1 A psalm of praise

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

— Psalms 100:1–5

2 Quote of the week

"Gratitude is a divine principle. . . . Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate  our blessings. . . . Our lives are blessed in countless ways."

— Thomas S. Monson

("The Divine Gift of Gratitude," Ensign, Nov. 2010, 88)

3 This week in our family

Our family's calendar for the next two weeks

Sat, Nov 20: Ivard died 1988
Sun, Nov 21: Clifford Rankin's birthday [Gail]
Mon, Nov 22: Dean & Claudia married 1972 [Dean]
Mon, Nov 22: Keisha's birthday [Dale]
Thurs, Nov 25: Thanksgiving Day
Fri, Nov 26: Cade & Rebecca Hoff married 1994 [Dean]
Sun, Nov 28: Melissa's birthday (Chad's wife) [Kay]
Wed, Dec 1: 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
Lyle called on Tuesday, November 9, to report that he was leaving that day to fly to Seattle to visit with his kids in Washington. Doug was getting married on Friday, November 12. Lyle was going to be staying with Stan's family and Terry's family until after Thanksgiving. His kids didn't want him to be driving that far, plus he probably wasn't really up to it after his recent surgery (he had four stents put in).

Kay's family
On Monday evening I spoke with Kay to wish him a happy birthday. It had been a good day, he said. He had heard from his children and from Jerry, who had kindly called him that morning. He and Karen had spent much of the day digging Christmas decorations out of storage and starting to decorate for the holidays. They had gone into town and had lunch at the Red Lobster.

For the Thanksgiving weekend Kay and Karen plan to drive to northern Utah next Wednesday and spend the holiday at Andrea's place. All of Kay's children who live in Utah, except Rhett, will be together for Thanksgiving dinner. Rhett and Celeste will be going to be with Celeste's father.

Kay works two mornings a week, from 6:00 a.m. until noon on Thursdays and Fridays, as an ordinance worker in the St. George Temple.

Dean's family
Claudia and I flew to St. Louis on Thursday, November 4, rented a car, and drove the two and a half hours to Robert and Rachael's place in Harrisburg, Illinois. We were there to meet our newest granddaughter, Eleanor Adelia Hodson, who had been born the previous week on Friday morning, October 29, in Evansville, Indiana. Paul and Eliza and their two boys also made the seven-hour drive from Atlanta to spend the weekend with us. They returned home to Georgia Sunday evening. Claudia and I flew home to Utah Tuesday afternoon.

For the past while I have been publishing the newsletter weekly—sort of—with some gaps here and there occasioned by travel or sickness. I have decided that beginning this month I am now going to publish every other Wednesday. So there will yet be three more issues between now and the end of the year: December 1, December 15, and December 29.