Thanksgiving

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Even though we had been to Phoenix two weeks ago, and I had been there last week as well, we wanted to spend Thanksgiving with family and friends, so Wednesday around noon we packed up the van and headed east once again.

Kira had planned the weekend in great detail and made assignments. We were assigned pie. I made an apple pie

and the crust for Lisa’s pumpkin pie.

Justin’s dad volunteered to make the turkey.

I love how Jusin and his dad have matching shirts.

We got to Kira’s house in the early evening and she gave us our Christmas present. She said we needed it early. It was a beautiful advent calendar that she had made herself and she included several items in the tree that had special meaning. It included an angel playing an oboe, cats, an olive wood nativity, a ribbon that Lisa’s mother had given her, and a few others that I can no longer remember.



Landon was allowed to spend Thanksgiving day at home with his family. Unfortunately he wasn’t allowed to leave his home until 8:00 Thursday morning and he had to be back by 8:00 Friday morning. It would have been much more convenient to be able to pick him up Wednesday evening but we were just glad to have him home.

Kira had breaksfast ready to be cooked so while they were picking up Landon, Lisa cooked a delicious breakfast for the rest of us.

If I remember right, we had twenty two people for dinner. One of the many visitors was Aneaya and her son. This was the first time we met Aneaya in person but Lisa has been getting to know her on the phone for a while now. Lisa has remained close to a missionary who served in our area many years ago. Ever since he met her, Dave (the missionary) has been calling her Mama Leavitt. She really has been like a mother to him. Dave Chappel has been going through an ugly divorce and has now started meeting other women online. He met Anaeya, who lives in the Phoenix area and has been out to meet her a couple of times. Lisa invited both of them to Thanksgiving dinner. Dave was unable to get out here but Anaeya and her son joined us.

After dinner we were serenaded by Piper and her friend Sienna on violins. It was fun to listen to them.

Kira had a full schedule planned and for the most part we were able to hold to the schedule. A beautiful and relaxed hike around the Veterans Oasis Park close to their home was on the list and it truly was relaxing.

The park has a section dedicated to those who served in all branches of the military. I love that they have a plaque for the newly formed Space Force.

In the evening we all went to watch the second half of the movie “Wicked”. It was fun. Mom and I went to a movie a month or two ago and they gave us a free cup that looked like the witches hat. We didn’t think we’d ever use it and we thought Kira would enjoy and it looks like she did.

All I remember from Friday was throwing the football with Cameron and going to the giving machines. Throwing a football with Cameron can be challenging. He is actually a pretty good thrower and can catch a well thrown ball, but he really loves to kick the ball which he is not very good at. That means a lot of running around for me.

Saturday morning we took in a temple session and we bought some stuff at the Home Storage Center. We also stopped and gathered eggs from Bens chickens. Those girls are really producing. I got fourteen eggs. It was early afternoon that we decided we would try and get home at a decent time so we packed up our bags and headed for home. It was a fun trip.

--------------------trivia--------------------

On Christmas Eve 1971, a 17-year-old German girl, was traveling on LANSA Flight 508 when it was struck by lightning. The plane broke apart in mid-air, and ejected the girl, who, still strapped into her seat fell over 3,000 meters (10,000 feet), into the Amazon rainforest. She walked away, she was the only survivor and is still alive today.

----------------------------------------------