1 New edition of family histories

A few months ago I received a telephone call from a cousin of ours, Ramona Batt Marshall, who lives in the Idaho Falls area. Ramona is a daughter of Melvin Batt, who was a son of Morley Batt and Minnie Lee. (Morley was William B Batt's brother, and Minnie was Hazel Jane Lee's sister, a case of two brothers marrying two sisters.)

Ramona was asking if I had any more copies of Batt & Lee Ancestors, the collection of family histories I published back in 2005. She explained that her branch of the family wanted some 30-40 additional copies. Her request started me on a journey that resulted in a new, expanded edition of this collection. I added a couple of new histories that I did not have back then and made some other changes to improve the book.

I mailed a copy of the second edition of Batt & Lee Ancestors as a Christmas gift to each of my siblings (Lyle, Lynda, Jerry, Kay, Gene, Sharae for Ray's family, Dale, and Jackie), to each of Dorothy's siblings (Bill Batt in Spokane, Berniece in Tooele, and Sharon Tovey Moss for Ruth's family), and to each of my married children.

As I wrote in the Christmas letter that accompanied the book, "Your married children and your grandchildren may be interested in a copy of this new volume of some of their ancestors’ histories. You or they can obtain additional copies by going online to lulu.com and ordering copies by simply typing either Batt or Batt & Lee in the search field. Single copies are only $8.12, plus shipping and handling. Ordering multiple copies at the same time slightly reduces the cost per copy."

To go to lulu.com, simply click on this icon.



Between now and mid-January, you can get 15 percent off the book by using the coupon code RESOLUTION305 at checkout. You can only use the code once. This great offer ends on Saturday, January 15, 2011, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

2 Quote of the week

"Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely.

"He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our resume but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God's love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked.

"What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us."

— Dieter F. Uchtdorf

("The Love of God," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 22-23)

3 This week in our family

Our family's calendar for the next fortnight

Thurs, Dec 30: Rex Sayer's birthday [Jackie]
Fri, Dec 31: New Year's Eve

Sat, Jan 1: New Year's Day
Sun, Jan 2: Fast Sunday
Wed, Jan 5: Shellbi Jane Packwood's birthday [Gene]
Wed, Jan 5: Barbara died 2001 [Lyle]
Fri, Jan 7: JJ's birthday [Lyle]
Sat, Jan 8: Mandy Rankin's birthday [Gail]
Sat, Jan 8: Jason & Gena Tully married 2000 [Gene]
Sun, Jan 9: Marshal McAllister's birthday [Kay]
Sun, Jan 9: Mckenna's birthday [Kay]
Mon, Jan 10: Ethan's birthday [Dean]
Mon, Jan 10: Marta's birthday [Dean]
Wed, Jan 12: Next issue of newsletter

If ever we are missing anyone's birthday or anniversary, please let us know.

4 Bits and tidbits

JerryWe talked on the phone with Jerry on Christmas afternoon. He says he is doing well, has lost 30 pounds, which has brought his blood pressure down, and says he can walk easier, and feels much better. He reported that Jim's sister is really sick and in the hospital, which canceled some of their plans for Christmas day.

Kay's family
Austin Cleverly, son of Kyle and Melissa, received a wonderful gift a few days before Christmas. On Tuesday evening, December 21, he opened his mission call to the Paraguay Asuncion Mission. He enters the MTC on April 13. Austin is the first of Kay's grandsons to be called as a missionary and also the first in the next generation of the entire family.

This week Austin and his family are enjoying a trip to Disneyland.

We also talked on the phone with Kay on Christmas afternoon. He and Karen stayed in southern Utah for the holidays. Christmas afternoon they hosted a dinner at their place for 10 people in their neighborhood who would have otherwise been alone.

Dean's family
Andrew Cleverly, the eight-year-old son of Michael and Shauna, will be baptized and confirmed this coming Saturday in Layton. That is New Year's Day, 1/1/11, a pretty classy date.

Dale's family
We also talked on the phone with Dale on the evening of Christmas day. He reported that Keisha became engaged last Wednesday, just three days before Christmas, to Micah Asay, who is a brother of Kira's husband David.

Dale also mentioned that while working in the Boise Temple on a recent Saturday he met one of my missionary companions in Brazil from more than 40 years ago.

Jackie's family
Jolene Sayer Head graduated from Boise State University on Friday, December 17.

We also talked on the phone with Jackie on Christmas afternoon. She slipped and fell in a store parking lot a couple weeks earlier. Her knee was swollen the day after the accident, but everything seems to be fine now. Nothing broken or sprained.

Relatively speaking
We talked Christmas afternoon with Aunt Berniece Palmer, who lives in Tooele. She turned 87 in late November and says she is doing well and in good health. She has no intention, she said, of living to 99, the age her mother was when she died. She reported that her brother Bill Batt, who lives in Spokane, has been having some health challenges.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the December 1960 and January 1961 diaries of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho, but were visiting Ken and Berniece Palmer and Grandma Batt in Grantsville, Utah.

Thurs, Dec 29.  Mother cut me out a new print dress. We put a jig saw puzzle together then Ivard - Dean, Curtis, Jackie & I walked up to store then we came back & had lunch & put another puzzle together. Kids played over to Bernieces most of day.

Fri, Dec 30.  Mother finished my dress & I pressed it & wore it home. We ate over to Bernieces & at 6: Ken & Berniece took us to Salt Lake to catch traine. the train left at 7:30. Jackie was crying with earache. I fixed her a bed & got her to sleep.

Sat, Dec 31.  We got to Nampa at 7:15 the train was over an hr. late. called Gene & he came & got us. I unpacked & Ivard took Ray over to the Bishops to go to Idaho City to church camp sleighing. Ray came home with a sore stomache, run in to tree & got a gash & bruise.

Sun, Jan 1.  Gene did chores and Ivard - Gene & Ray went to Priesthood & sunday school. Fast day so we didn't have breakfast. At 11:30 me & little Kids went to sunday school. Came home at 2: & cooked dinner & we ate. Gene showed Ray how to do dishes in new dish washer. Ivard & Jackie have such a cold they doctored & went to bed at 7: & the rest of us went to church. They ask me to be President of Gospel Doctrine class.

Mon, Jan 2.  I got up & cooked a big breakfast, bacon, eggs, toast, cocoa & grapefruit. Kids played games then went outside & played awhile. Ivard, Gene & Ray went to Middleton & Kids played Kuna & won. Gene made 28 points.

Tues, Jan 3.  Kids went back to school today, after holidays. Ivard took down Xmas tree. At 2: I went to bank & had Int. drawn up on all our bank accounts & put my dimes in bank $9.60. Went to sale & got Kay some ties & socks for his mission & Gene, Ray & Dean & got some for Genes birthday. Ray had supper ready. Ivard & I went in to ward leadership Ivard has to talk in church sunday nite & I helped him find books when we came home.

Wed, Jan 4.  This afternoon I got licence plates for car. Came home & Kids were home from school. Ray got supper & we ate. Gene took Ray over to a scout meeting.

Thurs, Jan 5.  little Kids got out of school at 1:30 for teachers meeting. We played scrabble then Ivard took little Kids to Primary & while he waited for them he got the licence for his pick-up. Ray went over to church after school to help primary kids learn how to tie knots.  We ate & Ivard & I took Gene & Ray & a load of Kids to Homedale to play ball I was score Keeper - Kids won.

Fri, Jan 6.  Ray got supper & we ate & Ivard Gene & Ray went in to High school game & I played Scrabble with Dean & Dale.

Sat, Jan 7.  Ivard & I took the icebox over to Ontario to G&B & left it to be fixed & they let us take one to use until it is. We bought Dean & Dale a bunk bed. stoped at Gails a few min. We came home & Ivard got called to work so I took him in at 3: We droped Dean off at Allens & he stayed all nite. We made the new beds & Dale slept in his.

Sun, Jan 8.  Ivard - Gene & Ray went to priesthool & sunday school. I washed my & Jackies hair then she bathed with me & we went to sunday school. I took charge of class, I'm new President. After sunday school Ray went to Parma to "Order of Arrow" meeting. Gail, Lynda & Kids came just as we got home from church. I cooked dinner & we ate. Gail & Gene froze a freezer of icecream. We all went to church before Gail left. Ray was youth speaker & Ivard had to talk 10 min. on genelogy. They did good.

Mon, Jan 9.  Gene stayed home today & worked on his lessons all day. Dale was home in bed with bad cold.  Dean & Jackie vomited.

Tues, Jan 10.  Kids went to school. Dale was home again in bed. I went to relief society.

Wed, Jan 11.  Gene was only one that went to school today & he didn't feel very good.

6 What in the world

Bowl games
BYU beat UTEP 52-24 in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday, December 18. BYU ended its 2010 season much stronger than it began. And Boise State beat Utah 26-3 in the Las Vegas Bowl on Wed­nesday, December 22. Utah ended its 2010 season much weaker than it began.

A white Christmas
Our daughter Eliza and her family enjoyed a white Christmas in Atlanta. Enough snow fell, with the ice beneath it, that church meetings were canceled the next day. Reports were that this is the first white Christmas in Atlanta since the 1980s. Meanwhile, back here in Utah, where in the valleys it had been raining much of the week before Christmas, we had a drab Christmas. Snow did fall the day after Christmas.

7 A final word

A thought from our daughter, Rebecca Cleverly Hoff, entitled "New Beginnings," posted on her blog Way to Be! on Sunday, December 26

 

And so the countdown to the new year begins...

I love this time of year with its fresh beginnings. It feels so hopeful. "This year I can change. This year I can make a difference," we tell ourselves. It's our big chance! We make our lists. Our goals. Our hopes and dreams. Inevitably though, most of us never reach those goals {or so they say}. We end up falling off that proverbial wagon.

But life is really about new beginnings all the time. Sure we have the biggies like New Years, our birthdays, or the beginning of a new school year. But you have a fresh slate

every

single

day!

Isn't that glorious? No matter how much you screwed up yesterday, you can always start fresh again today! You can pick yourself back up and try again. You repent of your past wrong doings or mistakes and just keep trying every day to be a better person! It's about eternal progression. Every day you just "try a little harder, to be a little better" and then one day you find that you have come farther than you ever imagined you could!

1 Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

One hundred and twelve years ago arguably the most famous editorial ever to be published in an American newspaper appeared in the New York Sun on September 21, 1897, under the heading “Is There a Santa Claus.” After his death on April 11, 1906, the Sun broke its policy of editorial anonymity to announce that Francis P. Church had written this editorial. We share it here for your delight at this holiday season.

We take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

“Dear Editor: I am 8 years old.

“Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.

“Papa says ‘If you see it in The Sun it’s so.’

“Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

“Virginia O'Hanlon.

“115 West Ninety fifth Street.”

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

A very merry Christmas to you all. And God bless us everyone.

2 Quote of the week

"The Atonement is the ultimate gift of both the Father and the Son: of the Father because He allowed His Son to suffer; of the Son because of what He did for us."

— Rollin H. Hotchkiss

(BYU Magazine, Fall 2010, 56;

from a devotional address on Dec. 8, 2009)

3 This week in our family

Our family's calendar for the next two weeks

Wed, Dec 15: Chad & Melissa married 1994 [Kay]
Thurs, Dec 16: Kira's birthday [Dale]
Fri, Dec 17: Ivard & Dorothy married 1934
Sat, Dec 18: Shandi Cleverly-Burdett's birthday [Lyle]
Sun, Dec 19: Brian & Kate married 2003 [Gail]
Mon, Dec 20: Brandon & Nicole married 1997 [Kay]
Mon, Dec 20: Adria Janelle Kersker's birthday [Lyle]

Wed, Dec 22: Doug's birthday [Lyle]
Wed, Dec 22: Crystal Price's birthday [Lyle]
Thurs, Dec 23: Joseph Smith's birthday
Thurs, Dec 23: Dakota's birthday [Lyle]
Fri, Dec 24: Christmas Eve
Fri, Dec 24: Richard & Angie Craine married 2000 [Gail]
Sat, Dec 25: Christmas Day
Sat, Dec 25: Shawn & Shandi Burdett married 2000 [Lyle]
Sun, Dec 26: Jacob Robert Rankin's birthday [Gail]
Tues, Dec 28: Terry & LaWanda Packwood married 1990 [Gene]
Wed, Dec 29: Next issue of newsletter published

If ever we are missing anyone's birthday or anniversary, please let us know.

4 Bits and tidbits

Lyle's family
The last time Lyle posted on Facebook, he wrote: "Enjoying trip up to Washington, been here in Aberdeen area since Nov. 12. Will fly back home the 11th of Dec., so missing the snow we are getting in Idaho but they got some here in Washington. A lot of places set new records for month of Nov."

Kay's family
Chad and Nicolle had a baby girl on December 11 at 3:37 a.m. Kinslee Higley was 5 pounds 15 ounces and was 18 inches long. Nicolle reported, "We are both doing good."

Dean's family
Talmage and Louise blessed their baby, Olivia Louann Cleverly, on fast Sunday, December 5.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the December 1960 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho.

Thurs, Dec 15.  Kay called, he got engaged Sunday. We took Jerry to Boise to air force recruting station to take his physical. Ivard, Jackie & I spent all morning Xmas shopping. We met Jerry at noon, he didnt pass his physical - too nervous so he won't go for at least a yr.

Fri, Dec 16.  I came home from work & got most of my Xmas cards ready to mail, wrote notes in a lot of them. I went up to Dr Lee's & made an appointment for Kay during holidays, mailed cards & got $30. worth of groc.

Sat, Dec 17.  My 26th wedding anniv. Gene was in bed sick all day. Ivard, Ray Dean, Dale & I went to town & got school presents, Xmas tree (4.75) & mailed Lyles Xmas pkg. We ate & they decorated tree.

Sun, Dec 18.  Gene is still sick, flue, I guess. Ray went ward teaching. We all got ready & went to church but Gene came home at 9:30 & I went to bed until time to go to work at 11:

Mon, Dec 19.  Gene was home in bed again today. Ray went to Mutual. They played ball & got beat for first time - Gene is their whole team. Had Turkey dinner at work.

Tues, Dec 20.  Gene still in bed, feels better. Ivard & Jerry went to town to see about the payment we can't make on place & they won't extend it, looks like we will loose it. I made a beanie & apron for Deans school play. Had gift exchange at work, I got a Tussey set.

Wed, Dec 21.  Kay got home tonite. I made the blouse for Deans school play. I never got to bed until after I took Dean in to church to go Xmas carroling & sunday school party. Kay called just as I was leaving for work & Ivard went & got him.

Thurs, Dec 22.  Jerry went & got little kids from school at noon. They woke me up at 3: & I took Kids in to Primary. Kay went to see Bishop & I went & got feed and groc. & Dean a hammer for school play. Ivard, Jerry, Jackie & I went to Kids Xmas school play & Gene & Ray went & played ball. Kay stayed home & watched T.V.

Fri, Dec 23.  We got off work for Xmas holiday don't have to go back until Jan. 9th. I came home & Jerry took Kids to school. I went to bed awhile then I took Jackie to school to Dales party for mothers. brought Kids home & got Ivard & Kay & we went & Paid lites & phone & went to bank & got out laways then went to Caldwell to Gold & Green stamp redemption stores but they were about out of every thing. did some Xmas shopping & came home & ate & all of us but Ivard went in to church Xmas programe & santa clause.

Sat, Dec 24.  I got up & wrapped presents all morning & helped Kids wrap theirs. Lyle called & told Jerry he was comeing up so we got a few things for his Kids. I wasn't supposed to know he was comeing. When we got home Gail - Lynda & Kids were here & brought their presents. They gave me a picture of the 3 Kids, we didn't open any of the rest. I let Debbie & Jeff open one of theirs too.

Sun, Dec 25.  Ivard started on his weeks vacation. Gene got up & did chores then we all got up & opened our presents. We had a good Xmas. I was really surprised I got a deluxe hot point dish washer. Kids were real surprised with record player. Kay played records all day. We ate breakfast & all went to sunday school programe. Lyle, Barbra & boys got here from California about 2:30. They opened their presents & looked at ours & we visited awhile & I fixed supper. I called Gail to tell him Lyle was here & he said for us all to come over tomorrow.

Mon, Dec 26.  at 11: we all got ready & went over to Gails. Lyle & Barbra were already over there. We visited & Lynda fixed dinner & we all ate. Kay was mad at me because we wouldn't go to Salt Lake & I was mad at Ivard. When we got home Ivard said if you're going to Utah you'd better hurry - so we packed like mad & at 7:15 Gene took Ivard & I - Ray - Dean - Dale & Jackie into depot & we caught the traine to Sale Lake. Never even told Lyle goodbye.

Tues, Dec 27.  We got to Salt Lake a 7:30 A.M & I called Ray then called Berniece & she came in from Grantsville & got us at 10:30. Kay called Petersons & they came & got him, he's going to stay at Ruth & Rays & go back to school after holidays with one of professors. We saw what they got for Xmas & visited. Mother fixed lunch. Kids played over to Bernieces most of the day. We went over to Bernieces & had supper & Kent showed us some of their home movies. We all slept over to Mothers but Dean & he stayed with Curtis & Kent.

Wed, Dec 28.  Lyle went home & Jerry went with him.

6 What in the world

First Presidency Christmas message
"In celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ our thoughts turn to that sacred occasion when He was born 'The Prince of Peace' (Isaiah 9:6). He promised: 'He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life' (John 8:12). Truly, Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer who was 'wounded for our transgressions . . . and with his stripes we are healed' (Isaiah 53:5).

"Our prayer this Christmas season is that the light and testimony of the Savior's divine mission will come into our hearts and be reflected in our lives and in our homes.

"May each of us be blessed, not only at this Christmas season, but also throughout the coming year. May our faith in Jesus Christ increase as we follow His example in all we do and say."

Bowl games
The first bowl game of the season will be in New Mexico on Saturday, December 18, at 2:00 p.m., with BYU meeting UTEP. Boise State will meet Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl on Wednesday, December 22, at 8:00 p.m. Both games will be carried on ESPN.

Wacky weather
So, what's up with Atlanta being colder than northern Utah? And snow dumping all over western Washington?

7 A final word

We are just ten days away from Christmas. The day we celebrate the birthday of Jesus. A magical time for children and all the young at heart. A holy time for faithful followers of the Savior. A time for family and traditions and joyous music. A season of service and hope and good will. A time, hopefully, when our better natures prevail.

We take this opportunity at this holiday season to wish all of you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. And, as expressed by Tiny Tim in Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, "God bless us, every one!"

1 Is there room in the inn?

The Christmas story, as told in the book of Luke, tells of Joseph and Mary traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem and, while they were there, Mary bringing forth her firstborn son and laying him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn (see Luke 2:4-7; emphasis added).

Each of us, some two thousand years later, plays the role of innkeeper. Each of us decides whether there is room for Him in our hearts and in our lives.

What? you may say. No room for Jesus?

Yet, we may unwittingly, unconsciously leave no room for Him because of the cares of daily living, the very busy-ness of our lives, especially at this hectic season of the year.

If we ignore the needy and less fortunate, the lonely and suffering, the aged and the children, or those whom Jesus referred to as the least among us (see Matthew 25:40), then we are saying we have no room for Him.

If we fail to keep His commandments (see John 14:15), which center in loving and serving God and in loving and serving our neighbor (see Matthew 22:36-40), then we are saying we have no room for Him.

If we forget to take time to ponder and pray and to thank Him for His abundant blessings and tender mercies (see D&C 59:21), then we are saying we have no room for Him.

As the final verse of one of our beloved carols, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," reminds us,

How silently, how silently
The wondrous give is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heav'n.
No ear may hear his coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

Our Christmas wish is that our inns will not be too full and that we will allow the dear Christ to enter in.

2 Quote of the week

"The Atonement has been written about for centuries by prophets both ancient and modern, but is it written in our hearts? The Atonement is not an academic abstract that is learned like the multiplication tables. If we are prepared, . . . the Atonement can sink deep in our hearts and fill us with wonder."

— Rollin H. Hotchkiss

(BYU Magazine, Fall 2010, 55;

from a devotional address on Dec. 8, 2009)

3 This week in our family

Our family's calendar for the next two weeks

Thurs, Dec 2: Talmage & Louise married 2006 [Dean]
Fri, Dec 3: Hannah Grace Kersker's birthday [Lyle]
Sat, Dec 4: Curtis's birthday [Ray]
Tues, Dec 7: Brian's birthday [Gail]
Wed, Dec 8: Aric's birthday [Lyle]
Wed, Dec 8: Dustin & Michelle Duay married 2002 [Gail]
Wed, Dec 8: Aaron Challis's birthday [Dean]

Thurs, Dec 9: Chuck McAllister's birthday [Kay]
Sun, Dec 12: Ronnie's birthday [Gene]
Sun, Dec 12: Tanner Hoff born and died 1995 [Dean]
Sun, Dec 12: McCall's birthday [Kay]
Tues, Dec 14: James died 1999 [Dean]
Wed, Dec 15: Chad & Melissa married 1994 [Kay]
Wed, Dec 15: Next issue of newsletter published

If ever we are missing anyone's birthday or anniversary, please let us know.

4 Bits and tidbits

Lynda's family
Angie "believes cousins are the first friends of our lives." She continued in her Facebook post: "When you grow up, they are still your friends. Repost this if you have some of the best cousins in the world!! They may not be part of your daily life, but they are never far from your thoughts and memories!! Love You ALL."

On Thanksgiving evening she posted: "What a great day! We didn't get to go to Laramie for turkey; however, Dick and I cooked and took a plate to Grandma Lynda and Aunt Debbie." She went on to explain that Lynda has a broken ankle and Debbie had had two molars pulled the day before.

Dean's family
Claudia and I flew home Sunday morning from a week visiting Paul and Eliza and their two little boys in Atlanta, where Paul is in his third year of pharmacy school at Mercer University. A week ago Sunday, the one just before Thanksgiving, our four-year-old grandson Peter was in his first Primary sacrament meeting program and, of course, was absolutely darling. And on Thanksgiving morning Paul ran the Atlanta half marathon with his best time ever (01:49). He certainly earned his Thanksgiving dinner.

Pete, Anna, and Miles returned Tuesday afternoon from their visit with Rachael, Robert, and their four girls in Illinois.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the December 1960 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho.

Thurs, Dec 1.  Got home from Salt Lake. I got in to Nampa on 6:30 A.M train & had call boy call boy Ivard at Boise & tell him to pick me up, he was just leaving for home.

Fri, Dec 2.  Gene went to work with Ivard & sold candy bars. Jackie got me up at 1:30 & we went after Kids, got nearly there before I found out it was only 1:30 so we came back & I got diary up. I went after Kids at 3:30.

Sat, Dec 3.  I came home from work & went to bed & Jerry woke me up at noon when him & Ray got home from selling Xmas decorations & cards & we went to Adrian  & Nyssa selling cards. Jerry Ray, Dean & I. we went to Gails awhile & they sold him 2 boxws cards & a Xmas decoration.

Sun, Dec 4.  Jerry - Gene & Ray went to Priesthood at 9:15. Ivard got up & took little Kids to sunday school & I never heard any thing. Jerry got dinner & woke me up at 2:30 to make gravy. Ray delivered fast offerings

Mon, Dec 5.  Bishop called to say Kay was going to Andes Mission.

Tues, Dec 6.  I had to get pushed clear to Caldwell to start car & it was so cold & wind shield was froze up. Ivard took car in to Dobbs & waited until they tore it down, needs a complete overhall. I went to Wards & bought bought a Sterio-hy-fy for Xmas. Went to Dobbs & looked at new cars, they let us borrow an old one while they are fixing ours.

Wed, Dec 7.  The car Dobbs lent us froze up on me & I had to stop at Service station & have it thawed out. I was froze to death. I made some pop corn & got warm. Ray went in & had physical for basketball then they went roller skateing with Owyhee ward sunday school class.

Thurs, Dec 8.  Called Kay to tell him he had his mission call to Andes Mission.

Fri, Dec 9.  at 5:30 Ivard & I went in to garage & got car then bought a couple of 29 cent presents for gift exchange at Mutual officers Party at church. We went at 7:30 & had barbacue Turkey supper & danced & had gift exchange. My nite off.

Sat, Dec 10.  Ivard got home at 6: & put his cold feet on me. Gene did chores & made hot cakes for breakfast. Jerry - Gene, Ray & I went to town Xmas shopping. We came home & I mixed up a freezer of icecream & Ivard froze it while Jerry fixed hambergers & trimmings & punch for supper.

Sun, Dec 11.  Jerry - Gene - Ray - Dean & Dale went to Priesthood and sunday school. made no bake cookies & a freezer of icecream & Gene & Jerry froze it & we ate when Ivard came at 4: then they watched "Wizzard of OZ" & I wrote Mother

Mon, Dec 12.  I got up at 2:30 & went to town & mailed Kays mission call & went Xmas shopping.

Tues, Dec 13.  Jackie & I went to relief society work day & Xmas party & Jerry went up to see the air force recruiter. We had a Turkey dinner & all the trimmings furnished by the Presidency, sure good. Had a programe & made Xmas center pieces. I learned how to make a towel pillow.

Wed, Dec 14.  Jerry went to see the air force guy. He was only one out of 7 to pass test yesterday. He failed misserably, the guy said, ont he electronic & mechanic part. the office part he was highest in area.

6 What in the world

College football
Auburn, Oregon, and TCU are the top-ranked teams across all the polls. Utah (now ranked 20th in the BCS standings) beat BYU last Saturday by one point, 17-16.

Christmas devotional
The annual First Presidency Christmas devotional will be held this coming Sunday, December 5, at 6:00 p.m. MST. The devotional will include Christmas messages from the First Presidency and music by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square. Originating from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, the devotional will also be available on various broadcast, cable, satellite, and Internet television stations and broadcast, satellite, and Internet radio stations throughout the world.

7 A final word

Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving. And now our attention turns toward Christmas. We think about and hopefully are grateful for the many gifts in our lives, the tender mercies that come in unexpected moments from our Heavenly Father.

Of course the greatest gift of all is His sending His Son into mortality. What a remarkable gift! That is, after all, the reason we even celebrate Christmas. And it is by far the greatest evidence of His love for us.

But there are daily reminders, the spiritual gifts He sends along the way to lift and bless our own lives and to help us be more profitable servants in lifting and blessing the lives of those about us. Such gifts, the Lord has said, "are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do” (D&C 46:9).

There are many kinds of gifts. The scriptures mention some common ones found among true disciples of the Savior: faith, testimony, hope, charity, administration, teaching, wisdom, knowledge, the faith to heal, the faith to be healed, the working of miracles, prophecy, the administration of angels, discerning of spirits, tongues, the interpretation of tongues (see, for example, 1 Corinthians 12­–14; Moroni 10:8–23; and D&C 46:8–26).

Five marvelous chapters in the scriptures (1 Corinthians 12-14, Moroni 10, and section 46 of the Doctrine and Covenants) contain the most comprehensive listing of spiritual gifts.

Elder Marvin J. Ashton, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1915–1994), on one occasion pointed out some less con­spicu­ous spiritual gifts that we may enjoy: “The gift of asking; the gift of lis­tening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding con­tention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repeti­tion; the gift of seek­ing that which is righteous; the gift of not pass­ing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of be­ing a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing mighty testi­mony; and the gift of re­ceiv­ing the Holy Ghost” (“There Are Many Gifts,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 20).

And a final gift that is worthy of particular mention this time of year: the loved ones in our lives. Family members. Friends. Associates. Let us during this holiday season and always treasure those relationships that enrich and bless and lift our lives. Let us be grateful for the people who make our journey through life worthwhile.