Dorothy

January 11, 2009
Dear Family,
We’ve had a wonderful, snowy, and busy two months. Talk about “dreaming of a white” Christmas! No one had to dream it to have it this year. In fact, it was a perfect day to stay home as it snowed all day!!
In November I was very much involved in our Relief Society’s service project where we made and contributed lots of items to be sold at the Festival of Trees for the Primary Children’s Medical Center. The family and I kept busy with other church activities as well, like the ward choir, firesides and a morningside, YW in Excellence, a ward talent show, two Eagle Courts of Honor, tithing settlement (for our family and lots for Alan meeting with other families), regular church meetings, and going to the temple. Wow! What would our life be like without the gospel? It IS our life!
Alan and I also celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary by going out to lunch and seeing the musical, “Into the Woods” at the Hale Centre Theatre. We’ve been attending a Church Education System (CES) class on Isaiah with the first session of classes ending the night of the 21st in November. The second session started up again January 2nd. Heather comes out to attend these classes with Alan and I held at our stake center every Friday night, and then she goes dancing… we go home and go to bed!
Thanksgiving was a lot of fun as our family got together with Emily’s, Lucy’s, Jennifer’s and Tom’s families at Moms. James and Lynnette spent the holiday in St. George with her family this year. The Saturday following Thanksgiving, we spent the afternoon with Alan’s brother Tommy and his family in Centerville, eating Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner. Tommy’s son, Justin, returned home from his mission to Guadalajara, Mexico, the 8th of December. The following Sunday he “reported his mission” so we were able to spend another afternoon with their family.
Heather got Ariane to volunteer with her for three Friday nights following Thanksgiving, at the “This Is The Place Heritage Park.” Dressed in pioneer clothing, they prepared dinner in a large kettle hanging over the fire in the fireplace and talked to visitors about how pioneer families living in one room cabins like that one might have spent their evenings or Christmas day together. We went as a family one cold Monday night in December and experienced a “Candlelight Christmas” ourselves. It was a fun Christmassy thing to do.
Our December was filled with more firesides, programs, and parties. We continued our family’s traditional read-a-story-by-candlelight with the family each night between the 1st and 24th. We went to see “It’s A Wonderful Life” the dance version which was absolutely fabulous (thanks to Emily for getting us tickets). Alan and his three daughters went to the annual Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert at the Conference Center. I helped our Relief Society with another great service project. And we attended Ariane’s choir concert at the high school. The Saturday before Christmas we went to Provo to see Daniel perform in “A Christmas Carol.” It was a fun surprise to meet up with April and her date there, so we sat together to watch the musical.
Christmas Eve at Mom’s was fun having Tom’s and Emily’s families there. Dinner was delicious with everyone’s contributions. We enjoyed each others talents had a wild time with the games--- including the traditional “white elephant” game.
And New Years was another fun party at Mom’s (she’s probably glad that was the last for a while) with Priscilla, Bryan, and Isaiah, Emily’s family, and our family there.
Oh, and of course we celebrated the four birthdays our family has in December as well. Wow! What a month of parties we’ve had!!
Now it’s back to school and down to serious studying again for the kids. Penny moved to her new apartment with new roommates in Provo the day after her birthday. I was especially sad to see her go because I like having her company. She had been planning this move for a long time and we both know it was time for her to move on. Ariane started back the 5th of January, Daniel’s and Penny’s classes started the 7th, and Marcus begins tomorrow on the 12th.
We’ve had a great year… no new additions to the family yet. But this year we’re looking forward to our third grandchild. Yesterday we drove up to Hyde Park and spend a relaxing day with Jason’s family, playing games and visiting. Next time we go up it will be to see our new granddaughter. Perhaps this new year will bring other additions to our family…. who knows? We hope all of you will also have a happy and prosperous new year!
Love, Dorothy and family