Another New Year!

I read on another friend's blog about her failure to post for two years and then the realization she experienced while reading her scriptures that a family was willing to sacrifice their lives to retrieve a record of their family.  This realization inspired her to begin keeping a record of her family.  Her discovery, and willingness to pick up where she left off, has inspired me to begin anew.  And so I will begin.

What have we done over the past two years, there is too much to tell... we have traveled, laughed, cried and grown together.  James was released as bishop and we were realigned into a different ward.  Both of these changes has brought challenges and opportunities for our family.  Luke and Lindsey are navigating the seas of high school while Heather is finishing up junior high.  Savannah is at the top of the totem pole at the elementary school and Matt is in the middle (3rd grade).  Ashlyn and I get to spend a lot of time together at home which we love.  She definitely keeps all of us smiling as we watch her discover the wonders of life that most of us take for granted.

And so... 2016!  There is a lot to look forward to this year.  Luke is preparing to submit mission papers at the present time.  His college applications have been submitted, some approved and others we are waiting to hear.  Lindsey continues to push herself in all areas of life-- academics, cheer, work, driving, friends, etc.  Heather will finish up junior high and move onto high school.  She is involved with many service groups and performing groups.  She has a beautiful voice and strives to develop that talent.  Savannah will move to junior high where she will continue to excel.  She has developed excellent study habits which will serve her well.  She also works to develop her talents, especially piano.  Matthew stays busy like the rest of us but mostly with things at home.  He loves to read and create and play with Ashlyn.  Ashlyn, however, doesn't always like to play with her brother.  She "only likes girls" a lot of the time.  She is also obsessed with pink and thinks red is "hideous."  That could be because she has been trained with an aversion to the University of Utah.  Her vocabulary increases exponentially every week because she is surrounded by people so much older than she.  James is working towards an MBA from Harvard.  He was accepted into their program this year and has completed the first course.  He has two more summers to spend in Boston before he is finished.  I was elected to the city council and begin my term this year.  It has already been an opportunity full of learning experiences and personal growth.  I don't doubt this is only the beginning.

Whatever faces us in this new year, I pray we will continue to focus on the most important things and work together towards our goals.