New Year’s Eve

 New Year's Eve at our house included a lot of snacks and appetizers as it always does.  

There were some games and silliness. 

We played a new game called "Hitster" (I think).  It was a lot of fun.

The "Cup Game" is always the biggest hit.

Tom won the big money.

Pat didn't make it past 9:30 but then he was up very early.

It was nice to have Cami home between semesters. 

At midnight we all popped our noise making poppers in the kitchen as we didn't want to wake Eloise.  We don't do anything crazy but we have fun together.

Happy 2026!  May is be a grand year!

Koa’s Blessing

Cierra's parents and brother Samila came for a visit the day after Christmas and stayed for a week.  They needed to meet the newest member of their family.  It was decided that since Cierra's brother is getting married in Hawaii in June, that her parents probably won't visit again before then so Koa's blessing needed to happen while Dave and Marla were here.  

Andrew pronounced a very lovely blessing upon his son.  We were able to do it in a private setting at their home.  It especially worked since Jeff is the bishop.

We are so blessed to have our children's spouses have wonderful people as their parents.  How we love them all!

Tom was willing to have his photo taken with Koa since they share a name.  When I told Tom that Koa's name was Hawaiian, he was impressed.  When he learned that his middle name was Thomas, he was thrilled.  He told me that Koa had a very good name.  I asked him if he would like Koa when he grows up and he said, "Maybe."  

 

Christmas 2025

I love Christmas! I don't take nearly enough pictures to document it though.  It was the first time since Andrew and Cierra have been married that they were not in Missouri for Christmas.  I understand though since Koa is only weeks old.  It was wonderful to have everyone together.

Since the sale of Hoffman Wood Fiber went through and we finally got the bulk of our payout, Pat and I gave each of our children $1000 and each grandchild got $100. It was a fun to watch the surprise on their faces!

Tom was thrilled to get a new electric razor.  Now to get him to use it. He was using his dad's razor since I took his out of the medicine cabinet.  We have now remedied that situation.

I know Jacob and Erin wanted to have their own Christmas morning but since they moved in with us, that wasn't quite how it worked.  Still, so fun to have little Eloise in our home. 

I always struggle to find something special for Pat.  I once again hit a homerun!

I asked all everyone (not Eloise and Koa) to share a testimony, answer to prayer or spiritual experience.  There were tears.  I loved reading what everyone submitted.  We have an amazing family!

Christmas day was the perfect time for a nap.

On New Year's Day the Hoffman family got together to celebrate being a family.  So many were home sick and I certainly appreciated the fact that they didn't bring their germs to share.  Mike and Oakley surprised us by showing up.  Not as many as last year but still so fun to get together.  The White Elephant gift exchange is always a hoot!

Cami’s Surprise

Cami informed us that she wanted to receive her endowment while she is home between semesters.  The plan was made to go to Nauvoo for such a special occasion. 

Cami arrived home on a Wednesday evening and the next day she had a Christmas gift for the entire family one by one.  She came over and in a gift bag was a Texas state flag.  I eyed it suspiciously and then asked if it was for her.  She received a mission call to the Texas Houston East mission speaking Spanish!

I knew she was planning to serve but thought the process was beginning when she returned to Provo.

 What a wonderful example she is!

We will be in Texas at the same time!

 It was such a wonderful opportunity to again ben the temple with most of our endowed children.  Only Andrew and Cierra were missing and with good cause.  It fills my heart to know that each of them is worthy to enter the House of the Lord! 

Koa

Sweet baby Koa Thomas Pleshek was born on December 4, 2025!

What a blessing to Cierra and Andrew and Eddie!

I especially loved taking care of Eddie while they were in the hospital. He's going to be such a great big brother.

We're already in love with our newest grandson #7.  We all know how much Tom does not like children.  But, since Koa's name is Hawaiian (Tom loves Hawaii and culture) and his name is also Thomas, he says he might like Koa when he grows up.  He's already stated that he likes Koa better than the other grandchildren. haha

This sweet little Santa can visit our house anytime!

Another Misssion Call

After Kay passed in April, we could start seriously considering when we could serve another mission.  I already had commitments for the volleyball season and so did Pat for the basketball season.  So we decided that March would be a good time to make ourselves available.

With that said, we began the process when it was 180 days prior to our availability date.  We were in Branson when Pat started the paperwork.  

I had my dentist appointment in September and a physical scheduled for October.  While at the latter appointment, Emily told me that I would need a TB test as well as an eye exam.  I called Pat and set up a time for him to do those tests later that same day.

His TB test came back inconclusive so had to be redone.  He was not a happy man.  He wanted to pick up the paperwork that day as we had our interview with President McKee later that day.  It didn't happen.  He had to be retested and then found out that the machine that does the test was broken and his results would not be available as soon as he wanted.  I had to try to settle him down once again.

When all the results were back, our Stake Clerk, Todd Gasall, called as he couldn't find the dentist paperwork.  Pat talked him through that and it was found. 

We left for Florida on Nov 8th.  Pres. McKee let Pat know that everything was submitted on Sunday, Nov 9th.  

We had put down some preferences of missions that we would like to serve in.  We would love to serve in the temple in Nauvoo.  We would love to serve on Temple Square or at church headquarters and even in the office in our own Wisconsin Milwaukee mission.  

On Friday, November 21st, I saw that I had an email and a text that said our mission call letter was ready for review.  

Erin got all the rest of the family on a FaceTime video call and I began to read.  I didn't mean to get ahead of myself but as I was scrolling I saw the assignment.  I couldn't believe it!  My reaction told everyone that the call was not what we expected.

We are called to serve in the Texas Dallas West mission!  We begin our MTC experience and training on May 4th for almost two weeks.  Then we head off to Texas.

We've had our first zoom call with some information regarding what to expect and what we need to do prior.  We will have several training calls with our specific assignments in mind. 

Here we go again!

 

Sunset

Anatomy of a sunset at Naples Pier.

I love how the color of the sky changes as the sun sinks lower.

The giant ball of sun gets easier to look at.

A few birds flew through the shot.

I love the beauty of the changing sky and the promise of a new day after each time the sun sets.  I do not understand how anyone can not believe in our awesome God with all these beautiful creations in this world.  The sun rises and sets are breathtaking!