Mariposa LDS Ward

Almost 2 months ago the Mariposa Branch became a Ward. (for those non LDS friend and family the church does not enlarge a building or gain a Bishop until enough LDS Members are in a certain geographical  area) Our little branch has been growing, so now we are a Ward, and someday (soon we hope) we will also have an enlarged building. We need it, feel like we are busting at the seams during Sunday School and other meeting, and gatherings.

Every last Friday of the month we have a potluck, Tom and I have not attended in months, felt really nice to be back socializing with our church family that we love so much.

everyone enjoying their meal

The Norlunds

good company

Sister Hamm (your such a ham!)

kid love

clean up time

the guys, Robert, Ed, and Tom

Sister Ketcher and Daniel

Our awesome Missionaries the Mahlum's from Texas

Robert and Mary (last but never least!!)

Christmas 2013

There is always so much to do during the holidays, I really hate to shop, and love to make crafts - so much of November and December this year has been sewing and crafts and Tamale making. Tom even helped sew a few things this year. I took a total of 5 days off at Christmas and even took New Years eve day and new Years day also. Still did not get some family and friends visited that I would have liked to, but there is only so much one can do. We enjoyed Shelby being in California for Christmas this year, she spends every other Christmas with her Dad in Minn. It is always fun for her, but we do miss her on those years.

 

 The lights at the Oakland Temple, it is really a beautiful site to see (Mariposa Ward temple trip)

Tom and Shelby at Deloso farms near Manteca, California

Shelby and Gma

Shelby checking out the sweets

Shelby and Tom on Christmas day, Nutella is always a hit with Shel!

 Darrell and Marge checking out a homemade dishtowel

Darrell

Cousin Missy showing her 4 quilts she worked on with my quilting machine

Merry Christmas from Tom and Julie, hope your Christmas was a wonderful as ours!

Rodney and Shirley's 50th Wedding Anniversary

Shirley and Rodney are the Aunt and Uncle I have grown up with the most out of all the Wass family. When I was a baby Mom and Dad bought 5 acres from Uncle Bob, Uncle Kenny bought another 5 acres, and Uncle Bob still had >5 acres. Bob and Jean lived on Southern California and would come to Mariposa a few times a year, eventually they moved to Mariposa full time. Rodney and Shirley rented an old house from Uncle Bob, and my family lived in a 8x35 trailer (with a living room added on) literally in Shirley and Rodney's yard until Dad was able to build a road and a structure to move us to the top of the hill. My Mom, Marian and Shirley was kinda like Lavernne and Shirley - sort of Mutt and Jeff. Mom and Shirley shared a car at one time, and a washer, went everywhere together

...I think my Dad drove Shirley home from the hospital after the birth of Rodney and Shirley's first child Ronda. We did not have a lot of money, but we had enough, my brother, Brian and I were raised with Ronda, Darin and later Jason. Played together every day, often our Dad's worked together so we would also be with them in the summer "at camp" while Dad's worked in the mountains on logging roads, or other projects, we kids would swim in the creeks and any water we could find. More than one summer Grandma Wass would come to came also, she loved to swim and she could back float like no one else I have ever seen.

Shirley and Rodney have always been there through my life and through the life of many of my cousins. It was a wonderful day to celebrate their 50th wedding Anniversary.

Shirley trying to get Rodney to hold the signature quilt

 

Congratulations Shirley and Rodney, you are both the BEST!

Special Aunts - Pat and Marilyn

the men keeping warm by an outside fire (there were many)

Jason and Sarah Wass

Life happens

This year for Thanksgiving I had some medical issues, I guess my spine is/was so out of adjustment it was causing problems with my hip(s). So when I got up to start Thanksgiving pies on Thursday morning I literally could not walk. My sweet hubby helped me to the rest room, and even dug out an old walker out of the garage. Every year I usually host quite a few people over for Thanksgiving, this year I was so glad I did not.
I did get some bread made in the morning and some potatoes peeled, but then the cooking got turned over to handyman and daughter. Thanksgiving dinner was a little simpler than I planned, but everything turned out good, thanks to my helpers.
I am a nurse, and nurses are the WORST patients. (ask any nurse) The other thing is I am usually pretty tough, don't complain about little aches or pains much, well this time I did, too much pain to deal with. By Saturday I was begging for a Chiropractor, and I found one locally who could see me, he helped a lot, and I will have to be seeing him quite a bit for a while. I made it to work today, but it was a lot of effort.
When I got home I found Handyman on the couch, pretty much in shock - he had fallen off of the truck tailgate and was not sure what had happened, but he is pretty sore and has a few skin tears. I think he is really going to be sore in a few days.

I week or two ago I was thinking to myself how well life was going, just when I think that things usually start falling apart a little. Handyman and I are not moving too fast today, but we will be OK, thankful we have each other to get through hard times.

We have a lot going on right now in our family, (kids) - job issues, health issues, upcoming move, financial needs.

I am thankful we have a kind and loving Heavenly Father we can go to when we need him, in prayer, in priesthood blessings, in faith.

Christmas Decorations 2013

OK, OK, I know it is not even Thanksgiving yet, but this year we are early with the decorations for a reason, Hilary Lewis is looking for houses to decorate, she is awesome and creative. Thank you Hilary for another beautiful home being decorated without me doing it (not my gift and talent, but definitely yours!)

 

Christmas tree in it's glory!

 

center of tree

 

stairs to loft

 

fireplace, stockings will wait until closer to Christmas, need to sew a few new ones for new son in laws!

front door

the loft

Mid arm sewing machine

Talking with a friend yesterday (a quilter also) she did not realize that I have a true quilting sewing machine and frame. So wanted to share some pictures of a quilt I worked on yesterday for some VERY special people.

 

The frame is nice, you do not baste or pin the quilt together prior to quilting you just pin the bottom fabric the batting and the top fabric to the poles. After you quilt a section about 6-8 inches you roll to the next section, until you are completed. This is a 60x60 quilt and I did not do close together quilting (because Christmas is coming and I have so many projects to do) It took me about an hour to set up this quilt, and about 1 1/2 hours to quilt it. In the quilting world that is pretty fast. If I did it by hand it would take me about 40+ hours. I do like to hand quilt, but have found I cannot complete things fast enough. This is a picture of the quilt on the frame in my loft (is getting so full of stuff up here, the bed may have to go)

 

Can you guess who the quilt is for?

Growing family

Looking through pictures taken last month from Dianna and Lee's wedding, and Darrell and Cathy's wedding, I realized I have pictures of all of our kids weddings, wanted to share how our family is growing and changing. Hope you enjoy the updates, we have. :)

Oldest son of OUR kids is Wayne, he and Maren have been married the longest also, I know it is getting close to 9-10 years? They got married before Tom and I did (8 1/2 years ago already!), They now have 3 beautiful children, Madison, Collin, and Ashlyn. Wayne and family live in Southern California, Wayne works for Fed Ex with the truck hauling stuff, Wayne works from home, and Maren is busy with the kids and also homeschooling, Maren loves to craft and sew.

Wayne and Maren

Collin, Ashlyn and Maddison

 

Brad is the next oldest, Brad and Jaime got married a year or two after Wayne and Maren (forgive me, but I cannot keep up with time, not good at it!)

They also have 3 beautiful children, Geneva, Bennett, and Janna. They currently are living in Colorado Springs. Brad is currently working for Red Robin as a waiter, but has plans of opening his own BBQ place someday. Jaime is currently a stay at home Mom, both Brad and Jaime have worked hard to further their education and provide for their family.

 

Brad and Jaime Tyra



Geneva, Janna, and Bennett


Ryan is the next oldest of our kids, Ryan and Danielle got married almost 2 years ago. Ryan is a nuclear mechanic in the Navy, has 12 plus years in the service already. Ryan is currently stationed our of Norfolk Virginia, but is looking at being transferred to Bremerton, Washington in the early summer. Danielle is a teacher and is currently teaching pre Kindergarden. Ryan and Danielle are expecting their first child in March, and do not want to know if it is a boy or girl, they would like a surprise. Ryan is expecting a boy though. (good luck with that)

 Danielle and Ryan
  Chinnock
Then after the boys, the girls are the babies, (works our nicely, hugh)

Cathy and Darrel got married just a week and a half ago, chose to have a super small civil ceremony, and it was beautiful and fun (see recent wedding posts for more of Cathy and Dianna's weddings)

Cathy works as an Assistant Manager at the B of A in Turlock, Darrell works loss prevention and manages apartments. Shelby is now 9 years old and in the 4th grade, enjoys playing with her friends in the neighborhood. Darrell, Cathy and Shelby live in Turlock.

Cathy and Darrell Adams (Oct 2013)

 Cathy, Shelby and Darrell (Easter 2013)

Last but not least is our "Baby" Dainna, not really a baby, she has been out on her own for many years. Dianna (or as she is called Dee) and Lee Boyette got married October 12, 2013 at our house. Dainna has a new job working for an airline, I know she is moving luggage, and other aspects of the airline. Lee is a prison guard. Lee and Dee live in the Denver area.

 

Dee and Lee Boyette at their vows, Lee and Dee chillin' (I know they are sideways, what can I say)