Merry Christmas Family and Friends!
We wanted to give this E-Christmas Card another go ~ after the feedback that you have enjoyed it in years past. How has your year been? We hope that your report would be one of stellar happenings, health and happiness. That the bumps have been minimal and the growth exceptional. Hmm, do those two things go together? Sometimes, not so much! Just hoping we only have to learn our lessons once, right? And that we are gaining wisdom and refinement in the process.
Our year has been busy, fun, exciting, crazy and one we will not soon forget. That does not mean it has been perfect, without concerns or its share of challenges. In other words, it was a normal earthly experience, peppered with some of the best of times and the worst of times, as Dickens so aptly described. Fortunately, the best of times far out-numbered the darker days, so we have much cause to be grateful and have lots of reasons to wake up happy each day thanking God for our blessings.
So as older 'middle-aged' people, we have to get the health issues out of the way first thing. We have our aches and pains but thankfully nothing serious, so we choose to wear out rather than rust out in these wonderful years. We keep busy and hopefully productive every day and try to spread a little light along the way. We do not ever get up wondering...what shall we do today? We always have something to fill our hours and we are both so grateful for that. We run out of hours and energy long before we run out of plans.
The Top 5 Things on Jim's "Have Done" List
for Twenty Eleven
1. Volunteering at the Oakland Temple in the Engineering Dept once a week. He loves that.for Twenty Eleven
2. He is learning to do his genealogy along with me, once a week as part of our church calling as we work as genealogy consultants at the Regional Family History Center in Oakland.
3. He has been working around the house and yard a lot and is getting ready to build a workshop on our property in the spring. He takes good care of everything here, especially me!
4. He does a lot of work at church and in the community, around the neighborhood for friends and he takes great care of his mom. He thinks about and does service for our family and friends continually. He is an active, involved husband, dad, son and grandfather and friend.
5. He concentrates on his health and fitness and still loves riding his bike many hour per week. He got a tractor this year so that has put many a smile on his face over the past months. For more on James and his year, click here.
The Top 5 On My "Have Done" List
For Twenty Eleven...
For Twenty Eleven...
1. I have totally immersed myself in learning more about family history and genealogy this year. Some days I have spent many, many hours at it with the help of some wonderful teachers and a sublime mentor. I feel I have made some good progress and will be doing some teaching some time next year on Temple Hill.
2. I have been working on living a healthier life and am having some success in that department. Feeling younger day by day...well, sorta! I am having an unexplained renewed interest in cooking. Odd but true.
3. My passions involve family, past and present, immediate and extended. I love writing and do it everyday. I love my iMac and iPhone and iPod which keep me connected to my favorite things, family, friends, music and blogging and learning new things.
4. I will always love home decorating and creating anything having to do with hearth and home. I could stay home day after day and be quite content just doing the things of a domestic engineer. And Jim ran into Santa and brought me home a Bose docking station for my iPod, so you may never see me out and about again! What a delightful and unexpected surprise! The sound is incredible. When I am working on my computer it sounds like Josh Groban is sitting on the couch behind me singing his heart out just for me. I'd rather have electronic stuff than diamonds...what is wrong with me anyway? I never use to be like this...It's official...I am a geek! How electronics can be a girl's best friend when there are diamonds in this world, is well..simply beyond me.
5. We both really love photography and recording the events in our lives in word and photos. We take thousands of pictures a year which leaves me stupefied that I could not find a single one of Jim and me that had not already been published. If you are so inclined, clicking here will take you to my blogs.
3. We are leaving soon for our trip to Utah and then on to New England for Christmas with Laura's family.
4. Working together on all of our fun projects and our church callings. Ever learning the Gospel together as we take time to study and pray.
5. All the time we have spent this year with the people we love. Family, Friends, Church Friends, Neighbors and all of you, either in person or electronically. You are the most important to us.
The things we are most thankful for this year? That my brother, Steve, is cancer free after nearly scaring us all to death, early this past summer with a serious diagnosis. The chemo actually worked its miracles and it was rough, but he is doing great now.
That Robert is safe in Afghanistan and fulfilling his military service with honor and that Hazel has been healthier than usual this year. That the rest of the family is doing very well and that we all have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives to help us rejoice in the joys and overcome the trials of everyday life.
That we surround ourselves with the very best people on the planet, both old and new friends that we cherish and love....and that would be YOU! And that you have had some very wonderful things happen in your lives this year also.
That those of us who know from whence these blessings come, know how to enjoy the fullness of Christmas.
2. I have been working on living a healthier life and am having some success in that department. Feeling younger day by day...well, sorta! I am having an unexplained renewed interest in cooking. Odd but true.
3. My passions involve family, past and present, immediate and extended. I love writing and do it everyday. I love my iMac and iPhone and iPod which keep me connected to my favorite things, family, friends, music and blogging and learning new things.
4. I will always love home decorating and creating anything having to do with hearth and home. I could stay home day after day and be quite content just doing the things of a domestic engineer. And Jim ran into Santa and brought me home a Bose docking station for my iPod, so you may never see me out and about again! What a delightful and unexpected surprise! The sound is incredible. When I am working on my computer it sounds like Josh Groban is sitting on the couch behind me singing his heart out just for me. I'd rather have electronic stuff than diamonds...what is wrong with me anyway? I never use to be like this...It's official...I am a geek! How electronics can be a girl's best friend when there are diamonds in this world, is well..simply beyond me.
5. We both really love photography and recording the events in our lives in word and photos. We take thousands of pictures a year which leaves me stupefied that I could not find a single one of Jim and me that had not already been published. If you are so inclined, clicking here will take you to my blogs.
The Top Five Highlights For 2011
2. At least five trips to Utah for kids, Education Week and the Family History and Genealogy Conference.
1. Our Family Reunion in Park City, Utah. Nothing quite so nice.
3. We are leaving soon for our trip to Utah and then on to New England for Christmas with Laura's family.
4. Working together on all of our fun projects and our church callings. Ever learning the Gospel together as we take time to study and pray.
5. All the time we have spent this year with the people we love. Family, Friends, Church Friends, Neighbors and all of you, either in person or electronically. You are the most important to us.
That Robert is safe in Afghanistan and fulfilling his military service with honor and that Hazel has been healthier than usual this year. That the rest of the family is doing very well and that we all have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives to help us rejoice in the joys and overcome the trials of everyday life.
That we surround ourselves with the very best people on the planet, both old and new friends that we cherish and love....and that would be YOU! And that you have had some very wonderful things happen in your lives this year also.
That those of us who know from whence these blessings come, know how to enjoy the fullness of Christmas.
And just for old times' sake,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
from
The Original Mattson 5
J,B,J,C & L
A Few Blinks Later And Here We Are!
The Days May Be Long, But The Years Are Short!
May The Year Ahead Be One Of Taking Time
For the Important Ones in Your Lives and Ours
And Creating Lasting Memories For Us All!
Click older post just below and to the right for nine more posts about Christmas, our year, some music and videos!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
from
The Original Mattson 5
J,B,J,C & L
A Few Blinks Later And Here We Are!
The Days May Be Long, But The Years Are Short!
May The Year Ahead Be One Of Taking Time
For the Important Ones in Your Lives and Ours
And Creating Lasting Memories For Us All!
Click older post just below and to the right for nine more posts about Christmas, our year, some music and videos!
1 comment:
Beautiful post for love and hope!
Susan
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