Christmas 2016

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 It is that time of year!  And as normal, I am a day late……and a dollar short.  I have been trying for weeks to find just the right Christmas story to share this year but try as I may here it is December 22, 2016 and I am still in a tizzy.

So, I am going to ask for your help.  At least the help of some of you.  Please fill in the blank spots and add your memory and I will finish the story (before New Years,,,,I promise) and return the completed story for your Magnusson Christmas Story Book.

For those of you who do not have said story book, please let me know if you would like one and I will send you one with all the stories:  Okay?  Here goes!

The year was ----------.  Lonnie and Lori were living in Utah and were not going to be able to make it home for the holidays.  So, the Oregon Magnusson’s decided we would spend Christmas in Utah.

Eight (?) of us piled into Lenny’s white work van.  Hooked a utility trailer loaded with luggage and gifts on behind and headed out.  We drove straight thru.  We were young and could do it in those days. Switching drivers often and enjoying each other’s company made the trip very enjoyable. 

Anyone with other ideas…please insert!

Lee was only 5 months old, if I am remembering correctly and it was my pleasure to hold him and entertain him for much of the trip.  That was really a chore!  NOT, I loved every minute of it!  Yes, he was one of the eight!    A big brownie button for the one who can name all 8 and tell me how many Magnusson's shared Lonnie and Lori's home. And where that home was located. Trivia time!

The next special thing I remember about the trip was going to Temple Square in Salt Lake City and seeing all the lights and decorations.  That was a first for me and very special!

Of course, the most special thing of all was my family all together! 

Today, it would take more than one van and a much bigger house but wouldn’t it be fun to share that experience again?

I am sure there at least 5 of you that can share to this story.  I am looking forward to hearing from you!  Until then……

May the Good Lord bless and keep you as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior!

Love and Hugs to All!

Grandma Gail

2016

Dear Family and friends,

It has been way to long….I have failed in my commitment to write every week.  Time to recommit and get with it!

I have spent the morning huddled under the covers keeping warm and feeling miserable.  Earlier this week I found myself with an extremely ulcerated tooth.  A badly swollen face from the jaw bone to the eye.  I swear I gave birth to 6 kids without as much discomfort and pain.  Could it possibly be that I just don’t remember that far back? 

At any rate the Dentist removed the tooth (and attached bridge) yesterday.  The swelling is going down and I am feeling somewhat better.  Penicillin and ibuprofen do wonders!  The positive side of all of this is that I am losing a few pounds!!! 

As I huddled in bed this morning, I read my scriptures and was deeply moved by 3 Nephi 22.  I sincerely wished I could discuss this chapter with you as I really saw our day and time.  Please read it and let me know what you think.

I recently saw a questionnaire asking which actor was your favorite:  Tom Selleck or Sam Elliott. As you all can attest, Tom Selleck is and has always been my favorite.   But this morning I turned on the television and spent a glorious 2 hours watching “November Christmas” with Sam Elliott.  Oh! What a beautifully tender story.  I fell in love with Sam Elliott.  I do hope that Tom won’t mind sharing.

Christmas is a very nostalgic time for me and if it is for you as well I suggest you keep a box of tissues handy.  There is a very successful conclusion so please take time this holiday season to watch this show.  It touched my heart in many ways.  One is to wonder what I can do to brighten someone else’s life.  You each brighten mine!

So, until next time…..Love and Hugs to all!

DIET??!!!

Well, I didn't get any feed back so not much to report this month.

Somehow, I have managed to lose a whopping 2 pounds.  Of course, tomorrow I will find it again.  That just seems to be the way it goes!

I saved two pamphlets from my mail box this past week that I thought were quite interesting.

1)  The most important health pill of the 21st century.  Advertised to rejuvenate your entire body.

Did anyone try the Regenify?  If so, was it successful?

2)  Meet the world's first "Smart Pill".  Advertised to search your body for broken DNA then repair and regrow every sick or damaged cell in the body!

Did anyone try "BioRepair"?  If so, was it successful?

If any of you have some brain fog I have used "Focus" by do Terra.  I can say, that for me, it really helps.

Now if I could find something for an energy boost......WOW!

Until next month.....Stay healthy and PLEASE share!

My heart is so full!

As I listened to Saturday afternoon session of General Conference I felt truly blessed.  I was so moved by the speakers but also by that fantastic missionary choir. 

After Conference I watched a documentary on the Tabernacle Choir and again was moved to tears.

I love music!  I loved to sing!  Music speaks to my soul and testifies to me of the truthfulness of the gospel and the great love that the Lord has for each of us.

One of those maybe someday things on my bucket list was to someday sing with the Tabernacle Choir.  Once upon a time, many years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a workshop with the then choir director, Jerold Ottley (who by the way was a U of O alum) and that cemented my desire to “maybe someday”.  The years have played such marvelous tricks with my body that I am no longer able to sing at all.  Now I listen and feel the music in my heart and soul.

During those years when I could sing (at least a little) and was directing the Ward choir, I would frequently hear in my mind and heart the voice of a lovely young soprano whom I identified as my Lenae.  This experience was usually during special occasions like Christmas and Easter when choir performances were something extra.  One special occasion was while singing in a Stake choir for the dedication on the Portland Temple.

Over the past 2 years I have felt sweet duets which I have identified as Lenae and Lindsay.  A recent experience was with the song, “Jesus Loves the Little Children”.  Not the usual rendition but a different version that I am trying to find.  As the music comes to my mind I can feel of their sweet spirits.

There are days and times when the spirit is very close. 

Today as I watched the Missionary Choir and then the Tabernacle Choir documentary I decided that I can only hope and pray that my job someday will be to sing backup for those groups. 

Surely if the Lord can restore the hair on my head He can restore my voice!

Until that day I will listen and enjoy.  I am reminded of a saying of Grandpa Jays…. when asked what was new his response was; “The Gospel is still true!”  I add my testimony of that truth.

L&H’s

10/1/16

TRAVEL RESEARCH

I would love to be able to travel!  That, of course, was going to be one of those things I was going to do when I retired.  Now that I am here I can't afford it or is that an excuse because I don't want to travel alone?

What ever the excuse....I am not traveling.  So, I have decided to do my traveling via the internet.  I am in hopes you will find some interest in traveling along with me!

I have a fascination with covered bridges...hmmm!  I wonder if that stems from a time when my family was living way out in the country and we had to cross an uncovered wooden bridge across a creek to get to town.  One fine winter day when the bridge was extremely slippery the car lost its footing and went slippery sliding to the side of the bridge.  Half way over the edge that car up and changed it's mind and just teetered there...half on and half off the bridge.  My parents, brother and I all managed to get out of the car without rocking it over the edge.  Then we had the pleasure of listening to my father convince that car that it was the much safer on the bridge.

Back to my exploratory adventure with "covered' bridges.

Did you know that at one time there were 600 covered bridges in the state of Oregon?  The majority of them were built between 1905 and 1925.  By 1977 there were only 56 and currently only 51.  There are very few covered bridges left that are open to automobile travel.  Most are open for pedestrian and bike travel only.  

For today's journey, come along with me just a short jog up the road to the Gallon House bridge,  The Gallon House bridge was constructed in 1916 to cross  Abiqua Creek.  It is the last functioning covered bridge in Marion County. 

The Gallon House bridge was constructed during the days of prohibition so it not only served as a  means of crossing the creek to get from Silverton to Mt Angel.  It seems that Silverton was a 'dry' community and Mt Angel was 'wet'.  Mt Angel was basically a Catholic community with German heritage who brought with them to this country their love and know how of making fine brew.  Thus the bridge was named "Gallon House" for the gallons of brew that was bought and sold.

Mt Angel still keeps that German/Catholic heritage going strong.  On your next trip to see me we can take a trip to visit the Gallon House and other interesting historical sites in the area.  Without the brew!

Till then,  Happy Traveling!  

L&H's    

Genealogy blog 9/19/16

I haven’t figured out how to write my log on different pages as yet. When I get it figured out it will probably hit me right square between the eyes. Ugh!

I have spent several hours today trying to get the Leeper line back beyond the 1800’s. The last I have is Hugh and Mary with no maiden name for Mary. Hugh would have been born in or around 1790. The only child I show is George who was born in Tennessee in 1815. This is the George that I show came to Oregon in 1850. I have found a Georgia A. Leeper who is a sister of Alva C. born in Oregon. This was a new find so now I have some research to do!

Also found a Lillith A. Leeper who was the wife of George W Leeper. Both born in Oregon. They are both on the 1920 Oregon Census. It is recorded that they have a 3-year-old daughter named Dorothy. They are on the 1910 census with both in their 30’s born in Oregon. In the 1920 census they are in their 40’s and showing just the 3-year-old daughter. Can’t help but think there is more to that story! Opportunity for more research!

Plus, I found a household in Grants Pass, Oregon with sisters as the head of household and a 42-year-old brother-in-law named George M. Leeper and two nieces named Helen C. and Daisy A.
Daisy A. is on the 1930 census as the 19-year-old daughter of George M. and S. Emma Leeper. However, on the 1930 census they are living in Riverside, California. Questions, questions, questions. More research!

Hopefully I will have more to report next month!

FOR THE HERE AND NOW!!! For those of you trying to keep track of recent birthday’s….here is September.
September 12th Luke (19??)
September 20th Gail (1936)
Llwyn (1960)
September 26th Lindsay (1994–2013) Oh how I miss that sweet girl)

L & H’s

Hello!

Hello! 

My Grandma Hall always reminded me that the road to H**** was paved with good intentions!
Hmmm!  Guess I know where that leaves me.

I used the **** because I don't appreciate the four letter words....I was taught that it was a lack of education when we couldn't come up with better language to express ourselves.....I am not really well educated but I don't choose to show just how uneducated I am!!  With that said; I will use **** and you can insert whatever explanatory word fits your vocabulary.

Now that I have that off of my chest...

It has been such a thrilling, beautiful, hot, lovely, hot, contemplative, hot (did I mention hot?) summer.  

I have thrilled to the addition of 4 new great grandbabies this year.  I only wish they were closer so I could do some rocking and cuddling.   I do LOVE babies!  That makes 17 greats and number 18 on the way!  The family tree just keeps sprouting new branches and leaves.  It is so marvelous!

Lonnie and Lori came and spent a week with me....we spent the time trying to decide if it was time for me to move closer to family.  (Silverton is about 15 miles from Salem and/or Aumsville)  The final decision was 'not quite yet'.  I have really felt that for now, here is where I need to be.  Just hope my dependence on Loel and Melanie doesn't wear too thin.  It seems my 'get up and go' is rapidly changing to 'got up and went'. 

My western-country thrill over the past few months is finding the itty bitty frogs in my flowers and garden.  I need to do some research and write a story about them.  I have asked Laine to come up with a name for my story book frog.  He hasn't sent me a prospect yet.  Do any of you have a suggestion?  Google the song "Froggy Went A'Courtin".  Listen to the rendition by Burl Ives and see what you can come up with.  Any and all suggestions will be carefully considered.

I am running out of thoughts, but want to make sure you know I love the Lord, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true.  I love each and every one of you so very much.  L&H's

Grandma Gail

Once a Day and Sometimes More!

Once a day and sometimes more, you knock upon my daydream door.

 These are the words from a poem from many years ago, probably in the mourning of a lost love, but today I was reminded of the poem in remembering each of you and how very much I miss not seeing and/or hearing from you on a regular basis.  The magnificent conversations that I have with myself are not always very stimulating!

You may wonder why I have the address of Western Gifts or Western Decor....well, you see, it's like this; once upon a time, when I first set up this blog it was intended to be an affiliate blog to hopefully put some extra cash in my pocket so I could do some travelling.  Well as often happens, it didn't succeed!  I didn't truly get on board with social media and promote the items that I set out to focus on.  You may remember the blog I set up Go All Western.  This blog was cancelled due to inactivity...my following wasn't purchasing western apparel or horse tack from the vendors that I was supporting.  Again, largely due to my lack of advertising

As I thought about keeping Western Gifts  I decided, YES!  I live in the West, I love the western lifestyle, and this is my Gift to each of you!  Until next time!  L&H's

I'M BACK!!

I just spent an hour writing this fantastic monolog and poof it was gone!  I will try again....this time you will receive the condensed version!

A BIG THANK YOU to Lance, Lexi and family for their visit.  Greatly appreciated!  Yes Lance I found one small stain so when you receive the table cloth as an inheritance you will have a small memory to go with it...sure do love you guys!

A BIG THANK YOU to Jennifer and Lander for helping with my yard!  Praying for no more frost!

Thanks for Laine's baseball schedule...Sounds great....I will support as much as I can.  Will always be rooting Laine in spirit if not physically at the park.

Looked up the Linn County Pioneer Museum and am anxious to visit sometime this summer.

I am having a terrible time finding someone to vote for in this election year!  I don't have anyone to bounce ideas off of and I haven't found any candidate that I feel truly represents my feelings. UGHH!

Okay, I have rambled, hit the edges and did accomplish some semblance of writing.....why oh why can't I find the spell check?

In my scripture reading this a.m. I found a verse that really hit me....I think I will attempt to make it my motto...

.......Whether the Lord will that I be translated, or that I suffer the will of the Lord in the flesh, it matereth not, if it so be that I am saved in the kingdom of God.           Ether 15:34

And more especially if it is with each of you!      L&H's