Wednesday, January 02, 2013




2012

Dear Family and Friends. . .

We couldn’t go another year without keeping in touch. Our hearts are full of gratitude for the blessings you bring into our lives. We are so grateful to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, for the countless ways in which they guide us and keep us going from day to day. The past couple of years have brought great challenges to us, but with those challenges have come many, many blessings, too.

 
As many of you know, Melissa’s mom had heart surgery August 2, 2011, and suffered complications and setbacks for many months following. She passed away March 3, 2012. We miss her so much. We are so grateful to know that we will see her again someday. We truly appreciate the support and love shown to every member of the family during Mom’s struggles and after her passing, and for the many prayers in her behalf. The Comforter is very, very real.

 
Justin has worked at RxAmerica (which was bought out in 2008 by CVS/Caremark) for almost 17 years and received the news October 28 that he and his Salt Lake employees will be let go a few days after Christmas. Most recently, Justin has been the manager of a small team of data analysts in Salt Lake and Northbrook, Illinois in the Rebate department. We are proud of his efforts in helping his team to consistently put out more results per employee than any other team in the department, and of his great attitude as he closes this chapter of our lives. It will be interesting to see what the next chapter of life holds for us.

 
With all we’ve experienced the past while, it has been nice to be able to get away as a family. Some very kind friends let us use a wonderful cabin in Island Park, Idaho in 2011, and we enjoyed beautiful Mesa Falls and Yellowstone National Park on that visit. We immediately went home and purchased a huge tent and camping equipment to go with it! This past June, we jumped into the deep end camping-wise (Melissa camped a lot growing up, but we’ve never gone on more than an overnighter as a family)—we drove all the way to Yosemite National Park! (Thanks to the Fresno family for putting up with us for a couple of days before we could check in—it was so good to see you!) We had a marvelous time, and left the park forever changed. The week before school started, we enjoyed another camping experience closer to home at Mt. Timpanogos Campground. We hiked to lovely Stewart Falls, enjoyed some early leaf colors and Cascade Springs, and saw more wildlife than we did in Yosemite. J

 
We also decided the time had come this June to gut and rebuild our only bathroom, which had 50+year old plumbing that was becoming too difficult to fix without destroying half the bathroom and which also had mold that we couldn’t keep under control. While we were in Yosemite, our wonderful contractor managed to get almost the entire room done, to the point that we could use it when we came home! You just don’t know what a blessing it is to have cabinets and electrical outlets in your bathroom until you’ve had none for 8+ years!

 
About us…

 
Justin is still doing a strength-training program and loves hiking. He has made it to the top of Mt. Timpanogos the last couple years. He and Melissa served in Cub Scouts as Wolf Den leaders for two years. Now he works with some of the Young Men in our LDS ward to provide music for priesthood meeting, and just got called to be the Elders’ Quorum Secretary. He is a great support to our family as we busily go from one place to the other.

 
Melissa is keeping busy with six kids and all that comes with them! She loved serving with Justin in Cub Scouts, and received the shock of her life when she was called to be the Young Women’s President in our ward! It has been an amazing blessing to serve with these choice young ladies and their incredible leaders. Just as much of a blessing has been the time Melissa has been spending as Jeremy and Rebecca’s preschool teacher. We have been learning a lot together! Melissa is also trying to maintain a regular exercise routine and likes to go hiking with Justin when she can. She has a goal to hike Mt. Timp next year! She also appreciates the opportunity to use her musical talents now and again. She is trying to convince herself to give in and finally be the kids’ piano teacher. (When our beloved teacher closed her studio, we never ended up finding another teacher because of all that was going on.) Life is never boring, that’s for sure!

 
Ashley is 14, in 9th grade, and plays first trombone in Symphonic Band. Ashley is an excellent student, and her favorite classes so far this year are Band, Honors English, Art, and LDS Seminary. She just joined her jr. high’s chapter of National Academic League, and loves it.  Ashley also keeps busy with ballet classes three times a week. She finally got to dance in the recital this past May in her pointe (toe) shoes after working hard for three years! She also plays the piano well enough to accompany her Young Women’s group on Sundays, and loves to practice and sight-read when she can. We very much appreciate her willingness to babysit her siblings when needed.

 
Christina is 11 and is in 6th grade. She loves being a member of the Student Council and is a hard-working student. She has a special love for young children and does a great job babysitting once in a while. Christina is also taking ballet, and has been working hard in the Prep for Pointe program. She just got fitted with her first pair of pointe shoes, and can hardly wait to start rehearsing in them in January!! Christina also enjoyed being in her school’s production of Annie, performing as an apple seller and singing in the NYC chorus. Christina also practices the piano as much as she can. Christina is really looking forward to starting junior high next year!

 
Christopher is almost 10, is in 4th grade, and is full of energy and curiosity! He has been taking swimming lessons for the past while, and is working hard to progress to the next level. He has really enjoyed Cub Scouts, and will be a Webelos soon. He also got baptized in February of 2011, and we are so proud of his decision to commit to follow the Savior. He loves anything that has to do with Star Wars, Legos, or Harry Potter, and adores Roald Dahl books. He is looking forward to learning the piano soon! He also enjoyed being a member of the cast of Annie recently, playing the part of Servant Stephen and singing in the NYC chorus with his older sister.

 
Emily—2nd Grade. Emily is our “star shining brightly,” as her favorite song suggests. She never ceases to amaze us with her artistic talents, and is a great reader and student. She dances and sings her way around the house, and loves anything to do with fairies, princesses, and My Little Pony. Interestingly, she is also fascinated by dinosaurs and the human body. She comes up with some of the most creative and elaborate stories and “pretends.” Emily also takes ballet, and is looking forward to playing the part of a rocking-horsefly in the ballet school’s production of “Alice In Wonderland” in May.

 
Jeremy turned 5 in October, and is enjoying going to “Mommyschool” this year with his younger sister. We have learned about the human body, farms and farm animals, fall, fire safety, gratitude, and more.  Jeremy loves art activities and field trips--his favorite trips have been to Farm Country, the fire station, and a small hike in the mountains to collect fall leaves and seeds. We are excited to do more fun things as our school year progresses! Jeremy loves transportation vehicles and emergency and construction vehicles; and is absolutely fascinated by anyone who drives or fixes vehicles, and other “fix-it” people. He also loves to figure out how things work. Jeremy is an amazing reader, and is trying really hard to get along with his little sister. J

 
Rebecca turned 3 in July, and is determined to grow up much faster than Mom would like. She loves to do everything herself that she possibly can (and even the things she really can’t). She also adores vehicles of every kind, and has a nice little collection of her own, but she also loves babies, princesses, and the play kitchen, and enjoys playing My Little Pony with Emily on occasion. She loves to imitate Mom playing the piano, and having “school” with Mom as well—she loves art activities and our field trips. She loves the nursery at church, and is really excited to be a Sunbeam (the class for 3-year-olds) in January!