Dear Kids,
I can't believe how fast a year can pass you by. It's nuts. 2020 is coming to an end and I wonder what is going to be happening in 2021? I think we are heading for some very interesting times as a family and as a country and as a world.
First - I want to tell about all the things that we accomplished this year as a family. I think that's really important to count our victories and talk about what we were able to get done!
- At the beginning of this year was the tax referendum that I helped with quite a bit. There was a tax
bill that was going to be passed in the Utah House that I and your dad completely disagreed with. They were going to raise taxes in various ways and it was ridiculous. So we joined the team to fight it. We helped get signatures and gather people in order to send in the referendum. And it worked! We won! The people of Utah made their voice heard and the bill was thrown out. That was a very important thing that we were able to do together. - I flew to Nebraska together with Gabriel to see Colleen Tucker. He earned money for traveling and was so excited to go see her! He couldn't wait. It was a really fun trip to go there together. He was just in heaven riding on the airplane and having that experience.
- We tried out for "Fiddler on the Roof" together as a family and we got in! Your dad being the lead (Tevye) and I was Golde. Because Covid-19 hit right as we were starting practices the show was put on hold for a bit. We didn't know if it was going to happen or not. But the practices started again, slowly and we were able to make it a part of our lives. The practices happened from February-March. Took a month break. Then again from April-June and put the show on from June-July. What a perfect ride it was for us to go through that together as a family. Gabe was the Fiddler. Talia was Sprintze. Elijah was part of the ensemble. Joshua had lots of babysitters! We made so many friends and it was the perfect way to get through the quarantine of Covid-19.
- I taught three herbal classes to 20+ people in each class. That was really fun. I did it together with Mesha and we had some great success with that. So many people were helped with those classes and I was so glad to see how we could add to people's lives in that way.
- Your dad started working from home in October of this year. He was able to fake his way into the office to work from there until it was closed. It has been really fun and interesting to have him at home with us all day. I like knowing he is there, just his presence. But I know it's hard for him to work at home and listening to everything happening with the kids all day long. We talked about doing a small office and renting a space for him to go to... so we'll see if that happens.
- He was worried about his job with Financial Engines at first when everything was happening with Covid-19. At this point he is feeling better about it, but he is still feeling really antsy about doing something else with his time. I've definitely been in a holding pattern, waiting for him to find something to sink his teeth into. We'll see what is presented.
- All of you guys still did homeschooling this year! Gabe started Fire Canyon Academy on Monday's,
which he has really liked. We are still doing the Desert Blossom Nature Co-op. We love that group of families. We are so involved with them. We did an outing to a canyon up in Kanab this past fall and the kids had a great time with that! We went up to a cabin in Brianhead at the beginning of the year in January (we are going again in a couple of weeks) and there was a family camp in July, but we missed it due to being in the theater production. Talia is still doing tumbling. Elijah doing Parkour. Gabriel doing Ninja Warrior. We are trying to decide what other activities for the kids to do. - I'm feeling a HUGE transition feeling inside of homeschooling, especially from the last 6 months. We have to change up something for this upcoming year and still trying to decide what that is going to look like. But the last 6 months of this year with homeschooling especially I have been really struggling figuring out the changes happening in our family. My older kids want more challenge and finding the proper mentors for them has been a difficulty for me. I have definitely experienced some burnout with it all, and together with your dad, I've been trying to feel out what I need to be doing with my time at this point. It has been an interesting introspective year in many regards.
- Your dad has been Sunday School President for the last 5 months of this year. He really loves that calling because he loves teaching so much. It is fun for me to see that in him.
- I was called to be the ward choir director and put the Christmas program together. We really haven't had choir practices "per say" because of Covid. But it has been fun to be working with the music in the ward. I also still have the calling of the primary pianist - but since primary hasn't happened, it was a welcome change to do something else. I have also been leading in sacrament meeting every other week when we go.
- Gabriel got his first limited use temple recommend! He also got his first phone (Gabb phone) for Christmas. He's getting older and I can see this transition in him!
- We went up to Idaho in the summer to visit Papa and Mimi and made a last minute trip to visit over Thanksgiving as well. The kids love it up there so much! I am grateful for the memories they are making in their young lives.
- Talia and Gabe started their own first businesses this year! That has been an interesting experiment for them. The first few weeks they opened they had a lot of success - after that it has trailed off and they have seen how much effort it takes to market a business. They have seen what it takes to be a salesman for their business. It has been a little bit of a challenge for me to keep up with - so I've been trying to decide how to help them with a business that will be more consistent. It will come.
- I put together the mom's retreat in September for homeschooling moms in the area. It is my 4th year being in charge of the retreat and the ladies had a great time!
- I started planning a retreat for Spring of 2021 together with Maren Jones - but it is a church focused retreat instead of non-denominational. I'm excited to see how it will go.
- Your dad did amazing with greenhouse sales in the spring of 2020! So many more people have greenhouses in their backyards after this year. We are hoping that spring of this upcoming year will be even better, especially because families need a greenhouse for self reliance in the future so much.
- The world has been CRAZY this year. It isn't just Covid-19 - it is the secret combinations that have taken over so much of the world. The election with Trump and Biden was completely a sham - so much conspiracy and dishonesty that was going on. We'll see if Biden is inaugurated or not in January, we shall see how the next month plays out. There is SO MUCH happening with the secret combinations all over the world, it is nuts. I need to dedicate a post just about what has happened in the world in order for you to understand.
- We got chickens this year! Your dad built a chicken coop and run and he has been amazing at keeping up with it. The kids LOVED having the baby chicks and they can't wait until we have more baby chicks in the future.
- Probably the most important thing that has happened this year is the tender mercies of the Lord to prepare our hearts and minds for the 2nd Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. At the beginning of Covid-19 hitting the world there started to be a "great awakening" in a lot of ways. People waking up to the secret combinations of the deep state and pedophilia going on. And people waking up to the signs of the times. Even your dad and I were shaken quite a bit because before this year we were trying to get our head wrapped around having to prepare ourselves for a life like our parents are living in retirement - I think retirement is still going to come - but our world is speeding toward the 2nd Coming of the Savior and that is the most important thing for us to focus on at this point. No matter what we are doing for work. no matter what projects we are a part of. No matter what is going on with school or the world - the most important thing is that we are focusing on the Savior coming back!
I can't think of anything else to report about the family - besides just having a wonderful family year. We have learned a lot. We have grown in ways that are unprecedented. We have followed the prophet of increasing our spirituality. We have done all those things. Now we are waiting for Jesus to come back! I don't know when - I don't know if in 2, 5, 10 or 20 years (I hope not 20...) but I want you guys to have the understanding that your Savior is going to be coming back! Let's keep our souls and spirits entwined together with His so we are ready to see Him.
I love you!
Your Mom
