It's been too long since I wrote, lots of tender mercies not documented.
Our most recent tender mercy was on Friday evening. I had been invited to Dr. Maurice and his wife Tammy Brown's Christmas party. This was no ordinary party. Dr. Brown had invited all his OR crew and their spouse to a nice dinner at Spring Creek Ranch in Jackson, AND to spend the night in our own rooms at their hotel!! I had been excited for weeks. This was a high end hotel up in the top of a mountain before you get to Jackson.
We've had a mild winter, up until the last week. But on Friday, it snowed here all day. There was so much snow and lots of wind, that the roads were really bad. I needed to run some errands, but didn't dare go until around 3 pm. Then the road from our house to the river was terrible - I had to wear my sunglasses just to be able to see the edge of the road. Then even after the river, the road in to Driggs was snow covered, slick and low visibility.
Teton Pass had been closed Thursday night and was still closed when we woke up Friday morning, so that was a worry about getting to Jackson for our party. We hated to miss it, because you just don't get an offer for free dinner and motel very often.
I drove to Driggs around 3pm, called and told Blaine we better not let Elizabeth drive home alone with Carl - either he or I should lead the way - it was that bad.
Elizabeth and Carl did follow Blaine home. I finished my errands and then had to drive home myself. When I got home, we unpacked the groceries I had bought. We had been getting texts from my OR friends - some had already made it to the hotel, some were wondering about going at all. The pass was open, we invited Mary Lou and Doyle Allen to ride over with us, and we left our youngest 3 in Nikole's charge, and headed out.
Our fairly new Honda CRV got shocked back into winter roads. The worst was from home to the river, then not quite as bad into Driggs, then about the same after we picked Allens up in Victor, and over the pass. Then going down the Jackson side, the road was actually bare - wierdest thing. We arrived at Spring Creek Ranch in time to check in and get to dinner. So, that was the first string of tender mercies - safe travels on yucky, winter roads.
Then the dinner was lovely. We had tri-tip steak, hordeurves, a yummy salad, dinner rolls, creme brulay - however you spell it, for dinner. We then went to Dr. Brown's condo and did a white elephant gift exchange. It was really fun. We were with a group of alcohol drinkers and then those that don't drink.
We all went to our own rooms and then got up Saturday morning and ate breakfast. I haven't eaten so much in a long time. The dinner the night before was huge, and the breakfast was huge, too -- I had two eggs, sausage, English muffin with jam and hot chocolate. It was so good.
So, all that was given to us, paid by Dr. Mo and Tammy Brown! That was a wonderful gift. We had never heard Dr. Mo say such nice things about his staff. He bragged and bragged about us, and stood up at dinner and bascily said "I would be nothing without you." Wow!
That was the second tender mercy of the weekend - wonderful, free dinner, motel room and breakfast from Dr. Brown. Yay!
Back to Thanksgiving, we had Blaine's sister Debbie here - including Shaun, Melissa and Todd and their families. Derek was at Breanna's, because they want to be here for Christmas when Heather is going to be here. We had a great day together. Blaine's mom came, too.
We are so excited this week. Nikole came home, from her first semester at BYU-I on Thursday morning - it's so fun to have her home. Breanna and Derek will come here Thursday or Friday. Brandon and Heather fly into Jackson on Saturday at noon, which is Christmas Eve.
We've been delivering home made caramel to our co-workers and our neighbors for the last couple of weeks.
We sent out our annual Christmas letter. and have decorated our house. I love Christmas. It's my favorite time of year. I love the Christmas story of dear Joseph and Mary and Baby Jesus - how much faith and devotion and courage they had to follow the promptings and will of the Lord.
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