The season of Thanksgiving is upon us with all of its fond memories and reminders of how very blessed we are to be citizens of this United States of America and to enjoy such freedoms and opportunities, denied to so many of our fellowmen in other parts of the world, even today.

The colors of autumn are still with us. It is a delightful time of the year.

Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, we will be guests in the home of Danny & Kathryn Laprade, down in Goodview. They have worked very hard and long to improve their home and now they want us to come and join them for Thanksgiving Dinner. Kathryn is not letting us do a thing to help, just wants us to come and enjoy.

Monday we were dinner guests in the home of our Relief Society President , Evelyn Deel and her husband Buck. We had Elder's Fullmer and Liddiard with us. We were also joined by Sister Rosemary Overstreet and her husband Mike. It was a very nice dinner and a nice evening in their lovely home in Blue Ridge, west of Bedford about 16 miles.

Tuesday we were dinner guests in the newly purchased home of Elmer and Sue Hodge. Again, the young elders were also invited and we had a most enjoyable time and a lovely meal. These are such fine people, serving so faithfully in the branch and in the Roanoke Stake. Elmer is in the newly installed Branch Presidency as counselor to President Scott. Sue continues as teacher of the Gospel Doctrine class and leader of the branch choir.

We will be waiting with great interest for updates from our children in Arizona regarding their Thanksgiving gatherings and for the results of the State Championship game between Show Low and Blue Ridge (Pinetop) to be held this Saturday on the Northern Arizona University campus in Flagstaff. Our grandson Rathen is the star quarterback of his Show Low Cougar team and his father is the coach. They have had another outstanding season. We hope they can take it all like they did in 2007, winning the state 3A championship.