Davis Doings

Benjamin

Benjamin worked hard in his Bear den to fulfill all the requirements to receive his Bear badge. He has now moved on to Webelos and is really enjoying Cub Scouts. His best friend, Chance also earned his bear at the same time.
Benjamin also had a birthday and turned 10! He is now in the Webelos and has new scout leaders. (He has had the same scout leader through Wolf and Bear.)
Benjamin also got to help put on a fourth grade opera. The kids wrote and produced their own opera--painting scenes, making costumes and everything. Benjamin played the part of a wolf and got to scare off the Indians. It was fun to watch.




Rebekah
Rebekah is working on her Personal Progress Project and has put together a few of Grandma’s favorite recipes.
Now for the other part of the project she needs to shop for and cook some of the recipes that she collected. Last night we enjoyed homemade bread with honey butter!
She also made a dessert of Raspberry Cream cake for my DUP meeting this week. We are enjoying her project.
Rebekah is also going to be pretty busy in the next few months with choir performances and earning money for tour. They are going on a Church History tour this year. I would love to go with them!


Recipes

Bread
Measure 12 cups flour. Add. 1 2/3 cups dry milk, 9 Tbsp. sugar, 3 Tbsp. salt, 3Tbsp. dry yeast. Mix well. Add 2 quarts lukewarm water-- beat. Add 9 Tbsp. shortening and about 9 cups more flour.

Work in, then let rest 15 minutes. Knead about 15 minutes. Let rise until double. Knead again. Shape into loaves, put into greased pans (about 6). Let rise until double again. Bake at 325° for 30 minutes.
Makes 6 loaves


Raspberry Cream Cake

1/2 white or yellow cake mix
1 lg. pkg. raspberry Danish Dessert
1 1/2 cups water (you can use some of the liquid off of the raspberries if using boxed)
10 oz. pkg. raspberries
8 oz. cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar (divided)
1/2 pint whipping cream

Mix cake according to package directions. Pour into greased and floured 9x13” cake pan. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes. Cool.
Cook Danish dessert and liquid. Cool. Add berries, set aside. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Stir in one cup powdered sugar. Set aside. Whip cream. Add 1 cup powdered sugar. Fold cream into cheese mixture. Spread over cooled cake. Cool slightly.
Pour Danish dessert mixture on top.
Chill Several hours. Serves 15-18



Scott Turned 18!

It is hard to believe, but Scott really is 18. He will be graduating from High School in May and next year he will go back as a Super Senior. He can stay in school until he is 23. They help the young adults learn jobs skills and help them find jobs, too.
For his birthday we decided to redecorate his room (sounds like a theme). I think he is ready to move on from Peter Rabbit. We have some really nice posters that we have bought for him at the National Parks that I had framed for him for his birthday. We haven’t done the work of painting yet because I want to find just the right fabric for his bedding that will go with the Nat’l Park theme. I am hoping to have it done in the next month or so.

Missionary Moments

On the way back from an appointment we decided to do some doors ;)


Tuesday, Elder Hanks and I spent our study time planning for Distrikt meeting and making Potato Salad! haha. (I sent him the recipe and Miricle Whip and mustard--Paula) It was a lot of work, and I didn’t kut the recipe in half, but somehow we still managed to eat all of it between the 4 of us. Even if I did eat at least a 3rd of it myself. ;)
Oh yeah! I also got in a little accident from sliding on the ice. Well, I guess I deserved it. I was doing something stupid. I was sliding down a ditch on the side of a stairkase which is normally for bikes. I kaught my foot and spun around getting attacked by a rosebush and hitting my knee against the railing. My knee got pretty swollen. Luckily, Elder Hanks kaught it on video! haha.
Sunday, we aktually got through a whole lesson in our Sunday Skool klass! It was great! Even though, the kids were just as loud and not attentive as usual. After church we ate at the Kahrs then we went out and talked to a lot of people. Later, we got some more weekly planning in since it kept getting pushed out of the way. We had a stake representative at church and he is responsible for the missionary work in the stake. Well, he really liked us, and later we got a kall from President who said that he had gotten a kall from him and told us that he said we were really good missionaries and he wishes the Branch would do more to support us. So it was really kool to hear that. (The good missionary part.)

Yeah, today, we had our transfer kalls and both Elder Hanks and I are staying here in Stade for my last transfer! I'm happy. It's weird that it's my last transfer kalls... hmm.. oh well. Well, that's all from me, I love you all!
Spencer loves You!


Fast Sunday Family Fireside

For the next couple of months the family firesides are set.
In March we will be going to a special family fireside put on by the Utah Valley Children’s Choir. Rebekah will be singing with the choir. These firesides are very spiritually uplifting and carry the message of the gospel. Please meet at the Spanish Fork East Stake Center by 6:30 pm (870 E. Canyon Rd.--across from where Mom used to live). The fireside starts at 7. If you can come earlier that would be good, too. If you let us know that you are coming then we will reserve that many seats. Everyone bring dessert and we will go to Grandma’s afterwards for refreshments!

April will be general conference and Easter. More details to follow. Paul, Bill and Christian will be in Germany to pick up Spencer!
In May Chelsea will be in charge, so come prepared to have a fun time!

"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.”
--The Family: A Proclamation to the World

It has come to my attention that not everyone feels the need to contribute to the newsletter each month. I don’t think that you need to write each month if that is too hard for you. BUT...I know that everyone has something going on that they could tell us all about.
I am willing to take the time each month to put together the newsletter, but I want you all to remember that I am only the editor and Mom is the publisher. We have nothing without the reporters----YOU!
Please send in information to have in the newsletter! We also love to have pictures.

Please Let Us Know What You Want

Please let Mom or me know ASAP how you would like to receive your edition of the Meldrum Family News.

1) I love getting it in the mail and I would love to continue getting it this way!
2) I don’t need a printed copy. I read it online at meldrumfamily.blogspot.com.
3) I would like to have it emailed to me.

If you don’t let us know differently, we will assume that you are getting it online.
If none of these options works for you let us know. We realize that several of you are on Facebook &/or have your own family blog--that’s great--let us connect with you on the family blog. Many of us do not get on facebook, (can you just imagine Grandma going online to find out how her family is doing--I don’t think so!) and love having the connection of the newsletter.
Putting the newsletter online will save us money and time.

follow Melissa's updates

matt-melissashepherd.blogspot.com

Prayers for Melissa and Matthew

You probably all know by now that Melissa was in a terrible car accident on Monday, January 4th and is in critical condition. The Shepherd Family is inviting anyone who would like to join with them in a special fast day this Sunday. Our faith and prayers are what the Shepherd family needs right now.

We love you, Melissa, Matthew and Dayna!

MOM'S MESSAGE

Dear Family,
This has been a glorious fall season. I have enjoyed the view from my window as the colors on my tree change, and watching the changes in the trees and flowers as Paula and I drive to the temple each week. The temple has been such a blessing to me, it really helps to put your life in perspective.
Our cemetery tour was quite successful. We picked up quite a bit of information from the five cemeteries we visited. There was two carloads of us, Margaret, Jessica, Kathy, Chelsea, Rachael, Kaitlin, Rebekah, Paula and me. We stopped for lunch after going to Fairview and Springville and ate with our ancestors in Provo cemetery. It was very pleasant and enjoyable.
On October 8,9, and 10 I had a very nice trip with Ross' sisters and husbands. On Thursday at 6 am Kent and Sharlene picked me up and we followed Ray and Carma and Luan as we drove up to Lois and Merlin’s in Idaho, stopping for a nice breakfast on the way. From Lois’ we caravanned up to Island Park, Idaho, which is quite close to West Yellowstone. They have a beautiful cabin there that Merlin and his boys built a couple of years ago. They use it year round, even when the snow is really deep. They have all their family there for Thanksgiving. It is really large. Luan and I each had our own separate bedroom. It has three complete bathrooms, central heating with thermostats in each room, and a big fireplace in the main room with a gas fire and two wood burning stoves in large
rooms on either end. A big kitchen with lots of work space and two big refrigerators. It was awesome and so comfortable!
It snowed while we were there and Friday we went to Yellowstone and Old Faithful. It was so cold that all we could see of the eruption was a lot of steam!
Back at the cabin we played games and visited. One game was played with dice and called Greedy. Another was Five Crowns. I really enjoyed them.
Merlin cooked us a dinner that was out of this world! He had grilled salmon, some marinated, some just grilled, Halibut battered and deep fried, jumbo shrimp cooked two different ways. Baked potatoes, corn on the cob, sliced tomatoes, rolls and lemonade. More than we could possibly eat! And so good! The other meals were really good too. I especially enjoyed the breakfasts. We all ate more than we normally do!

Last Sunday’s fireside was really special with Joseph and Paula reporting on their missionaries. Then Rachael played two beautiful numbers on her violin, “Amazing Grace” and “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”. Those who weren’t there really missed out!
This weekend I am going to St. George with the Davis’ for the Red Rocks Band Competition.
That’s all; for now!
Love, Mom

ABOUT OUR ANCESTORS

WILLIAM CHISHOLM
William Chisholm was Grandma Alene Meldrum’s grandfather.
William, in his early thirties, purchased a sawmill and took it into Spanish Fork Canyon to go into the lumber business. William was successful at farming, ranching, and in the lumber business. He helped to establish a bank in Spanish Fork. Chisholm and Gardner, their lumber company, furnished the lumber for the building and took stock in the bank as payment. He was a vice-president of the bank as well. This building still stands on Spanish Fork Main Street. (About 250 North)
He was a believer in not letting his left hand know what his right hand gave in the line of donations for all worthy causes. Around Thanksgiving time he made many trips to town, taking meat, flour, vegetables, potatoes, etc. He would say he thought he knew someone who could use them, and that is all he would ever say about it.
We have a great heritage.

DAVIS DOINGS

We have been very busy the last couple of months being band groupies. We have followed the bands (SF and SHHS) from Weber State to Dixie. This Friday is the last competition—the state finals. I think both bands have a chance at placing in the top three. This week in Logan, SHHS took third place and the percussion trophy. At BYU, SF took second place. Rebekah has a piccolo solo as part of their show. Rebekah and Christian have both done an awesome job with their bands! So has Mike!
Jonathan is trying to decide what instrument he wants to play. He has narrowed it down to a band instrument, at least.
We will be going to Mesa for Thanksgiving this year. DeEtte may not be there because Adam’s wife is expecting a baby at that time. They live in Florida. But we can enjoy the holiday with Kristine and her family, and the rest of DeEtte’s family that are there.
I got an early Christmas present because of the back-to-school sales. I’m typing on it. I have long wanted a laptop computer to do scrapbooking and genealogy work on and now I have it. Merry Christmas to me!

GERMAN MISSIONARY NEWS
Spencer is now serving in the Rendsburg area. It is in Northern Germany, the second most northern of the mission. It is his first time in a bike area. It took some getting used to after being in a college city and having a lot of young people in the ward, to having a small branch with mostly older people. But he is really loving it now. They have a young man that is a recent convert that they have been working with and helping him to prepare to go on a mission.
We sent him a package and he shared it with this new member. “He really liked the peanut butter MnM’s, but he refused to try the jerky! He said it was too weird! Then he asked if Amerikans eat other weird foods like that. Haha So we talked a lot about that. Jell-o is really hard to explain in German. Haha. And he laughed about the “German” chocolate kake. He didn’t even know what pecans were! They don’t have them here in Germany. We told them we would kook it and eat it at our next appointment. That was really fun.”
“We watched the fifth session of general conference in church. I had only listened to it before. It is weird to think that I can understand all of that in German! Yeah, it was kool.”