Remembering at Christmas Time

This little seven year old (just turned eight in November) is such an inspiration to me.  Certainly a God-given talent and gift.  Her mother died of ovaerian cancer two years ago.  She was a devout believer in Christ and a gifted gospel singer herself.  I can't help but believe, that this little angel girl is receiving some very special tutoring from the other side of the veil.  There I go again.

Family Christmas Party 2010

Thanks to all who took time out of their busy holiday schedules to gather for the annual Eborn family Christmas party.  Jared and Shana were the hosts this year and we really appreciate their super effort.

I know I speak for everyone, when I say thanks to them for helping us all to have a great time and to enjoy one another's friendship and love at this special holiday season.

We didn't get a lot of pictures, but here are a few that Iris was able to capture with her camera.  You know we love pictures of the family.

                                                                  Shana and Emily

                                                               Ryan and Tristan

                                                                             Samuel

                                                     Samantha, Rene, and Maddie

                                                           Kinsey and Megan

Some of the crew

Uncle Jared and Tristan, the tallest and the shortest, at least for now.

Now there is a bunch of beautiful people.

Avery and Melissa

 Rene, Tanner, Megan, and Maddie

Jared, Shana, Kinsey, Emily, Melissa, and Sam

Philip, Megan, Garrett, Gavin, and Libbie

 Sorry we didn't get a real full family group photo, but we were glad that all of you came and hope you enjoyed the great meal and the some of the fun of the Christmas season together.

Hope JT doesn't get transferred to Yakutsk!!!

I've always been a little curious, maybe to much so.  I was thinking about JT/Elder Eborn in Siberia.  I think I'm going to start praying that he gets to go to Yakutsk.  It's a city of 200,000 in his mission connected by land via a single 750 mile road.  Our JT would really have some stories to tell if he were to be transferred there. Winter time is great, -50 degrees most of the time on good days and the sun barely comes up before it sets.  Then it starts getting cold.  At least the roads are solid and have a temporary bottom.  Count your blessings.

Is it very far? Go figure.

As you all know we work at the Logan Temple.  Since we started working there , I have developed a keen interest in family history and the associated temple work.  Over the last year I have researched and submitted many names to have the ordinances performed in the temples of the Church, when this is done these ordinances may be done in any of the Church's 134 operating temples around the world.  We submitted these names when we realized that there were so many that we would never be able to get all the work done ourselves or even with the assistance of family, friends, and ward members.  One of the names I submitted was a William Ebourne, an alternate spelling of our family name, who is a distant cousin and had lived in England many years ago.  On Thursday last, I went to work on our regular shift.  The first assignment I had was at the New Name booth.  As I took my position, the very first name that was presented to me was, William Ebourne.  I was surprised and thought that it couldn't be just a coincidence. After all, these names were sent  all over the world and most of the temples are open for many hours each day.  What are the chances that a specific name would go through a specific area in the temple during a given few minutes, while I happened to be at that post?

A little less than two hours later I was assigned to be a receiver at the veil of the temple.  As I took my position to receive, the very first person who came to the veil was holding the very same card with the name William Ebourne.  A tingle went over my whole body and I felt as though I were in the very presence of the spirit of William Ebourne, himself.  I could not see him, but I certainly felt his presence and felt the gratitude he was feeling for the work that was being done on his behalf.  This is just one of many special and sacred experiences we have had while working in the Logan Temple these past two years. The longer I live the less I believe in coincidence or luck.  I have felt and observed, as it were,  an unseen hand that guides our lives, never forcing, but gently and lovingly directing the affairs of our lives.  It has been a great blessing to us and we feel we are blessing the lives of those who have gone before us and now need our help.  What a blessing and honor it is to serve.  The veil of the Temple is indeed very thin.

Can I Have a Creamie?

Several months ago when Stephen and his family were visiting from Colorado, we offered the kids some Creamies from our freezer.  Little Sophie took just one small bite of hers and  said: "Umm, I just may have to have another one of these."  Since that time we have made a point to make sure there are plenty of Creamies in the freezer when they come for a visit.  This past week was no exception.  What can we do, when we know that the first words out of their mouths upon arrival at our place will be, "Can I have a Creamie?"

Here are Stephen and a couple of his little Creamie lovers.

Sophie and Gabrielle

Sophie is so full of life, but even a Creamie fed angel eventually wears down.  Gotta love that girl. The Creamies are gone and it is sadly quiet around our house once again.  They've gone back home to Pueblo, Colorado.  We're glad they came and now are also thankful for their safe trip back home.

Thankful Eborn

Thanksgiving 2010

Alison, Ammon, and Iris busy in the kitchen with the final preparations for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner.


There was no lack of great tasting food of all sorts. Turkey and all the traditional trimmings. YUMMM.

And pies of every sort. I especially liked, Alison's huckleberry/raspberry cheese cake,

 and I noticed several other going back for seconds as well.

Recently, while working on our family history, I came across a name, which I thought was very appropriate. The lady's name was "Thankful Eborn". Yesterday as we enjoyed our Thanksgiving with many of our family members I couldn't help but think that all of the Eborn family has so much for which to be thankful. I sincerely hope that all of us are thankful Eborns. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner and everyone seemed to enjoy being together. We had Justin, Chalisa and their children, Ethan, Hayden, and Kate. Philip and Megan came and brought theirs, Garrett, Gavin, and Libbie. Alison and Ammon came with the A Gang, Addison, Avery, and Ada. Stephen and Candice spent some good time with us, even though, they were out in Smithfield at Candice's sister, Courtny's house for dinner with all of her family. They needed to be together this year, especially following the passing of Candice's mother about six weeks ago. It was a little crowded in our home but, that's exactly the way we like it, at least some of the time. We missed those of you who were not with us and hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well. We do have so much to be grateful for. Take a few hours and begin to count your blessings. It will help you put things in the right perspective. We are thankful for all of you and are grateful for the part each of you play in our lives. Now the Thanksgiving Day is over and we are thankful that we can go to the Temple and serve there as the people come to show their gratitude by helping others. I'm also especially grateful that I will not be participating in the "Black Friday" rampage, that is also, unfortunately becoming a part of American culture as well.

Let It Snow!!!

We had a major snow event late this afternoon. The storm dumped about seven inches of new snow in about an hour and a half. It was accompanied by strong winds. A real blizzard even if it didn't last very long. Mason was so good as to help his grandpa shovel the snow off the driveway.

This is a picture of Mason as he finished shoveling our driveway this evening.

This was taken just before the big storm arrived. Sophie, Gabrielle, Halle, and Mason.

We are lucky to have them staying with us for a few days and hope they enjoy it as much as we do.

Fun in the Snow

This morning it snowed here in Logan and since we had Stephen and his family visiting from Colorado we decided to make a snow man this afternoon.  The snow was not just right, but we did not let that deter us.  With a few shovels and some determination Mason, Gabrielle, Halle and I put together a pretty good snowman.  If it gets as cold as it's projected to be in a few days, this snowman may be stand guard at our house for some time to come.  I'm guessing there has not been many snowmen made in this seniors subdivision over the years.  We had some fun, got some good exercise, and some fresh air in our lungs.  It was good for us all, especially me.  I love making memories with my grandkids.

Halle was the only one who stayed around until the job was done, thus she is the only one to get her picture taken with the latest version of Frosty the Snowman.

We just love our grandkids to pieces.  Here is a close up of Halle and our new creation, Frosty.

Some Special Spooks

Some Special Spooks

Halloween 2010 has come and gone. It doesn't seem quite the same without our own little ones around. It was such fun to take them out trick or treating all dressed up in their ghoulish garb or whatever it was. We are fortunate enough to live close enough to some of our grand kids that we get to have them pay us a special visit. It was fun for us again this year. Iris even got into decorating a little with a "The Witch is in" sign on the front door and some special Halloween orange lights. We actually had more trick or treaters this year than we have had for years, even when we lived in Montpelier.

A spooky family, nicht wahr?

And a couple of our favorite super heroes.

And a bearded Hobo.

We hope all of you had a great and safe time celebrating this holiday.

Freedom Isn't Free

Each day I thank the Lord for this beautiful, bounteous, free land in which we are privileged to live.  Many have died for the rights and freedoms we enjoy, and all of us have a civic duty to make it as good as possible for ourselves and our posterity and to make our country's light shine as a beacon upon a hill for all the world to see and to be blessed by what we and our country are and stand for.  There is much we can do, the least of which is to vote.  Today we voted.  I hope all of you did as well.  If not and things are not just the way you think they should be, don't whine.  Get out and do what you can while you still have the right to do so.  Freedom is not Free.

Outdoors with the Boys

When I was younger and we were trying to raise our own family one of the things I wanted to do was to take them camping and teach them how to fish and to shoot a gun.  Most of them really looked forward to these outings together, and I, as their father, especially enjoyed seeing the boys learn to do some of the things I had learned to enjoy as a youngster growing up in the Bear Lake Valley myself.  Ryan had been planning this trip for sometime, possibly to Yellowstone, but at least somewhere in the mountains during their fall break from school.  Kind of at the last minute it was decided to just go up in the mountains above Liberty where I had spent so much time when I was younger and where my own boys had made some memories of hunting, fishing and camping over the years.  On Thursday we met at Camp Bartlett and camped over night, fishing and then shooting some at the rifle range.  We had a dutch oven dinner and enjoyed our time together, laughing at ourselves and spinning some yarns.  Those attending were Justin, Jason, Philip, Ryan, me and Tanner, Avery, Garrett, Gavin, and Libbie.  Libbie and Gavin went home with their dad on Friday night.  The rest of us stayed over and enjoyed some good bonding time together.  Avery pretty well summed up our feelings when he said:  "This was the best camping trip ever."  Needless to say we all had a great time sharing a couple of beautiful fall days with each other in the out of doors.  Below are a few of the pictures I took to remind us of our adventures.

Philip getting ready to show the boys how to fish.  Somehow, the getting ready part is not all that interesting to the boys.

 Avery with Philip's family pet, Pixie.  Dosen't every boy want a dog?

Avery and Pixie.  We were glad Pixie got to come along.  It was her first time in the mountains too, and she loved it.

Every boy has to learn and I have yet to meet the one who didn't perform this little operation early on in their journey to becoming a fisherman.

All that effort does pay off eventually as can be attested to by this nice rainbow trout caught by Justin,  not to speak of the big smile landing one like this brings to a fisherman's face.  It's funny what a picture can do to the ability of a fisherman to tell the truth.

Three of my boys enjoying a beautiful autumn afternoon on the lake in their float tubes.

It wasn't entirely a boy thing.  Everyone would have been welcome, of course.  Libbie came with her dad and we were all glad to have her.  Here she is ready to learn how to shoot a gun.  At least she's got her head gear on so as not to damage those sensitive little ear drums.

The boys will each get their turns as well.  Here are Garrett, Gavin, and Avery ready to start firing away.

Avery and Gavin getting some excellent instructions from Uncle Jason.

Garrett learning how it works and most of all to be very careful.

Gavin getting ready to hit the target with the 22.

It didn't take Gavin long to graduate from the 22 to the 12 guage.  I only whish I had had the video rolling when he pulled the trigger. Funny!!!!

The only thing I can think of that might beat being a father is being a grandfather.

Lastly, let me thank Ryan for helping me to "get my priorities straight".  Time with my family is the most precious of all the gifts I have.  I look forward to an eternity with you all.

Autumn Scenes of Yesterday and Today

Yesterday  towards evening I decided to go take a walk up on the Stokes Nature Trail in Logan Canyon.  Just before heading into the Canyon I looked in the rear view mirror and was impressed.  I swung into to parking lot by the Forest Service Information Office and stood there in awe of what was happening before my very eyes.  The pictures below are just a small representation of what was transpiring over the Cache Valley and the Wellsville Mountains to the west.

Another view

Today we went over to Montpelier.  Iris had an appointment with the dentist and I just tagged along looking for something beautiful to take a picture of.  Actually, I had been a little disappointed in the fall colors this year, especially the maples.  They have not seemed to bea s vibrant in their color display as in some other years.  Until now the aspens have been a little reluctant in showing their splendor, but today I caught several spots showing all of their fall majesty.  Again the photos below are just a small representation of the wonders of Emigration Canyon, October 5, 2010.  For me it was well worth the ride.

Another View

Do You Ever Wonder Why I Love Going to Work?

We are indeed blessed to work in this heavenly place.

Logan Utah Temple October 4, 2010

Logan Canyon

There are not many places where such beauty is located all within about a half hour's drive of home.  And to top it all off, it changes with the seasons, each one being just as beautiful as the next.

More Ada's Baptism Day Pictures

I got a  few pictures on Ada's baptism day that someone might like.

It was a special day for us and also for Ada and her family.