Good Company, Food, and Fun...a Happy Thanksgiving at the Sandall Ranch

Every other year it is a Rose Family tradition to join together as extended Rose family for Thanksgiving at Scott and Christie Sandall's ranch in Promontory. It is always such fun and this year was no exception. Scott and Chris and kids are the ultimate hosts, work way too hard, and somehow manage in spite of such a huge crowd of people to make it a memorable time. I am so thankful to have married into such a truly outstanding family. That is just one of a million and one things I am grateful for. The following is a short list:

1. A knowledge that I am a literal daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves me and knows me personally.
   
2. A sure knowledge of where I came from, why I am here on this earth, and where I have the opportunity to be after this life if I keep covenants I have made with my Heavenly Father.


3. The most wonderful husband any woman could ask for. I am crazy in love with him!


4. One son and three daughters who have grown up to be marvelous people in spite of all my mothering mistakes.


5. A precious daughter-in-law and three wonderful sons-in-law who compliment our four children perfectly!


6. 8 grandsons and 8 granddaughters who, because of wise and patient parenting and the teachings of Jesus Christ in their homes are growing up to be kind and bright and a great pleasure to be around. I simply adore each one of them!


7. Loving righteous parents. My dad passed away four years ago and I miss him terribly! How blessed I am to still have my mother close by to enjoy in her golden years. They have always set such a wonderful example for me.


8. Loving righteous in-laws who love me and treat me as one of their own. They too are marvelous examples of love and righteousness.


9. Many special friends gathered along the course of my life. All have influenced me for good and contributed to who I am.


10. The promises each new day brings and the health to enjoy them!


11. A warm and comfortable home in a peaceful neighborhood.


12. Grandkids who love to come and visit grandma and grandpa!


13. Daughters (included is my daughter-in-law Sara) who next to my husband are my best friends!


14. Daughters who in spite of very busy lives with their little children, always make time to talk and spend time with me.


15. A loving and intelligent son who is very thoughtful and caring of his parents.


16. The prospects of serving a mission with Greg in the next few years.


17. The announcement of a temple to be built in Rome...answer to years of work and prayers by so many faithful saints there. Hope we can go!


18. A husband who tells and shows me countless times a day how much he loves and appreciates me.


19. The time now to give of myself in more worthwhile ways.


20. Fun dates with Greg.


21. The opportunity to teach Sunday School to incredible kids who keep coming into my class every year!


22. The laughter in our home! I love my husband's sense of humor. He DOES make me laugh!


23. This incredibly beautiful world! I absolutely love the change of the seasons. Though fall is my favorite, I love every season, including winter...especially right after a fresh snowfall.


24. My sure knowledge that our family can be together forever.


25. Any many, many, many more things.

Fun with the Wilson Kids!

Jack was mesmerized by the trains! Todd at the controls of our neighbor Butch's train display!

The kids were in heaven!

Kate and Jack at the park

Hi Bert!

Todd and his new pal

Playing on the Big Toy in the park by Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Todd made it to the top!

Getting acquainted with Grandpa's new horse, Bert

Grandpa's saddle in the den is the grandkids favorite perch!

Kate in Grandma's dress up wedding gown!

Snuggle time with Grandpa

Snuggling time at the Condo!

Playing on the "Big Toy" behind our unit

The most fun toy store! Gotta love Thomas the Train!

Grandpa teaching Todd to tie lots of knots! And did he pick up on them quickly!

Grandma...what's for dinner?

And if that trip wasn't enough, after returning home Wednesday morning from Sun Valley, we quickly packed up a few food items and some more appropriate clothing and headed to our Condo in Jackson. But to make things even more fun, we stopped at Cindy's in Idaho Falls and picked up Brad and Lori's kids to take them with us. Brad and Lor had been at the Condo the first part of the week with their kids and were leaving for Washington DC on a business trip that afternoon. So they dropped their kids off at Cindy's to play with cousins until we could pick them up. We had such a good time with them at the Condo and they were so good, even little Jack. We headed for home on Friday and then kept the kids at home with us until the following Monday evening when we met Brad and Lori in Pocatello for a much anticipated family reunion. I must say that Greg and I had grown so attached to the kids that we got a little teary as we said goodbye to them. Such great kids! Thanks, Lori and Brad, for trusting us with your precious children. Pictured are some of the highlights of the time with the kids. Sorry they posted in reverse order! I'll get onto this some day!

Idaho Cattlemen Convention

In the lobby of the Sun Valley Inn

Greg, Katie and Doug at the booth

What fun for me! The Monday after I officially retired, Greg and I headed for Sun Valley for the annual Idaho Cattlemen Convention. Greg's company has been setting up a booth at the trade show to better acquaint people with Idaho AgCredit. It has been very successful largely due to Katie Christiansen Wallace coming to work for the company and being very talented in media presentations. She and Greg are both so personable and work so well together and have managed to attract some great customers as a result of their participation in this event. It was fun to be free to travel with Greg and enjoy these few days. Our room was great, the food was wonderful and I had a chance to make some new acquaintances as well as visit with Dave Eliason whom I had not seen for quite some time. I even spoke with his wife, GayLynn, on the phone for awhile. They have been such good friends from our early married days but as is too often the case, we just don't get to see them very often. It was fun to have Katie and Doug Eck traveling with us as well. I've included a couple of pics from the trip.

Retirement!

The Whole Gang!

After 19 years of working at Agri-Stor Company (named Chemical Supply Company for the first several years I was employed) I officially retired on November 14th, 2008. When Greg and I and the kids moved to Blackfoot at the end of 1989, we virtually started over with just a little furniture, necessities, and an old vehicle (and oh, did I mention a substantial amount of student loan debt from Greg returning to college at the age of 38?). Just out of school at Utah State University, Greg was offered a job as a loan officer for Idaho AgCredit Association (formerly Production Credit Association or PCA). In order to buy a home and pay off debt, it became necessary for me to work and I was blessed to meet Greg Nickerson who at that time was the manager of Chemical Supply. He was in need of a new secretary. We "hit it off" from the beginning and he hired me the afternoon of my first interview. What a wonderful job! I grew up with the company learning the computer, and then payroll, payables, and receivables when Greg bought the business.

I worked with many wonderful people over those years and formed friendships that I will always treasure. Greg Nickerson was absolutely the best boss anyone could work for. He was a manager supreme and treated me like gold. He expected my best and I always tried to give it to him because I respected him and the way he treated his employees. Other "long-timers" that I enjoyed so much were Todd Bolton, Bill Parkinson, Jeff Cox, Jeff Feld, Jason Ard, Frank Martin, Ryan Young, Bonnie Jackson and Michelle Nickerson. I also enjoyed getting to know Janet Hebdon as I trained her to take my place. Thanks to all of you both named, and unnamed who influenced my life for good and provided a positive work environment for me to enjoy each day. Bonnie, you'll always be another daughter to me! We had a great time working together, didn't we?

I was honored at our annual company party at the Fairview Inn on November 15th, 2008. Greg and his wife, Michelle, gave me the following generous gifts, some of which are pictured here: a gold Disney Mickey Mouse watch (because every retiree should have a gold watch!), a beautiful 3 diamond pendant that takes my breath away whenever I look at it, and a weekend trip to Jackson to stay at the Wort Hotel and enjoy the sleigh ride at the Elk Refuge. Thank you again, Greg and Michelle, for the wonderful party!

Made MY Day!

The perfect retirement gift! Cindy and the kids came down to visit after my last day at work. Oh, they are so adorable! Thanks so much, Cindy! You would think from the picture of the girls coloring and drawing on the floor that I didn't have a table! I thought it was so cute I had to snap a picture. And then there is Kaleb after dipping in our candy box always full of chocolate for little visitors! And I love our little poser, Jordy! How she loves Grandma's dressups! Oh, and can you see the love in Cindy's face? Love that picture of her. Porter and Kamryn bring us all so much joy!