The John Oleson Family Christmas 1952

My first Christmas

Thanksgiving memories

Grandma knows that babies get very very smart when you read to them so Grandma is reading to Grace. I think she likes it!!!
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We arrived at Jill and Jake's home Wednesday evening. The next morning we got up and went up into a beautiful canyon about 14 miles from Buffalo and took some family pictures for Christmas cards and to record the memory of our first Thanksgiving with our Grace!! We had a great time. The weather was clear but brisk and the canyon ride (Crazy Woman Canyon) was beautiful. Grace didn't once complain that it was cold outside!!!

We sure like snuggling with the baby!!

We had a wonderful dinner. We had it at Jill's after she said, "I've never had a holiday at my house!!" So we had Thanksgiving in Buffalo and ate really well!! On Friday we went to Rapid City and did some Christmas shopping. On Saturday Ken and I went to Billings to see some cows.... and Jill and Jake went to the mountains and cut us Christmas trees. We all returned to Buffalo so that we could go to church together on Sunday. It was a fun time!!

Anna Mae Davison

On Sunday, November 23, Aunt Anna Mae died. She was living in Sterling, Colorado. She had been ill about a week. She had felt like she had the flu and then on Wednesday, Nov. 19, went to the doctor and was hospitalized. They operated on Friday, November 21, and found that much of her bowel tissue was dead. She died shortly after midnight on Sunday. She was much loved by her family and will be missed very much. There will be services in Sterling, Colorado, on Saturday, November 29, at 1:00 pm. There will a Memorial Service in June at the Oleson Family Reunion in Laramie.

She grew up on Emblem Bench with those Peterson girls as friends.

Emma Peterson (my Mom's sister), Madeline Peterson (my mother), Anna Mae Oleson, Lillian Oleson , Orpha Oleson, Maxine (married Uncle Amos) and Minnie Peterson (my Mom's cousin)

She was a wonderful wife and mother. Her husband is John Davison and her children are Chuck, Wendy and Mike. She now has nine grandchildren. .... and I know of two great grandchildren.

Anna Mae and John Davison

Wendy

I have been blessed with a wonderful family whom I love so much and am comforted by the love they have for me. This week is my cousin's, Wendy Davison Richter, birthday. She was the city girl who loved to come visit the farm each summer. We wrote letters to each other all year and just waited for that one or two weeks we could spend together. Wendy didn't have a sister and she loved being with LaRae, Cheryl, and I. We all would cry when she returned to Colorado. One summer I returned to the city with her and we made these cute dresses. It was so fun.... Thanks, Aunt Anna Mae!! I would hope that everyone can have the relationships with their siblings and cousins that I had. Happy Birthday, Wendy. I love you.

Not so long ago, Wendy was here visiting with Cheryl and I. In this picture we were at Shell Falls. We were on our way over the mountain to see Jill. Wendy had her two youngest daughters with her, Rhianna and Devin. We still like to spend time together!!!

Hope

Seven years ago when Matt died I felt a suffocating darkness descend upon me. I did not believe I would ever experience light again. However, the Comforter, spoke to me. I literally heard these words, "Francie, you do not yet have a testimony of Hope... but as you pass through this experience you will know what hope is." I knew in that moment that I was not alone. I have studied and read about hope. I have prayed for hope and practiced hope. I felt my own personal feelings stated aloud as President Uchtdorf spoke on hope in October conference. The words he spoke were my own... they were a reflection of my own testimony. How grateful I am for the gospel of Jesus Christ which teaches all things we must know and do to return home to our Father in Heaven.

Hope in God, His goodness, and His power refreshes us with courage during difficult challenges.
But Why Then Is There Despair?
The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward.
Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear.
Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. It is confidence that if we live according to God’s laws and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future. It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance.
In the language of the gospel, this hope is sure, unwavering, and active. With hope comes joy and happiness. With hope, we can “have patience, and bear . . . [our] afflictions.”
The things we hope in sustain us during our daily walk. They uphold us through trials, temptations, and sorrow. Indeed, there are times when the darkness may seem unbearable. It is in these times that the divine principles of the restored gospel we hope in can uphold us and carry us until, once again, we walk in the light.
We hope in Jesus the Christ, in the goodness of God, in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, in the knowledge that prayers are heard and answered. This type of hope in God, His goodness, and His power refreshes us with courage during difficult challenges and gives strength to those who feel threatened by enclosing walls of fear, doubt, and despair.
Hope sustains us through despair. Hope teaches that there is reason to rejoice even when all seems dark around us. -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Remembering Matthew

I look at the blogs and enjoy seeing the pictures of young mothers busy with their children and recall the wonderful years when my children were small. I loved becoming and being a mother to Jill and Matt. They were delightful and beautiful children and I always enjoyed being in their company. We had alot of fun together and it is a great blessing being an eternal family.

Our family truly wasn't complete until our Matt joined us in 1986. Jill was born just two years earlier in 1984. This is our first family picture with the four of us together. It was taken just after Matt had arrived from a long journey from Korea. He smiled and smiled and so did we!!

Yesterday, November 19th, was the anniversary of Matt's death. We miss him. He is always in our thoughts and our prayers. We cherish all the sweet memories we have of him and love him more with each passing day. We feel him close to us and are filled with gratitude once again that we are an eternal family. The picture above is a picture Matt chose to put on my computer as a screen saver many many years ago. It represents serenity for me and always reminds me of my Matthew.

Carl Allen Link's Family

Nathan and Yuritzin Link

On October 24, 2008, Nathan Link got married in the Billings Montana Temple. He married a beautiful young woman from Mexico. Her name is Yuritzin. He met her while on his mission in Mexico and then waited for her while she served a mission also. Nathan is my Aunt Orpha's youngest grandson. In the picture are Nathan's brothers, Chris and Cameron.
Chris and his family live in Boise, Idaho. His wife's name is Brooke and his children are Connor, Garrett, and Kennedy. Cameron lives in Burlington.
I loved my Aunt Orpha. She had a severe stroke and was in the Powell Nursing Home for awhile. Just before she died she was in the hospital in Powell. I had gone to work and learned that she was not doing very well. Her two sons had spent the previous day with her but had gone back to work. I felt a strong impression that I needed to be with her. I left work and went to Powell. I sat with her in the hospital and she died in the afternoon. I was so glad to be there with her. I was once again thankful for the promptings of the spirit that come to us so often which lead us to do good things. She died in August just shortly before my sister, LaRae, died.

The Mighty Huntress

Jill is rather awesome! She hunted the deer on the farm. It literally just walked out of the corn. She got a good shot and took it. This is a great looking dry doe. She will grind the meat and make jerky. A meat many of us enjoy a great deal. I remember LaRae shooting a deer so she could make jerky to sent to Vietnam when Sam was serving in the army in 1969.

Jill not only shot the deer but she gutted it. Her husband, Jake, was very proud of her!! I told her.... she can hunt and butcher the deer and I will raise and butcher the chickens and we can keep the children fed!! There is something comforting about being self sustaining and capable.

Remembering Dad

"For they all knew it was all Great Grandpa Bunny Bunny's plan."

This quote was taken from the Golden Book titled, Walt Disney's Grandpa Bunny. It was first published in the early 1950's but was just published again last year. It was my favorite childhood book and the favorite of my brother John and my sisters, LaRae and Cheryl. I would encourage you all to find this book and read it to your children. It reminds us of the miracle of Grandpas and the greater miracle of Life Eternal.

My father, John Robert Oleson, was born October 9, 1918. He died October 25, 1999. He is not forgotten. His life was an example to us all. He loved us and his farm and his country. He believed in family, honesty, keeping the Sabbath Holy, the word of God found in the Bible, and observing strictly the Ten Commandments. I will always remember Robb's prayer at Dad's funeral. It was beautiful and comforting. I remember he expressed his gratitude for his Grandpa's example on how to treat a wife and children. My father was a gentle man, a kind man, a man you could count on to help when help was needed.

The picture above is a beautiful sunrise taken at my home last Saturday. I remembered Dad. He was a Great Grandpa Grandpa!!!

Tagged by Jill

4 things I love about my life:
1. My great... fabulous husband!
2. My adorable daughter and handsome son-in-law!
3. My perfect granddaughter!
4. My home

4 things I love about my husband:
1. He's loves me as much as I love him!
2. He helps me do dishes and laundry and will even vacuum!
3. He listens to me!
4. He loves and serves the Lord when and where called!
5. I must add he loves being a father and grandfather!!

4 movies I would watch more than once:
1. The Saint
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. Ever After
4. Camelot
5. Fiddler on the Roof (I know, that is five movies)

4 books I would read more than once:
1. The Book of Mormon
2. Marley and Me
3. Pink and Say
4. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

4 jobs that I've had:
1. Speech Therapist
2. Medical Clinic Receptionist
3. Book keeper
4. Truck Driver (beets, beans, barley, corn, etc., I wasn't a long haul driver)

4 things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Caring for my Mother who had Cancer
2. Watching my daughter, Jill, play volleyball
3. Watching my son, Matt, play football
4. Participating in the community play, The King and I

4 things I hope to be doing in 10 years:
1. Watching Grace and my other grandchildren play and learn
2. Growing and canning fruits and vegetables from my garden
3. Serving the Lord
4. Helping my husband with his herd of cattle!!

4 people I'm tagging:
1. Cheryl
2. Amy
3. Suze
4. Lynette

Rozella's Birthday

Chuck, Ken and Rozella

Rozella and Ken shared a dinner of baby back ribs at Famous Dave's.
We traveled to Billings to help celebrate Rozella's birthday. She is my mother-in-law and I love her very much. She is kind and supportive of us and cares about us very much. She raised a wonderful son whom I am blessed to have as my husband and father to our children. Ken reflects often on what a wonderful mother she was when he was small and how wonderful she is now that he is grown. We pray that the coming year will be a wonderful one for her and that she will find many blessings awaiting her!

A weekend in Salt Lake City

September 20, 2008 - the sweet hands of our Grace.
Ken and I enjoying dinner with our family at Tepanyaki.
Jake, Jill, and Grace joined us for our weekend of fun. They rented a car and went to Logan to see friends and have lunch on Saturday.

It was fun to share the week-end in the company of Cheryl, Glenn and Suze and family, and Robb, and Jen and family. What a great family they are and we sure enjoyed being with them. On Friday we had a girl's morning out. Cheryl, Suze, Jen, Jill and I went out for pedicures! We have beautiful, smooth, and colorful feet! We visited the Cabella and Ikea stores and Rod Iron Works. Oh... The shopping was good!!

We watched Robb and Glenn in action in their new, growing, very prosperous business.

Congratulations to them in their lawn care business.

The busy moments were fun but the treasured moment was time spent snuggling with our baby in the early morning hours when Jill brought Grace in to cuddle with her Grandma in bed!!!

I wasn't the only one wanting to snuggle with Grace! Here we see Caleb and Micah holding her.

Ken's favorite spot to eat is in Jordan Landing at Iggy's. He always has Coconut Shrimp and thinks it is just the very best.

Grace made a grand entrance to Salt Lake and was given the keys to the city by the loving family who awaited us there. We appreciate their hospitality and the wonderful time spent with them and hope to be able to do it again soon.

Birthday Memories

It was my birthday on Monday, September 15, and it was a good one because I shared it with those I love. I remember Mom and Dad telling me that on the day I was born my Dad finished threshing the beans. Mom knew she was in labor and waited until the harvest was completed. LaRae and Cheryl were in the catalogs cutting out paper dolls and the living room was cluttered with bits of paper but Mom didn't mind because they were safe and playing together. I print the canning picture because I did can on my birthday as my mother often did! Peaches are ripe on September 15. Jill came for the week-end and we spent time together canning peaches and pears. I love the look of fruit and vegetables in jars!! I am grateful for another lesson taught me by my mother!!

After an afternoon of canning we went up to Shell, Wyoming and ate supper at Trapper Creek Lodge. It was a beautiful and memorable evening.

Jake, Jill and Grace were able to join us and we returned for the first time to Trapper where Jill and Jake were married. Jill stopped and introduced Grace to the spot where the wedding took place.

Our Three Generation Picture! We wish it could be a Four Generation Picture! I am missing my Mother more since Grace has been born than I have for awhile. She would have loved to watch Jill as a Mother and would have loved to hold and care for Grace.

Jake and Jill gave me a beautiful gift. It is a necklace I will treasure wearing! Birthdays are welcome when we have so much fun together!!

On Sunday, September 7, 2008 we were in Buffalo, to help Jill and Jake celebrate in the Naming and Blessing of their daughter, Grace Edith Wright. Ken was able to do this ordinance and it was just a great and wonderful day!

Jake, Jill and Grace on September 7th, 2008.

Grace was just a wonderful baby! She is perfection. I made her Blessing Dress, slip, booties, and cap. She is also wearing a little pearl bracelet and little gold ring we gave her. She is truly all decked out!!
Jill was busy and I got to give her a bath and dress her for the special occasion! She was so patient with her Grandma Francie!! I was busy tieing on the bracelet and ring with white ribbon so that they would not get lost or swallowed!

This week my thoughts have been of my sister, LaRae. She was a very important part of my life. She died on Labor Day six years ago. The coming of Autumn is always filled with nostalgia

as we remember LaRae, Dad, Matt, and Mom who passed away in Sept, Oct, Nov, and Jan.

We are fortunate that our memories are wonderful and such treasures. I am attaching a picture of LaRae in the dentist's office. It was taken in March of 2002. The dentist is her son, Sam, and his assistant is her son, Clint. I was priviledged to be seated at her feet reading her the story, "The Daughter of a King". It truly is LaRae's story. I am so grateful for that memory and the opportunity I had to be with her that day.

Labor Day Weekend - Sunday

After church we drove to Sam and Becca's home. They were traveling home from their Labor Day weekend and due to weather didn't arrive in time for "The LaRae supper". However, we proceeded to have a fabulous evening even though we missed them and wished for their presence! We ate LaRae's favorite foods of lasagne, green jello salad, hot toasted french bread, and trifle. We watched a DVD that Becca had made up of old film. It was great. We saw Sam and LaRae as newly weds and as young parents beginning to raise their three oldest boys. It was just wonderful being together and we made some new, unforgettable memories!!
Maren looked up at Ken and said "I sure am glad you're my Uncle." To which he replied, "I sure am glad I'm your Uncle!!" Ken asked Maren, "Has anyone one roped you lately?" She thought for a moment, looked at him and said, "Only you!!"

Kate Alea and Grace Edith are getting acquainted! Kate is 8 weeks old and Grace is 14 days old.
Little second cousins who will grow up to know and love one another! That is important.

Maren gets acquainted with Grace.

Jackson is loving, friendly, and generous (he had a wolf spider to show us he had found)!

Jodi, Sedley, and Kenny

Dana and Tony

Clint and Amy

LaRae's granddaughters having a wonderful time together hamming it up!

Kyla, Aliza,Page, Madison, Carissa, (Callin is in the background and can't be seen).

Jodi finding the fresh strawberries and fresh peaches in the trifle!

Randon and Paige watching Jill put on Grace's nightgown for the ride home.

What a great evening!

Francie loving Kate.

What fun it was to spend the evening with everyone I love so much!

Thanks for the invitation to spend an evening remembering LaRae

and having a "LaRae Supper".