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.
J
ustin 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!
