Merry Christmas Friends and Family,
I have to say that "A Charlie Brow Christmas" is my favorite Christmas movie. So most of the people who received Christmas cards from me got something that looked like the above card...Though some people got one of my own Christmas card creations....I love receiving mail this time of year and it's been nice to actually go to the mailbox and not have anxiety about what might be in the mailbox...it's lovely to receive cards and see how peoples families have changed and read all about the lives of friends who live far away.
So here is a little of the craziness of our little family. In the spring I quit my job that I had worked at for 5 years. I jumped right off the cliff so to speak and decided to let Heavenly Father take my life where he wanted to. It was not at first the easiest thing I have done in my life but looking back it was worth it.
I started a new job a couple of weeks after leaving the old job. It was really the Hand of God I'm sure. I wasn't really looking to start working, I had thought it would take me a few months and many interviews to find a new job. And I was looking forward to resting. The people who helped me put my resume together did an impressive job, as the first place I went to hired me on the spot without even asking any real interview questions. I have since enjoyed the blessings of more pay, better benefits, and so much less work I sometimes just want to laugh. I often wonder why I did not leave so much sooner...But I know there were things I needed to learn in the leaving process.
I spent a lot of my spring and summer at the Ashton Gardens. My favorite spot was "The Secret Garden" I enjoyed taking photo's throughout the year and sending friends cards and letters. I hope to put my favorite photo's together this year and make a coffee table book with my favorite quotes and photos. I also enjoyed taking many of my friends for walks in the garden. My plan is to get my house super organized this winter so that I can spend my days off this spring and summer in the garden or at the Temple. For those are the places where I find God.
This past Monday which seems already so far away my husband and I went to a "Gentri" Christmas Concert. I met one of the singers in the Secret Garden this past summer and have to say I've become a fan of their "Boy Band".. Their music is beautiful and listening to it helped heal my wounded soul. I was so glad for that chance meeting. As I look back on this year I can say that it was a most wonderful year and I'm sorry to see it ending. I'm thankful for the lessons I learned and for the Lord being there for me. I love my Savior with all my heart and know that he lives.
Jim my Prince Charming had a busy year at work. I think he had many many hours of overtime this year. There were some weeks where it seemed as if we were ships passing in the middle of the night. He was my champion this year allowing me to make changes and helping me to stand up for myself. He also has helped many people with their cars...He has again found friends with a love for old cars and they have found that person who has the ability to figure out the problem no one else seems to get. I like to call him "The Sherlock Holmes of Old Cars"...And when he goes off "Sherlocking" it is easy to understand that it's just something he has to do..
I think Jim looks forward to the new year and new car projects. But we are also planning on spending more time going to concerts, the gardens and the Temple together. I also hope to fly him out to New Jersey this Summer, He misses the ocean and all his friends and family. Maybe not quite in that order....
Gabrielle is now a Junior...Her favorite class is Japanese which she excels at, her least favorite class is English...Oh the headache of having to deal with figuring out what that poet meant when they wrote their poem...She took a photography class and now is giving me advice on how to take better photos...
Soon after her 16th birthday she earned her "Red Jacket" in karate...The Red Jacket is given to those who are teachers at the Karate school. Soon after that she became an employee of her Karate school and she now teaches at least twice a week for about 4 hours a night. The Karate school owners would love to have her there 4 days a week, but I am not yet allowing all her time to be consumed by her job, as she needs to have time to just hang out with friends. I love driving her back and forth to her Karate school and listening to her "work stories."...She used to hate my work stories and not understand why I needed to tell about my job, but now I think she understands..Some days you just have to tell someone what happened at work... She is looking forward to some trips in 2017 and moving up to the next belt level which I think is Red/Black..
Jacob graduated this past spring...How can that be? He also quit one job and started a new one this spring. He now works for McDonalds and despite what the world says he really loves his fast food job. He never comes home smelling of grease or fries and he has a very consistent schedule..And lucky for him it is always morning hours...He chose not to attend college this fall but to put in his church mission papers.
It took many months to get those papers filled out...And so Jacob got a little taste of what being a working person was all about. I have enjoyed watching him move slowly into adulthood. I sometimes listen to him talking and wonder where did my little boy go, as this is a much more mature person I am listening to.
We had fun this Thanksgiving walking around Salt Lake City and loved this outdoor art display. I can say to my children...You are here...You are in Utah...But soon Jacob will not be here. He will leave for his 2 year church mission. He is going to Tampico, Mexico. He is excited and nervous. Isn't any leap of faith exciting and scary? We now have a few months of getting visa's, passports, clothing and time to enjoy each others company until he leaves..Oh how hard that will be...
Merry Christmas to all of our family and dear friends...May you have a wonderful new year too...I look forward to another crazy year...I'm getting used to it...I hope to soon start blogging about Jacob's mission so that you can all share in his adventure....
Kimberly
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