Wow and now we are at the end of 2025. We made it.
I read 42 books this year! New record. My favorites included the Correspondent, Broken Country, Frozen River, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Lonesome Dove and Once there were Wolves.
My favorite podcast was hands down-- The Telepathy Tapes. I want everyone to listen to it and then I want a discussion!!
I worked on relationships with taking my boys individually out to lunch once a month or so. I also worked on friendships and getting out of my comfort zone with gathering new people.
Crocheting was still big for me… I finished many more projects and sweaters for myself. My thumb and wrist aches— crochet thumb..so I had to take it easy toward the end of the year.
Wayne and I watched "Stranger Things" a science fiction show on Netflix, and that was fun. We enjoy spy type tv shows, and lawyer shows. Fave movies of the year were "Mission Impossible the final reckoning," and "F1". We also enjoyed the second half of the Wicked movie.
Started ARP missionary work. We didn’t see this one coming, but feel so blessed to be serving in the Water Tower Branch. This calling has already changed us so much. It’s opened my eyes around the judicial and penal system. It feels unfair to me that after these men have served their time, taken their punishment from society that when they are released they continue to be “punished” the rest of their lives..as felons getting a job is almost impossible. So they continue to live in desperate situations…and really it’s easier for them to stay in the penal system and jail than be on the outside.
I’m in awe at the spirit of this branch…truly it feels like everyone has hit rock bottom so the only thing left in Hope in Christ and the spirit here is so strong. I’m also amazed at the volunteers who are so willing to cook, serve, clean up and pick up people from the halfway house. So much good is happening here.
Trump’s Tariffs…. It has been the worst thing for Wayne’s importing company. It’s been a bleak year for us $ wise. I want to retire, but now, I don’t see how this is possible. At least one more school year for sure.. Maybe retire May of 2027. Wayne is purchasing things on an auction site and reselling, trying to get a little more money coming in.
Politics and Donald Trump have been horrible this year. So proud of Wayne and me for protesting at the No Kings rally in June. We can’t stand Donald Trump and all his administration is doing to our country….especially their degrading of immigrants, trying to blame everything on them. It’s very disheartening. We have got to stand up for our Democracy and the Constitution. I’m really disappointed in Congress for just allowing Trump to do whatever he wants. Feel like having Trump in office has distanced me from some of my relatives. And made topics taboo. It’s like we are living in two different realities. I’m pretty disappointed that people voted Trump in the first time, and now we are doing it again.
Our 100-year-old prophet-Pres. Nelson died… We have a new prophet with Pres. Oaks. I look forward to how he will lead us during this tumultuous time in USA. I wish the church would make more public statements about helping the immigrants, the poor and the needy…instead of staying silent. Elder Holland died. He was one of my favorites, even with the musket fire speech given to the BYU faculty. We have an Elder Holland chair. The Hollands used to be in my parents' ward in Bountiful. When he became an apostle, they moved into Salt Lake and had a big garage sale..and they gave a yellow club chair to my parents. It was in their living room for years, then when my dad passed away, Wayne and I got the chair. We had it in our blue and yellow bedroom in our Bountiful home, and now it is in my home office. We go there when we seek inspiration or to read a book.
Trips this past year were just a few— In June, we went to Colorado and hiked national parks and went to Red Rocks Amphitheatre with the Lakes. Our usual Bear Lake week— but this year was without the Calls and the Coles…so just my little family, and that was different. Alaska cruise with Madsens and Mark Welches. The trip was gorgeous, and seeing the glaciers was very cool. Perfect weather. Glad this was all paid for a year in advance…or we couldn’t have gone.
Performances: Wayne and I were in the Lamb of God choir, I directed the SNAP production of Super Heroes, I performed in "Tuck Everlasting" at Centerpoint Theatre, and loved being in our Sidetracked band that sings every Tuesday at 2 pm somewhere.
Our family is doing okay. Wayne’s health isn’t the best. He has prostate issues, and possible cancer that he may need help with. He hasn’t ridden his bike since September because of this. He’s also pretty discouraged about his work because of tariffs. He does spend a lot of time practicing his guitar and getting better at it. Wayne has made at least 1000 loaves of sourdough bread this year! I fall in love with him over and over again every time I hear him "preach" to our addiction recovery people or share testimony in our Branch. He loves the Gospel, and he's so passionate about it. I just love him for that!
Add and Bre continue to work hard to market their Jambooks endeavor. It’s such a great idea, I wish more people would jump in and use it to text in to create a memory book. Now it would be great if they could make some money with it. Addison continues working with Bre in their Pepperfox photography business and teaching at CPT academy. Their little family is darling. Bre has loved performing with Poppy in Frozen at HCT. Alfie is a model 6th grader and George is getting “nicer” all the time.
Landon and Alex have had a struggle year. Landon continues to do hair at his salon, and Alex works as a fraud consultant online at his home office. Andrew is in the Utah Marching band and loving his time at the University and Sophia is a Jr. at Viewmont and enjoys choir and band and has some really awesome friends. She is a doll!
Tru stopped his job with "P" the rich lady that he was a personal assistant for— and had no job waiting for him. He said it was a toxic environment, and she was blaming him for a lot of things. He’s glad he’s done. But he needs $ and a plan. He did odd jobs for a bit. Wayne got his Prius up and working ($$). And we paid for two months of his rent. ($$). He’s since moved into a smaller, slightly cheaper apartment..and he’s working part-time for Grandma Welch along with Haley Welch. They are our go-to caretakers, since we tried a Visiting Angels type of thing for Wanee, (Wanee wants to stay in her home and not go to a care center— but she wouldn’t open the door for visiting angels and told Holly and Dale to hide…that’s how much) she wasn’t happy with this arrangement. She loves having her grandkids there to help. Tru still has his dog Callum…and he’s trying to find other work.
Monson and Lexi are doing good. Monson has been trying to find a new job this entire year. He has many interviews..but either the position is less money than he is currently making, or requires a move or going to an office, and he enjoys working from home for Field Routes doing online payment stuff. Lexi helps out at the Girls' Spanish immersion charter school. All the girls are in school and enjoying it. They are also helping a family of 3 girls that they met at their school…it’s a desperate situation, and Monson and Lexi are saints. The girls are all loving and daring.
Markus and Laila continue with work and school in California. Laila got her associates finished up - Majoring in psychology. Markus finishes his associates this spring. Laila works as a pharmacy tech. They moved to a new apartment this year…which is so much nicer, and within walking of a lot of fun things. Markus is back with a field unit and is figuring things out with his work and biding his time til he’s out of the Marines in the fall of 2027.
