Charli is One Year Old

I missed the big party held at Linda's house for Charli.  Amy and Joe and Charli are now living in Carlsbad while looking for a home of their own.  Looks like Joe will be working on Pt Loma, have not heard all the details, but very exciting.  

Charli and her Mom and Dad

 Celebrating their Anniversary

Such a cutie, we need more pix of Charli!

Christmas Card 2017

As I end my 84th year I am happy to have another  Christmas season to enjoy the story of the birth of the Savior to the World, with all the lights, the music, the gift giving, the Christmas trees, the parties, the movies and the list goes on and on.  The first Christmas I remember was in a small white house in Glendive, Montana when I was about 4.  We walked to the Congregational Church for a Christmas Eve service and then back home, probably in the snow.  We had no car and not much money or possessions but we had five and soon six in the family and there was always lots of love and fun as we shared the wonder of life and Christmas together.

The thing I  know this year is that I probably cannot  tell accurately enough to brag about   my children (3) and their children(15) and their children(8) but I do know that the family that started out as Richard and I in a small apartment in east San Diego in 1959 is now spread out in 15 households, from sea to sea, in various places,  with various  number of members in the household, and doing many different  jobs and education, as they all experience the marvels  of life, with its ups and downs and joys and sorrows and Christmas’s together or, sadly, sometimes  far away from home.  I feel their love and see their beauty as I talk to them on my smart phone, get a text from them or spot them on Instagram, Facebook or wherever they choose to shine.

The only one new to enter this big world was darling Charli, daughter of Amy and Joe.  And no one left this year… and we are all missing Richard and John, who are probably living a more exciting life than we can imagine in their heavenly realm!

Another thing I can tell you is that gathering  2017  pictures for this Christmas letter  took some time.  They are not all in my camera and computer anymore.  And I did have to use one picture from 2015 because some of us avoid picture taking all together.   

This winter I will be with the family of James and Camber and spend Christmas at their home 15036 El Camino Reale, Del Mar, CA 92014,  for those of you  who still send cards (I love them).   I will  be back home in Lake Almanor by April.   I am so lucky to have family in sunny places.  And since all three of my children and some of my grandchildren  live within 20 minutes of each other…think of the possibilities!  Life is Good!

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and I am so grateful to still be sharing this wonderful life with you at Christmas time in 2017!  

Sweet Charli

Saturday Linda said she was sitting Charli so I drove over to get better acquainted with her.  She is so cute, she put up with me but clearly wanted her Grandma.

I am so delighted that I have found all these back routes to everything I want to go to.  I especially like the El Camino Real down and from Encinitas and the Old 101-Torrey Pines-Genesee to UTC or Maria's house or anywhere in La Jolla/Pacific Beach.  To Linda's house I traveled on the 101 too, but it is not too bad on the freeway either.  

Amy's Wedding

I was very fortunate to be able to fly home for Amy and Joe's wedding.  It was a great week!

As soon as I got off the plane, I called Nadine and she was able to take me in the next day and cut my hair, it was a real mess, Marilyn and I had both been chopping at it.

The Temple Ceremony was lovely and I especially loved the way the light shone on the chandelier, there was about 60 there and Amy and Joe looked so happy.

Amy and Joe had planned this reception at the Warehouse in downtown San Diego and I rode with Maria, Johnny and Matt.  In front of the Warehouse was the Food Truck parked and the food turned out to be wonderful sausage, potatoes etc.  Great food, wonderful cake, delicious homemade lemonade.  There were 18 tables of 8 so lots of seating and in front for the "Ring Ceremony" there were chairs to sit, I think she just had a few friends and family to that.

The dancing was especially fun to watch and I got to see Meagan and Matt's new Nico and watch Keira and Eden really having fun dancing.  I was so afraid Eden would get her bare toes stepped on!!

But I did not take any pictures, I keep hoping I will find some more on line or on someone's blog, but so far, no luck.

Anyway loved having my pix taken with my beautiful daughters, I am so lucky to have them in my life.  We tried to track James down and get us all together but it never happened.

Oh, yes, one of the funnest part of the reception was the Photo booth, I did not go but they really had fun taking a lot of funny pictures.

Congratulations to Amy and Joe, they will be living in Henderson.  Amy is a Traveling Nurse and Joe has some schooling to finish, they will be living near Kristi!!!

P S - (written later) The Denver airport is so big and I had two big bags!!!  My legs ached for weeks after I got home.