Why Does Christmas Have To End So Soon?

Even though Christmas has past, with snow still on the ground, icicles hanging from the roof, and the outside temperature is 18 degrees, it still feels like Christmas.  Well, at least the gift giving or in this case, the celebration of a significant milestone for Erin (30 yrs. old), the season is joyous.  

This evening, New Year's Eve, we went to the cultural hall at the chapel, and enjoyed a birthday celebration for Erin and also welcome in the New Year.  Well, we left at 10:00PM, our curfew for older, wiser folk.  It was a fun event with friends and their families, music by Diamond DJ, food, and fun time visiting with others.  I think they're still at it.  We brought our grandson Teddy home to put him to bed.  He was enjoying the evening and started to tire out.  

While we have received Christmas cards for dear friends and family, the news is happy and we are pleased to see others are well and feel blessed.  We've heard from friends a long distance away as well as close by.  With news posted on blogs, we are able to keep up with the goings on with our loved ones and friends.  

So, the purpose of me updating this blog, as the very last moment of the present year 2008, is to let you know that we appreciate and love you for your thoughts and well wishes in our behalf.  We miss you, our children, their families, including our 17 grand children, our dear relatives, and friends.  

Even though the year has been a down one for many, we feel blessed because of

 our family.  During the year, we were able to visit with the families of four out of five of our children.  And the fifth that we missed, we've been able to keep in touch with them over the phone.  So, we're never really far away.  Earlier in the year, our eldest daughter Leslie and her family came for a visit at April Conference time.  Following her, our youngest daughter Rachel and her family came for a visit.  Since our daughter Erin is the only one closest to us, just around the block, each time was a great family visit with the siblings and grand children.  During the summer, we travelled to visit our daughter Nicole and her family.  Along the way, we met up with our daughter Leslie and her family and enjoyed part of the trip together and again met up at Nikki's home.  Wow, all those grand children having fun with their family.  That was the big visit until Thanksgiving when Leslie and her family came for a surprise visit.  So nice to get together and visit the family.  

For Christmas we spent with Erin and her family and enjoyed the time together.  

Our joy is with the fact that each of our children have special spouses who are the best eternal companions.  They are wonderful in every way, they are the best match for our children, and they make the family special.  

So, you see, we are blessed beyond measure.  To them, to you all, we wish you the best in the New Year, may joy, peace and love fill your hearts, may you always know of our love for you, and may Heavenly Father bless your lives beyond measure.  Hauoli Makahiki hou!