Dawn's little Daily: Merry Christmas once again--2015

IAT = I am thankful

for another good year
for all well and healthy
for a home and a comfy bed
for children
for Jesus

Merry Christmas 2015

It was a busy but good year in our home. Not much excitement but plenty to keep us going. We started the year with one more family member. Joseph married Mallory Placencia.

Jefferson got a mission call to Oklahoma, Oklahoma City in January and left in April. He's been there eight months now. He loves teaching and working and inviting people to come unto Christ.

with his mission president and wife

putting on the armor of God. :-)

helping someone with a stove installation

New friends (I don't have permission to share, that's why their faces are blocked out)

Joseph was in a play that was nominated for the Kennedy Center for the Arts regional competition. Our local junior college was chosen over hundreds of universities and colleges in the Southwest. They had a great competition and did very well. This summer, he and Mallory moved to Idaho where they have been working. Mallory started BYU Idaho and Joseph is starting in January.

Christopher graduated from ASU. Anica has been doing online marketing for a clothing company so we often get to see lovely pictures of her in their clothing. She started her Masters degree in business at ASU. They have traveled to some fun places as a couple, including a trip to England to visit our niece and her husband before they came home to the states.

I think this picture in London should be on a travel poster. I love it.

It seems impossible but Emily is a senior this year and turned 18. I am not sure where the time went. She is probably the world's easiest teen. She likes to hang out with her friends and laugh. I've been able to take her and friends on a couple of road trips. We also went to see Wicked together. Emily is in her last season of basketball and getting ready to figure out her future. We will miss her when she goes.(Even though she might live at home.)

Andrew is building his business at Allstate and Elizabeth stays home with Charity and babysits. We get to see them regularly because they live close by. It's fun to watch our grandgirl grow.

Halloween.

Olivia turned 12 this year when we weren't looking. She's moved out of Primary into Young Women. She remains a fun, happy, creative girl. Her art skills are really coming along. You can see the face she did in the picture below. I'll add a closeup of something soon. Our children are growing up!

Halloween party

With Tobe at a beautiful spot on our property she discovered.

She likes to go to the temple with me.

Noah is last this year but not least. He's 15 and will have his permit soon. I wish he were 16 a lot! I need another driver. :-) He sings, acts, is smart, and extremely helpful. When he isn't pestering Olivia he's opening doors for her. He's been in two plays this year and had a lead and a solo. He's a great kid.

shoulder angel

Rocking out in Oztentacious

Bret and I are realizing how fragile time really is. And fleeting. We'll be down to two children after this year. Bret is still teaching Institute. He serves in our ward bishopric which is similar to a co-pastorship. He likes to tinker around the yard and shop. We like going for 4x4 and 4 wheeler drives. We like camping and traveling when we get the opportunity. I loved teaching the New Testament this year in Sunday School. Next year is Book of Mormon. I love studying and learning more. I feel this position is helping me to grow more than any other I've had. I have become so grateful for the messages in the old and new testaments. The Bible is truly a book of love. The same message of love and hope and faith is also in the Book of Mormon. I am grateful for my simple life. I make it more complicated than it has to be. This year may see me slowing my real estate business and shifting into personal and professional development. One day at a time, one step at a time, we'll see where we are led. It's strange to now be looking at retirement which we know is just around the corner.

No idea what that little square is.

From our hearth to yours. Merry Christmas

We just finished the book of Revelation in SS. I love these verses.

Merry Christmas, may it be all of our lots.

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more ^adeath, neither ^bsorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more ^cpain: for the former things are passed away. He that ^aovercometh shall ^binherit ^call things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my ^dson." Revelation 21: 4, 7

A few more pictures from some of our fun this year. We went to a local cave that had a fun history. The locals were swindled out of money by a man with a big story. Emily was ducking the dive bombing bats.