November 2021 Gratitude for daily blessings

 

Sunset in Minnesota

A new adventure started on November 1.  My daughter, Emily started a new business and job as the caterer  for Ignite Academy - the Charter School her children attend.  She is a glorified Lunch Lady.  I have volunteered this month to help her get started.  I am truly in my element.   

I have never worked in a full commercial kitchen and it is amazing.  I can't believe I can cook 30 pounds of hamburger for Tacos in 30 minutes.  That would take me several hours at home.  We can cook rice for 100 in less than 10 minutes!  That took me about 4 hours in Sept. when I cooked for our Mission Reunion.  

We made Chicken Fried Rice for 150 and this big grill is a game changer for me.  All of the rice cooked, chicken baked in the two commercial convection ovens and we had it done in no time.  The kids are loving the "home cooked" meals for lunch.  

We do not have to meet Federal guidelines because we are a Charter School

and do not get Federal Funding.  The Parents pay for the lunch - no free lunches - and we do the cooking and serving.  The first week was a learning curve - figuring out how to use all of the equipment but it was a huge success.  We just cook Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  It is keeping me busy, but I am glad to be a volunteer and serving the kids.

The Health Department showed up last Wednesday - the first time they had come to the school in its 3 year history.  We had a 3 minute warning as they were coming down the hall to the cafeteria.  Emily passed with flying colors.  He said it was the cleanest kitchen he has inspected.  He was amazed that it was such a nice, well equipped kitchen feeding about 140 kids per day.  He was expecting a sink and a fridge and not hot meals.  We have a huge walk in freezer and a walk in fridge with two large warming ovens as well.  He only had two suggestions on where to keep the cleaning chemicals and said he would be back in 6 months.  It made us feel so good that we were running a great kitchen.

The school asked her to provide a Thanksgiving Feast for the entire school on the Thursday before Thanksgiving.  They wanted each student to have a free good meal.  We planned and prepared a Turkey, mashed potato, cranberries, corn on the cob, hot roll and a pumpkin cupcake Lunch for 450 people.  

We cooked 13 Turkey Breasts about 10 pounds each on Wednesday.  I sliced every piece - a lot of work.  They were delicious and the ovens cooked all of them in 3 hours.  We baked the Rolls and frosted the cupcakes.  We had some of the 8th graders stay after school that week and help make the cupcakes and then frost them.  They get school credit for helping in the kitchen.  Emily and I put in a 12 hour day on Wednesday, but we were ready for the Thursday crowd.  She had about 6 parents help serve and Russ and Ian helped in the kitchen with dishes and keeping the serving line full of food.  

In 1 hour we served all 450 people and had food to spare - it was a miracle!  So glad that will only happen once a year!  We are getting in a good grove and learning a lot.  

We will be trying out the big mixer in a few weeks when we make Cinnamon Rolls in a large scale - to sell at the school for a fundraiser.  The adventure continues.

We got to celebrate some family birthdays this month.

Emily celebrating #38.  Preslee loved planning and decorating for the party.  

Adam 22, Zach 15 and Eric 20 all celebrated
Their  Birthdays with us at a Hibachi Grill.  
It was so fun and entertaining.
The food was amazing. 
These boys are really growing up.

                                                                       Zuis Family

House Construction Update:
We finally were able to get the back yard back in shape after all of the construction.  It took a lot of hard work with Russ and I clearing all of the rocks, leveling, fertilizing and laying the sod.  We did not want to have mud all Winter.  Lindon City had free dump sights this month to drop all of our waste.  We hauled four big loads to the sight with the help of our friend, Cooper.  He was so much help and made it possible for us to haul so much in one day.

The trailer has a place to park now that the tree stump is removed and hauled away.  We then spread 4 ton of rock to make a trailer pad

The Door is Finished!

We now have our own entrance into our home with a porch light installed.  It took over 2 months of construction, but it is done.  We added Ship lap to the wall and are really happy with the results.  The Contractor still needs to finish the cement work and then we will add the hand rails.  The fence should be installed in the next few weeks.  

We had a group of missionaries over for Sunday Dinner to celebrate Oktoberfest in November.  We had a delicious German/Austrian meal of Schnitzel, potatoes, spaetzle, green salad with German potato salad, cranberries, bread and topped it off with Apple strudel and ice cream.  Richard Robertson can still eat a whole loaf of bread by himself!  What a fun evening having them in our home.  

The beauty of Fall confirms my belief in the Creation and wonders of God.  Some days I have to just pull over on the shoulder of the road to take pictures because of the beauty.  

I love the "pot of gold" tree at the end of the rainbow.  This was a double rainbow and I have never been so close that I could drive through a rainbow.  Magical.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!

Because we traveled to Minnesota for Thanksgiving and then on to Texas to set up the Nativity Display in Granbury, we decorated our home for Christmas before we left.  We are planning to open our home on Sunday, Dec. 12 and Monday Dec. 13 for friends and neighbors to come and see our Nativities and some Christmas Treats.  When we finished decorating we went to The Shops at Riverwoods to walk around their light display.  A great way to end the week and begin our Holiday Season.

Nativities from Around the World.  Even in our little home, we love to decorate and make it festive.  This is just one room with more to come in December.  

We have been with Jaime and her family for Thanksgiving for many years.  It was nice after 3 years of being away to return and share this time with them.  It is a tradition to go and cut down their Christmas tree on the Friday after Thanksgiving.  Andy is a Professional Santa Claus and his visits began on Thanksgiving this year.  It becomes a very busy time of year.

Santa out for his first visit of the Season

The perfect tree

Let is Snow!

We ended the month with our special friends in Belton, Texas.  It was such a wonderful reunion spending time in their new home in Texas.  They are fast becoming Texans!  I lived in Texas for 42 years and only saw a deer once or twice.  They have deer everywhere - Randy feeds them every night and have become his friends.  

Randy & Claudia Bretzing

Feeding the Deer

On Thursday, Nov. 25 my Brother-in-law passed away peacefully at home after a 22 year battle with Parkinson's Disease.  He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, scouter, Ham radio operator, and devoted servant of the Lord.  We returned from our two week trip and will attend his funeral on Monday, Dec. 6.  It will be nice being with family and celebrating this giant of a man.  I am so grateful to be living close to my Sister and supporting her through this time in her life.  

Pam & Mike Youngs

 

I am so grateful for the many opportunities and experiences in my life.  I have met so many people from all walks of life on my journey.  They have enriched and blessed me with greater understanding, love, knowledge, and insights in this game of life.  

I am most grateful for my family.  We have been able to spend a lot of time with all of our children  this year.  Being closer to my Sisters has been one of my greatest Joys!  I cherish the time I get to spend with them.  I am grateful for the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.  The covenants and blessings of the Temple bring peace, hope and love into my life.  Families are Eternal!  I have felt the presence of angels as I have searched out my family history and visited places they were born and died.  I hope to be able to find and unite more of my family in the coming days.  Writing this blog is a blessing in my life as I share my experiences with each of you.  Looking forward to December and the celebration of the birth and life of Jesus Christ.

Much love,

The Grimmett's