Christmas Letter 2012

Merry Christmas!  

This year I again have decided to just do our Christmas letter on the blog.  With everything that has gone on these past few months I have lost my motivation for the year.  I did get some Christmas cards out, which I thought was a big accomplishment.  I think I have given up on neighbor treats and office gifts though. I am just not feeling it this year.

2012 brought some great things and some heartbreaking things.  I don't think I have had a year this emotionally draining in my entire life.  I am so thankful for family and friends that have supported us.  They have cheered at our happiness and been a shoulder to cry on in our sadness.  We are so lucky to have such wonderful people in our life.

Jeremy (21) - Jeremy left for the Army on my birthday in February.  I never would have thought I would have such mixed feeling about my boy leaving the house.  I cried for a week before he left.  I was so excited for him, but also so worried. He arrived at Fort Benning Georgia a few days later and started getting settled in for Basic to begin.  Then he got sick.  He had a gall bladder attack and was put in the hospital.  They decided to send him home for surgery.  Nothing is fast in the Army and it took at few weeks for the paperwork to process to get him home.  Poor boy was miserable.  But he was a trooper and got home, had surgery (gall bladder and appendix removed) and found a job and is working full time.  He lives with his girlfriend Amy close to us.  He is still deciding whether or not he wants to go back in the Army.  He will have to get a medical waiver if he does.

 

Jonah (14) - This boy is my saving grace.  Quiet, smart, hasn't caused any drama for us this year.  (I am knocking on wood right now as I type this.)  He started high school.  I have to admit I cried a few tears sending him off.  He is trying to decide if he is going to run track in the spring.  That boy can run. He is utterly handsome and the girls just oogel at him.  Of course that is embarrassing for him and he will kill me for even writing it.  He loves to skateboard and play video games.  He has a 3.5 grade average and is taking AP classes.  He talks about going to college and moving out and I have to stop him because I just don't think I can deal with the idea of that right now.

Rachel (5) - This girl is all about Barbies, art/drawing, frilly skirts, lip gloss, fingernail polish and DRAMA.  Oh my gosh, if I survive until she moves out it will be a miracle.  She has a late birthday so she won't start Kindergarten until next year.  She was lucky to get into the pre-school at the University and loved it. She is a Daddy's girl and loves to wrestle and snuggle with him.  She keeps us on our toes and I imagine this is Karma biting me in the butt for everything I did in my youth. Sorry Mom & Dad.  I understand now....

Tony is still working doing construction. Housing has picked up again and he has been quite busy this year.  I am still working for the Police Department for the University.  We keep busy too, but I don't know if that is good or not.  Our big new for the year is we got married on October 20th.  We "eloped" with family and a few close friends down in Springville Utah at the Art Museum there in  town.  It was a beautiful day and I couldn't have imagined it turning out more wonderful.

My brother Steve and his wife Laura moved to Colorado for him to attend grad school.  It is strange not having him so close by.  My sister and her husband still live in Boise.  My parents moved down to Springville Utah from Idaho a year ago.  This past March my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme (brain cancer).  He was diagnosed the same week that Jeremy was coming home from the Army.  It was a very trying and emotional time.  They did surgery on my dad and removed a tumor the size of a plum on his left frontal lobe of his brain.  He did chemo and radiation that was successful until this past November when they found a new tumor.  He had surgery at the end of November again and they removed the tumor.  He will start a new cancer drug at the beginning of January.  I do have another blog that just documents my dad's journey with this cancer.  I didn't want to overload this blog with it.  So if you are interested you can go to that blog and catch up on any new news that we get as time goes on.  We are looking forward to spending Christmas with my family.

Again, we are thankful for all of our family and friends.  Thank you so much for all you do for us.

Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a successful and happy 2013.

Tony, Heather, Jeremy, Jonah & Rachel