Allen Family Flights of Fantasy. . . . during quarantine

My son Danny got this idea from DTP whom I believe got it off Facebook.  He text all his siblings and their wives and children and threw down the gauntlet young and old to make paper airplanes, do some test runs and then fly to compete. (This reminded me of when Elder Scott stayed in our home and got down on his knees in his suit and taught all my children how to make fancy airplanes (former                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                engineer).  All to start and stop at a certain time, record or measure how far/the distance of their flight was and then at the appointed time text their best distance to him.  He said take picture and record comments of every one.  When all have been received by Danny he would then text everybody the name and distance of the adult (12 and over) and child (under 12) WINNERS.  He then put in the mail a gift card for each the winners from TARGET and a small sack of fun candy for each of those who participated.  (NOTE:  one parent could help a child (4 and under) make their plane but not fly it for them.)

"SOCIAL DISTANCING" "QUARANTINE" now there's a couple of terms that are new to me !

Sunday Dinner Visit with Timmy & Shiloh's Family Outside

Sacrament by TJ & his Daddy

6 ft. Apart if Shopping For Necessities 

Hugs & Kisses Thru The Window

Oh what a difference a day makes !  Never heard of the virus Covid-19 but the pandemic hit the whole world.  One minute life is normal and the next we're ordered indoors especially the elderly and children.  Missionaries return home by the plane loads (five 747's landed in  SLC alone of our Missionaries serving in the Philippines, two of which were my grandsons Max and Justin. Our Jamaican Missionary Lauren returned as well.  Tatum stayed in Washington D.C. but will serve the remainder or her mission indoors and telecommunicate with her investigators.)  Dental and medical offices closed as did schools K thru University around the globe.  Kids are being homeschooled with parents and some of their teachers telecommunicated with them.   You are to wear masks and gloves if you have to venture out and stay at least 6 feet away from another person.  A few of my children and grands ventured out at least once to visit with me thru the back window, play games and kiss me thru the window.   My first visitor after a couple of weeks was my son who didn't come near me and dropped a sack of groceries inside my garage door and left.  It was so good to see him but as he drove away I started to cry as I realized that that was the first time in my whole life that one of my loved ones went away without a hug and a kiss.  Another son called me a few minutes later and I had  been crying so he organized a ZOOM conference chat with all my children and myself which we do almost daily to keep us all connected.  Our Missionaries "homecoming reports" are being done via recorded ZOOM meetings.  This has been going on for about two months now.  People are dying of this terrible virus and until the numbers begin to drop of people who've been infected it will continue.

"Grammy's Christmas Grand's Slumber Party"

                                "GRAMMY'S CHRISTMAS GRAND'S SLUMBER PARTY"

....Christmas had just lost it's bloom as far as me getting excited about a tree and decorating it and my home.    I didn't want for my lack of excitement to seep over into my relationship with my "Grand's".  Danny had taken me to Cost Co to pick out a tree and it was just sitting in my living room smelling great but undecorated.  The idea came to me about holding a slumber party with any of my "Grand's" that wanted to come.  I sent out cute invitations inviting all my grandchildren.  I asked them to bring their toothbrush, p.j.'s, a pillow, rubber mat and a sleeping bag.  I planned out the menu for dinner:  sloppy joe's, chips, root beer, celery and carrot sticks and I told them we were going to make cookies and stroll down the green belt between our twenty homes in our neighborhood and carol and hand out cookies on a Christmas plate.  When Danny found out my caroling plans he called and asked if he could join us and bring a small hay wagon and his fun four-wheeler to pull it.  When he showed up he had decorated the wagon with Christmas Lights and a Christmas Wreath.  We had finished our dinner together.  The kids all put on their coats and the Christmas Santa hats I collected for them.  Because this activity changed our plans a little we just put frozen cookie dough on the plates and the kids caroled and ran a plate of cookies up to each door.  The kids were well received.  The neighbors said things like, "We've lived her over 12 years and nobody ever came caroling to us." or "Your grandchildren are beautiful, you are so lucky to have them live near you".  or "Would you mind going over to our friends across the street and carol to them?" After we finished caroling we made hot chocolate and Pammie Shea baked cookies to go with it.  We made popcorn and cranberry streamers, then they decorated the tree, and then got ready for bed.  They sang songs around the tree lit up with old fashion bubble lights like I grew up with as a child.  They all put their pads and sleeping bags out we all knelt for family prayers and then they settled in to watch a Christmas Movie together.  They all came in and jumped in my bed the next morning and I took a picture of the.  Then they got dressed for the day, came in and ate breakfast then their parent's came to get them.

The end of an era in my life of grieving...onto worthwhile projects .

Israel ARD & LaPREAL Rogers HOYT - my parents

Well it's April 11, 2020 and it's been several years since I wanted to do my "Grammy" Shirlyn blog.  So much has happened in the enter rum.  Three years of strokes, heart issues, long hospital stays, broken hip and replacement, kidney failure,  dementia and finally death for my sweetheart of fifty-three years.  It's taken me until now to get my act together and do some thing worthwhile in my life.  Aside from working in the Phoenix Arizona Temple I can't really say I've accomplished all that much of worth in the year and a half since he passed away.  I moved into my own little two bedroom home in Sun City and have given away or put on display in my home things that matter to me.  Why invest in storage units?  What am I waiting for?  If I don't want it out now then when?  Extra furniture, holiday dishes and decor given away to my children.  Now I'm digging in boxes of files to see whats of value in them and sharing what I find that I think my siblings, children and grandchildren might find of interest.  I'm writing my father's history.  I already wrote my husbands thru photo journaling efforts and I've done the same for my mother.

Happily Enjoy A Little Role Reversal People !

We're so blessed in our old age of 74 to still have a parent with us that is 97.  We had a father die in the last few year's at the age of 97 and my Mother pass at 94 a few year's earlier.  Yes, we're living in an age where we "0ldies but Goodies" still have oldier and goodier ones with us.  My opinion is to let them keep their dignity and loosen up and learn to laugh with them when things get a little out of the ordinary.  Case in point, if they love their chocolate and it show's.. that's wonderful!  Step back and remember how many times they cleaned up our messes OF ALL KIND'S and did it with unconditional love several times a day on a daily basis for several years.  Then when we got older they still were there to clean up our messes, of a different kind, and help us work thru them still with that same unconditional love.  Our precious elder's don't look in the mirror several times a day, as we all do, and even if they did most can't see clearly.  We've seen many wonderful examples of our siblings, our children and our grandchildren showing love and real genuine concern for our parent's. Some take the time to devote one night a month to holding a family gathering with them.  Some, who come from out of town, make sure they get a good visit in with their Nonny and Poppy before heading back.  Some visit with letter's, pictures or books to read and share.  Some come and share their talents.  Some come to take them out for a drive.  Some come to take them to church. Some come to take them out to eat.  Some take them over their favorite desserts and do it often.  Some drop in just to stay awhile and visit.  Everybody that takes the time always come away feeling so much better about themselves than when they first arrived.  They can laugh with their "Nonny" and "Poppy" when called by a wrong name or given an (on the spot) nickname.  They don't make fun or belittle their Nonny and Poppy's action's that aren't perhaps what they are use to observing, they'd laugh or smile and find it endearing.  I say, let's lovingly enjoy a little role reversal in our lives for I KNOW we will miss it dearly when we no longer have the priviledge.  Until me meet again.  "Grammy" Shirlyn

"PHOTO-JOURNALING" - what's behind it and how to get started.

I've posted things about this before but we had a "Service Exchange" in church and my friend sitting next to me told me to do something on my Photo-Journaling for my service and to do it for her.  I fully intented to attend the evening of exchange but wasn't able to.  I still wanted to keep my promise to her so I wrote the following along with examples so if she still wants to do it she'll understand where I'm coming from.

I can't think of the saying I'm wanting to use but other sayings like "Do I Need It?", "Do I Need It Now?" "Can I Do Without It?" will do.  I KNOW I've never lived in a home so small as we are living in now (except maybe in College) but we are very happy.  We're close to the medical things we're in need of.  We're close to my hubby's sweet 97 year old Momma.  We're close to our callings in The Phoenix Arizona Temple.  We're close to several of our children and not too far from the rest and do our best to "bug" them as often as they can put up with us.

Since our Senior Couple's Mission to Brasil and even a little before we started "down-sizing" in many ways.  Now we're down to a small rented storage unit for a few boxes that we take out a little at a time to work on and our holiday decorations. (BUT we are even down-sizing them each as we celebrate the most current holiday.) Many Christmas Holiday decorations, books, music, dishes, glassware, tablecloths, centerpieces, tree orniments ect. have been given to our families.  We actually held a "Second-Hand Christmas Gift Giving"holiday this past Christmas.  One of the rewards of doing it was the love we felt towards our children and grand-children as we let go a little bit of our past special memories and passed them onto the most important people in the world to us.  We didn't know how they would react and felt a little like a couple of ole cheapskates, but the reactions we did receive from some were very precious and special to us.

One thing we decided to do was NOT put all our past in storage (paper and picture-wise).  What's the point?  We're in our 70's, if we don't take the time NOW to make-up our "Photo-Journal Memories" who will LATER?  Everybody else has their own lives to keep up with.  SOOOO, even thou our one bedroom apartment looks somewhat like a storage unit it's self, I find my passion for "Photo-Journaling" get's the attention it needs on a daily basis IF only because I'm a very organized person and I can only stand so much of "comfortable clutter"!  Each week I've been able to discard several boxes as I remove what I want to work with and discard the rest out of a box.  I have informed my children that if there are any other boxes left when I leave this life just light a match to them (no use cluttering up their lives)!  My goal is to "Photo-Journal" what's in my many boxes and enjoy the memories and perhaps bore some of my children and "Grand's" along the way with a few of our many many good and even not so good memories that we have experienced in our lifetime.   After all those experiences have helped shape the people that we are, (warts and all)!

Since I've "Photo-Journaled" my whole life it's kinda fun to see how my idea's of what I use to save for memories has changed over the year's.  I've changed from putting every match book and napkin of an event into my albums to trying  to get each event in our lives down to a few pages each. Since the boxes are full of mixed year's of STUFF I learned from our daughter LaNell who use to be a Creative Memories Consultant to put the happenings of an event on the front and back of a page,  that way it doesn't matter that the event isn't done in date order, it can be inserted in an album where it fits in down the line date-wise when I'M READY.  I use acid-free paper in my albums and I put page protectors on each page.  (Some might feel this is over-kill but having so many in my family I don't want to hover over them IF they want to look thru my efforts.  I don't want to be afraid they'll smudge or tear my hard and loving work.)

The best way for my children and grandcildren to see how each family member has changed in looks with each year is for them to look at our Christmas Albums.  I have albums that hold only Christmas pictures, cards, newsletters ect.  Starting with Jim as a child and me as a child up to the latest years.  They are part of what I put out for Christmas and I kept them for that purpose when I was giving memories out.

"The Jim & Shirlyn Allen FAMILY REUNION 2016 Greer, AZ

“The Jim & Shirlyn Allen Family Reunion” 

Greer, Arizona 2016

July 17 thru July 23

(a blow by blow accounting)

 by “Papa” & “Grammy” Allen

We arrived in Greer, AZ at Danny & Kimberly’s Mountain Home Sunday afternoon (yesterday) in a beautiful rain storm.  Smells so wonderful and clean.   Tricia and her children arrived a half hour before us because we stopped  to get some  Snowflake Karn” in memory of  Momma to share with everybody as they trickled in.  Next to arrive was Timmy & Shiloh’s family with our youngest “Grand” little Smithie who was a little overwhelmed with all the attention he was getting.  Everybody ate their “Karn” snack and then Timmy put out his famous Cottage Cheese Dip with Salsa and chips for all to  enjoy while playing “JaNae”.  Stacy and Aftin had never played it before so everybody was teaching as we went along. Then most went to bed  and at 11:30 PM Billy’s and Robby’s families arrived together towing Robby’s fun mobile.  Billy and Karen came in to our bedroom to say hello and Karen was so adorable she was clapping and wiggling with excitement at being all together again.  We kept little Ashlyn in our bed to snuggle while her parents emptied their car and got everybody in  the two families bedded down.  “Papa” Jim and I, “Grammy” Shirlyn had four “roomies” for awhile but then Ashlyn’s Daddy came to claim her and later on Abbie decided to wander around a lot so we sent her up to “room” with her Momma and hoped her Momma could help her want to go back to sleep.  Tricia was only able to come  up at all IF she could do her work on the computer while here .  So when we all went to bed all WI Fi was turned off so that when she woke up at 4 to start her internet business. the internet would work good for her.    Everybody was assigned to bring up groceries for one Breakfast, one Lunch and one Dinner they decided to take one day each and get it over with but because  Karen and Kristin wanted to do their two days together and got up here so late and had asked for Monday Timmy and Shiloh volunteered to do their Breakfast and then Tuesday they can do their Breakfast.  Everybody brought up their own pillows, bath towels, sleeping bags for children or bedding.  Jim and I made a CostCo stop and picked up 500 each of dinner paper plates, bowls, cups or various sizes, knives, forks, spoons, paper towels, toilet paper, dish detergent, hand soap and trash bags.  We’re geared for bear!!!  The kids have already started to make up a play to present to us.  They’ve cleaned out a very lopsided fort to play in, practiced  their musical numbers for the family night for sharing; make a bicycle obstacle coarse; reading to each other and just enjoying being together as siblings and cousins.  Busy, Busy people, we just feel so blessed that they would want to spend a week with us.  Billy’s old house is in the middle of closing and  so is Robby’s in New Mexico so Kristin’s off to Eager to a bank to do paper work and Billy’s here for a week even though he’s already spent a couple of weeks in California for Karen’s Eagleston Reunion.  Danny’s staying in town until Weds. after work and then Tatum and Romney  will come Thurs. on their way to heading to Utah to Tessa’s Homecoming.   I asked one to be in charge of everybody getting a menu together; One in charge of making sure everybody had an Olympic Event to bring up all equipment for;  Kimberly’s got “Sr. & Jr. Chore Charts” going; Billy’s out organizing rides in the two fun mobiles  (Danny leaves his here at their place for the summer) and Jim’s appointed himself the photographer for me.  I’m not as mobile as I’d like to be but they are all so creative and helpful and work well together so Jim and I can just enjoy being with them all.

Sample Menu:

Sunday night snack:  “Karn” on the cob; two dips and lots of chips. (J/S, Timmy)

Monday Morning:  Pancakes with peanut butter and syrup (Timmy & Shiloh)

Monday Lunch:  hoagy sandwiches, chips, watermelon (Billy,  Karen & Kristin)

Monday Dinner: Teriyaki chicken bowls (Kristin, Billy & Karen)

Tuesday Breakfast:  “Poppy McMuffins” cut up blueberries & strawberries( & orange juice (Kristin, Billy & Karen)

Tuesday Lunch: Bean Burritos, Cheese Quesadilla , Chips and Salsa (Timmy & Shiloh)

Tuesday Dinner:  Shiloh’s Momma’s Pessa Stew with Cornbread (Timmy & Shiloh)

Weds.. Breakfast:  Granola Parfaits and Bagels (Kristin, Billy & Karen)

Weds. LuncH:  Chicken Noodle Soup or Potato Soup, Rolls, Brownies & ice Cream. (Kristin, Billy & Karen)

Weds. Dinner:  -bque Pork on Rolls, Chips, Carrots, Brownies & Ice Cream (Kristin, Billy & Karen)

Thursday Breakfast:  Fruit Smoothies and Cream Cheese Bagels. (Tricia)

Thursday Lunch:  Ham & Cheese Sliders, Chips, Fruit (Tricia)

Thursday Dinner: -Bqued hamburgers (Danny & Kimberly)

Friday Breakfast:

Friday Lunch:

Friday Dinner:

Sat. Breakfast:

Sat. Lunch:

  

IT’S MONDAY MORNING:  Several started the day early on jogs, walks or runs.   Billy went one way and Kimberly went another.  Karen and Amy walked thru Greer and back but our Kristin who usually get’s out on runs had to get ready for the day and go do banking to close on the home in New Mexico that they sold.  She came back with  a funny story about banking in the small town of Eagar that had us  laughing.  The new tables outside were  arranged with the help of our strong teen “Grand’s” into one long table with nice oilcloth coverings that I  gave to Kimberly for her Mountain Retreat when we moved out of our Whitehorn Home a couple of months ago. I was so happy to see you liked them enough to use up here.   Kimberly had  the boys that had slept on the porch, roll  up their bedding and fold up their cots so the porch could be used for activities during the day.  We have such a full, fun day ahead of us (Tuesday).  We had Timmy & Shiloh’s delicious pancakes and Billy’s cinnamon, sugar apple slices.  When   kitchen was all spit  spot by Timmy & Shiloh all sorts of fun things began to happen.  The Rino’s were take out the targets were set up for archery and BeeBe Gun’s came out of hiding, kids fishing poles were purchased and bikes chains were lubed.  I was able to observe all even when hooked up to my ice machine for therapy thru our bedroom window.  Fact is I think I observed Jim and our Billy have the longest conversation uninterrupted by Karen & I in my whole life (thru the screen on our bedroom window).  The teen  “Grandson’s” were impressed with  their uncle Timmy’s archery skills and they also enjoyed getting the feel of the bow (50-80 # pull) .  Even Amy & Kimberly gave it a try and  succeeded .  Several got to have a try at the wheel of Danny & Robby’s Rino’s..  Fact is we had a visit from our local forest service law enforcement because they got a complaint from the first house on Danny’s road.  They did not give us a ticket just said not to ride beyond the fence along the stream because of it being a bird sanctuary.  The fishing was great fun to observe and what I could observe was shared thru picture for me.  Timmy took it upon himself to help Levi, Pammie Shea , Abbie catch their first fish and Billy helped Austin catch his first fish.  We had lunch of great everything but the kitchen sink hoagies amidst a couple of rain storms.  Jim was in charge of our Family Home Evening  and had the boys line up the tables and chairs church style.  He talked about the importance of family and thanked Kimberly   and Danny for making our “Jim and Shirlyn Allen Family 2016 Reunion” possible in their beautiful Mountain Retreat.  Then he had Kimberly talked about their once a month Family Home Evening with Nonny& Poppy Allen.  She told us that they started it five years ago and that it was the best because their children grew to love their Nonny and Poppy and they learned so much from them.  Then Jim had each couple in the family report of their families.  After that he had each couple tell how they met and decided they were the ones for each other.  Jim also reported on how we met and how we decided to get married.  It was a fun evening and afterwards we had hot out of the oven chocolate chip cookies and cups of milk.  Then the kids played games with Billy & Timmy while the women stood around the kitchen and told stories and laughed about things that they are their kids had done.  We are so blessed that all our children enjoy being together.  Robby even called to tell us that he and LaNell’s family were having their own Family Home Evening in Sandy going out to dinner together.  The Pecks are in Utah for Dayna’s college graduation from BYU  Idaho this week.  

Can’t wait to see what today hold’s .  Already Kimberly’s off and running shortly after 6 this morning and Billy probably is out in the woods also but I’ve been in getting my shower over before the bathroom is taken over by the rest of this crew.  After Kristin, Billy & Karen fed us all a delicious breakfast of “Poppy McMuffin’s” and fresh fruit.  Then pretty much everybody did their own things while other’s were preparing & gathering materials for their planned

“Allen Family Olympic” events.  Then lunch was prepared by (Timmy & Shiloh) of Mexican Food.                Then,  Let the Games Begin: ……………. 

THE JIM & SHIRLYN FAMILY OLYMPICS 2016

Organized & Conducted by Amy

Assisted by her Jim & Kimberly

1-5:30 PM

Greer, AZ

“The Star Spangled Banner” was beautifully sung by Anna Allen  and then she led us in “The Pledge of Allegiance.”

Amy Steele organized and conducted  with her Dad Jim Allen as her assistant and Kimberly Allen as the official photographer.

1st EVENT - “THE BIATHLON “-  sponsored by The Wade & Amy Allen Steele Family

(The event consisted of a Bike Race 3/4 ways around the cabin;  Target Shoot with  soft pellet gun;, Dirt Bike Obstacle Coarse all  timed for three different levels or age groups).  

 First Level Awards went to:  Bronze - Royce 

                                                   Silver    - Ashlyn 

                                                   Gold      - Ruby 

Second Level Awards:             Bronze -  Anna 

                                                   Silver    - Megan 

                                                   Gold     - Brady 

Third Level Awards:                 Bronze  - Justin 

                                                  Silver     - Max 

                                                  Gold       - Gavin 

2nd EVENT - “THE CRACKER-WHACKER RACE” - sponsored by The J.Robert & Kristin Smith Allen Family  (The event consisted of two age groups with each having a ribbon tied around their waste with a full saltine cracker attached to it and each handed a “whacker” which was a rolled up part of a magazine .  The last one left with his “cracker” still on his string won.)

First Level Awards:          Bronze - Justin 

                                         Silver   - Gavin 

                                           Gold     - Timmy 

Second Level Awards:      

Bronze - Austin 

Silver    - Pamela  

Gold     - Levi  

3rd EVENT - “THE CORN HOLE” - sponsored by The Danny & Kimberly Steele  Allen Family.  (The event consisted of whole families competing against each other in throwing bean bags into a hole on a tilted board several  feet away.)  Scores were kept for each family and then an elimination took place until the top three families scores were made.)

The Awards went to:      

Bronze - Rob & Kristin Allen Family (Kristin, Justin, Lauren & Megan)

Silver    - Danny & Kimberly Allen Family (Kimberly, Gavin Ard, Aftin)

Gold     - “Papa” with Amy & Wade Steele Family ( Amy, Max, Brady, Abbie & Ruby)

4th EVENT - “THE GUNNY SACK RACE” - sponsored by The Tricia & Matthu Rooker Family.  (This event consisted of two families competing agains each other until one had the best time and continued to happen until finished and the best three times per family received metals.)

The Awards went to:     

Bronze - Tricia & Matthu Rooker Family (Tricia, Rae, Stacy, Royce & Ryker)                                         Silver    - Billy & Karen Allen Family (Billy, Karen, Audrey, Anna, . Alisa, Austin, Ashlyn)

Gold     - (Aftin & Gavin of  D & K Family 

5th EVENT - ‘THE DIZZY WAITER RACE:” - sponsored by The Timmy & Shiloh Allen Family.  (This event consisted of a tray with several plastic cups filled with water.  The first on each team was to take the tray full of cups with water over to another person across the way who has been spinning 5 times before he could be handed the tray then he had to race to the other side not spilling any water.  After all the families competed against each other the best three times we awarded prizes.) 

The Awards went to:   

Bronze - Timmy & Shiloh Allen Family (T.J., Pammie Shea, Levi)

Silver   - Danny & Kimberly Allen Family ( Gavin Ard, Aftin)

Gold    - Robby & Kristin Allen Family (Kristin,, Lauren, Justin &  Megan)

6th EVEN T - “THE ALLEN FAMILY - I CAN RUN ONE MILE ANYTIME, ANY PLACE, NO MATTER WHAT - RACE” - sponsored by The Billy & Karen Allen Family 

( This event had all the kids lined up on half of the dirt road starting below “Hoyt’s Hide-A-Way” Cabin and the kids ran to the picnic area by the lake.  It was a timed race and not only did they have awards for  the “Top” but for various categories that the organizers came up with.)

honorable mention and fun.  The awards went to:     BRONZE - Brady Steele

                                                                                          SILVER   - Justin Allen

                                                                                          GOLD      - Gavin Ard Allen

“Hit it with your best Shot”………………………   Stacy 

“Best Form”……………………………………………Ryker

“Best Stride”……………………………………….…Alisa 

“ Eye of the Tiger”………………………………… …“TJ” 

“Never Gave Up”………………………………………  Rae 

“Best Dressed.”………………………………………. Lauren  

“Her smile endured”………………….Ashlyn 

“Cutest running Shoes………………Abbie  

“Great Sports” who made everything fun and encouraged all around them to do their best and keep going: ……………………… Audrey Allen, Anna Allen, Austin Allen, Levi Allen , “Grammy” 

 and we can’t leave out:  

“Best Natured”……………….baby Smith’y 

 It was such a fun time together.   BOY did we time it just right with a little help from above.  It  wasn’t 3 min. after we all got into our cars to go back to the cabin that lightning and thunder and heavy rain descended drenching those riding in the “fun car’s”.

Shiloh and Timmy had a hot delicious meal of Passe Stew and Cornbread ready  for us after everybody cleaned up from the days activities.

The evening ended with hot chocolate made for all by Lauren, Rae and Audrey.  Some played “Banana Boat” while other’s just relaxed.

Timmy, is the first that had to get back to work and also close on their new home.  He left at 9:30 PM and after he pulled out a couple more cars did the same but they were going animal hunting ( we called it “Spotlighting” back in the day).  They kinda had a scary twist on the events of the evening. The Teen Girls were out looking and their Daddy and Uncle came up behind them close with flashing bright lights and other taunting.  “Uncle Billy” was lucky they didn’t dial 911. because then he would have had two citations from The Greer Unruly Patrol.  The first being heading the pack of “rino” drivers around a broken down fence and tooling over a meadow of grass that the ranger said was federal bird habitat (since when’s all I want to know).  I think he was the local “Barnie Fife” who was misusing his authority with undo dominion.

After yesterday’s busy Olympic Workout we had a cabin full of people who slept later.  Amy had to leave with Brady for Gilbert for him to ge thru his new Middle School and get the lay of the land and his schedule because they all start Monday.  Amy is doing a quick turn around and on her way back here. 

For their activities for the day thus far.  Some rehearsed for the family talent show being held tonight.  Other’s took off exploring.  Jim was “the sag wagon” for the nature hike into and thru Greer with all the pre-teens and Tricia and Kristin. The Teen girls took one of the cars to go explore a ghost town that the men and teen boys were going to go paintball near.  They all just returned, along with Amy and Danny and Kimberly are in charge of dinner tonite..  Then our “Allen Family Extravaganza”.   

I need to mention that Kimberly spent most of yesterday and  the evening helping me reorganize my iphoto program which is full of thousands of pictures and she taught me what so many of my computer buttons are for.  Took lots of notes but unless I do my assigned homework I will soon forget.

They couldn’t have eaten “Srinky-dink” plastic metals.  Good idea Amy to have us make the Olympic Metals out of various items featuring chocolate.

Every evening “Mrs. Hannegen” aunt Kimberly have the Jr. kids and the Sr. kids pull a chore from her chart for the next 24 hours.  The little kids go up to her at various times during the day and ask her for a job.  This is Ruby and Ryker cleaning widows as high as they can reach.  Soooooo adorable how focused they were  

When the men and boys were out they went down by “Hoyt’s Hide-Away” aspen grove and discovered the tree Billy & Karen carved their names on when they were dating.  It survived the forest fire just barely.  As you can see there were cabins that didn’t make it.   

Delicious Lunch  of warm ham and cheese sliders with“Aunt Tricia.”

Danny and Kimberly just fixed us THE BEST hamburger’s and hot dogs with all the fixins’ and a delicious salad called “Roommate Salad” of spinach, green onions, slivered almonds, cubed apples.  

Now for “The Allen  Extravaganza”……….. let the talent overwhelm us all !  TO BE CONTINUED WITH PICTURES with Kimberly's wonderful help. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ACTS OF SERVICE

I love to read and sometimes I read something that I was looking for or thinking about for a time and sometimes I just come across something I feel I need to have more of in my life.  Whatever the reason I need to put the following on my blog.  It was written some time ago in an old LDS Living Magazine I came across while recouping from knee surgery in our son's home. It's about acts of service. It listed several small acts that can be easily put into play in our lives.  This quote by Jannalee Rosner got my attention. "These stress-free, bite-sized service ideas add up to one a week for a year if you wish to use them all."  

1.  Pick up trash on the street and throw it away.  Also don't forget to throw away your own trash!

2.  Talk to someone you don't normally talk to whether in person, on the phone, or via social media.

3.  Give an anonymous, encouraging note to a co-worker or neighbor.

4.  Focus on serving a roommate or family member.  Make their bed for them,  share the dinner you made, or lend them something you love.

5.  Take some time to serve tghose on the other side of the veil.  Sisit the temple, maybe even with family names.

6.  Find a place in the community to volunteer for a few hours,, such as a soup kitchen or an elementary school.

7.  Do something extra for those that you home or visit teach.  Drop off a note or a plate of cookies, text them a scripture, or send a "thinking of you" message.

8.  Try to hold the door open for someone at least once a day for a week.  If someone holds the dooor open for you, make aure you smile and thank them.

9.  Giove at least one sincere compliment to someone each day for a week.

10. Look for one person sitting alone at work, school, or a church activity.  Genuinely ask how they are doing and talk with them.

11. Send a letter or email to a relative you haven't talked to in a while.  Ask thoughtful questions and share your love or testimony, as you feel prompted by the Spirit.

12. Volunteer to feed the missionaries, or donate a little extra fast offerings.

13. 

TO BE CONTINUED AT A LATER DATE. . . . .

Seeking out our kindred dead. . . .GENEALOGY

Jim loves genealogy and so this trip that we are on right now is right up his alley.  He's in heaven researching at the Library and then taking me on side trips to visit relatives graves.  So far in a week we've been to Nephi, Utah and  Hyrum City, Utah and visited the graves and or homes of our ancestors.

  

James Hoyt was the first Hoyt to join the church and he is buried in Nephi, Utah.  He's my Great-Great Grandfather.



We visited Ira Allen's grave and the home he built.  He is Jim's Great Great Grandfather and is buried in Hyrum, Utah.

 

Sharing the Gospel with special guest's from SALT LAKE CITY. . . .

 



 



I tell you that there is NOTHING to fear when getting acquainted with special men of God.  After you've met them your concerns about your cooking ability, your home decor, your room you've prepared for them to spend the nite, the noise level of your children all fly out the window.  They are such a blessing to share with your children.  They make them feel so special and of great worth.  When I come across more pictures and memories of this special time in our lives I will add them to this post.

ideas for SERVING OTHER'S as a FAMILY. . . .

I wish I could take credit for all of these ideas but I can't. Some I can and some we've done but I will list all I have gleaned from other's as well:


_____1.  Write notes of appreciation to:  Sunday School and Primary teachers, school teachers, home teachers, visiting teachers, relatives, neighbors or friends.  (This could be done once a month following FHE.) (We've done for other's and other's have done for us as recently as after we gave our talks in our Ward following coming back to the Ward we left before we served our Mission to Brasil.) 
_____2.  Offer to baby sit for someone free of charge, giving a specific time and day when you could do this.  Young parents going to the Temple really appreciate this.
_____3.  Buying plants or seeds?  Get a few extra and give to someone who doesn't have their own transportation.  Involve your family by offering to do some of the planting, too.
_____4.  Invite another family to dinner or to go on a picnic.



_____5.  Surprise someone by cuttng grass, trimming, or watering without them knowing who did it. (As a family we rented the necessary equipment & put in a sprinkler system without being asked.)
_____6.  Bake goodies together, put on someone's doorstep, ring bell and run!  (We've done this as a family usually during a holiday but it would probably be even more fun to do it just to be doing it.  As empty nesters we've done this for new families who've moved into our neighborhood's or newfamilies in our Ward's.)
_____7.  Someone moving?  Offer to help pack, babysit, or provide meals.  (I've done this in the past and it was so much fun.  I didn't even ask, I just showed up with boxes, tape and packing paper, a meatloaf for them to pop in the oven with some potatoes to bake, salad and TX Sheet Cake which made it all the more fun.) One family paid me back when we moved from 9202 by both her and her hubby coming over with boxes, paper ect.( but they showed me how they broke down their boxes after their move, straightened out their paper and bubble wrap and then placed it inside individual broken down boxes and tied it all together in bundles with string....already to take to some one elses to help them move) NEAT IDEA that I've used but we gave all our boxes away our last move to craigs list and neighbors and church member's moving so we had to start fresh all over again - bummer!
_____8.  Share your garden producer, fresh or canned.  (When I was RS President I'd let the women who had too much produce bring it to RS with plastic grocery bags and let the other Sister's take what they could use.)
_____ 9.  Use your talents to help others...car repairs, wall-papering, sewing, baking bread, home decorating. etc.  (I have friends who bake, bottle, dehydrate, can and they make big batches and trade off  with  other's who share the same talents so that all can have a variety.)
____10.  As a family, write to a missionary once a month.
____11.  Share a good book with someone.  Offer to take a friend with you to the library the next time you go. (I have friends that meet quarterly to celebrate birthday's that have happened since our last luncheon and we bring books we've read to exchange with each other. When we were raising children I've had friends exchange clothing that wasn't worn out that kids had outgrown.)
____12.  Get permission to plant flowers, weed or help take care of the church grounds.
____13.  Grandparents:  Rotate personal visits with your grandchildren.  Invite them one at a time to your home and really get to know each other.  (We have done this one for many of our "Grand's" and it is so much fun to read, play games, swim and cook together and just form a special bond one on one.)
____14.  Plan now so that you can serve later.  Save now for that mission for your children and for you and your spouse.  Serve others while serving the Lord.  (It was wonderful helping our children prepare to serve their Missions and we as a couple especially enjoyed serving a senion couples CES Mission to Brasil.  We worked with the youth 13-30 in Seminary, Institute and The Perpetual Education Fund programs.  Eternal Friends were made.)
____15.  Sign-up to help deliver food to shut-ins through local programs such as Meals on Wheels.
____16.  Be a Red Cross volunteer and help out the needy and the elderly who need transportation to the doctor.
____17.  Volunteer your time and talents to the schools, community, youth programs. ect.  (We've done this especially when we helped over 100 Scouts become Eagles - we as a family took an active role in many Eagle Projects.)
____18.  Going shopping?  Take a friend along or do errands for them if they can't go.
____19.  For a Missionary's birthdahy, send the following to him:  Cake mix, frosting mix, candles, party hats, balloons, noise makers, games (such as pin the tail), and prizes.  All he/she has to do is bake the cake and invite the Elders/Sisters to help him celebrate.
____20.  Sponsor a neighborhood potluck dinner at your home to build more friendly feelings.  (Many year's ago we closed off our cul-de-sac and wheeled out our barBQ and everybody brought side dishes and the meats they wanted and we sat on our lawn chairs and watched the kids play in the street on their trikes, bikes and play with balls.)
____21.  Share a special family home evening with another family.
____22.  Let your small children take flowers and a homemade card to their teacher.
____23.  Don't be afraid to offer condolences through word ( a written note that says you care) and deed (food and help in their home).
Perhaps during the Holidays:
____24.  As a family, put on a program for folks at a rest home. Use musical instruments, read poems, sing. ect.  (We have done this many many times over our 50 year's of marriage with our family. )
____25.  Prepare some Christmas carols or a skit for the elderly and shut-ins in your Ward.  Go around to their homes to put it on.
____26.  Invite a family to Thanksgiving or Christmas Dinner, especially those who may not have any relatives nearby.  (We've done this for a large family who lost their mother just before the holidays and it was so enjoyable for all concerned.)
____27.  Make favors, placemats, decorations, ect. and take to the hospital.
____28.  Help your grandchildren make a gingerbread house, cookies, toys anonymously.
____29.  Adopt a needy family and give gifts of food, clothing, toys anonymously.  (This is a great project for several families to do together. ) (We've done this as an extended family many, many times just before Christmas and everybody young and old saw or felt true joy from afar.) 
____30.  Pledge to attend the Temple at least once a month during each year.  (Going thru with the whole family with our youth doing the baptisms for their own ancestors and then the adults doing the rest is a blessisng beyond
measure.)  

some recalled GAMES we've used for our family olympic's and game nite's. . . .

Board Game's

  

We'd select teams for each game such as Chess, Chicken-Foot, Janae, Checkers, Table tennis ect. and make up charts until the final winner of the game (the one who'd played all the sets because he'd won each set).  For example:

Two of the team play against each other.  The Winner of that set plays another, the winner of that set plays another, then the winner of that set plays another until only one winner left standing.  Each looser plays another team member who's lost a round and the winner of that looser member plays the next looser until the final looser set is left standing.  Then they play each other to see who really is the winner!

Set up several game tables so that everybody is involved, when the timer goes off the #1 chair person stays put and the rest of the team moves on to another table: Then the #1 chair person explains the game to the next group moving to his table ect. (then the #2 chair stays, then #3 chair stays, then #4 chair stays ect. until the last numbered chair stays and that's our winner) so no one ever sits back down at the same table or game they've played before unless they need to stay because they are in the selected chair for that round.

Set up tables with a puzzel to put together at each table when all seated ring the starter and everybody helps put the puzzle together when the puzzle is finished the captain runs over and rings the bell and the winning team is added to the roster for that game.

Outdoors Olympic Game's 

  Family Flags were made.

"Frisbee Golf". You make targets up out of paper plates and have everybody with a frisbee. The first person who has hit the target at every tree is the winner.

"Water Balloon Toss".  Ahead of time fill buckets full of water balloons full of water.  You set up three hula hoops each one further out than the next.  The person stands in the first hoop and throws the water balloon to the person standing in the 2nd hoop if the person in the 2nd hoop catches the balloon without it breaking they step back into the 3rd hoop and the 1st hoop person throws another water balloon to the person in the 3rd hoop and if the 3rd hoop person catches it without it breaking they step into a 4th hoop ect. until the #1 hoop person throws a balloon and it breaks when the person catches it.  Put that persons name into the winners bracket.

"Ping-Pong Ball Spoon Race".  Line up the group in teams with the first person in each line holding a spoon with a ball in it.  Let the race begin and the first person to drop his ball into the bucket at the other end and then get's back to tag the next in line until all in line have taken part the last ones race to the finish when nobody left to tag after all his team mates have done the same.  Add that team # to the winners bracket ect. ect.

"Tug of War Over Water".  Two teams line up each holding their end of the long rope over a childs plastic pool filled with water.  The team that can pull the other team into the water wins.  Add their team # to the winner's bracket.

"Horse Shoes". Two teams first team to win adds team # to the winner's bracket of that game.