Sue & Jack: Jack and I are both enjoying reasonably good health despite our age. Knock on wood. Since being released from the Primary, I have been called by the Stake to be on a committee to write the Stake’s 50 year history. I can’t quite get my mind around it. Jack and I are also serving as ward employment specialists. Kind of low key. We are fortunate to have very few people looking for work.
I continue to be active in DUP. For years I have been the lesson leader. I enjoy meeting with these incredible ladies each month. But we are getting older and a little ‘funny’. It’s harder to get things done when most of us can’t hear or see. Recently our community was hit with hurricane force winds which blew down many trees. One of our neighbors lost three century old trees, one of them falling in our cul-de-sac blocking any exit or entrance. Another neighbor had a blow over into a neighbor’s yard, narrowly missing her home. The tree was absolutely beautiful and had been there for eons. I am saddened by the loss of it, but at the same time it really opens up for us an incredible view of the valley. We experienced no damage to our home or property. However, we were without power for several days. This gave us pause to think about our level of preparedness and to give thanks for blessings. We certainly take our comforts for granted. It was very touching to see the community respond to the call to forego church on the following Sunday to help clean up the mess. I’ve never seen so many trucks on roads in Bountiful as we saw that Sunday -- all full of refuse being hauled to the dump. Because of this unified and concentrated work, on Monday you wouldn’t have known there had been a wind storm -- just a few small evidences.
We are so grateful for our extended family and the wonderful example you are to us. We are especially grateful for the example of Jean and Rex. They are going to make exceptional missionaries. It was so nice to have you in our home to wish them farewell. Our prayers are with them.
We are so grateful for the many activities we have enjoyed with you this year: the Red Robin dinner with Louise and Richard; the advent of the new family blog; JoAnn and Earle’s 50th Wedding anniversary at Lon’s and Stephanie’s (how we loved the slide); the Cousin Connection and Ralph’s new marker; the girl’s luncheon at Mimi’s after seeing Janiel’s triplets; the recent after Christmas breakfast buffet at Grand America; and the blast Jack and I had with Kay/Ned and Jessie/Don last summer on the Front Runner. We are deeply grateful to be associated with the finest people in the world.
What a marvelous family. I know that Mom and Dad are proud of our efforts to stay together. Let’s keep it up. May God bless you and keep you this day an always. Jack and Susan
Evan & Sabrina: Evan has finished his prerequisite courses for Physician Assisting school and will be applying during the summer to various programs. Early this year Don Jr. introduced Evan to a PA at the Huntsman Cancer Institute who does research. Evan has been mentored by this PA and the two will be publishing a study regarding PAs in Dermatology later in 2012. He loves his job at Orchard Cove Rehabilitation Center and working as a lab instructor in the Weber State University Anatomy Lab. Once the Stake Presidency got word that he was the father of new twins, recently laid off, back in school, and seriously underemployed they decided to release him as president of the Elders Quorum to spend as much time with his family as possible. His wife Sabrina is very grateful.
Sabrina is a miracle worker. She had twin girls on March 11th. We named them Scarlett and Stella. She continues to work part time as a Labor and Delivery Nurse at MckayDee hospital where she is loved by her coworkers. Managing a home of 9 is her specialty. The family runs because she does. Between helping with the school play, working as a chauffeur, and cheering on kids at various sporting and clogging events, she has little time for any extra circular activities like breaking her arm while ice skating which she did on New Years Eve!!! She had surgery to repair the break and she is currently trying to manage without her full compliment of appendages.
Bennett (12) was recently ordained as a Deacon. He is very excited to pass the sacrament and work in his Duty to God and Scouting. He loves soccer and has made some great friends at school. He won the school geography bee and is in the school play.
Ethan (10) continues to do very well in school, church, scouts etc. He and Bennett also have a paper route and have learned that paying attention to the little things translates to bigger things like generous tips. Their service is top notch. He recently took second place in the school spelling bee as a 5th grader.
Clara (8) was baptised by her father in September. She is a delight and outgoing and has lots of friends. She likes to cook and is a big help with the twins. Clara likes that Stella looks just like she did when she was a baby.
Henry (6) is the twin’s favorite. When he walks in the room they light up. He is doing great in Kindergarten and has learned to read really well this year. Henry has a good ear for music and is excited to start piano in a couple of years. He is a great clogger. He is a wonderful young man with a sensitive heart.
Jack (2) is the 5th kid and the one just older than the limelight stealing twins. So you’d think he’d just be lost in the mix. Nope. This kid is often the tail wagging the dog in our family. He demands attention and if you don’t give it to him he may just haul off and whack you; just ask......well, any of us. He speaks remarkably well and uses that ability to let you know where you stand in his world (usually somewhere subservient to him). He is great though. He tells us he loves us all the time, and he loves “peanutbutterandjelly” sandwiches multiple times a day.
Scarlett (10mo) is wonderful. She is growing well and smiles with delight when Mom or Dad come home. She is very curious about the world a round and seems as though she may be walking soon.
Stella (10mo) is sweet as can be. She loves to hear her own voice and can scream “conversationally” very loud. She has a coy little look that she gives you when she knows you’re paying attention to her. These babies have been nothing but a joy and though there are two of them, they have been our best babies ever.
We all have testimonies. That’s important. It helps us get through the tough times. We do our best to follow the Lord and live up to the examples of our parents, aunts and uncles, and Grandma and Grandpa Hinckley. What a legacy. What a family circle.
Amie & Chris: The Johnson’s have had a pretty crazy year with outside pipes bursting, inside water leaking, a roof torn off on the only night that there was a storm in that month, and multiple large appliances all breaking at the same time. Whew. It’s been a year. But this is nothing compared to the great things that have happened. Rex is 5 and in kindergarten. He is doing well and having fun. Reed is almost 2, smart and fun. We are so pleased with both our children. I (Amie) am no longer working so I get to take care of the kiddos and and house and cat full time. Chris is working as an internet marketer and going to school. We loved the Cousin Connection and learning more about Ralph Johnson. What a wonderful story to add to the cannon that the Hinckley Family has created. We are happy and healthy and are looking forward to many great things this year.
Alisha: I can’t believe another year has gone by. As I look back over the year, I was appalled at the fact that nothing of much consequence has happened in my life. So here is my life in a very small nutshell (because that’s all it will take).
• I still work two jobs: Reading Horizons as the general manager and I still moonlight at LDS Family Services as a therapist/superhero.
• I still live in Bountiful.
• I finally took the plunge and have started attending a family ward.
• Still no special guy in my life, so if you have anyone who is available, I’m game... mostly.
• I am the 4th Sunday teacher in Relief Society where I get to teach from the Conference talks.
• Still no debt.
• As part of my job at LDS Family Services, I was asked to submit my class materials for an anger management course I teach to the church curriculum department. I haven’t heard anything yet, except that there is no other material like mine, so it looks good for special review. I still teach the anger management class and totally love it.
• I finally took a short vacation to take in a Shakespeare play and to spend a few hours in Zion’s.
That’s about it for the last year. I wish everyone the best for the next year.
Alonzo: Having recently graduated from culinary school, I find that my sleeping schedule has returned to normal. I had completely forgotten what it feels like to have eight solid hours of sleep!
Graduation went very well. I feel accomplished, relieved and a little melancholy. I truly miss my friends and classmates as well as the structured method of learning. But now onto real life!
Shortly before graduation, I started looking for work as a restaurant manager in the Salt Lake area, with no luck. So, I stared looking elsewhere for an opportunity to put my talents and education to work. Where did I end up? Probably the last place I would’ve ever seen myself in... Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. For those of you who have never been to Lava, it is a very small town, population of 600! It is a spitting image of an old west town, complete with cowboys, more bars than grocery stores and the occasional horse and carriage. It is a completely different lifestyle than I am used to, but you know what? I kind of like it.
My new position at the Riverside Inn is Restaurant Manager and Chef de Cuisine. In short, I am in charge of the restaurant operation, the banquets and the occasional night of cooking in the restaurant. My coworkers are delightful. That’s the neat thing about small towns. People’s individual personalities are more apparent.
Other than working a lot, I have recently adopted a kitten. She is awesome! Her name is Athena. She loves to play whenever I am home. Her favorite toy is the laser pointer. She goes crazy when we play with that!
And no… I am not dating.
Love you all, Alonzo
David and Merica: Hi Everyone -- We had another good year. Dave is still teaching 8th grade science at North Davis Jr. High. It’s a tough area but Dave is so patient and good with the kids there. Like everyone he has his good days and bad, but overall he enjoys it there. Dave is also in his second year of his doctorate degree. His is studying curriculum and education at Utah State University. He works with the scouts in our ward and is an excellent father.
I spent the first half of the year sick with our third baby. Our little Emily was born July 15th 2011. It was a difficult pregnancy but worth every minute. I love having a little girl. I have totally spoiled her and she has Dave wrapped around her little finger so tight he almost can’t breath. I spend most of my time doing the typical mommy things; cooking, cleaning, and getting James to school etc. I am still serving in the Relief Society presidency. It is a big time commitment but I love getting to know the sisters.
James (4) is doing well in his special education preschool class. His language is starting to take off, and he is doing very well academically. He still has a very difficult time relating to people, but with hard work that will come too. He will start kindergarten this fall. Matthew (2) will start preschool this fall. He is a very loving little guy who is so excited about the world and everything in it.
We loved seeing so many of you at the Cousin Connection this year and hope to have many more in the future. We wish you all a Happy New Year!
Erin & Ben: Ben and I are doing very well. We still live in our beautiful home in Farmington and we were pleased to welcome Parker Thomas Chipman into our family in June of 2011.
Parker is amazing! He is seven months and crawling all over the place. He recently learned to blow raspberries and is starting to pull himself up into standing positions. He is irresistibly cute. We are very pleased with his personality, he likes everything and everyone. He cries very little and laughs a lot! He is also very full of energy, it’s impossible to keep him still even when he sleeps he twitches his feet and hands almost constantly. As soon as he can walk he is going to have his parents chasing him all the time. Well at least it will be a good exercise program for us.
Ben has just passed his two year mark with L-3 Communications and is still loving his job. He says there is always a lot of work to do but that he doesn’t mind the work as it means job security, a precious thing to have these days.
Erin is loving being a stay-at-home mom. It’s a lot of work but it’s wonderful work and so much fun. She was recently called to serve in Young Women as an adviser and she loves it. She thinks it is her favorite calling so far.
We all enjoy being together and playing games. We’ve decided not to have a TV in our home, too expensive and distracting, so we play a lot of games to relax and keep our selves entertained. Some of our favorite games include Race for the Galaxy, Shadows Over Camelot, Thunderstone, Small World and Pirates Cove. All great family games for eight and older. Though we’re thinking for Parker’s sake we’re going to add in Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders and some Hi-Ho-Cherry-OH!
