Another year has come and gone and once again we find ourselves at Christmas time! 2016 has been a good year in the Cloward household in Santaquin.
Marshyl started out the year working for himself but then took a job working for the LDS church at the Riverton Office Building. He enjoyed his time there but was sought out late in the summer by another company, DirectScale, who made him an offer he couldn't refuse. He's been there ever since and loves the company and people he works with. Working for DirectScale has given him some opportunities to travel and he's spent several weeks in Dallas this fall. He's also still working full time on college and serving in the Sunday School presidency in our ward.
Jen is still homeschooling and involved with our co-op, Vanguard, teaching leadership and government to the youth. She started taking a pottery class this fall and loves it! After a few lessons on centering the clay on the wheel, she was ready to go. So far she can only make candy dishes, but hopes to someday master a mug. She is still working with the Cub Scouts in the ward.
Kaiden (20) spent last Christmas in the Philippines but was shortly after transferred back to India to finish out his mission for the LDS church. He returned home in August and has adjusted well to being in small town Santaquin. He started BYU in the fall and just moved on campus to the dorms at Thanksgiving. He stays busy with school, dating and with his job at the MTC.
Nic (18) is enjoying life as an adult. He graduated seminary in the spring and spent his summer with dance tours and camps. He is still ballroom dancing with his company in Bountiful and decided to move a little closer so that he could dance four days a week this year. He moved to Layton in the fall and loves it. He's working at an engineering firm and staying busy hanging out with friends when he's not working or dancing.
Luke (16) finished 9th grade in the spring and worked at our local BSA camp, Maple Dell, all summer as a lifeguard. He loves working with the scouts and also spent a week helping run the BSA leadership camp, Timberline. He started 10th grade this fall at our local charter school and loves taking drawing, guitar, drama, hip hop dance and weight training classes. He still coaches tumbling for Payson City and recently joined his school's competition cheerleading team. When home, he can usually be found out on our trampolines perfecting his latest flips and tricks.
Afton (13) has shot up like a weed this year and has mom beat in height by a good 4 inches. She loves to sing and started lessons this fall. She also enjoys playing the guitar and ukulele. She has mastered both very quickly by just picking them up and practicing on her own. She loves Young Women's and has enjoyed serving as the Beehive class president. She is in Vanguard this year and is enjoying her friends and her studies. She is also quite a gifted Anime artist.
Makensi (10) also started singing lessons in the fall. She loves activity days and playing with her friends. She is our crafter and is always putting some sort of craft together or hand sewing clothes for her dolls and stuffed animals.
Garrett turned 8 this year and was baptized. He also started Cub Scouts and is really enjoying his time in scouts with his friends. His two great loves in life are playing Lego's in his room or playing Minecraft on the computer. I think he's missing the boys who've moved out the most because they were his Lego buddies. But Kensi loves Lego's too, so he's happy to play with her.
Christmas is finding us healthy and happy and truly blessed.
We hope the same for all of you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Marshyl - Jen - Kaiden - Nic - Luke - Afton - Makensi - Garrett
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| Afton drew us a Christmas portrait. |
