Bragging Rights

This is a bragging post about my dad! I figure it's my blog, so I have every right to do it :) My dad was pretty busy playing "Santa's helper" this Christmas. We did not know what he was planning on giving us all, but were pretty mind-blown once we opened our gifts. My dad is extremely good with his hands. He has always been talented at wood-working, but since he has moved to Montana, his skills have become even more perfected. For Christmas, he surprised my sister and I both with our very own chair. My Great Grandma and Grandpa Mortensen had a set of chairs when they were alive. During the 23+ years grandpa was a Stake President they entertained and dined with several general authorities during that time period. Some of the authorities included: Ezra Taft Benson, Spencer W. Kimball, Legrand Richards, N. Eldon Tanner, and Mark E. Peterson. That just gives a good idea of who sat in these chairs. Dad accumulated 2 of the set at different times. Each was broken, busted, scratched and tattered. Somehow he reworked them, refinished, and even did the upholstery on the seats himself. I know at least one of them had to have the ornate wood on the back of the chair be traced and re cut without having the complete pattern. He did an excellent job and you wouldn't even know it wasn't the original. I don't know if you have ever seen "The Touch Of The Master's Hand," but that is what it reminds me of. He took something ugly and lifeless, that no one else wanted, and turned it into something very precious and beautiful. My sister and I were the lucky ones to each receive one of these beautiful chairs. They are now an heirloom not only from my grandparents, but more importantly from my own father. I will keep my chair for years, until one day I pass it on to Ivy for her to remember her Grandpa Neilson.
After my dad gave me my chair, he had Jamie open his gift. He unwrapped a leather tool pouch that my dad had designed and placed his favorite tools in. He engraved an "S" for Sullenger on the front of it. Jamie loved it, and would have been completely happy with just that! Well, after he opened it, he called him into his room and asked Jamie to open his gun safe. Jamie knew then exactly what he was doing. He refused to open his safe, so my dad opened it for him. Inside, was a gun wrapped in a big red ribbon. He turned to Jamie and said, "Now, which one do you think it might be?" Jamie couldn't help but get a little teary eyed when he picked up the 1957 Winchester .30-06 my dad gave him. It was a gun that he had had for years. All of my brothers have one as well. After Jamie had gotten over the initial shock, my dad chuckled and then said, "Now you're part of the clan." He vowed to himself that he will never sell that gun, no matter what. It means too much to him. He is so excited to go take it out shooting! He shot it while we were up in Montana and hit the bulls eye on his forth shot! He's pretty excited about it!
Along with our gifts, my dad also made Marc (Amy's husband) a croquet set, and Emily a bow and a set of arrows! When I went into his hobby room, he was showing me other bows he was making as well. Like I said, he was busy, busy, busy!

We have been so blessed this Christmas. Thank you all for the gifts. They all mean so much to us and we are so appreciative of everything. We love you all!