Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

My brother Bruce had a close call this past couple of weeks.  He went in for a biopsy on his prostrate and ended up in the hospital with sepsis.  After reading Phil's letter, I decided I liked the way he summarized and got the whole story told, so, I'm going to quote Phil, quoting Bruce:

"I wrote last week that my brother Bruce was battling sepsis, but writing that doesn't really convey how scary it really is or how close he was to leaving us all behind. Bruce sent his  siblings a summary of his experience. I’m going to quote just a few excerpts. (The bold type is his – I suppose for  emphasis.)    “Today is Sunday, December 15, 2019. I am 72 years old, fast approaching 73. Today, I feel very lucky to be alive.” He goes on to describe recent cataract surgery, a prostate cancer scare (the procedure for which led to the sepsis, but there is no cancer), and then weakness, fever, chills, etc., that ultimately led to a physical collapse and his inability to stand up. He had this dialogue with a nurse and doctor in the emergency room. The nurse said, “We are working hard so that your vital organs don’t shut down.” And then she went on about my vital organs shutting down. I go “What?,” and look[ed] at the doctor. The doctor said, “Well, I don’t think I would say it like that.” Then, after a pause, he said, “Though what she said is not inaccurate.” I said, “Well, are my vital organs shutting down.” The doctor said “The fact we are having this conversation means that your vital organs have not shut down, and we are going to make sure that doesn’t happen. And maybe this conversation has worked to get your blood pressure up, which is not a bad thing.” It is also a tender mercy that all six of his siblings responded with love and concern to his current  challenge."

We are VERY grateful that Bruce is still with us and on the road to getting better.

There were no Christmas programs, parties or activities this week.  Sadly, our tradition of taking the family to the train store has ended.  The little train that the kids could ride was shut down to due the new fire marshal's instructions to put sprinklers all through the area where the train is.  The cost--$250,000.  Needless to say, it would take a very long time to recoup those kind of expenses.

Effie had a doctor's appointment.  Sara sent a picture and said, "apparently this is what you wear to the doctor's.

I especially love the frog on her shoulder.

I said we had no parties, but Roy did have one with his Young Men.  It was at our home.  Roy had Jennie set up the game systems, but they had so much fun visiting, they never went downstairs.

Roy invited himself to join Dan, Jieun, Nick and Sarah at a Korean restaurant for dinner Thursday night--"Cou"  It was Korean barbeque.  The Koreans must eat a lot of meat.  It was very good, especially since I could choose which items I wanted to eat.  There are still some Korean foods I have not become accustomed to--mostly those with hot sauce.  Roy took the pictures so he's not pictured.

We had a nice afternoon watching the Rasband kids (Dan's) while Jieun had a procedure on her back which will hopefully cure her of the pain she's been having.

We're looking forward to enjoying a wonderful Christmas Eve with everyone, but we will miss Elise and Andy and their kids this Christmas.  We wish all of you a Merry Christmas.

Doyeon's Baptism!

I was able to attend one more Christmas recital this week.  Finn had his preschool Christmas program on Wednesday.  Ollie is missing his Christmas program next week because their family left on Saturday for Hawaii with the Greens.  He was quite unhappy about this and told his parents that he didn't want to go to Hawaii.  They promised him that Hawaii would be better than a Christmas program.  Finn sort of sang the songs and participated in the program.  I think he was afraid he wouldn't look "cool."  There was one part where they were supposed to hold hands and it was obvious he did not want to do it.

   Ila had to be woken up for Adrienne to make it to the program on time.  She wasn't very awake, but she went right to Grandma Lisa when she arrived.  Ila is not quite as familiar with me, Someday she may warm up.

You can see from his face how excited he was to wear a 
Christmas tree.

Ila was happy on her way to the airport

Caitlyn had a great week.  She got her braces off!  Here she is at a wedding
reception with two of her college roommates (from last year) Elsa and Kaitlin

Doyeon turned 8 in October, but in hopes of having Giok (her Korean Grandmother) at the wedding, they planned her baptism for December.  Giok had tickets and fully planned on coming, but following a skiing accident and concussion, she had a lot of problems that nearly killed her, so she and her husband had to cancel their flights.  We were sad she couldn't make it.

Dan and Jieun didn't think to take pictures at Hyeji's baptism, so we made sure that didn't happen again.  Catharine Doyeon Rasband was baptised on December 14, 2019.

All of those present for the baptism.  Jieun had two Korean friends visiting.

Hyeji and Greta

Ruby, Ori, Greta and Yuna

Hyeji, Bridget, Greta, Ruby and Ori

Ruby, Doyeon and Dan

 After the baptism we went to our house and had treats.

Dojin and Jieun

Matt and Doyeon

Assorted children watching Toy Story

Bridget, Crista, Matt and Doyeon

Hyeji and Avie

Effie and Dan

I have been working this week on editing the next printing of the journal of Phineas Wolcott Cook.  Janet Porter has compiled it.  She has added punctuation, corrected spelling, and added footnotes.  The journal is now very enjoyable to read.  Janet has managed to do this without changing the writing style of the author.  I am always amazed when I read about Phineas that he stayed faithful to the end.  He endured so much.  He gave up his home and family for the gospel and then lost many of his own children to death.  He also put up with a lot of human failings among the saints. Many others would have thrown in the towel and left when faced with some of the ill treatment that he endured.  This new edition will hopefully be published and ready at the next Cook-A-Rama.  I hope all of you will read it.  The journal is 97 pages.  While Janet was reading the project of another genealogist, she came across some unattributed quotes.  She recognized the writing style as that of Phineas.  She did her research and found that the quotes came from a closed file of bishop's notes from Goshen, UT.  After about 18 months of trying, she was able to get the church to let her see the file.  A little more time and she was allowed to read it.  After that it took a while for her to convince the church that there was a journal written by Phineas within all the bishop's notes (Phineas was the bishop) and that she should be allowed to transcribe this.  I helped her transcribe for a couple of hours each week for a few months.  Some of the pages were written on from top to bottom, and then for lack of another piece of paper, the paper was turned 90 degrees and the writing would begin again.  I would have given up, but Janet faithfully transcribed every word.  The journal pages from the Goshen file will be included in the new edition of Phineas' journal.  Janet  has also added pictures from the original journal, as well as pictures of many of the mills that Phineas built.

I am also trying to read the biography of James Henry Hart.  He was my father's, mother's grandmother. (My great great grandfather).  I was named after his daughter, Alice Catharina Hart.  J.H. Hart lived at the same time as Phineas Wolcott Cook, but his life was very different.  He joined the church in England when he was 22 or 23 years old, then stayed in Europe for 7 more years as a missionary.  Much of that time he served in France and he was in France when Napolean staged his first coup.  The president of the mission, while working on translating the Book of Mormon into French wrote him a letter.  I will quote a part of it. He says "I arrived in Paris about 2 hours before the very fiercest of the carnage, which took place not far from my  abode.  I heard it all, but it did not disturb me; I went on writing and correcting the B. of Mormon (translating it into French).  I felt perfectly safe in the hands of my Father, who, though unseen, preserved all my little flock free from harm.  Thanks for ever, thanks to his holy name.  God has sent me to do a certain work, and as long as I am doing it and keep his commandments I am in his hands and will be protected if it has to be by a miracle--as in the case of the Children of Israel in Egypt and like the preservation of Alma and Amulek.  When Amulek told him that perhaps the people would burn them, Alma answered,  Be it according to the will of the Lord.  But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not.  This is my feeling all the time; it fills my Soul with peace and joy and I go on quietly amid the war of elements and the wreck of nations and do my humble endeavors to fulfill my mission"
He closes his letter saying, "it is almost 12 at night and the air smells of revolution and massacre--so forgive my prosiness."  (Curtis E. Bolton)
Phineas was born in 1819 and James Henry Hart was born in 1825.  Phineas joined the church soon after the prophet was martyred in 1844.  J. H. Hart joined in 1847--the year that Brigham Young took the first company of pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley.  Since J.H. Hart served seven more years in England, he most likely never saw the severity of the persecution that the saints endured in crossing the plains.  However, I am sure he also endured persecution.  In my readings so far he mentioned that rocks were thrown at them (the missionaries) because of their religion and one hit him in the head.

These stories of our ancestors help us to strengthen our own testimonies. When I see what they went through so we can have the life we have,  I don't want to disappoint those who sacrificed so much for the gospel.  I also desire to be strong for the generations that follow me.

Christmas Recitals

Jennie and Jordan, Caitlyn and Jieun

Bridget with Grandma

Caitlyn sent me two more pictures from Thanksgiving weekend last week, so I am adding them here.  If I added them to last week's letter, no one would see them.

 Celebrations and recitals for the Christmas season are officially here.  Our first recital this week was Ori's and Effie's dance recital.  They did a fabulous job and looked so beautiful.  Look how long their hair is getting.

Effie and Ori

Catharine, Ori, Effie and Kelly (Sara's mom)

They were lucky girls with their parents, their grandpa and grandma Pederson, Grandma Catharine, and Aunts Mimi and Mahala, all there to cheer them on.  Ori also finally lost her tooth that has been literally hanging in there for quite some time.  She wouldn't let anyone pull it for her.  Her 2nd tooth came out shortly after.  Now she can sing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth..."

Apparently this smile came after blood, tears, and a mild
panic attack.

Caitlyn took her Senior Moves Ice Skating Test on Saturday morning.  It's a difficult test that requires a lot of muscle and energy.  She passed! which was very exciting.  Now she's done with all her move tests--she has one more "freestyle" which is a program with all her jumps and spins.  Afterwards we did a little shopping and we tried to go to the German Festival at This is the Place Monument Park, but after waiting in a long line of cars, we gave up and headed towards home.

The other recital for the week was the annual Christmas Ice Skating show.  Against my better judgement I signed up to skate (pressure from my skating coach).  Caitlyn, of course, was the star of the show and thus was put in the last spot of the evening.  I was 12th in the line-up.  The show goes for two nights and was just over 2 hours long--WAY TOO LONG--especially since everyone who  came to see me had to stay the whole time to see Caitlyn.  The other problem with being last is that about half the audience leaves and misses the best skater in the club.  I almost fell the first night, but caught myself and continued on.  The 2nd night I totally biffed it after catching my toe on the ice.  I went down flat on my stomach--which, as Caitlyn pointed out is better than going backwards--it's easy to  hit your head that way.  I did get up and finish my program and got some cheering for that!  Unfortunately, my stumbling was seen by more people than just the family--we saw Jed and Patti Cook there with their kids, and some ward members.
(Friday Night--pictures taken by Sara)

Avie--she loved my Sobe life water

Luckily there is a big open area behind the bleachers
where bored kids can go play with each other.
Dojin and Effie

Jennie and Nick 

Ori and Yuna

(Saturday Night, Adrienne's family came--they stayed the entire time, even though they'd been skiing and shopping that same day).

Finn, Adrienne and Ila

Roy, running the spotlight

Gunnar, Oli, and Grandma Catharine

and Finn

Catharine, Caitlyn and Roy after the show

Kaitlin, Elsa, Caitlyn and Annika (Caitlyn's supportive friends)

Watch Caitlyn's program
Cait's program December 2019

Roy said that I should post the video of my program with me falling.  I decided that'd probably be too humiliating, so I'll just post a couple of pictures:

Other pictures this week:

Bridget is growing up fast

Effie, Avie and Ori in their Sunday best

Beverly eating shrimp and veggies

Roy and I enjoyed our Come Follow Me discussion on Christ being Love and Light.  This was reiterated in the Christmas Program this evening.  We are so grateful for the greatest gift, given to us from our Heavenly Father--His son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He truly is the gift that keeps on giving.  Let us continue to keep our focus on the Savior this Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving

We started our week by listening to Gunnar in what I believe was his first piano recital.  He did very well.  I told him the story of how at the age of 15, Daniel decided he wanted to play the piano so he taught himself how to play, "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven.  That's a pretty difficult piece for a beginner.  After that I decided he needed lessons.  His first teacher didn't know what to do with him, so after about 9 months, we found a teacher that could really help him excel.  He is a fairly competent pianist.  I told Gunnar that if I had started him younger, and he had practiced as much as he did later, he would be even more fabulous.  I hope Gunnar decides it's important enough to spend time on it every day.

This is Gunnar (gray sweater) with the other piano students and the teacher
You can see he took this quite seriously. 

 I think Hyeji wrote the following poem in honor of Thanksgiving.  In case you can't read from the picture (below) the poem reads: (Hyeji's spelling mostly intact)
Grandma reads to me
Grandpa teases me,
Nick tickles me,
Sarah teaches me,
Ori plays with me,
Effy giggles with me,
Eve [Avie] learns with me,
Daniel works for me,
Jieun feeds me,
Doyeon helps me,
Yuna plays with me,
Dojin loves me,
 Adrienne teaches me,
A.J helps me,
Gunnar laughs with me,
Ollie shares with me,
Finn chases me,
Isla is cute to me,
Crista helps me,
Matt loves to earn,
Ruby giggles,
Gretta clappes,
Brigot slobbers on me,
Elise hugs me,
Andy works  hard,
Max will give me a card,
Mav will run with me,
Bev will kiss me,
Jenny will cut my hair, Jordan won't give me a glare,
and I, Hyeji Rasband, love them with all my lovable heart.

I think Hyeji has the right idea.  Each member of our family has their wonderful qualities and personality traits and we are so blessed to have the love among us that we enjoy.  If I wrote the poem, it would be similar, but way more extensive.  And, I would have to go back and express gratitude for goodly parents, strong and faithful ancestors, and the best siblings an extended family.  When you stop to think about what is really important in this life, I think it boils down to two things--the gospel of Jesus Christ, and our relationships with one another.  We are truly blessed as a family in both areas.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast with four of our children.  Elise and her family spent their holiday at the beach.  They had a shrimp fest in place of the traditional turkey dinner.  We used to do the same when we lived in Georgia.  We'd head to Florida and eat seafood in celebration of the holiday.  It was fun seeing her pictures because they reminded me of when our children were small.

 Nick was our child who loved looking for critters in the sand and in the ocean.  The weather was a little cool for the Jacksons, but they enjoyed the water anyway.

Crista was also away for the holiday.  The Vances spent Thanksgiving day traveling home from a fabulous 10 days in Hawaii. They had a great time.  They said one of the highlights was spending time with Tori and Hayward and getting to know them.  Crista said that Hayward and Matt had a lot in common and really enjoyed visiting.  After their first day together, Trey said, "This was the best day of my life."  They were invited over for Trey's birthday celebration, too.  They felt honored as they were the only guests.  Hayward's home was only 10 minutes from the home that Crista stayed at.

Caitlyn picked them up at the airport late in the evening.  They arrived at our house after 10, so we didn't get to bed until 11:30--we had to enjoy them while we could.  

Ruby and Greta loved our new Christmas decoration with all the Disney princesses, but Ruby didn't like it when Caitlyn told her not to touch.  We can all learn from a little incident between Ruby and Greta:

Caitlyn: "Ruby, you can help me hang the Christmas ornaments if you tell Greta you're sorry for hitting her."

Ruby reluctantly: "I'm sorry Greta."

Greta: "Now give me a hug...we're sisters you know!" 

Greta's right, there's not enough time in the world to hold onto grudges.  We need to quickly forgive and make things right with those we love.

Ruby and Greta, captivated by our new Christmas decoration.  Greta
is sitting down on an upside down Lego bucket

There were only three pictures taken of our Thanksgiving--all by Sara.  One shows that grandpa Rasband was able to make the trek up from Santaquin (Roy drove down and picked him up, and at the end of the day took him back home).  I think it was exhausting for grandpa, but overall he was glad to be there.  We were happy to have him.

Delicious apple dessert, and apple pie, made by Sara

Grandpa with Effie  

 Adrienne and AJ didn't stay for dinner, but they came by to see grandpa.  Ila wouldn't come and see me, but she hung out by grandpa Rasband and had her hand on his knee the whole time.  Of course, Adrienne was sitting by him at the time.

Ori, Doyeon, Dojin, Hyeji, Yuna and Catharine
We used china for the adults, but the kids got paper plates--good idea!!!
We have new stools at the counter and there was a little bit of jealousy
 of who got to sit  on them.

Friday morning, as soon as Thanksgiving was officially over, Caitlyn set up the Christmas tree.  I'm grateful because I didn't have to do it.  The Christmas season fully began.  We played Christmas music all day.  The next evening Roy and I went out with friends to dinner and "Savior of the World" at the Conference Center.  We had seen this production in our area a couple of years ago when it was presented by a neighboring stake.  It was just as enjoyable this time around and a great way to begin the month of celebrating our Savior's birth.

Troy and Kathy Atkinson, Brian and Shelley Willey, the Booths (friends of the Atkinsons)
and Roy and I

Kathy made all the plans, but she asked me to pick the restaurant.  La Cai Noodle
house has been a favorite since we ate here with Nan and Bruce years ago.

 I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for my family and extended family, and for my ancestors that have paved the way for me to live the life I live.  We are truly and extensively blessed!