48 plus 12 Years Experience!

A new decade begins for me. . . and I'm so grateful to be here to celebrate it. 10 years ago there were no promises . . . just statistics and hopes. Now, I have lived to see dreams come true, and more.

Healthwise, able to run/walk 2 miles daily and still touch toes, do crunches, stretches, toning, and more. Still have my teeth, original knees, hips, appendages. Nearly all body parts intact throughout, but not without some scares here and there. Hair returned! Curls have relaxed, mostly. Still dark brown, naturally, even.

Educationwise, teaching Family History for 20 semesters here at BYUH. Volunteering at the FHC provides additional opportunities to serve/learn. Taught 3 years for Home Econ--individ/family mgmt./planning class.
Still learning many things--preparedness, traveling the world, my harp/music, etc. Teaching lessons monthly in RS on topic variety.


Familywise, mother of 4 daughters, 3 sons in law, 6.8 grandchildren--love the Nanna dates and visits. All girls graduated with honors from high school, and we have 3 college graduates among our daughters, Jenny even completed her Masters. Megan is halfway through her college courses. Family brings greatest life joys. Wife of great and supportive, loving husband, of course! Annual visits, usually twice, with mother; brothers and families in contact electronically.

Still feel spiritually connected, growing, yet with more growth possible. The more I learn, the more I know I need to learn! ! ! Enjoy our daily scripture reading to expand understanding and appreciation. Music, many styles, brings me joy and peace, also. Emotional well being comes from many sources, trying new things, giving talks and lessons, but mostly is found among family and friends. I love my home and caring for it. Facebook, cell phones, and texting keep me connected, and emailing, too. Cherish the phonecalls, also.

Travelwise, we've visited Kona twice, Boston twice, NYC twice, DC for a 4th of July, Chicago, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, SLC, Denver, Long Beach and Disneyland [just us!], several temples, also Europe, esp. Croatia, then Australia, Canadian Rockies, and many trips to Iowa/midwest to visit family for sharing milestone events and most recently, Kauai, for nephew Matthew's wedding. We lead pretty simple lives from "owning stuff" point of view, but we do enjoy our traveling opportunities, especially Bill and I together.

The wrinkles are coming, though I still faithfully put on my "mortar" each morning. Yet I know I've earned every one of those.

Much memory and great gratitude --
♪♪"...'er I forget all the joy that is mine TODAY!" ♪♪

Life is good! I hope I always get to think that is true.

Semester's End, Spring Travels, and More to Come

The early end to the semester and April 10 graduation are the best things I can comment about the newer BYUH calendar. How nice now to have more free time to care for home, family, and continue old and begin new projects. Completing homeschooling with Trevor was also in this early April time. We had a great first grade experience in reading/language arts! He's such a good student.

SIFE regionals were a big success. The presenting team and several students and leaders attended this in Honolulu. Advancing to National Expo in Minneapolis May 11 - 13 meant more focused attention to scripts, reports, videos, travel plans, etc. But in reflection, it was truly worth all the effort. More on the Expo in Minneapolis later.

In one of our less planned trips, we arranged with one day warning to go to Kona, HI for a wedding of Will Wong and his bride. It was a lovely day to leave before dawn, be in the temple, and enjoy this day to ourselves after. We were home by 4:30 p.m., grateful for a brief yet welcome getaway.

Ho'omaikai Dinner honored BYUH employees with benchmark years spent here. Bill received his 25 year award [we've been here officially 26, though] and chose a gift of ukulele, and asked me to choose a black pearl necklace as a remembrance since I'd given that long to his BYUH endeavor too! That was a special observance.

Trip time again! This time to southern California. We traveled to Long Beach for Bill's WASC accreditation conference, then we enjoyed a time in Newport Beach Temple, a really beautiful time with Rebecca Waldron's mom and husband there and at the Mexican dinner following. The Italian lunch was special too--I'll always remember the beet salad! Delicious! From a quick trip then onto Balboa Island, we ventured to everyone's favorite place, Disneyland. We walked and walked to/from and while there, but had a most delightful time reliving our memories with kids and also making new ones of our own. The end of the day was a highlight as we exited the renewed Small World and stood to enjoy in the sky the ginormous firework display, in all directions. Soaring over California is still my favorite. Love those "fast passes."

After church and In and Out Burger, my first one [!], we returned the rental car
and flew to HNL. Always glad for a break away, but always glad to be home, too. And yes, another trip was in the works. Love spring!

It seemed like I wasn't home long before the adventure to the Midwest--to Des Moines to be with my mom for Mother's Day--a first. Then a busride to Minneapolis to support the SIFE team and see daughter Erin and Avery, a wonderful bonus, then tripping to Nauvoo, back to DM via a day in Cedar Rapids vicinity to surprise my Mary, and finally home after 2 weeks away.

Mother's Day began Saturday, with the edible bouquet arriving from Jenny and family. Loved the pineapple daisies with melon ball centers, mounds of strawberries, and skewers of grapes! A sweet surprise for us! Then on Sunday, I attended church with mom, then she, Mary Ann, and I traveled to Wiota, Iowa, where my cousin Dorothy was surprised by her children and they celebrated at the renovated farmhouse of my Aunt Mary. I hadn't seen some of these special family members for . . . YEARS! Perhaps I was 16 when I was there last? ? Still trying to remember when. Such good food and pleasant catching up time for us all. That night I heard about Megan's day. . . she had given a talk in church [about mom's/me] and has a new calling in RS presidency, so much for her to share in our phone visit.

The Minneapolis trip was a good one, though we wish the weather would have been more springlike. Erin was a trooper to bring Avery and endure the airline hassles which seem to always manifest themselves in Detroit. Note to self: avoid Detroit transfers! Uncle Mike Reynolds and Pam were excellent hosts and we even got to connect with their Bryan and Kayla, who both attend school in that area. Mall of America, MOA, was a main stop for most of the SIFE group, even Bill. Erin and Avery and Nanna and Papa got our fill of Nickelodeon Universe. A bit jiggly for some of the rides, but most for Avery were tame. A tour or MSP by Mike and Pam added to our enjoyment and appreciation for this grand midwestern city. Love the Abdullah chocolates made here! The two-story Target had to be our shopping stop the next day. By then the SIFE event was in full swing. Attended our presentation and -- how rare-- two judges verbally told them how fantastic it was! YAY--they advanced to the next round of competition for the busy Thursday.

Again, verbal praise given to the team, but their place was second runner up, or 9th - 12th place in the nation. We are SO proud of these young people and the PR they gave as well as the SIFE organization here and there many worthwhile projects. Time now to plan for next year! We're glad they are excited to get started.

Erin and Avery left us Thursday morning. We were very glad to see both of them, even though we know how hard it was to travel like this with a little one and that Erin spent her vacation time getting to us. Such a wonderful thing to visit, even if only for a short time. I value this.

The afternoon presentations were unfortunately delayed somewhat, so a decision to get a start on the road for our 7-hour journey was made after a few of the top four presentations. 3 vans and a rental car for us later and we were on I35 headed south for Nauvoo, Illinois. So glad we made it safely, as the next morning a flat tire was discovered and needed a repair. All wandered around the area and we even found a maidrite place--we look for these when in the midwest. The peaceful time alone in the sculpture garden Tribute to Women was a remarkable treat for me. Flowers blooming, I took many phonecamera shots and hope to learn soon how to post those!

The Saturday morning experience was most memorable, attending the Nauvoo Temple with 17 of our troop. A truly beautiful place, it captures the "as it was" feel one would expect to find inside. This visit was followed by the entire group traveling and experiencing the Carthage Jail grounds. Many were touched by being in this space. Photos were special here, too.

The visits in the afternoon to sites and so many fewer tourists than previous trips meant we got so much out of the experience this time compared to any time before. I feel like I know Nauvoo now.

For me, the travel from Nauvoo to I-380 exit 4 was much anticipated. I was staying at a hotel to wait for morning when Kelly Hauschildt Butzen and family would pick me up to surprise my Mary on her 60th birthday. We traveled to the Ox Yoke Inn in the Amana Colonies and yes, she was
S U R P R I S E D ! ! !

The brunch was fabulous and time was indeed memorable. I'm so glad it worked out to do this. Our Sunday was relaxing as we took down their camp site and enjoyed time back in Marion, their home. The new technologies made some of this so doable and the surprise easier to pull off. I'm learning how to text these days, though my thoughts sometimes appear to be Welsh! I hope I'll be improving in the months ahead.

Time to ponder on Monday, and accompany Mary to appointments, [prayers offered] then a busride back to Des Moines, dinner with mom and cousin Mary Ann. Met Katie LePorte, the graphic artist for the Yurich Directory and her husband, Mike. So glad to know these two cousins better! Whew! Much packed into that day, too!

Pleasant Tuesday, preparing for a trip back to HNL. Helped mom clean a bit, too. Travel day arrived, and it was enjoyable, quick transfers, so no time to waste in airports. That is good!

Returned to welcome all -- chidren and grandchildren and husband, responsibilities, projects old and new, and put life back together at home time. It's nice to be home, and...YES, there is another trip this week coming--to Kauai, for nephew Matt's wedding. I'll record that adventure in the next update.

Life is good. The Lord blesses us. I know He has done His part and is so willing to do so if I do mine. Peace always.

Spring in This Island Paradise

It's exciting to live in Hawaii always--university life brings variety and opportunity to assist others, we don't have weather to complain about, really, but things can get interesting when tsunami warnings hit. That was our experience the end of February, Saturday the 27th. We were supposed to go to a play that night on campus but both of us were tired. Then at 10 p.m.-ish Lindsey let us know of a huge earthquake in Chile that generated potentially damaging tsunami for the Pacific.

We had about a 12 hour lead on its arrival, so sleep was hard to come by. Preparations picked up by 3 a.m., and by 7 a.m. we had gathered all emergency items to the car, carried possessions/furnishings upstairs, wrapped items in tarp, and gone to Bill's office joining Megan and Jenny's family there to wait it out.

Fortunately, and because of much prayer, we were spared this time. Thank heavens! [And we did.] We learned much and were grateful for this emergency "dry run" with ample lead time. What will happen if it's a disaster that doesn't give lead time??? I hope we never have to know! At the all clear, we returned home and undid our preparations and rested well that night although many events in Hawaii were cancelled, even our big basketball game with HPU.

So, then on Monday night we played HPU at Blaisdell, and we joined the other boosters to cheer on our team-victorious, it was a great game!--and with a berth in the district tourny in Bellingham, Washington. A week later, Bill joined this entourage as the token administrator, and enjoyed a week away. It proved to be a good time for him to catch up and relax at the same time. I enjoyed my solo-ing at home but was glad for his return, of course. Although we didn't make it through the final match up, we watched the team who beat us become the final top team! We got within 3 points of them in our match, which is great compared to the other scores they had against opponents. We loved this season and hope they do it again.

Our stake conference and Bill's stake conference were the same weekend, and we welcomed President Aaron Shumway and Iafeta "IJ" Sao and George Reid to the Laie Presidency. Bill's stake conference hosted Elder Dalton, who will soon be the new mission president here in Hawaii. A good weekend, for sure.

The next basketball team we followed was UNI, our alma-mater, who made it to the Sweet Sixteen Division I NCAA. Purple and gold Panthers had great players and following. We watched live stream here at home--technology has a wonderful place in our lives. It was great to share successes with family on Facebook/FB who were also following along.

Easter holiday celebrations and a performing role for Primaries filled some days in late March, early April. I was tapped as a fill in for Mary Magdalene at Bill's stake Primary Activity, then was asked to repeat that for another Primary activity. Even got out the sewing machine to whip us a quick tunic for that. It was an honor, joy to portray for the children the way Mary M. might have shared her story. Easter weekend coincided with General Conference weekend, so we were enriched by that--and also having the family here for ham dinner, Grandma's deviled [doubled?] eggs, and egg hunt. Maddie Kite, Megan's roomie, also joined us.

We're having another grandson in August!--that's pretty significant news for us, and for Jenny and Aaron and Kylee. Kylee is still reigning Princess, with soon to be 6 Princes in the total family kingdom. As usual, my Family History volunteering, teaching, and spare-time-searching occupy my days--and even some late nights. It's been helpful to connect and find missing data and bring it into new.familysearch.org.

We're now enjoying the daylight earlier on our daily exercise, though the wind and rainy a.m.'s lately has made it not so pleasant for that . . . It's time to get back in to the regular habit we so much enjoy. Those walks, sometimes with Jenny, get us off to a grand start in our day.

The Conference of Champions for upcoming entrepreneurs brought a guest to our home, Kevin, from Shanghai. How nice that this campus brings others who can see and feel what a unique university this is. Another visitor, Elia Gourgouris, gave an insightful fireside and we enjoyed his company at dinner, too, one evening with wife, Sona.

The third Sunday each month we've been enjoying the company of BYUH missionaries for potluck dinners. We enjoy so many of these couples who give their time and talents to serve the Lord and also the students here in a variety of capacities. Someday, we hope it's the two of us who will be serving in some mission!

Homeschooling and dating the boys and visits with Jenny and Kylee round out my days. As I write this, Trevor has only 2 days left with me in Language Arts/Handwriting. He has zoomed right along and is quite ready for the second grade. He mostly enjoys his breaks, I think--cottage cheese, chocolate milk that he makes, and cookies if they are on hand seem to make his mornings here. Kyle now joins Trevor each Wednesday after the schooling, so he can get comfortable here with me, too. What energy this guy has! His speaking/conversation is really starting to roll along! His favorites at my house are bananas, and bananas. He likes jello squares and apple juice, too.

Devin is fun, fun, fun. His "Seasider" soccer record is perfect against my winless "Alligators" team! But he is complimentary when I make a good block. His favorites are tuna sandwich, a bit of cottage cheese, chocolate pudding, and jello, too. He loves to drink orange juice. Kylee usually finds time on Friday mornings before napping to come and hang out here with me and her mom. She's had a few bites of candle and golf ball foam lately, but it hasn't hampered her enjoyment here, it seems. It's great connecting time for those of my grandchildren here in town. We see Bryson here and there in the drop offs, and his smiles and scooting around show us he is a growing little one. We miss Erin and Avery in this mix, and have thought of them so much as they were here for a few months just a year ago before moving to PA.

Erin is talking more like schooling is again in her picture in the near future. We try to visit on her days off, after resting from her night shifts. Avery L O V E S their better weather and plays almost daily for an hour at parks in their neighborhood and beyond. I got to visit some when I was there last November and hope to get in on some visits with him in May.

Megan has performed recently in concerts and at a devotional so we've enjoyed her music making again. YAY! Proud parent moments, for sure for those pep band, brass band, and university concerts recently. She has changed jobs, liking very much her new one of tech/sound/TV production studios employment. Her major is becoming defined, a big move forward. We're so happy she is finding her niche. She may be home awhile this spring and summer before returning to campus in the fall, it seems. It will be strange to have our youngest out of teens...we spent 17 years as parents of one or more teenagers. We're okay in most ways that era will soon end for us.

Bill needed me to be a substitute receptionist for him in February and early March. I was glad to get an inside glimpse of what his days/weeks were like. I'm also VERY glad he has a temporary, Rebecca, who took over that role. Back to my life!!

Good things ahead--end of semester, Graduation [a first--it's in April this year!], SIFE regional, RS, to Long Beach with Bill for a conference. I enjoy the variety this spring is bringing.

Grateful for all that is good, for all that I'm learning, for what is in store, for what I can give.

What I Should Have Taught My Children Better

1. There is a difference between needs [most parent provided] and wants [not parent provided].
2. THANK YOU is the best two-word phrase in one's vocabulary and parents can't hear this often enough.
3. To be content with what you have is a great gift.
4. To be without something you want is normal and expected.
5. If you want something, prioritize, budget, and save for it.
6. There is more than one way to do most things right--and if you want it done your way, be willing to do it yourself.
7. A college education is an "extra" and not an expense required or expected of parents. Any assistance provided by parents is a sacrifice for them and a generous gift to the lucky, parent-endowed student. Make them feel like they are getting their money's worth.
8. Debt/interest never sleeps and is constraining. . . the sooner you pay, the sooner you are free. Receive interest, never pay it. . . a minimum payment is the credit card company's way of making a fortune. . . so pay off the bill in full each month--you don't need to make them rich. If you can't afford it now, you can't afford it at the end of the month. Save up instead and pay in cash.
9. Daily do-its include public areas clean enough to welcome company--living room, bathroom, kitchen including dishes. "Put the house to bed"--a ten-minute tidy-- and you'll have a fresh start when you wake to a clean dwelling. The other basic is 1-2-3: get it out, use it, put it away. You will never regret this.
10. Following counsel and commandments gives one the freedom to be happy and rich in ways that really count.

SOS, a Good Read, and other February Facts and Finds

Sugar On Sundays -- Bill and I accepted and signed up for the DMBA Health Challenge for Jan/Feb--no sugar snacks and 30 min. exercise a day. So far, we snack as counseled, and save our SUGAR ON SUNDAYS to really gorge ourselves on what we've been going without--the MOUNDS, cc cookies, etc. So far, so good...until this weekend--Valentines goodies did us in for two days. Our weight has stayed down when we've stayed faithful to the plan. YAY!

The Undaunted -- by Elder Gerald Lund has been a great break from the ordinary. With only one class to teach/plan, I do have Thursdays free, and with less homework to grade, record, I have actual READING time!!! This book has even helped me find a few pieces of my family history--chronicling mining experiences in England, as my great grandfather experienced during his era as described in the first 100 pages. I'm enjoying the sojourn vicariously with the pioneers who were missionaries to settle the San Juan River area in the 4 corners section of Utah including the courageous Hole in the Rock adventure. An 800 page uh, epic, it is quite a story.

Family History finds personally and in helping others has brought me joy and good times at the computer. I assisted a BYUH student the other day...she came in with one name and place of a grandfather. By the time she left an hour and 15 min. later, she had filled in many more generations back! Love Ancestry, and fortunately, her extended family had sent in their family trees. So, add that to historical records we found, and she walked out of there with many new generations of discovery.

I also assisted a friend with hers...found old familysearch.org still a big help in locating her ancestors with siblings. She seemed most pleased with this.

And then it was my turn. The Wales connection to my great grandfather's second wife has evolved now. Nice to cover the lateral lines. I'm now trying to find two babies who passed away before my great grandparents moved from Illinois to Iowa in the early 1880's, so we'll see how this goes. Let's hope my suspicions for Mercer County, Viola Cemetery are on the right track.

Valentines is always a fun day to observe. Family here, away, mothers, Bill's sisters, VT's--fun to give a little gift to...some with candy and quotes. Bill and I have enjoyed MTC's "Heavensong" CD for our gift to eachother--so lovely, as our wedding processional and recessional are on there: Sheep May Safely Graze and Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. Many church meetings for Bill in town mean we get to listen on our drives there. Enjoyed dinner at Auntie Pastos for the last Honolulu one, and 3 LeiLei dinners/lunches recently with Sibleys, Wagners, Monsons. We like our haircut nights, too, so we can salad bar at Ruby Tuesdays at Windward. Fun to eat out. OH! Can't forget Hannemann's Kahuku Grill, too.

Family dinner this month was at our house. Liz Shropshire was guest, visiting from AZ, sharing her experiences this week about music with children in Kosovo, Uganda, and No. Ireland. Truly a peace bringer. She is a delight.

Homecoming Week/Alumni Week for BYUH--loved serving the hotdogs and also cheering at the victorious game Friday Night. Jet is back! We missed him. Aggressive and high scoring.
The bench is deep again, so nice to watch the comeback. Bill's stake enjoyed a Valentine's Dance where we dropped in to say hello after the game. Megan still plays in the pep band, so we go to support her also.

Flu has escaped our home, though Trevor and Devin and Kylee have had a few hard days in the past few weeks, one after the other. Now we'll see if we've gotten rid of that bug for good or will pass it around more. Hope the former!!

In other updates, our shredder got a work out at the end of January, taking 4 days to annihilate 12 years' worth of documents! I feel so much better knowing those are destroyed. Now it's on to getting taxes ready and files efficient and doable for the year. Our tree out back finally shed the rest of its leaves, after about 20 bags full, we're ready for bare-leafed branches, at least for a little while. Gardening beckons...hope the time comes back to do more of that. Pikake and spearmint, plus garlic chives thrive. Papaya trees are climbing!

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou! !

Wonderful Christmas memories-in-the-making have flowed nicely into celebrating arrival of 2010. The pre-holidays not yet posted included BYUH Graduation with Sister Julie B.Beck as speaker [we also got to provide her "to the airport shuttle"], enjoying the Honolulu Tabernacle Christmas Program--an annual "must see" for us, our 35th anniversary celebration while staying in town with the lobster tail lunch and shopping, making povitica, twice-baked potatoes at our home with Jenny, and festive-izing our home for Christmas Eve dinner for 24--family, dear old friends, new friends, too, enjoying Maddie Kite here with Megan for Christmas Day, all the Hawaii family here for the dinner and sandwiches, gifts also.

It was a beautiful Christmas season, but missing much our Erin and family in PA. We were glad to learn how much she did to capture as many Neal family traditions for her own, plus included in them the LDS missionaries who live upstairs from them in making it special. We're so proud of Erin--holiday fun she was able to share with others. THAT'S what this season is about--beyond self, focus on others. YAY ERIN!

Lull Week--between Christmas and NYr's is a fabulous take it easy time for us, but still very productive. Time to sort, organize, put away, rearrange all that is in our house. RELAXING?? Yes, it really is. Many bags to discard or give away. . . Xmas decorations put away, garage cleaned, shined all the shoes, checked all the pens for ink, finances settled--or at least the process is begun. . . these and other activities that don't always work their way onto the weekly to do list. Watched some football, too, and enjoyed other relaxing reading and seeing movies of interest.

Spending New Year's Eve at Ala Moana is becoming a desired tradition. Jenny, Aaron and Kylee also got a room and we all loved our Tanaka of Tokyo dinner that night, games and snacks in the room later while watching small firework displays in Honolulu neighborhoods from our high-rise room. I think I won at 2500 for the first time! Shocked! 2010 arrived with a literal B A N G--Toasting cider, then FIREWORKS at midnight, so pretty! A welcome sleep, then watched the Pasadena parade to start the day. We welcomed the year by helping out the Hawaii economy then returned home for the last half of the Rose Bowl game. YAY Ohio! and Penn State, too! Bread bowls of potato cheese soup. MMMMMMMmmmmmm.

Caring for our health continues to be one of our many goals. We're not sugar-snacking for two months, according to the DMBA guidelines, hence, the weight is dropping little by little. We're both glad to watch our weight and have always done that. It's been our philosophy since we got married. We are feeling better as a result. Love our SOS--Splurge On Sundays plan, though. Ice cream, cookies, etc. --we're allowing sugar then!! Exercising 30 minutes a day, the other guideline, was already in our daily routine. Love those early morning walks.

Prayer days and times grew in number, it seemed, so suddenly. We had many with news locally that did cause concern and truly deserved prayer these days. The Sorens, Nortons, Pierces, Wagners, Goos, and even some family members had challenges so were remembered often these days. The Lord's hands are the ones that help most, and often we are His hands for others. Updating frequently on all this news, I have a new name for FACEBOOK --- "FAITHBOOK."

New semester preparations started in, too, and some new traditions are set. Bill and Paul refined their b.c. class, and I did the necessaries for the Family History class, too. It's also nice to be back at the Family History Center for Friday volunteer time. Dates with the boys resumed--Wednesday is our day, and LOL is my subtitle for that!! Kylee-time was also part of the week, along with the Fast Sunday Family dinner which was here this month. Sharing the meal preps with daughters Lindsey, Jenny, and Megan is a new favorite event--a nice, full meal with such little effort!! I enjoyed watching the grands while the others had time to relax and visit. Papa Bill helped Trevor with his birthday Lego set in the other room, too. Ahhhh. So very nice. One of those times when I'd like to reach up and stop the clock hands awhile. . .

But other goals are set, life's demands are inevitable, routines are in place, travel plans are coming to mind, and 2010 comes marching in at a cadence we can't escape or place on pause. Like all the years lately since the girls have grown up, they seem to truly fly by sooooo quickly. I am so happy that so many of us are all still here, have each other to fill our lives, and have an eternity to look forward to -- ALL together then. For this perspective, and for so MANY, many other blessings, I am sincerely grateful and greet this year head on.

December Already!

It's been a memorable and wonderful year, with Christmas activities in full swing now, the year 2009 is coming to its end very fast. Since last posting, we've enjoyed our family's FHE Thanksgiving, being with the Pierces on Thanksgiving Day, finishing up [almost] classes and scoring major projects, attending concerts and Christmas programs and university dinners and receptions--including Megan's Brass Ensemble's performance, decorating our holiday home, spending time with the kids and grands, keeping up with college football and seeing who gets upset--Sorry Iowa Hawkeyes!--We've also had fun making dinner for Megan's roommates, preparing, addressing, and mailing our 2009 Family Photo Scrapbook Update to friends and all, and of course Christmas shopping and getting menus and gifts ready, wrapped, and sent. I'm leaving out many, MANY details, but the gist of each of these events and activities is easy to picture. Too many highlights . . . I love this season. Especially now that I'm healthy again.

I still love, L O V E my days at home, though. Any night or day at home is totally pleasant for me. We've had good, dry-ish mostly, weather, so no complaints in that department. Bright Hawaiian Christmas days, for sure this December so far, just like the song.
Last week worked perfectly for Pierces to be away on a surprise trip for their boys to Disneyland. It was project week to finish up and score for my classes, so now it will be more focus time for Trevor when he is here for homeschooling M-W [Phonics and Lang. Arts] and for Devin and Kyle and their Nanna dates here, too. Bryson is growing much, and budding a personality, for sure. Miss Kylee now crawls and pulls herself up, so she is joining the boy cousins in adventures when she can. Keeps mommy Jenny busy....so do the boys for their Lindsey mom! Avery--now known often as "Aves"-- is growing and now attends part time day care so Mommy Erin can get some rest during the days since he is napping less. Her night shifts are varied with some days, too. Variety is nice. Snow...deep white snow...and some ice have blanketed their Pennsylvania home this past week, too. They did get out to do some sledding. I wouldn't mind seeing some of that white stuff . . . for a LITTLE while, anyway. I'd be tired of it by January, which is how it used to be many years ago when we lived in 4 Seasons Country.

25 Years in Hawaii. . . calling to mind those who were here then and those whom we still see coming and going here in Laie. Jenny now lives in the ward where we lived when we first arrived here--Laie 1st Ward. She is serving in YW and sees the grown up kids she used to be with in Primary as leaders in the auxiliaries. A fun revisit for her and Aaron, too. Hawaii never leaves you, even if you go away for awhile. We're grateful for our time and life's experiences we've spent at BYUH and in Laie. Changes, yes, but in some ways still the same. Progress is good, tradition is also; we like both.

And such is the J O Y that is found and given in simplicity. May we each feel family is the source of our "HAVE"s of life: being Heard, Appreciated, Valued, Encouraged. When I feel these, I truly know J O Y in those I love most.

Wishing all a blessed December.