all came to welcome her home!

Grammy made a poster with cinnamon bears for Katie

Olivia, Katie, and Mady (on the phone)

Grammy decorated the house

 

Panama Trip Day 11

Today Kirt and Katie got up and took the metro from our hotel to downtown Panama City.  We were staying in a Courtyard Marriott out by the airport.  Garret and I decided to stay and go to the gym and the pool.  Katie and Kirt walked around downtown Panama City and they ran into one of Katie's mission companions.  Katie was so excited to see sister Rhodes. They came back and we went to the airport and got our flight to Atlanta.  Then we caught a flight to Seattle.  We had to spend the night in Seattle.  We didn't get in until after midnight and had to get up at 5 so we didn't get much sleep.