Sappington's Celebrate Thanksgiving

We had a delightful (but typically noisy) Thanksgiving at our house this year with four of our six kids  - and about half of our grandchildren and two of our greats - home for the holiday.  Kris came from Santa Rosa, CA with Erin for hugs and turkey dinner.  David and Jan’L, and their three boys, came home from Denver for Thanksgiving for the first time in many years.  Kelly and Gary, from Ogden, were here, too, stopping over on their way to California where they had generously offered to travel to help clean and sort at Grandma Doris' home in Corona.  Allysa and Josh came by with their two boys as did Taisley (although Stacy and Rick were not there because we celebrated on Wednesday, in anticipation of our travel to Southern California and Stacy had a medical procedure scheduled that day).  Selwin and Simeon Lovell, our twins from Guyana, brought the grand total of those around our dinner table to 17 ½ (the half was little Benny who enjoyed a few spoonfuls of potatoes and gravy).

Grandma cooked and cleaned up from 6 a.m. to well past 10 p.m. while Grandpa rounded up all the kids for a “mystery trip” to Snow Canyon and the scout cave on the Sugarloaf!  All in all, it was a very fun day!  The only thing which would have made the day better would have been to have Michael, Lilly, Kaytee, Josh, Adyn and Skylar here, too!!!  Maybe next year.

Back to Branson

Between Halloween and Thanksgiving - with Kris here visiting and only 3 days after the twins arrived - we abandoned our responsibilities and flew to Branson, Missouri for a week in our 3-bedroom timeshare with Larry and Karen Harris (from Layton and with whom we served in Guyana) and with Stanley and Diane Blackett (our long time friends and regular traveling companions from Logan).  Our third – and perhaps our last trip to Branson (after all, how many shows can you see in a lifetime) - we spent our time (and money) in a variety of ways. 

We explored the city we have watched grow up from the first time we were there in 2005.  The population is now 10,520 (up from 6000 in 2005) with about 125 theaters / shows which attract more than 15,000,000 visitors every year … and now also has 3 Walmarts (we visited them all at least twice).  We also had a delightful day in Eureka Springs, AK, a Park City-like community about an hour away from Branson with wonderful shops, restuarants and historic sites from the 1850’s mining boom.

The shows we saw were:

·               Jim Stafford (comedian, musician who has been in Branson for 24 years)

·               Shoji Tabuchi (Japanese violinist who has just celebrated his 25^th year in Branson) Excellent showman with wonderful staging, costumes, lighting and the most beautiful bathrooms in America (see pictures)

·               The Haygoods (a multi-talented family of 5 boys and 1 girl who performed everything from rock and roll, Ozark mountain music and Christmas.  I loved them!!!)

·               New Jersey Nights was a review of the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.  It started out like a road show and I kept thinking about how much we had spent for this one … but, wow!  It ended up being my favorite of all the shows we had seen to this point, then …

·               We saw the 12 Irish Tenors, which included four of the young men from last night’s New Jersey Nights.  Our 5^th show was outstanding with classical music, humor, dance and amazing harmonies!!!  My favorite show this week!  I didn’t want it to end.

·               Andy Williams Christmas Show came complete with Lennon Sisters Kathy, Janet and Mimi and Osmonds Jay, Merrill and Jimmy.  It was a typical Christmas show.  I’d give it a 3 out of 10!

·               On the last night, we attended Six, a group of six brothers who sing a capella … and are hilariously funny!  It was sooooo much fun and the only sold out show we attended during the entire week in Branson.

Despite the rain and the cold temperatures, this was a really great week!!!

Halloween at the Sappington House

The members of our ward – the young and the young-at-heart - enjoyed another fun Trunk or Treat in the church parking lot on Halloween, Thursday, October 31.  Hosted by the Primary, the activity has become an eagerly anticipated, well-attended favorite holiday event.  Members of all ages dress up to hand out Halloween goodies to little ghouls and boys who go from trunk to trunk for their treats.  We also enjoyed the Young Women’s Chili Cookoff for an excuse not to have to cook. 

This was the very first Halloween for our Guyanese twins.  It was also their first look at their new home ward.  The members were warm and welcoming, while the boys were polite and quiet.  Not sure if they were overwhelmed about Halloween or had “jet lag” 

When we got home, Alyssa brought Josh and her boys by to see us.  A short time later Kendi and Danielle came by to show us their costumes … then Rick dropped in with a gaggle of kids from their neighborhood to go trick or treating in ours, including Taisley.  Then Stacy stopped over after work to see what was going on and to meet her new “baby brothers!”  Fun evening … and a total immersion into our family for our boys!

Welcome to the Family!

Get ready for this one!!!  We are having twins … due on Wednesday, October 30.  These newest additions to our family are Selwin and Simeon Lovell from Georgetown, Guyana (pictured with Anne Bertschi whose son Levi is currently serving in the West Indies Mission).

Their mother died when they were just children and their father relocated to the United States about a year later, leaving them in the care of his mother.  They are absolutely identical and, other than an uncle, are the only members of the church in their family.

We are happy to have them in our home as they finish preparing for fulltime missionary service somewhere in the world.  Thankfully, the bishop and stake president are willing to help with some of their missionary needs.  Members of the ward and stake have generously offered to help them on their missions and others are prepared to put them to work until they enter the MTC. So now when I am asked how many children I have, I can say I have 4 girls and 4 boys!!!

They attended church on Sunday for the first time while we were in Branson, Missouri.  We received a phone call while we were on the highway and it seems both have been called to serve as advisors in the Young Men's program.  They are both looking for work, bicycles and a short term social life.

Life is so interesting and certainly full of surprises!  I can’t believe it could possibly be more unexpectedly surprising than this!