A new year!
John spent the first week of December in warm southern California with his mother, visiting extended family in Rancho Mirage (near Palm Springs) and Fallbrook. They explored museums and parks, and spent time with Dave and Nicole and their kids. John came home rested and grateful for his mother’s company.
On Saturday, December 15, Brittany received her R.N. from Utah Valley University. The program on the Orem campus was a dignified and fitting tribute to Brittany and the other students who have worked hard to earn their nursing degrees.
Our Christmas was quiet this year. Brittany came home on Christmas Eve with her friend, Nisha (a nursing colleague). Both of them brought their violins to Heber, so we invited ourselves to Dave and Megumi’s where we read the story of the nativity and then Lillian, Marianne, Hannah, Brittany and Nisha played Christmas carols on their violins and T.J. played some Christmas songs on his little portable piano. Hearing beautiful Christmas music was a highlight of the holiday for me. On Christmas morning, Dave and the kids came over for breakfast before the nurses left for work. We visited with most of our scattered family by Skype and phone. A good day!
On the 28, Brittany and I drove to Manti to witness the sealing of our friend Courtney Nelson to Jayson Watabe. The weather was clear and crisp, the drive pleasant, and the time spent in the temple with family and friends was uplifting and inspiring.
It didn’t take long to put away all the Christmas decorations this year…because there weren’t very many. I couldn’t wrestle either of the two large trees out of the storage room by myself, so the little tree from our Midway condo Christmas stood over the gifts in the family room. I like it—the one light string and tied flannel strip bows give it a rugged minimalist look. The rest of the family doesn’t share my affection for it, however. Britt calls it the “Charlie Brown tree” and two days before Christmas, John looked at it and remarked, “Is that THE tree this year?” Like I said, it didn’t take long to put everything away!
We say this each month, and it is ever true—We love you, each one! We pray for you, we are grateful to be bound to you and we are strengthened and inspired by the goodness in your lives.
Love,
Uncle John and Aunt Carole
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