Cory, July, Cayman & Cooper

The 23rd of December is a day that we love and a day of sadness also. We lost our grandpa Vincent almost 2 years ago and he was the Santa at all of our Christmas parties. The parties were held every year on the 23rd. He had real sleigh bells that jingled like no other sound you have heard. He played Santa for most of his adult life. His kids reallly thought they were elves. He cheered up the sick kids at Primary Childrens Hospital and we loved to have him, our "Santa" at our parties. He had a heart of gold and gave so much to others. Here is an article on LDS.org about him..a little story shared https://www.lds.org/new-era/1975/12/to-give-and-to-receive?lang=eng
but for our blog I am posting it here to be visible on print.:

To Give and to Receive

by Bishop Vaughn J. Featherstone

Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric

Our Savior teaches in many places in the scriptures the value of giving. At this Christmas season it is interesting to contemplate that for everyone who gives there must also be a receiver. Is the receiver any less a Christian‍ or any less Christlike because circumstances may have put him in a position where he cannot give but must be prepared to receive? Many others who do not need to receive will also have the blessing of receiving. To give or to receive in a Christlike way demands gratitude—gratitude for great blessings if a person be the giver and gratitude to the giver if one is the receiver.

Through the years it has been my experience that those who are on the receiving end have a great responsibility. It is far more difficult to be a Christlike recipient than it is to be a Christlike giver. It is so easy to offend, to say or do something that cuts the giver to the very center. We, as General Authorities, seem to be constantly on the receiving end. The Saints in the Church are so respectful and complimentary. We realize that much of what is being said is due to our calling and not to us as individuals. We graciously say, “Thank you,” and are ever aware of the statement: “Compliments reflect not what we are but what we should be.”

Let me share with you some great examples from my experience. Two Christmases ago we received a phone call on Sunday evening. The caller did not identify himself, rather he asked if we would be home. My son said, “Yes,” but before he could tell him it was our family‍ home evening, the caller said, “Fine, then tell your folks to expect a visitor about 9:00 P.M.” Family home evening was held and the caller forgotten. Then refreshments were served, and right in the middle of the activity, the doorbell rang. Our son answered the door and, lo and behold, there was Santa Claus. Now I know this was the real Santa Claus because I looked at his boots. He had real boots on, not vinyl coverings. He came into the living room smiling and laughing. He shook hands with everyone; then he had each of my children sit on his knee, and he visited with them. Then he turned to me and he said, “Bishop, will you come over here?” So I went over and sat on the floor Indian-style in front of him. He said, “Santa Claus wants to do something.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope and he said, “I want you to give this to some needy person this year.” Tears came to his eyes as he passed me the envelope. I opened the envelope and there was a fresh, crisp $100 bill. Then Santa said, “I’ll come back next year and give you another one and see what you did with the first one.”

I took the $100 bill and put it in my wallet. Everytime I opened my wallet I was reminded to search for someone to whom I could give it. I went to many cities and countries, always watching and praying that I would give it to the right party. I saw many in need, many who could have used it, but I never felt impressed to give it away.

Then at the area conference in Sweden, I met a good friend of mine, Hakan Palm. I asked him if he knew anyone who needed this money. He told me of a lady whose husband had passed away. She lived way up in the north of Sweden above the Arctic Circle. She worked at a hotel as a cleaning woman to support herself and her two children. The missionaries who labored in that community knew she could never afford to go to the area conference without help, so they wrote home to their fathers. They told of the plight of this faithful Latter-day Saint who lived in such humble circumstances. The father of one of the missionaries wrote back to his son and sent enough money to get this woman and her two children to the area conference. It was an answer to her prayers. Now she could take her two children and the three of them could see the prophet, something she hadn’t even dared to hope would take place in this life.

She and her children traveled to Stockholm in pure faith. She did not have the slightest idea how they would get back home or what they would use for food and lodging while in Stockholm. Hakan Palm said $100 would take care of their meager needs while they attended the area conference and would pay their way back home. I think that a kind and loving Father in heaven knew her needs and put the $100 bill in its trajectory course (as Elder Neal Maxwell would say) to provide this family with the means to see the prophet.

Make an effort this year to give gifts of real worth. Tell your parents, brothers, and sisters how much you really love them. Not all together, but in a letter or a moment of time alone with each one. Express how you really feel about them. Thank your parents for the gifts they give, but let them know that the best gift God has ever given to you is to be part of the best family in the world, with the greatest dad and the sweetest mom. You will not give them a sweeter gift than this.

Bless you, my young friends, as you give the gift of self. Make adjustments in your life so that your actions conform to following in the footsteps of Jesus. Watch your family members, especially your parents, as you express to them your love. They will teach you how to receive, for tears will come to their eyes, and their hearts will swell wide and full, and they will be unable to speak out of gratitude for you.

He is missed so much. Not just at Christmas but always. He is forever in our hearts!

These are the last pictures we have of our kids with him.

When we first got married I knew how much Corys Grandpa meant to him so I had this picture of him made and we have a 16x20 we hang up every Christmas in our living room.

Christmas isn't the same without him and we miss him dearly.

The Sunday before Christmas we let the kids unwrap their Sunday Christmas outfits and wear them to church.

So since we have had absolutely no snow so far this winter we decided to head up to Snowbasin for the day to find some. Although there was not a lot it was enough for the kids to have fun.

I love this huge snowball Cooper throws in Caymans face.

Warming up by the fire after drinking hot chocolate.

Happy kids

I took them to sit in the hot tub after the snow. They loved it and warmed up.

That night we went with our friends to a new place in SLC called the Train Shoppe. It was so fun.

You put quarters in the slots and then your train starts to move. You get to control the lights, whistle and bell and it runs for 2 minutes. It was awesome.