Family reunions

My July was wonderful. It was a full month of getting ready for reunions and having reunions and reaping the joys of reunions. I loved what we did and accomplished at the Olsen reunion on Saturday, July 26th and the preparations before it. Having my daughters here cutting and sanding wooden blocks with their dad; for the house full of family coming and going and for the effort it took for each one participating was wonderful and rewarding. Thanks Dixie for all the work you put forth to organize us and for us to follow through on our quilts and the eagerness and time it took to paint all those wooden blocks. We're all trying to follow through with our commitment in giving of ourselves all year long like we did at Christmas time. I like to invite the older sisters in the ward to go with me to the Hale Theatre; those that are more homebound and those that are widowed. They love it and it does a lot for me too.
After the Olsen reunion on Saturday I had a Spencer gathering the following day on Sunday. This also turned out phenomenal. They just kept coming and coming and coming. It was a super evening together getting acquainted with one another. In Wayne's family (which is made up of three families) this is the first time they had all been together, so it was "get acquainted" time for them and they were thrilled to link themselves to Wayne).

How are the quilts coming?

Soon it will be July.... and yeah The Olsen Family Reunion!!
We all get to hang out together and help others! I am very excited. I have a few tops prepared, but they are not a quilt yet! This will happen after we send Reilly off to the Naval Academy July 2. Next week will be a tough one for me. I will be needing to quilt my anxieties away.
Here is a pic of one of my quilt tops I just put together.

I am a beginner blogger!!

Hi there everybody,

I just put some pics up of our new addition, Bruce.
He is a golden retriever, he was born March 21, 2008.
I brought him home May 6,2008. He is 7 weeks old today!
I just couldn't get over Murphy. He was the best dog in the world.
We still love Roy, but when these puppies were born I had a hard time passing up another Murphy! Welcome to our home Bruce!
Also, I put a pic of some deer right in the pasture next door. They are kind of hard to see, but it was just fun watching them enjoy the good eats!!

How is everybody doing with the quilts???

Our New Addition

IRONIC

Hi there Olsen's and those related!
These past 2 weeks have been an eye opener for me. My very good friend's daughter was just diagnosed with bone marrow leukemia. This has been devastating news for the family and all those who know them. It came on suddenly and has taken a big toll on Jessica. She is 16, and has down syndrome. She is the most beautiful young lady. She brightens up any room she walks into. Her presence is so pure and sweet. She is in my seminary class. She is always prepared when it is her turn to do devotional. She leads the music with enthusiasm and reads her scriptures daily. Her prayers are like none other I have every heard. She remembers everyone and prays for them individually. She brings a piece of heaven with her wherever she goes. I was lucky enough to be able to watch her little brother Joshua 4, and two sisters Laila 10, and Juliana 8 for 4 days. These were incredible days. I wanted to start over with another family. It was so much fun. They taught me so much. They were happy,lovable, and so fun to be with. They were grateful for every meal. They always said thank you Dixie.
This will be 4 days I will never forget! Thank you Mitchell Family for filling my life happiness!
I think this is very ironic that we are making quilts4cancer. I feel very happy everyone is excited and ready to take on this project!!

Quilts Bring Comfort

Hi there Owesome Olsen Family!
The site to go to to learn more about quilts4cancer is: utahquiltguild.org
Look at the left bar of your screen and you will see the quilts4cancer link click on it and you will be able to learn more about what the donation we are going to be involved with for our family reunion. All quilts need to be at least 40X60, washed after finished, and they need a label. I will get the labels to put on them at the reunion in July! If each family can make 1 quilt, we will be able to help them make their goal!! And we aren't even a quilters guild!!!!! Just nice people trying to do nice things for others.
Thanks again for all of your efforts. I believe the more we try to work together as a family the more rewarding this reunion will be. I am looking forward to spending a wonderful day together visiting and working and eating!! I think we do all of those things really well, especially eating!
Thanks again,
Dixie
Please comment if you have read this so I know if this is a good way to communicate.

Quilts 4 Cancer

Hey there fellow family members.
I have a challenge for you. I found this site Utah Quilters Guild.org and they are trying to make as many quilts for children 0-20 with cancer to donate to them. I thought it would be a wonderful idea if we add this to the Olsen Family Reunion. I challenge all families to bring a quilt at least 40X60 to our family reunion in July and then we can donate it to Quilts4Cancer. The quilts will go to those in need here in Utah. They can be quilted or tied, so everyone can be involved.
Please comment and let me know if you would like to participate!! I am excited!!

"A Humanitarian Aid Reunion 2008"

Hi there all you owesome Olsen's
I have finally picked a date for us to reunion together.
Saturday July 26, 2008. 8:00 a.m.--???? evening.
We will meet at the Sandy Recreation Center commonly known
as the Rec Center. We will be sanding blocks and painting them
for the latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center. One of their high
priority needs is wooden blocks for children to play with. Since
we have a plethora of wood at the head of the family I thought this
would be a wonderful project that we all could participate in. Dad will
cut out the blocks prior to our reunion and then we will have a table
of sanders and a table of painters. We will also have a sewing center
to make bags to put the building blocks in. I envision this being a wonderful
day of service with lots of time hanging with the family. I will also have
a few quilts up which is another high priority of the humanitarian aid. Also
dolls are needed. So start collecting paint and brushes for your family and
we will create together! We will finish up the night with a wonderful meal together!!
I will update all information on this blog! There is more to know, I just have to go
take Reilly his lunch.
Love ya All
Dixie

When You're Swimming in the River and your Cheeks start to Quiver...

This post is for Miles and Dallas and Chase and Land and the outrageous gigglefest we had several years ago on a trip home from Moab singing the 'Diarrhea' song. Can you believe there is a blog where the creative 'runs' can post new and inventive verses? I really don't think I have laughed as hard and as long as I did that night. It all ended though when Cindee hit a deer and Lexee felt so bad for the poor hurt thing.

post please

i believe that more people should post to this blog.

Happy Valentine's Day

we just wanted to wish you all a happy valentines day. we love you all and miss you lots!
love marc, echo, and addy

My history

I'm taking a history class learning how to spice up my life history. I've located a lot of pictures that better defines my life and adds so much. For instance here is a picture of our home on 3269 So. 2nd West as you can see. This is before Daddy remodeled our home. He was a handy man. I hope my family's actively involved writing in their journals and writing up their histories. This is for your posterity.
Love
Mom

A time for Love

We were so saddened yesterday to hear of the passing of Melanie's dear mother. Please help us in coming together to support Shane and Melanie during this emotional time and incredible loss. If you have ideas of what we can do as a family in addition to our personal prayers and condolences please let them be known. God Bless.

addy is 1 today

i just wanted to brag a little about my child and let you all know that she is the best baby ever! today she turns 1 year old, and i just think that is crazy. she is getting so big and i love spending my time with her. i am so fortunate to be adelaide's mother.

this is addy pretending to talk to gramma.

Remember to VOTE!

Remember those who make it possible for you to have the privilege of letting your voice be heard. Be inspired, take a chance, do your duty - VOTE!

befriending others

I think it's important to keep in touch with family and others. Uncle Jack Dyet is so very lonesome since Renie has passed away. He misses her so much. He lives with his son, Cliff in Sandy and they get along very well together. He is in Hemmet, California right now and close to Jolene his daughter. He will stay there for the winter then come back to be with Cliff. I call him and chat with him and I know he enjoys hearing from Aunt Ruthie and I. It cheers him up and I know this is an important part of serving others. I also call the older sisters in the ward every so often and chat with them. They don't come out to church anymore and some are home-bound. But they appreciate the fact that they are not forgotten. I also call sisters that I miss when they are not in Relief Society. Sometimes they are home sick or whatever. But they feel good when they know they are missed. These are things that we all do almost every day, but with the attitude of serving others it's very fulfilling to think of others and do what comes naturally, but you're doing it and feeling the rewards of it.
A few weeks ago we had a young couple speak in our ward. The husband talked about writing down your blessings of the day. So as you kneel for prayer at the end of the day you can thank Heavenly Father specifically for our blessings; for our physical abilities, the beauties of the season, the warmth of our homes at this winter time. As we count our blessings daily, we become a more thankful people.
I love you all.
Mom

Miles' News

Ewell's Cleanup
On Saturday, December 1st, our family went to Grandma and Grandpa Ewell's in Genola; they were out of town. We remodeled their bedroom and also cleaned up their house. What I did was cleaned off all the blinds in the house and hung them back up. After I vacuumed a lot of the house. I thought it was fun but it feels really good that they loved it and was happy. It was a surprise for them.

Dallas's news

I went to the Christensen's and we gave them food and I felt really good and they were very happy and liked it alot. The other day I gave the Walters a lesson and we gave them a very nice dinner and it was very nice. Then we went and gave food to 3 older people and you could see their gratitude and happiness. We did it as a family. I liked that. I also helped a kid with his math today.

Spencer's news

The looks on the Wrights faces and the smiles that came to their faces was all the blessings I needed. When we went into the Pearces and the Wrights home it was like they hadn't had a visitor in years. It felt great to listen to these great people who have lived long great lives; people who have given of themselves to their families and communities and their beliefs. It's been a great honor to serve in a bishopric that oversees these good people. It's been even a greater honor for me to have grown up around these people and learned from them and know and be able to look back and also look forward and see what a great an impact these people have had on my life. Taking over a dinner was a very small jester on our behalf, but it let them know how much we notice and care for them.
It also felt really good to take dinner to one of our younger couples who are just starting a family and are following the prophet in all his teachings. They have decided for the mom to stay home with the young ones, while the dad, who is a school teacher, be the provider. They work hard and have great faith. I can see them fifty years from now being just like the Pearces and the Wrights. We have so many special people around us and so little time to really to get to know them or recognize them.
We have also had a couple of Family Home Evenings with the Armstrongs and the Walters. The Armstrongs have been in our ward about 2-1/2 years. I think Scott Armstrong is a sports nut and I've really enjoyed his friendship. Most of all I've enjoyed his love for the Savior. He is great with the young men. He's been a great example no matter how competitive he gets and he is a competitor. Chelsea, his wife, has been in Young Women for a while and is always so well prepared and always seems so in tune with the Spirit and what the Y/W need to hear. The ward will miss their leadership. We will miss their friendship. They are moving to Kansas to be with family and to buy them a home. They have worked hard and been best friends through the schooling and working and just making it in their little apartment right by the church. I'm very happy for them and hope that they feel our love and wishes that we have for them. The Walters was the other family we had over for dinner and Family Home Evening. This family has had it's trials and tests. They lost a boy about 4 or 5 years ago to a freak accident and now Brian the father is at his second go around with brain tumors. They have been a semi-active family until Brian was diagnosed with brain cancer about 1-1/2 years ago. I remember the night that Melanee, his wife, called us at the church on bishopric night and told us the news. We went right up to the hospital. When we arrived Brian wanted a blessing and he asked me to give it. What an honor it was for me. Brian was directed by the Spirit to get to know the Savior and to rely on Him and to make that his focus. He has. It's been great watching this man and his family rally together and get to know the Savior and see the blessings and the Spirit pour into their lives. Again it makes me feel so good to be able to be a part of these people's lives and I hope that I'll always be able to help others in some small way.

Maryann's Service Work

The last weekend in November we arranged for my parents to go to Idaho so we could suprise them with a new bedroom. Wednesday as soon as I was done with work, I headed down to Genola, Utah and started taking everything out of her bedroom. That evening with the help of a few other family members we had everything out of their bedroom, their carpet pulled up and we removed the closet entirely. We didn't go to bed until 1 a.m. The next day got up we sanded all the wall previous to texturing. I primed the entire bedroom. I got home that evening about 10 p.m. that night. I returned on Saturday after work where we starting to put the bedroom back together along with cleaning the entire house including scrubbing the walls, ceilings, lights, and pictures on the walls. Parents reaction was they sure felt the love of their children. My dad actually started crying. They got new carpet, paint, molding, baseboards, new headboard for their bed, their closet was completely remodeled, a new bed set, new chair for their room.
Every Sunday for the month of December except for the Christmas Party at the Olsen's, we invited someone from our ward family over for dinner and Family Home Evening. Everyone contributed to the meals and the lessons! We used the general conference talks and then played games and enjoyed each other. We invited the Walters family, played the game signs, and had a great time visiting and not even a week later the father passed away. This was a treat for us to be able to share time with him before he passed away. Spencer picked the families that we invited to come to our home.
On Monday's we prepared dinner, soups, salad, bread, and a dessert. We would take it to two families each of the Monday nights. Maryann made sure all food was put into containers that could be kept.
Maryann has a lady friend that she cleans house for. The last time I did it I left a little note, "this one's on me" and left the money there. She had a big t.v. that was a piece of junk and Spencer helped me to get rid of it for her.
There is not anything funner or more rewarding than to be able to do something for someone else. To give someone your time is the coolest thing to do.

Ronald McDonald House

Dear Dirk and Daryl
On behalf of the board, staff, and guests I would like to thank you for your generous donation of eight game boards that you recently gave to the Ronald McDonald House. Each year we provide housing for an average of 1,500 families, so as you can imagine the tremendous amount of food, cleaning supplies and other household items that are needed. We truly rely on the community to help us provide a safe, clean, affordable "home away from home" for families with critically ill and injured children who need to travel to Salt Lake City for medical treatment. The donations that come in each day mean so much to the families who stay here and they are often surprised by the generosity of people in our community. signed, Bonnie Billings

We did the same for a Boys and Girls Club in Midvale and Sugarhouse. They in turn were appreciative of our generous gifts to them. This was our privilege and great opportunity to help others.

Sheet--rock for Christmas

Well, Hi there Olsens!
The Henke's and the Hatch's had a fun experience just before Christmas. We had the opportunity to help out our friends with a project they ran out of money on. They were fixing an old shed into a livable space for their son that needs a place to stay. They are on a pretty tight budget and we found out there was a need and really wanted to help out. We had so much fun delivering sheet rock to their doorstep without them seeing us. Sheet rock is heavy and large, and they have a large glass window right in front of their house. Heber, Ben, Trevor, and Reilly quietly set it down (which wasn't easy)on their front porch.It was great fun! Russell Davy and I watched from the truck, Boston supervised. It felt so good to help others. This was one of my most favorite days! I will get pic later from Bossy. Thanks to all the Olsen clan for working so hard to help others this Christmas!! I hope you all have felt a little more Christlike.