New Year!!

Jan. 4, 2015

Dear Sister Kristina,

Well, here we are in 2016. I hope 2015 was a most wonderful year for you, serving a mission for most of it. I look back on some of your letters and pictures and you have had so many experiences and met so many new people. I hope you realize how enriched your life has become. I had the greatest feeling when you called and told me you wanted to serve and it’s been awesome ever since.

We rang in the new year with Alex, Savannah and Chloe. Well, actually they all rang it in while I watched from my warm bedroom window. (It has been below freezing every day for over a week now) They all set off fireworks from the back porch. Dad was at work, so I gave him a cyber kiss, Eddy was hiding from the sounds of the fireworks and Roxy was on my bed right next to me. Earlier in the day we had gone to the movies and played games. The usual New Years Eve stuff.

The night before we had our New Year’s Adam party. The Elders came over for the first part which was the dinner and the Larsens came too. We had so much fun with the Larsens and played games all night. We have a couple new games now thanks to Alex and Savannah, so we’ve been having fun getting addicted. The family game we got for Christmas is Rummikub and everyone loves that one. So we’ve been quite the game playing family these last few days, and you know me, that’s what I love to do!

Here’s some pics:

Alex, Savannah and Chloe at Mtn. Home visiting dad on their way to our house.

Savannah braided Alex’s hair while watching a movie. He got his haircut a day later. Phew

Out to lunch with Cameron, his wife and baby

Steelhead hockey game. Lots of fun!

Wearing the masks you sent.

Visiting Frances Transtrum-Alex sang O Holy Night

 

All of us took turns playing the piano for her including me. Savannah even did some dance turns for her in her kitchen.

New Year’s Adam. Sally is taking the pic. The guy in the middle is her cousin.

This last Saturday we went bowling at Wahoo’s and that night we went to a Steelhead hockey game which turned out to be a lot of fun. Chloe and Savannah had never been to a hockey game. Leah liked it so much that she’s decided she wants to go on a double date there, so she’s busy working on that. She hasn’t gone out on a date yet, but has no problem asking someone out. She said she’s going to double with Alisha Leifson. I’ll keep you posted. Ryan (cousin) says he can get us tickets for those games any time, so I think that’s what Leah will do. Kirk got tickets from them one time for a date and said they were the best seats.

On Friday we went to the new Rocky movie (Rocky is that boxing movie from the 70’s). We all loved it and afterward Leah said she’s decided she wants to take up boxing now. haha It’s kind of funny cuz after the hockey game, she also announced that she was going to start playing hockey. She tends to like the violent sports. First things first though, she has to get her leg healed. We went to the Dr last week and she got an x-ray. Still healing slowly, but he said she could start doing TaeKwonDo and just not jump or kick things with that leg. She’s excited to get back to class and I’m really excited for her to get back into it. She’s literally been laying around for six months now.

The girls are back in school today. Aaaah. I like routine and I get so much more done when they’re at school and they don’t complain about having nothing to do, so it’s all good. It was so good for them both to have Alex and Savannah and Chloe here all last week.

It was also great being able to meet your Bishop, his wife and daughters from Petaluma last week. They love you. I gave his wife a hug to give to you. Hope you got it!!

So how was your week?  Did you have a baptism on Saturday? I’m anxious to hear about that and what’s going on with the Fefita family and Camilo’s family, etc. 

Tonight we’re picking up Kirk and Sarah and Addie and Nicole from the airport. They’re coming home from Canada today. Nicole is going to go straight back to Provo, but Kirk and Sarah will stay with us tonight and tomorrow and leave tomorrow afternoon. We’re all so excited to have them here especially Addie. Sarah posted a cute little video of her this morning so I’ll ask her to send it to you.

I’m back in full swing with my calling. We start ward conferences next week, so I have six hours of church each Sunday. I haven’t completed my talk yet, but I really appreciate what you sent me last week. I had totally forgotten about Daughters in My Kingdom and how it talks about personal righteousness in there. I love that book!! I’m also starting to compile my notes for my talk at Stake Conference on Making the Sabbath a Delight. I’m having a presidency mtg Wed so we can ready for preparing a meal for the visiting authority for Stk Conference and also to get ready for our Women’s Conference. Here’s the poster we put up for our conference this year. I just love it and can’t wait for it.

Well, I better get going. I’ve got to pay the bills. Fun fun. Hope you are well. Nikki came home with a cough and cold and now it’s going through the whole family. When I think of what you’re doing this is the scripture that comes to mind:

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 1:4 Every parent can relate to those words and they truly say what I feel. Keep up the great work, be bold in your testimony, continue to make your days count because the Lord is by your side. This is His work, His gospel and He knows those who are ready to receive covenants. Trust Him. 

Love you soooo much,

Mom xxoo