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.

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.