Last pic of the year

 This is a compilation of the last picture of me from the last twelve years.

Last week of 2025

 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.

Christmas Day

Christmas day... was perfect.  Basically, anything Wayne and I get/buy in December, we count it as a Christmas gift.  So he/we got a lot of fun things, including a wireless charging station for Wayne's side of the bed that charges his phone, watch, and airpods all at once.  He also got some more Life is Good t-shirts.   I did a lot of thrifting!  It's a good deal for both of us!  

We struggled with what to gift our children this year.  Laila, Markus, and Truman need $, so we gave some of that... and the other three are in a different circumstance.   We gave Add, Bre, Monson, Lexi, Alex, and Landon another year of Grandkid game nights. We love this time with our grands, and the parents love the break.  And we are paying for 2 condos for our week in Bear Lake this summer.  Here is the note we sent everyone: 

We love our week at Bear Lake each year.  

We love spending time together, hanging out

all day on the beach and in the boat, shakes 

at LeBeaus,  food from Zips, night games, 

sleep, play, and swim time. We love that our 

Grandkids love it, and we are happy to 

continue to provide this to our amazing family.  

We have had a “Grandpa Lyle Trust” pay for 

Bear Lake for the past 10 years, and now it’s 

up to us to pay for two condos for our Bear 

Lake week. So we will now be giving you a 

Bear Lake week each year for Christmas.  

We wish we had ALL the money….

But alas, we are only RICH with Love.    

We would choose that any day.   Our life 

is rich because of you. 

Merry Christmas,

Mom and Dad. 

Our branch president makes wooden pens on a lathe -- he gifted two to us.  Wayne's is gorgeous made out of Coco wood with a magnetic clasp.  Mine is made out of Maple burl wood and features musical notes, a keyboard, guitar, and drum.  So beautiful.

We got up early and made it to Monson and Lexi's to see the little girls' excitement over their presents and to deliver the obligatory homemade rice krispie treats wrapped in foil.  

Monson with his autographed Tom Brady helmet!

Lexi is orchestrating things from her chair with Glitter bow on her lap, eating a rice krispie treat-- the taste of Christmas morning.

Elsie was thrilled to get an American Girl doll of Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter books.

Lady got a guitar and is excited to learn how to play it and Tayla got a 3-D printer!  

Off to Addison and Bre's home by 8:40 to have their kids come down the stairs and see that there weren't any presents, just a note that said, check out your new bedroom...the presents were all in that room.  Add and Bre told their kids a week ago that the downstairs toilet had flooded and there was sewage everywhere and the hazmat people had come and said they needed to stay out til after Christmas, and then they could come back and clean it up.  Actually, Add and Bre locked the door and worked their butts off painting and repairing and installing a new gigantic double bed with desks underneath, a new tv for dvd's and gaming and a mini fridge and shelves for all of their lego creations.  They were thrilled.  Poppy said, "This was Christmas Magic!" and she prayed this would happen.  It was so cute.  She kept saying over and over, "This is the best day ever!"

Alfie got an Apple watch..so he can text and call his people..and Fortnite legos, and a new room of course.  Poppy got a gigantic Barbie playhouse, a LEGO set and lots of fun things.  George got a remote control snake, a punching bag, Spiderman stuff and magnetic cars.  Then he looked around and said disappointedly, "Santa didn't bring me my Bluey."  Addison said, "You didn't ask Santa for that." George said," Oh yes, I did"...so they had to have a quick talk about all of the good things you did get that you didn't even ask for.   (This is so much like Jesus)

Truman joined with us at the kids homes.  Then Tru and I went to our home and watched the Jonas Brothers Christmas movie and laughed a lot.

The kids like to call Truman "Santa Sushi."

We visited Wanee, Holly and Dale.  Holly told Wayne he had to calm down before she showed him her BYU hat!  She said it's okay because I have a Utah shirt.  She's funny.

Wanee and I got matching jogger sets.

I also got a nice wool coat with a silk lining, and a new UMOZ license plate.  UMOZ is back!  Ultimate Meema of Zion!

Christmas Around the World: Spain

Our country this year was SPAIN for our Christmas Eve party.  We had Frank and his wife, Annie, join us.  They teach at Tayla, Lady, and Elsie's Spanish immersion school and came to teach us about traditions and food, and make sure we do it right.  We made paella, smoked pork, had a cheese board with Spanish cheeses, olives, and tapas, tortilla patatas, and aioli, and of course, Kentucky Fried chicken, since this is served all over the world.  It's for the people who don't like any of the traditional food.   We learned about the tradition of the pooping man... who is usually hidden in a nativity.  In Northern Spain, they have a Pooping log that the kids feed in one end, and presents come out the other end.  It's all bizarre. 

Annie, Frank, Lexi, Monson, Wayne, Truman, Bre, Alfie, Addison, Tayla

Elsie, Lady, Poppy and George

Wayne got a double track marble game, reminiscent of the one at his mom's house that all the kids love to play with.  Addison had all the kids sign their names and he burned them into the wood. 

They gave me more characters for my nativity...the woman at the well. two women shepherdesses, a flying angel and an old man.  My friend Jan gave me a Trump man as a gag gift-- emphasis on the gag-- so I put him in my nativity as well, since he needs a lot more Jesus!  I also got two new statues of Jesus carrying a lamp, and Joseph helping little boy Jesus to learn.  

Traditional desserts included a sweet bread filled with lots of cream, with baby Jesus hidden in it, alfajores and postres. 

Alfie in his marshmallow helmet!   We performed the nativity with the grandkids taking the parts of two Marys, one angel, one sheep, one wiseman, and Joseph.  George started out as an angel...but changed his mind.

Monson and Lexi spent the 19th-24th of December with their friends in California..and they visited with Laila as well. The Buzellis have been in Disneyland from Dec. 20- 27th.  They had a grand Disneyland adventure..and had Markus and Laila at the Airbnb for Christmas dinner..so we facetimed all of them.  

Cole Party and white elephants

Our Extended Cole family Dinner and White Elephant party was AWESOME.  Gary and MEgan always howst and do a splendid job.  We had a sit down roast beef dinner that was delicious.  Megan has upped her roast beef game with dry onion soup mix, dry ranch dressing mix and beef broth..and it was so savory.    We had a fun white elephant.    Liz go the coveted Cat shirt - haha

I can't believe no one wanted my 10 year old picture....

We had it at Center Point Theatre's basement..because Megan works there and made it happen.  38 of us were in attendance.  Only 6 from me-- Wayne and I, Addison and his 3 kids.  Landon's family and Monson's family and Laila and Markus, of course, are all in California...and Tru forgot about it.

Rooney, Casey, Silas and Becca Cole Call

Angela, Guy, Liz and Al

Addison and Wayne

Rosie Lara , Jonas Call  and Jamie Lara 

Nano and Sofi Lara

Jake, Gary, Carson and Drew Call

Laura, Hayden, Jordan, Laurie and Ryan Call

Nelson and Lilly, Megan, Laura and Maggie Call

Christine, Jenna, Adam Cole

Poppy, Alfie, George and Rachel Cole Lara

Pooppy was thrilled with her gingerbread pillow and a crazy cowgirl hat.  We ended the night with a giant snow ball fight..that the kids love, and the singing of "Were You There?" in honor of my parents.

Full Calendar

December Calendar.

Sophia and Andrew gave me this Broadway advent calendar, it's been fun opening the characters and figuring out what shows they belong to.

Dec. 1.  Empty Nester FHE Christmas party with home ward

Dec. 2. Christmas band gigs begin. Elsie's 6th Birthday,  Emma Nissen Holiday concert.

Dec. 3. Water Tower Branch dinner and Choir practice

Dec. 4. Addiction Recovery meeting

Dec. 5. Home ward Cowboy Christmas party.  Wayne is playing songs on his guitar for this.

Dec. 6. Poppy baptism.

Dec. 7.  Family dinner

Dec. 8.  Merrily We Roll Along tickets with Landon’s family

Dec. 9. Band Christmas gig. Cole Sibling Christmas party at Joy Luck.  Liz in charge

Dec. 10  Water tower Branch dinner and Choir practice. 

Dec. 11. Addiction Recovery meeting

Dec. 12. Holly Friend 2 Friend Christmas program.   Grandkid game night

Dec. 13. Friend 2 Friend Christmas program. Welch family Christmas Home Alone Party.

Dec. 14.  Lights on party!

Dec. 15.  School secret Santa gift exchange,  Holly’s Friend 2 Friend Program, Sophia Christmas Choir concert at Viewmont

Dec. 16.  Carol’s brunch, Band Christmas gig.  Friend 2 friend final program.

Dec. 17. Deliver Christmas bagels to all our Partner Schools,  Water Tower branch dinner and Choir practice

Dec. 18. Elsie and Lady song and dance Christmas program, Addiction Recovery meeting.

Dec. 19. Dinner with West Bountiful friends at Webster’s home.

Dec. 20. A Christmas Story show at Centerpoint with friend Bonnie Benedict

Dec. 21.  Water Tower Branch Christmas Choir program and Brunch.  Cole family extended dinner and white elephant exchange.

Dec. 22. FHE with Edgar's Christmas gathering

Dec. 23.  Band Christmas Gig

Dec. 24.  Christmas Around the world— Spain. 

Dec. 25.  Christmas Day.   Addiction recovery meeting and dinner.  

And in and around all of this Wayne made over 120 loaves of Sourdough bread!

And we played Hide and Seek with George and found him in our washer!!!

And Sophia and Andrew's dog, Gucci died on Christmas night-- while they were all in California - Disneyland for Christmas.  It was very sad.

Christmas Night was sad.   We got a call from Andrew at 9:15 to go get their dog, Gucci and take her to the emergency vets.  Gucci was lethargic and their dog sitters (Sophia's friend Abbie) didn't know what to do.  We scooped up Gucci and rushed to the only vet open on Christmas night..out on 6300 south.  They took Gucci off our hands immediately and came back with a very sad prognosis– she can die here quickly and painlessly, or  you can take her home and she will die slowly and in pain.  We facetimed the Buzelli’s in California..and then had a 45-minute, very tearful goodbye with Sophia and Andrew.  This is not what they thought they would be doing on Christmas night… and neither did we.  It was agonizing and exhausting.