Christmas Newsletter 2018

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2018

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Merry Christmas 2018

Greetings dear family and friends far and near,

We hope you've been well and had a great year.

We love keeping in touch and hearing from you,

And you're yearly updates on what you've all been up to.

This year like all others, has had some good and some not,

Though blessings and miracles, we've had quite a lot.

 The year 2018 will not soon be forgotten,

A brief overview, I'll now get to jottin'.

The majority of Dave's time is spent healing body and soul,

One pays in cash, the other in heavenly dough.

Four years as Stake Pres - he's given more talks than can count,

Only the meetings he attends can surpass that amount.

His parents took us (and his sibs) to Alaska on a very fun cruise,

Visited the North Pole, watched whales, saw baby bears and glacier views.

His love of gardening and pickleball gets that blood of his to flow,

Good thing 'cause in just a few days he turns the BIG 6-0!

Felt blessed and honored to run the Boston Marathon now twice,

But the weather this year was naughty - not nice.

Coldest temps ever, fierce winds, and down pouring rain,

Running in that epic monsoon-athon is further proof I'm insane. *

I'm still learning the harp, but running I've had to cut back,

Herniated my disk - injuries are something I don't seem to lack.

I stay busy teaching Sunbeams and leading my Homemaker's group,

Entered a gingerbread contest and won me some loot!

Skyler's travels this year were all business related,­­

Just wishes time at the ocean was more concentrated.

Tried free diving in fresh water, but just doesn't compare,

Loves camping and four wheeling with any time that is spare.

He's the cutest Daddy to Carson - Sarah he pampers and spoils,

He's a talented chef whether he fries, grills, or broils.

After intense studying for months, he took the law school test, *LSAT

Still selling solar but getting in law school is his next big quest.

          *Link to newspaper article above: https://www.standard.net/news/local/brigham-city-mom-honoring-late-son-among-northern-utahns- in/article_a90c9f26-14ef-5d53-bc90-32243c43ca67.html

Bryce ran his first race with his bros in the Boston 5K,

Watched the Sox take a win in their park at Fenway.

Took a much needed break from his Christmas light park,

Did landscaping this year working from dark until dark.

Now out plowing the streets before the sun even shines,

Herniated his disk (same one as mine) thanks to bad genes in the spine.

Has a girlfriend named Haylie who has two adorable kiddos,

I'll take this grand-mothering thing, no matter which way it flows.

Taylor graduated from USU in the springtime.  Woot! Woot!

Got a BS in Exercise Science, also finished Institute.

He's a licensed phlebotomist - got his CNA - almost an EMT,

Volunteers at the fire station - hasn't had much time to sight see.

Studied his brains out for months - then took the MCAT,

Now the applying and waiting stage is where he's currently at.

Right now he works in the OR at the hospital full time,

Still lives in Logan - yes, this kid definitely toes the line.

Attending USU in Logan is where you'll find our McKay,

He's still in pre-med and hits the books hard each day.

He cheered me on at Boston standing out in that deluge,

His fierce loyalty to 'his' Panthers, still keeps us amused.

Has his phlebotomy license - volunteers at the hospital too,

Waits tables at Maddox - tips are what he pursues.

We're very glad he chose Logan to become his new habitat,

We see him quite often  - home's his personal Laundromat.

The first part of December we were thrown a curve ball,

A breast cancer diagnosis for me blindsided us all.

Recovering from surgery right now as I write this letter,

Good news from the lab will make us all feel much better.

Two days before surgery I crushed my leg in a snowmobile crash,

The day after, found blood clots - this month's been a blast!

On Christmas Eve my brave Mom had a quadruple bypass,

Yes, the skies around here have been a bit overcast.

Life is fragile no doubt and can change on a dime,

And we all will be given some mountains to climb;

As you gather your loved ones close 'round you this holiday season,

Hug them all tight as you remember the reason,

The Savior was born to heal and to save,

The ultimate sacrifice to each He all gave.

As we ponder this gift, our hearts burst with good cheer,

Here's to abundant blessings as you start the New Year!

With love, The Wildings (and Mr. Cat)