Merry Christmas 2015

     I have to tell you that between the unseasonably warm weather here in WI making it seem like spring and the late November trip home to CT, Christmas seems to have rushed up outta no where. I finally got our cards done but if I wanted anyone to receive one before Christmas I had to mail them and write the Christmas letter here. Of course I had to get inspired right before we left for CT as to what I wanted to do for our Christmas pictures. This was also a lot easier in my head than it was to pull off. We have been in WI now for 17 months and it has been 17 months of adjusting and finding a new normal. One of those new normal's is really taking the time to focus Christmas on the Savior. This year for our pictures I was sitting in Gospel Doctrine class (for our non-LDS family and friends this is our Adult Sunday School during the second hour of our three hour church block on Sunday) when I was inspired to ask our family two questions and their answers created their picture.

Our Family Trip this Summer to the Indianapolis Indiana Temple Open House

This year saw Ms Rowan turn 11 and begin her last year in Elementary School.

 

She also was in her first play, she was one of the Raccoon Twin Lost Boys in Peter Pan JR. She has done well being back in a normal school, and she has made lots of friends. She is a game leader at school, and she did a week at Poms camp this summer. She is in her final year of Activity Day Girls (LDS girls ages 8 till they turn 12) and it has been so great to be one of her leaders. She has the timing of a comedic genius and keeps our home full of laughter. For her picture the scripture that means the most to her about her relationship with Heavenly Father and/or Jesus Christ is the First Article of Faith found in the Pearl of Great Price which states : We believe in God, the Eternal Father and in his son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. The place she likes best in WI is the play ground in the back of her school.

This Year Saw Victor turn 15, and become a Sophomore in High School.

Victor also joined the Football team and is a Defensive Tackle. Much to my chagrin he loves it and has every intention of continuing to play. He is a great helper (most of the time) and his dedication to his church duties is humbling. He continues to attend early morning seminary and even made me drive him to the seminary classes while we were on vacation in CT. He continues to work toward his Eagle Scout and had a good time at Scout Camp this Summer. He also attended Youth Conference in Nauvoo, Illinois and had a great time. For his picture the scripture that means the most to him about his relationship with Heavenly Father and/or Jesus Christ is 2 Nephi 2:25 which says: Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. The place he likes best in WI is the football field at school.

Jessica and Kelton have gotten older and grayer (we almost have two Teenagers so...)

 Kelton has the advantage over everyone by having lived all over so adjusting has been easier for him. He is able to be home with us more and enjoys this extra time with his family. He likes his job and his 5 minute commute to work, gone are the days of the 3 hour drive. We were able to visit with his whole family in VA for Easter and Rowan got to meet his Grandma Bird for the first time. For his birthday (and our only week of summer without a child in an activity) we took an over night trip to Indiana to attend a Temple open house. For our non-LDS friends and family this is the time just prior to a new temple being dedicated to the Lord, that the church offers free tours of the temple to anyone and explains what a temple is. We are looking forward to traveling to Connecticut sometime this next year for the Hartford Temple Open House and would love to share it with anyone who wants to join us. I got the best Birthday gift this year in a plane ticket home to meet my one month old nephew. I also was able to take the kids home this November so they could get to meet him and we got to help celebrate his First Birthday. We have made great friends with a family that moved here around the same time as us and this has been a HUGE blessing for us as we adjust to life here. I also decided to get a little job at a local store to help with the winter blues that really hit hard last year. Of course we are having an unseasonable warm spell but it helps make me get off the couch and keeps me from binge watching Netflix. Between the cold and lack of sun last year there were weeks where I didn't leave the house. OF course for my picture I chose the local library as my favorite place here in WI, Kelton chose one of the local parks here in town, we have had many fun family outings here. I thought it was funny that we both chose scriptures from John, Kelton is 8:32 which says :  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Mine is 3:16 which says : For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

     So while we celebrate the birth of our Savior, and as we prepare to embrace our new normal, and begin the New Year, we just wanted to take a moment to Wish our Family and Friends a VERY Merry Christmas. We hope your new years are full of Peace and Happiness.