Happy New Year letter to Ben

Happy New Year sweetie!

2022 was a really big year for you and for our family. We took some time during dinner to come up with a list of 22 highlights of 2022 (in no particular order). Let me know what you think. Would you add anything?

1. Michael came home from his mission (he escaped the Ecuadorian riots to catch a flight back to the USA)

2. Ben graduated from Bingham High- he conducted and gave a speech at graduation- he also graduated from seminary

3. First ever family Disney eastern Caribbean cruise

4. Disneyworld/Typhoon Lagoon (private cabana)

5. Mary and Luke sang in the choir for general conference

6. Luke qualified for and raced at the state mountain biking race in St. George

7. Mary went to yearbook camp and EFY

8. Dad, Mom, Ben, Mary and Luke went on Trek

9. We got a new Telluride

10. Michael started college at BYU

11. Ben started his mission in Barcelona, Spain

12. Sara graduated from Primary

13. Luke got a new trumpet and got his braces off

14. Mary got her drivers license and her wisdom teeth out

15. Mary became chief editor of the BHS yearbook

16. Sara moved up to company hip hop and jazz

17. Mom mastered making sourdough bread

18. Dad had a hernia operation

19. Mom and Dad celebrated 23 years of marriage

20. Michael became a temple worker in the Provo City center temple

21. Mom completed her 1,097th day on Duolingo studying Italian (over 3 years)

22. We studied the Old Testament in Come Follow Me together

It has been a busy year full of blessings. Our hearts are full of gratitude. It’s hard to imagine what 2023 has in store.  I have a goal as I study the New Testament this year to learn more about Jesus Christ so that I can try to be more like Him. I’d love to hear what your goals are for 2023.

We had a nice New Years Eve. Matt and Wendy are in town. They took us to breakfast at the pancake house in Sandy and then we went bowling. We had them to dinner. I want to recognize one of my gifts. While we were bowling, Dad and I decided we wanted to invite Matt and Wendy's family to dinner. I started thinking about what I could make. I remembered I had some stew meat and chicken in the freezer so I decided on beef stew and chicken noodle soup. When we got home from bowling I went to work in the kitchen and 3 hours later 13 of us sat down to dinner which included salad, sourdough bread, a double batch of rolls, beef stew and chicken noodle soup. I was so happy with what I was able to put together which such short notice! I love to cook and I'm grateful that I have been given the gift to be able to come up with meals. After dinner, Mary, Luke and Sam went to the stake dance. Michael hung out with some mission friends. Brooke and Sara had fun playing games and having a sleep over.

I’ve been busy getting Primary classes and roles done for the new year. Secretary is a lot of work but I enjoy working with Sisters Shoell, Taufer and Mayfield. Our church starts at 10:30 in 2023 which will be nice.

We’ve had lots of snow and rain this week. It is so good for our drought situation. Also, Nana had a bath and a haircut this week. She looks so nice and she smells better too. She and Uncle Matt are best buddies. We took the Christmas decorations down yesterday. Our house looks so bare without Christmas decorations but it is so good to start the new year with a fresh clean house.

We love you and pray for you all the time. You are an amazing young man and I feel blessed to be your momma.

Hugs and kisses,

Mom

Dedicated to the gospel

Luke is dedicated to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is a wonderful example to me. He walks to church at 8:20 every Sunday morning regardless of the weather to help prepare the sacrament and set up chairs. Often he takes a loaf of bread for the sacrament.

Luke stays after church to help the Deacons collect fast offerings.

Luke attends the temple every chance he gets. He goes with Mary and her friends and with his friends too.

Luke worked hard to complete the Bishops challenge which was; Read the entire Book of Mormon starting in November and ending on Christmas day. Also, read every conference talk from October 2022 and read and pray everyday.

Christmas 2022 (part 2)

 After church the festivities continued...

Luke trying on his new coat and his screen touch gloves.

Sara playing with her new American Girl doll.

Luke's new Nerf gun.

Christmas brunch. Oven omelette, hash browns, fried beef stick, fruit and cranberry bread.

Showing off our tree gifts from Dad. I got a necklace and some rings fixed. Sara got an 'S' necklace. Mary got some earrings.

Being silly with some of our presents.

The girls modeling some of their new clothes.

Michael and Luke putting the Lego set together.

Making Krumkake as per Christmas tradition.

Our Christmas dinner feast

The dessert feast

Later that evening the girls did my hair and nails with their new gel nails set and crimping iron.

Playing Luke's steal the bacon game.

My nails and the two rings that Todd had fixed for me.

Christmas 2022 (part 1)

 

As per tradition, we took a donation of clothing and toys to the Road Home

Mary made sugar cookies and Luke and Sara helped decorate them

Grandpa and Grandma joined us for Christmas Eve dinner

Our reading of the Christmas story from the book of Luke

Christmas morning talking to Ben and opening stockings

Comfys are the best!

Mary found the pickle and won a chocolate orange

I love Sara's face in this picture. She loved giving her Dad new pajamas.

The kids spoiling me with new sunglasses and new exercise shoes

Sibling gifts- Michael gave Mary a CTR ring and a dancing gem necklace with her birthstone. It's awesome to have a brother that works in a jewelry store.

Mary gave Luke a 'Star Wars' lego set and a steal the bacon card game.

Luke gave Sara a bag to take to the temple with a brush and some hair accessories.

Sara gave Michael 2 t-shirts from Tilly's and a game.

Our family picture as we walked out the door for 9:00am sacrament meeting on Christmas morning.

We had a beautiful Christmas program. Sara sang with the Primary and the Young Women. Mary sang with the young women and had a little solo. I sang with the ward choir. Todd gave some closing comments and bore his testimony after the musical numbers. Christmas won't be on a Sunday again for 11 years. We were so grateful for the opportunity to attend church on this special day.

Fourth week of December

Dearest Ben,

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!! I wanted to write to you today since we will be able to speak to you on Christmas Day! I pray that you are happy and well on this Christmas Eve. I hope that many of your friends come to church with you on Christmas and that you are able to treasure this time to strengthen your relationship with the Savior. We miss you like crazy but we know that you are right where you need to be. We have felt blessed as a family because of your service and we are grateful for your example.

I joined the ward choir so I will be singing in the Christmas program. I’m excited about it. The songs are beautiful. Mary will be singing with young women and Sara will be singing with the Primary for the last time. Sara will also sing with the young women too.

We have had a great week. It has been busy as we prepare for Christmas but it has also been a lot of fun. We went to see A Christmas Carol at Hale Center theatre as per tradition. What a great show as always. Such a great reminder that connecting with people and being kind is an important part of life. We went to the giving machines at City Creek. Our family donation was a weeks worth of groceries for a family. Michael donated a STEM kit for children. Mary donated feminine hygiene products. Luke donated 2 new pillows. We felt so good! It’s awesome to help others. Today we gathered items to deliver to the Road Home on Christmas Eve. That visit is another one of my favorite Christmas traditions.

Rob gave us tickets to see a play called White Christmas. Dad and I took Grandpa and Grandma Orton. They liked it. The costumes and music were great. It was the first time I had seen that show and I liked it.

I had an MRI because of nerve pain in my face. It wasn't too bad. I was grateful they gave me ear plugs because the machine is really loud. The results came back normal but I'll visit a neurologist in February just to double check. I also went to a vein doctor and they did an ultrasound on my varicose veins. Many of my valves in my legs are broken which means I have poor circulation, but I don't think I want to have surgery to fix it. Right now I'm wearing compression socks everyday which seems to help. We met our insurance deductible this year with Dad's hernia operation so I'm trying to get all the medical check-ups in before the end of the year. 

So remember how I learned to make sourdough bread? Well, I finished off a 25 pound bag of bread flour from Costco in 2 1/2 weeks. I’ve made at least a loaf a day- sometimes two or three loaves a day. We have been giving some loaves away to neighbors and friends but especially when Michael is home, we eat a LOT of sourdough bread.

We delivered neighbor gifts. This year we gave out wrapping paper and popcorn. It turned out cute.

Merry Christmas sweetie! I love you and I am so grateful to be your momma. You are truly a light in my life. I can’t wait to be able to talk to you on Christmas!
Love,
Mom