2021 -- Year in review

Another year has come and gone.  I didn't get any Christmas cards out this year, but wanted to record some of the blessings and accomplishments of the year.  

This has been a really big year for our family.  Lizzy graduated from high school, our family moved from Iowa to Idaho, Adam married Camryn Buxton, and Anna returned home from her mission.  We enjoyed trips to North Dakota, South Dakota, Dubai and Mexico, with a mini trip to Yellowstone and Craters of the Moon thrown in just for fun.  We got to help with the Open House for the new Pocatello Temple, and now have a Temple in our town!  It has been an amazing year.  

Greg- He spent the first part of the year doing all manner of house projects to get our house in Iowa ready to sell.  He somehow even managed to redo our deck in the subzero temperatures of January and February. His and Tammy's hard work on the house paid off and we were able to sell over list price on the very first day it was on the market.  It was a true blessing.  Greg continues to work for John Deere, but now he works remotely from our home in Idaho.  John Deere has been so pleased with Greg's work that he was named a John Deere Fellow this year.  This is the highest award that John Deere gives, and Greg is the first recipient in the digital technology fields.  We are so proud of him!  

Tammy- While Greg spent the first months doing various house projects, Tammy spent the first months of the year painting most of the interior of the house.  She hoped to take the rest of the year off from painting but has already done some painting in our new home.  Her health has been much improved after the rough 2020 she experienced.  She continues to work as a stay at home mom and loves the flexibility it gives her. She loves being closer to her college kids and loves hosting them and their friends in their new home.  

Adam- He had the hardest and most wonderful year of us all.  In the Spring he had to come home early from BYU because he was having severe and debilitating back pain.  It was discovered that he had 5 ruptured discs in his back.  Despite trying chiropractic, physical therapy, and pain management, things continued to decline.  He finally had to have surgery in May.  He worked hard to recover from surgery so he would be able to marry his best friend, Camryn Buxton.  They were married in Utah in August.  We are so very happy for them and thrilled to welcome Camryn to the family.  Adam and Camryn are now living in Provo finishing up their schooling at BYU.

                                

   

Anna- She spent most of the year on a mission for our church in and around Fresno, California.  She learned to speak Spanish, and absolutely loved being able to teach people about Jesus Christ and His love for all of us.  She returned home the day before Thanksgiving.  There were a few bumps in the road getting her home that day, but she made it, and we were blessed to have everyone here to welcome her home.  We enjoyed a few weeks with her before she headed back to school at BYU, where she is studying anthropology.

Lizzy- She graduated high school in the spring just days before we moved.  She and Adam lived together in Iowa for the summer after we left.  She didn't miss us though, because she spent the summer working hard and hanging out with good friends.  In the fall she headed to BYU.  She is loving college life, and preparing to serve a mission in the spring.

Ben- There have been so many changes for Ben this year.  He finished his sophomore year in Iowa, and began his junior year in Idaho.  In Iowa he loved singing in choir and playing on our school's quiz bowl team.  He also taught piano lessons, but had to say good-bye to his students when we moved.  At his new high school in Idaho, there is no quiz bowl team, but he jumped right in and auditioned for choir and sings in the top group at the high school.  He also auditioned for all-state choir and was accepted.  Not too many kids can say they have been in two all-state choirs.  He also continues to enjoy growing his business selling things on Amazon.  He does miss his old friends and school, but rarely, if ever, complains.  One of the highlights of Ben's year was taking an early Senior trip to Dubai with Greg and Tammy.  They enjoyed attending the World Expo and seeing new places and things.

Jacob- The transition to living in Idaho hasn't been too hard for Jacob.  He loves the outdoor activities available to him here.  And soon after moving in he started running with the high school cross country team.  His coach is dedicated and has kept them busy year round.  Now that it is winter they have even done some cross country skiing.  He thrives with this everyday physical activity in his life, and has enjoyed having teammates, and a neighbor boy as a starting place for friendships. He is also happy to be closer to his older siblings and being able to enjoy attending BYU sporting events.

   

We feel beyond blessed this year.  We are grateful for the love we felt as we departed Iowa, and at the wedding of Adam and Camryn.  We are so blessed to have such amazing people in our lives.  We have felt led and guided by our loving Heavenly Father and know that He is always watching out for us and has our best interest at heart.  We are grateful for a Savior who gave His life for us so that we can be better tomorrow than we are today.  We are grateful for the joy of family.  We are truly, truly blessed.  Here is to another amazing year ahead!