Christmas Letter 2016

Merry Christmas!  I can’t believe how fast the year has flown once again.  No major illnesses, births or deaths to report in either of our immediate families.  Yet, there was plenty to keep us busy. 

            In February, Pat and I made a long weekend trip to Utah to spend it with Erin.  It was well timed as she needed her mom and dad.  We did get to tour the Provo City Temple open house which was fantastic!  We spent a lot of time with the Dean Bohl family which is always a treat.  Thanks!  I also began a new job as a poll worker for any elections in our township.

            In April there were school board elections and Pat was the 2^nd highest vote getter which puts him on the Gresham school board for three years.  He’s enjoying it and learning much.

            In May, I taught my final early morning religion class.  Eight wonderful years doing that but it was time for someone else to receive those blessings of teaching the scriptures daily! I do miss the youth but not the early mornings out in the cold.

            June brought Tom to the state Special Olympics track meet where he earned a 5^th and two 7^th place finishes in his events.  He also began Bocce ball practice weekly.  We were also able to go to St. Paul for nephew Evan’s wedding.  Tom’s Bocce competition was in July and his team didn’t do very well.  He was on a different team than usual and it showed.  He still had fun.

            I think this was the first summer I didn’t go to girl’s camp in about eight years.  Sammi went in my place and did an awesome job.  I played “mom” to Evelyn as Jeff was at Boy Scout camp during the same time.  August brought our son Andrew home from his two year mission! I know what heaven feels like.  It’s being able to hug your child who has been away for such a long time and only able to communicate through letters except on Mother’s Day and Christmas.  Then a phone call or FaceTime is acceptable.  He loved the time he was able to serve and we are so grateful for the man he has become.  Now it’s time to think about schooling for him.

            August brought about the biggest change for Pat.  After serving for 91/2 years as president of the Wausau Wisconsin Stake (geographical area) for our church, he was released and someone new now has the responsibility. I still think it is strange when he’s home on Thursday nights instead of at a meeting and that he is able to sit with me in church.  A few days later, he and I set off on a trip around Lake Superior.  We camped all but one night.  The weather was perfect; the scenery beautiful and the company was excellent!  On a side note, Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay on the U.S. side has the most to see.  The Canadian side isn’t so great.  I can see most of that scenery right here in Wisconsin.

            The end of September had us boarding a plane to Utah once again.  Andrew came along to see many of his new friends.  We attended our church’s General Conference and then headed south to Cedar City. We spent a full day touring Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.  Personal tour guides are the best!  Then off to St. George for the night.  Clint’s mom lives there and we were able to visit with her.  What a grand adventure we had.

            I had chief inspector training for six hours in October to prepare for the November election.  I learned a lot but those people have to learn how to speed things up.  Another nephew got married and this time in Nauvoo.  What a treat to be in Nauvoo with most of the family!  We missed Erin. Pat and I also began serving two shifts per month in the St. Paul temple.  We love it!

            Thanksgiving brought our family over with much food.  The “boys” all went out hunting.  Only Clint was successful during the hunt.  Although during the T-zone antlerless hunt last weekend, both Pat and Jeff got a deer. 

            Pat and I have a new opportunity before us.  We have been called to serve as Area Family History Advisors.  Our role is to work with the six stake presidents in Wisconsin.  There is a bit to learn but we are both excited to get started. I wish I could better explain what we are to do, but we just had training this morning and have a lot to learn. Perhaps next year we’ll have something to report.

Our children are all doing quite well.  Clare and Clint with their children Cami, Adam, Brock and Butch are a joy to have in our lives.  Clint is still a police officer for the local tribe. He’s so good at that job. Clare is an amazing mom to her little flock and each of them bring a joy to us that only grandparents can understand.

            Tom is still working with me one day a week. He’s enjoying Special Olympics and singing in the church choir. He still doesn’t like little children but as they get older he has a bit more tolerance for them. Of course, they all love him.

            Sammi and Jeff live just up the street from us and spend a lot of time at our home. We burn wood and so our home is a lot warmer than the one they’re renting. Sammi graduated from BYU-Idaho in July and is now working as much or as little as she wants as a substitute teacher.  I believe she could probably work most every day if she wanted to.  I get to have Evelyn here when both she and Jeff are working.  She’s such a good girl.

            Erin is still working in medical records at a clinic in Provo, UT. Her Mr. Right hasn’t come into her life yet.  Whoever he is, he needs to know what he’s missing out on.  Erin is such an outstanding woman!  I’m so proud to call her my daughter.

            Andrew is living at home and working for the family business.  He’s learned how to run some heavy equipment.  Some jobs he likes better than others but he really is anxious to attend school.  He will be applying at BYU-Idaho and also Salt Lake Business College.  He is officiating basketball as is his father. Not a difficult job, most of the time.

Here we are less than two weeks from the celebration of our Savior’s birth. Weren’t we just in Utah with Erin?  We have been so blessed over the last year with health and happiness as well as wonderful friends and family! I guess it doesn’t matter what you do with your life as long as your recognize your dependence on God.  When we put Him first, we can get through whatever is put before us.

May you have a wonderful Christmas with those you love.  We think of you often and wish we could cross paths more often.  We love you and we’re always grateful for your friendship!

New Callings

Today Pat and I went to Neenah to meet with Elder Scott, our area seventy.  He interviewed both of us as to our worthiness and then began talking about a calling that is for both of us.  Somehow I knew this was why he wanted to see us.  We have been called as "Area Family History Advisors."  It means in short that we will be serving together to promote the "Find, Take, Teach principle of family history.  Basically we need to help people understand that they need to find an ancestor and then take the name to the temple and then teach that principle to others.  We will be working with the stake presidencies in the six Wisconsin stakes.

As of now, I don't know anything else.  I'm feeling overwhelmed not knowing what we will for sure be doing.  I do know that this in an important calling as we are to be released from any other callings we may have.  I have several.  I don't believe that my organist calling and my librarian calling won't interfere with this.  They didn't interfere with being a seminary teacher.

Elder Scott was certain that we could maintain our temple assignment but thought I may need to give up my church service missionary job.  Time will tell what I need to back off on.  

Today I'm feeling very overwhelmed!

Pat's Birthday

This year for Patrick's birthday we did something different.  We went to Door County and rented a condo.  Before you say, "that's not new!" it is because we've never done a getaway for Pat's birthday.  We have a favorite place but it is quite expensive so we settled on a condo on the Bay side of the peninsula.

This is the view from our balcony.  On Friday morning the wind was blowing hard enough to cause white caps.  It was pretty, but cool.  We shopped at our favorite places and did some work at the building.  Then we went for a ride around the peninsula.  We stopped at some shops and found another Nativity.  It is beautiful and perfect.  I love it!

 We can't go anywhere without the selfie.  We took this Saturday morning just before we left to come home.  The time there always goes by so fast.  We could sit in the condo and just do nothing or watch movies and we'd be perfectly happy.

 Of all the condos we've rented, none of them look very different than the others.  But all of them are very inviting.

I love the fireplace.  It's gas and warm and cozy.  That's what I love about it.  We've finally figured out what kind of food we need to buy in order to make meals.  The dishes and cookware are all there but nothing else.
 Pat has already asked if we can do this every year.  I guess it will depend on what else might be on the calendar and what the checkbook has to say.  I do love getting away even for just a day or two with my sweetheart.  He's my favorite guy!

Grands

 While we were in Nauvoo I made an attempt to take some pictures of my amazing grandchildren so I could update my wall.  What I found is that Adam was very good at doing anything for me so I could get a picture.  Brock was also really good, but never gave me a natural smile.  Cami was way too busy for me and Evie too, gave me some good fake smiles.  Butchy was just a hope and a prayer I could get something usable.  Enjoy these smiling faces!

Brock at the stone arch.  Love the background, not the smile so much.

 Adam did a good job here but I was hoping for something with a little more eyes.

 Evie was willing but this was very posed.

 Getting better.  Love how his blue eyes pop out with his shirt.

 Just hanging out.

 

Adam needed a pose by the moonstone.

 This makes me laugh.

 I don't know what he was doing or thinking, but I love his face!

 Cami taking pictures of her own.  At least I think that's what she's doing.

 My favorite of Adam.

 The best one of Butchy.

 I wanted one with his glasses on.

 This is the best I could do of Brock and I love it.  Even though Evie is making a cheesy grin, she's as cute as can be.  I love this picture.

As you can tell, I didn't get any pictures of Cami.  This will have to do.

I adore these beautiful faces and the personalities that go along with them.  

Alex & Cate, A New Eternal Family

 October 22, 2016 was the beginning of a new eternal family with Alex and Cate.  What a wonderful experience to witness their marriage and the beginning of eternity.  Lots of family came to Nauvoo for the occasion.

Evie loves Christine and she helped with the children as they waited outside the temple for the couple to emerge.

 What a gorgeous day it was!  The sun was shining and the sky was brilliant blue.  The temperatures weren't too bad either considering it was the end of October.

 As you can see, sweaters were in order but suit jackets were optional.

 Jeff catching up, or getting to know Matt, Chase and Matt Ainsworth.

 Brett's back has been giving him such grief that sitting is all that is really comfortable for him.

 The colors were just beginning to change in Nauvoo.  At home they were already past peak.

 These two little ladies are such good friends.  It will be a good thing when this family can move to Wisconsin and these two can spend more time together.

 I love that I caught this walk down the stairway.  Alex's face shows what they were both feeling.

 I love Millie's face.  She's such a gem!

 First photo as a family.

 I am amazed at the attention Alex gives this little daughter.  By watching him I can see the love he has for his new daughter.

 Here's a side of Alex I've seen before.  Silliness.

  Since Alex never had a girlfriend growing up, it was really odd to see him constantly kissing his bride.  It was quite foreign for me to see.

 He couldn't keep his eyes off her.

 Clint with two of his boys.

The attempt to get a group photo took a bit of orchestration.  In the end, I don't have a copy of it, but then I don't need one.  What a great opportunity to be in the temple to witness the beginning of another one of my nephews make the best decision of his life in marrying the right woman in the right place by the right authority.  Congratulations!

Nauvoo Trip

 Our nephew, Alex, got married on Saturday, October 22nd.  Therefore, we needed a family trip to Nauvoo!

We went earlier in the week and rented a home that we love.  We don't really love the house, we love the location and the price and the homey feel of the house.  Only one bed in the entire house is good for sleeping on unless you're just a kid and don't know better.

 As a family, we went to see Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo.  We also did some touring.  That was done on our own time and seeing what each of us wanted to see.

 We took the trek via the ox wagon.  Butchy loved touching the oxen.  Evie was a little more timid about it.

 We also got to go to the temple!  My favorite!

 We took a walk on a late afternoon before going to see the show and found the stage for the Nauvoo pageant.  We decided that we needed a pose from the old City of Joseph pageant so we created one.

 I love the scene of the temple at night all lit up.  Butchy loved the horses and since then he sees a picture of the Nauvoo temple and proclaims, "Horses!"  Then he tells me it is also a temple.

 Here we are on the ox ride.  Not everyone was with us as you can see.  A few of the guys were busy visiting the gunsmith.

 Here's our pose yet again.  Clint obviously was never part of the pageant as he doesn't have a clue how to do the pose.  The kids did their best.  All except Ev.  I don't know what she was doing.

 A selfie following the tour of the Carthage jail.  We sure did miss Erin!

What a wonderful weekend we had with our family.  I'm so thankful that we get along and we love one another.  I think that personalities could clash and we are lucky to have such a great group of people we call family, that even if we don't mesh perfectly, we still get along.  I couldn't have asked for a better weekend weather-wise or with better people!

General Conference & Utah Tour

Another yearly trip to Utah for General Conference.  This year we planned to spend a few extra days in Utah to go to southern Utah to see some of the sights.  We've never done that so why not?  I'm not teaching seminary and we don't have to be home at any specific time.  Andrew came with us and he was able to see and visit some of the families and people form his mission.  These pics are not in chronological order so bear with me if I skip around.

On Tuesday morning we headed north and stopped at Cove Fort.  This was a place that Ira Hinckley was asked to set up and live in.  It was a way station for weary travelers as well as a look out for hostile natives.  It was most interesting and I loved the tour.  Don't drive past.  Take the time and stop.

 Kent and Karen Hugh, former temple president and matron in St. Paul, live in Cedar City.  We called them a few weeks before our trip to ask what we absolutely needed to see.  He said he would take us on a personal tour.  That's exactly what we got.  It was incredible.  This is at Kolob National Park.

General Conference is always fun.  It is great to sit in the Conference Center and feel the Spirit.  We saw these two on Sunday afternoon.

Saturday morning was the first session we had tickets for.  I took an extra ticket for Tatelyn.  I think she had a good time with us.  

The first stop on the Hugh's tour with us was in some little town where there is this statue commemorating the "quilt walk."  Look it up and find out what it was.  It is an incredible story of how the Lord helped those who help themselves.

With this handsome face at Cove Fort.  We were standing up on the wall surrounding the fort.

On our way south on Sunday night, I captured this view.  I love how the light makes different colors on the clouds.

Sunday morning was spent with this pair of wonderful people.  President Howard and Sister Marge Sharp.  They were the Mission President in the California San Bernardino mission back in 1980.  Two years ago he assisted my husband in setting Andrew apart as a missionary.  We forgot to take a picture then so we re-created it.  They always have such wonderful stories.  They both have a great sense of humor.  I love them to pieces!

Can you believe I have never seen a palm tree in real life?  Not that I can remember.  I've never spent any time in the desert so how would that have been possible?  This is in front of the St. George temple.

This is Bryce Canyon.  All the rock formations are called Hoodoos.  Absolutely breathtaking.  I only wish the day had been warmer so we could've walked along some of the paths along the canyon rim.

The St. George temple.  It is the oldest functioning temple on the earth.  We were able to go do a session on Tuesday morning.  Very beautiful!

More hoodoos.  I love this amazing man who decided we should take this vacation.

Of all the beauty we were able to experience in Utah, we came home and this was the view from my car window as we were driving down highway 29 only minutes from our home.  There is so much diversity on this beautiful earth.  God certainly made something for everyone!