2006 Summary for Christmas Card

Wow! Surprisingly, life is still a wild roller coaster ride after raising kids. The last few years, we had 4 weddings, and of course what follows that is grandchildren. This year we have had 3 born!!!! And in April we will have another, which will make 4 within one year - a total of 5. What a blessing that is! So many new little people take some keeping up, and none of them live nearby, so most of our resources are now given over to being good grandparents. We love each new grandchild dearly.
Another surprise about life is that several of our parents have become old and 3 have passed away in the last few years. Others require a lot of our care.
And somehow we just don't get as much done in a day as we used to.
But we keep trying. Jon built an addition onto our home - more as a second job, than that we need the space. He's also working on a Master's in Public Administration thru his employment and doing occasional architectural consulting on the side. (And he shaved off his mustache.)
Becky tried hard to keep up with the family this year and fit in studying and taking the GRE - just in case she gets to continue her education in the next few years. Conquering her fear of algebra was a major triumph! She did a few paintings and looks forward to fitting in many other goals in 2007.
Both of us are serving in the church as the ward Young Single Adult advisory couple. Becky has also served with the stake Public Affairs and as an Atlanta Temple Worker.
We have many wonderful blessings and each other. It's nice to be in the stage of being a couple again and making that work for eternity. We are also blessed with wonderful grown children, (now grown to a count of eight as a result of the weddings), that are doing good things and are our best friends. You can find out about them by clicking on their links posted on the right side of this blog.
Thank you all for being our friends and family! We love you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

ups and downs

They say that for every person that comes to earth, a person must leave. We have had 3 new babies in our family this year, and only gave up one person. A week after Eli was born, my (Becky's) mother passed away. As Elder Ballard said in his talk this last conference, it was one of those times when we were torn in half wondering where duty lay. Eli was struggling with jaundice and keeping everyone up 24/7, and I had to leave. It was crazy! But Heavenly Father provides. Sarah and Alex and Danny's mom stepped in and helped out with Eli. I drove thru a blizzard, flew to Dulles Airport in VA, met Jon and drove to PA. Then we found the burial was the next day, which was fortunate because I could help the RS sisters dress her - a very sacred experience. It is over, and we have moved on to Christmas.
Christmas was drawn out this year and rather low key. Only lights made it on our tree, Christmas cards will be New Year's cards, and presents were wrapped in paper sandwich bags. Our kids opened presents with us a few nights before, so we spent Christmas Eve catching up on our calling by delivering bags to the YSA's on our list. That was fun! Most of Christmas was spent at the AGRhodes home. We were also adopted by the Luce family and partied at the Thevenins. The best part of Christmas was getting to take a much needed nap!!!
We look forward to 2007 and starting on our lists of goals. Maybe we will even clean out the basement!!!

Best News

Today a boy was born to Anna and Danny and we are grandparents for the fourth time. He has no name yet, but is very special. He was born Dec. 9, 2006, about 10:53 MST, weighs 9 lbs., 2 oz., and is 21 inches long. Great job Anna and Danny!

Welcome to life.

Our house is a disaster!
Tomorrow night I am taking the GRE - at age 53! I'm crazy. But it is very empowering to conquer my fear of math. (I wonder if I should next conquer my fear of heights???? Maybe there is a real reason for that fear.)
We've been spending massive time with my dad in the old folks home, eating with him, reading him stories about his childhood home town, and teaching him my GRE vocab words.
Jon just spent a week doing a 3 hour grad course for his Masters in Public Administration.
We are moving all the stuff from Jared's house to our house this week. We close for him on Monday.
We laid and sanded the flooring in our new room (see below) and now need to stain and seal it with 3 or 4 coats. Until then all Jared's furniture will be stacked in the dining room (really the furniture storage room).
One of my media releases for my PA calling interested a TV station and they will be filming a local church event this Friday.
But we can't be there then because our ward Young Single Adults are coming over to help assemble and deliver 36 Christmas bags...and to eat.
In between all this is a nice peaceful day at the temple.
And by Monday we will have grandchild #4, Anna and Danny's boy. I fly out on Tuesday to play Grandma.
All the out of town presents need to be wrapped, and some mailed before then.
We don't think we will put anything on our tree but lights. (Maybe they will red and yellow and orange rope lights...)
Did I mention that my mother has cancer? And Jon's dad is having heart surgery?
And we'd like to send out Christmas cards since we haven't for 4 years?
Welcome to life!!!! Does it ever slow down?????