Gary, Jena and I spent New Years Eve at Vonette and Gary's home up in Eden. We had a steak dinner (thanks, Vonette and Gary) and mostly talked and made plans for our trip to DisneyWorld in October. As we were heading east to drive to their house around 5, the moon was just rising and it was HUGE! I am so disappointed that it doesn't look that big in the photo. A full moon is a good start for the new year I think.
Jena--still attending post-secondary school on Monday and Fridays with our district, Wonderwood College Bridge program at BYU on Monday night through Thursday afternoon, theatre class Friday, work 2 hours on Thursday nights at the bowling alley, bowls with Special Olympics on Saturday morning, ushers a couple of times a month for the Saturday matinees at Centerpoint Theatre and attend the Young Single Adult Ward in our area. What can I say---she is a young adult and life is crazy!
Tosha, Austen, Niki, and Cooper- They are living in Seattle in their new home on base with no furniture, few toys and clothes, 4 towels and a pot and paper plates. Their stuff from Okinawa still has not arrived. Tosha and Austen are on an air mattress with Cooper and Niki sleeps on the floor. No TV or Wifi. Imagine that with a 3 year old and a 9 month old. And to make it extra fun, Austen has been working graveyards.
Ben-- He is still at the state hospital. He is doing better and his symptoms are better managed, but the doctors are struggling to manage side effects which will impact his heart. As you can imagine, we are very uncomfortable with the situation, but also know that Ben's options are very limited.
Scott, Chantel, Scarlett, and James-- Scott is enjoying his work at IHC in Insta care and community clinic administration. He just got accepted into an exclusive management training course that IHC offers, usually for people who have been with the company longer than he has. We are very proud of him. Chantel continues to train a few women each week in exercise and eating. Scarlett is in a dance class and preschool. James is growing up and will be one next month.
Jessica, Elessia, Liam, and Zander-- They are still in Magna and Jessica continues to work at DCFS in the intake office. She is exploring other options within DCFS as she thinks a change will be good. Elessia is still working at Michael's a few shifts a week. Liam is in a music class and a preschool class as well. Zander turned one last month.
Gary--He is the Webelos leader in our ward and has five boys in his group. He also teaches the 9 year old Primary class with me. He just got a new co-leader in Webelos as the prior one is moving, and he is excited to work with him. (Gary made a special trip up to the Scout Office to turn in Chris's application just because Chris was anxious to start his on-line training--Scouters know how great that attitude is!) Gary is a dedicated Family History person and has done so much work cleaning up his family history lines on family search and ancestry.com. He provides names to do the temple work for most of the family. He helps his mom and they play cribbage almost weekly. In addition, he is the main driver and organizer of Jena's travels since I am often at work. He takes his brother-in-law to dinner and bowling each week, meets another brother-in-law at the temple very often, and helps keep the house moving and milk in the fridge. On the side, he is managing some of our investments and doing bookwork for a local builder. He reports that retirement is great. I actually don't know how he worked at all.
Me-- I am working 36 hours a week (and actually what I do is take one day off each pay period) at The Children's Center. I leave at 7:30 and get home about 6:45, depending on traffic. I enjoy my work with young children and their families, although the paperwork part is a bit nuts! I teach Primary with Gary. I am still the president of the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation Board of Directors. For the first time ever, we have stepped into the political world as a foundation and took a public stand in support of a proposed bill. That will make the next few weeks very interesting. Gary and I both keep track of our little library and love it when we see people walking or in cars, stopping and getting books in or out.
And this is how the Halls started 2018......and let the games begin..................
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