FOSTER FAMILY 2010-2011
Steve Foster:
Hello, connections. I'll try to be brief, since, even with a low turn-out here, there's a danger of these pages becoming unreadable for quantity. 2010 went well. Now in early 2011, I'm in what should be my last semester here at BYU Provo. I've been studying linguistic theory and English-teaching, and subsequently intend to offer myself for employ as an English-teacher in East Asia, whose languages I've been trying to get better acquainted with for some time (having first been thrust into that region as a Hong Kong missionary in 2001-2). My many complaints at this school are all petty, and I have had a relatively enjoyable time that I would gladly repeat. I just turned 29; my sister Shanna is 30 and my brother Shane is 31. We still locate permanently in Salt Lake, East Mill Creek. Our politics and opinions tend to differ, but we somehow get along, as I'm sure the rest of you do. None of the three of us has met anybody to marry, for which we make no excuse, except possibly some kind of subconscious elitism gifted to us by our father Kelly (just kidding; Shanna is very modest). We have one dog and three cats, besides Shane's things. Our parents, Bonnie and Dave Taylor (our step-father), recently gave very serious consideration to buying a house down in Alpine, Utah (half-way to Provo) before changing their minds. They also have a patch of ground up by Flaming Gorge, where they like to go occasionally to prepare for the inevitable: old age. We see Lucie now and again but not many of the rest of you, so stay in touch. I and my sister are fairly active on Facebook these days. Thanks for reading.
-Steve Foster
Below: Steve following his bicycle accident.
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LOTS OF HUGS, HELLOS, AND MERRY CHRISTMASES TO THE EXTENDED FOSTER CLAN FROM THE ATASCADERO VAN DURENS! Once more it seems like the year has come to a close before it ever really started, but that only seems to be the case for those of us whose memories are growing very, very long! This year brought an exciting venture into kindergarten for No. 1 grandchild, Jakob in San Diego, the “intrepid twos” to his little sister Z-Z (Lindsey Kathleen), a beautiful new baby (Madelyn) to Lara and Jamey up in Wenatchee (June 5), and most recently, a move to a 40-acre ranch in Strasburg, Colorado for Nick and Shannon and their nine English mastiffs (our granddoggies). It also brought us more than our fair share of visits (but never enough, of course!) with grandkids, and much, much more.
Toney is still working at Mission Health Center in San Luis Obispo, but is counting down toward retirement in a couple of years. He continues to play with SLO Wind Orchestra, a German Oom-Pa-Pa band, and a clarinet ensemble. He and his buddies come in and help the Atascadero Community Band in performances as well, where Gogi herds the young percussion section and plays mallets and timpani. Toney and Zeb (Robin’s Dad) still do lots of woodworking. They’ve made something like 23 dining room chairs and various smaller items. Toney’s dad, Ray, has moved into a retirement center down in St. George (near Toney’s brother Mick) and is very content there. He has his own apartment, can cook for himself or eat at the facility, has lots of activities to keep him busy, transportation whenever he needs it, and has even started painting again. He’s making new friends and renewing old acquaintances (friends who also retired there), and seems to be genuinely thriving.
Gogi is still teaching strings through Youth Music Monterey in a couple of tiny schools in the south county. She only teaches school one day a week, but is rather successful at making a part-time job into a full-time one by doing far more prep than is necessary! She also teaches piano lessons, gardens, eschews housework, sews, practices the violin and piano barely enough to stay ahead of the students, and generally gets into mischief whenever possible. We both miss Katie desperately, but are learning to refocus the energy onto the grandkids and students. Katie's pasture menagerie has shrunk somewhat. We lost Pepe the goat last year, and our beloved 15-year old dog Ike died recently. We’ve adopted Toney’s dad’s dog Charlie (a mini Schnauzer) who is a bit too lively for Molly the Chin, but they’re adjusting. We still have 14-year old schizo kitty Scherzo and Katie’s 2-year old kitty Phantom, two ducks, three hens, and Patty the horse (who is now 23), all of whom seem healthy and strong, although Molly is losing an eye due to an injury. We’ve planted all kinds of trees, still want to plant more, and are loving the privacy, space, and glorious oaks and autumn gum trees surrounding us on all sides.
Nick & Shannon are still recovering from their recent move (!), but are utterly thrilled to have so much room to stretch their wings. They’re having a blast watching their dogs frolic through the pastures racing the neighbors’ horses back and forth along the fences. The horses seem to treat them like they’re ponies (they’re as big as ponies!) and like to tease them. Shannon still works for the bank (they’re letting her rotate between working at home and commuting to the office since they live over an hour from Denver now). Nick is between jobs temporarily but is still oil painting and showing his work. They continue to be involved with breeding and showing their beautiful dogs. Dagney has had five of her offspring “finish” in the competitions now, which puts her into the breeder’s “hall of fame.” Toney and I are anxious to get back there to see their new place in Strasburg and enjoy the plethora of grand-doggies. We'll try to time it so that we can help out next time they have a litter of demanding little mastiffs!
Drew and Robin also have their hands full with two extremely lively little ones. Robin has had to take on the entire school down there in order to protect Jakey (who has a severe peanut allergy) at school. We are in awe of the campaign she has waged just to get the school to come into conformity with laws already in existence but which so many schools are painfully lax in following through on. The administration's intimidation tactics don’t work on Robin (it helps that she’s a teacher herself), and a lot of parents at school are grateful to her for breaking ground where most people fear to tread (you know what public schools can be like)! Drew continues to enjoy his work safeguarding computer encryption systems for the government, the military, and for businesses in general. We’re delighted to see him garnering a fair share of accolades for some rather remarkable accomplishments about which he is so modest.
Lara and Jamey are enthralled with wee Mad Maddy (born June 5), while her two big siblings (our other two grand-doggies, Clyde and Bella) are slowly forgiving her for dethroning them! Bella has already begun mothering her, but Clyde still thinks Maddy is a bit of an upstart and only begrudges her a lick now and then. We haven’t decided whether Maddy has an overly developed sense of humor for a 6-month old or is a particularly demanding critic, because when Lara plays her violin Maddy bursts out with a belly laugh twice her size! She seems to think her mommy’s 200-year old “toy” is hysterically funny! Jamey was finally able to hire another chemical engineer at his plant to help relieve him of some of the pressure, and is looking forward to being able to relax and play a little more. He’s so big it’s fun to see him melt like a marshmallow over that tiny baby girl.
Well, folks, we’re healthy and strong down here and hope you all are as well. We love hearing about what you’re up to and deeply appreciate the Fosterity candleholders. We wish you all myriad blessings, much love, and peace and harmony in your homes, and remind you that our home is yours as well. Merry Christmas to you all, and a Happy New Year! Lots of love, Toney & Gogi
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Greetings to all Fosterites from Warren and Kaye Foster family.
The short version for 2010 is Warren spent most of the year in Afghanistan, Sarah and Todd are building a new house in Fruitland, Idaho, Scott finished his cruise ship gig, moved to Utah, is still working on his CD and has a permanent gig at the Montage in Deer Valley. Devan and Maura are still living and working in Salt Lake. Levi and Nicholous are still working and living in West Hollywood, California. Rachele and her fiance John are engaged to be married in Aug. 2011, and they are both working and going to school in Lewiston Idaho. Kaye, Marty and April are still living in Wasilla, Alaska, (Warren too, when he gets a vacation.)
That's our year in a paragraph. I'll break it down in a little more detail now.
Warren went to work in Kabul Afghanistan as an air traffic Controller. Most of January was spent in basic training in Kansas City. Then I went home for almost two weeks, then to Shaw AFB in South Carolina for shots and briefings and stuff, then went to Kabul, arriving in mid February. Before you ask, I've never really felt in danger there, but yes, there is always the possibility of an attack, it just hasn't happened. The job, controlling air traffic on radar at Kabul Approach Control is like having a front row seat for the war, and it is the most difficult air traffic control I've ever done. It's usually 10 hours a day 6 days a week. The money is good, but not good enough to make it worth doing for very long. I wanted to one year for service to our country, (I wouldn't have done it free, but I didn't do it just for the money either). I'm extending 2 months, until the end of April, 2011, then I'll go home to stay. I had two vacations, one in July and one now for Christmas. The first week of my summer vacation I met Kaye and the kids in L.A. and we went beach camping with our old ward from Palmdale California. This second vacation I was home for Christmas, and the second week we are spending at Sarah's place in Idaho, where all the kids are gathering for our own family New Years party.
Kaye, my lovely wife, is managing the home and family on her own, while I've been gone. She paid off almost all of what we owed on the 80 acres we bought in Sutton. She's been going to the gymn a lot and is in good shape. In church she is having fun as Primary Chorister, and spends most of her time running Marty and April around. We are down to two kids at home now.
Sarah (age 31) and her husband Todd are still living in Fruitland Idaho with their 3 beautiful children, Brielle, 6, Ashton, 3 and Lainey, 1. Todd is still helping manage his family's hospice business and it is thriving. They are building a beautiful new home in Fruitland and plan to move into it in the spring. Sarah and Todd both trained and ran triathalons this summer. Sarah took first in her age group. They met up with the family at the beach in California with Warren and Kaye and Levi, Marty, and April. Brielle is in first grade. Todd is teaching Gospel Doctrine in church and Sarah is 2nd councilor in the Relief Society.
Scott (age 29) was performing on a Carnival Cruise ship through the winter in the Western Carribean. He mostly performed solo with his guitar, but occaisionally performed with the ship band. He finished in the Spring and spent some time in Alaska and most in Utah and Idaho. He started work on a CD in Vancouver BC, but then moved to a home studio in Idaho Falls to finish it. He is living in Salt Lake City and most of the summer worked construction, but he recently got a permamanent gig playing guitar at the Montage in Deer Valley. If anyone wants to see him peform, he is there Monday through Thursday afternoons. He performed several concerts in Utah this year, and one benefit concert in Alaska to support Marty's Eagle Scout project.
Devan (27) and his beautiful wife Maura live in Midvale. Devan is still working as the health and wellness coordinator for Usanna corporate headquarters in Salt Lake. Maura is head teller at a credit union in Salt Lake. Devan is Executive Secretary in his ward. In March they want on the same Western Carribean Cruise that Scott was performing on. They just recently had an offer accepted on a home in West Jordan and they plan to close and move in in February.
Levi (24) and Nicholous are living in West Hollywood, California. Levi is Assistan Manager of John Barbados clothing store in Beverly Hills. Nicholous just completed several years training and became a certified Acupuncturist. They joined the family for the beach camp out this summer.
Rachele, (21) is living in Lewiston Idaho. She is engaged to John Rhodes, and they will be married August 7th. They are both attending LCSC in Lewiston where Rachele is majoring in Elemntary Education and minoring in Special Education. John is premed, peliminary to becoming a Pharmist.
The Stice's New Home:
Marty (16) is still living at home in Wasilla, Alaska and is in 11th grade at Wasilla High School. He recently completed an Eagle Project which made the local news, where he sent several thousand dollars worth of school supplies to help underprivelaged students at a school in Kabul, Afghanistan that his Dad had become aware of while stationed there. He was on the high school wrestling team this year. He is First Assistant in the Priest quorum.
April, (10) is as cute as ever. Last year she was elected School Historian at Iditarod Elementary school. This year she is in 4th grade and was just elected Student Body Vice President. She ran track and cross country and played basket ball this year. Her design won spirit pin contest for her school. Her and Marty have both been taking voice lessons and piano lessons.
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LOTS OF HUGS, HELLOS, AND MERRY CHRISTMASES TO THE EXTENDED FOSTER CLAN FROM THE ATASCADERO VAN DURENS! Once more it seems like the year has come to a close before it ever really started, but that only seems to be the case for those of us whose memories are growing very, very long! This year brought an exciting venture into kindergarten for No. 1 grandchild, Jakob in San Diego, the “intrepid twos” to his little sister Z-Z (Lindsey Kathleen), a beautiful new baby (Madelyn) to Lara and Jamey up in Wenatchee (June 5), and most recently, a move to a 40-acre ranch in Strasburg, Colorado for Nick and Shannon and their nine English mastiffs (our granddoggies). It also brought us more than our fair share of visits (but never enough, of course!) with grandkids, and much, much more.
Toney is still working at Mission Health Center in San Luis Obispo, but is counting down toward retirement in a couple of years. He continues to play with SLO Wind Orchestra, a German Oom-Pa-Pa band, and a clarinet ensemble. He and his buddies come in and help the Atascadero Community Band in performances as well, where Gogi herds the young percussion section and plays mallets and timpani. Toney and Zeb (Robin’s Dad) still do lots of woodworking. They’ve made something like 23 dining room chairs and various smaller items. Toney’s dad, Ray, has moved into a retirement center down in St. George (near Toney’s brother Mick) and is very content there. He has his own apartment, can cook for himself or eat at the facility, has lots of activities to keep him busy, transportation whenever he needs it, and has even started painting again. He’s making new friends and renewing old acquaintances (friends who also retired there), and seems to be genuinely thriving.
Gogi is still teaching strings through Youth Music Monterey in a couple of tiny schools in the south county. She only teaches school one day a week, but is rather successful at making a part-time job into a full-time one by doing far more prep than is necessary! She also teaches piano lessons, gardens, eschews housework, sews, practices the violin and piano barely enough to stay ahead of the students, and generally gets into mischief whenever possible. We both miss Katie desperately, but are learning to refocus the energy onto the grandkids and students. Katie's pasture menagerie has shrunk somewhat. We lost Pepe the goat last year, and our beloved 15-year old dog Ike died recently. We’ve adopted Toney’s dad’s dog Charlie (a mini Schnauzer) who is a bit too lively for Molly the Chin, but they’re adjusting. We still have 14-year old schizo kitty Scherzo and Katie’s 2-year old kitty Phantom, two ducks, three hens, and Patty the horse (who is now 23), all of whom seem healthy and strong, although Molly is losing an eye due to an injury. We’ve planted all kinds of trees, still want to plant more, and are loving the privacy, space, and glorious oaks and autumn gum trees surrounding us on all sides.
Nick & Shannon are still recovering from their recent move (!), but are utterly thrilled to have so much room to stretch their wings. They’re having a blast watching their dogs frolic through the pastures racing the neighbors’ horses back and forth along the fences. The horses seem to treat them like they’re ponies (they’re as big as ponies!) and like to tease them. Shannon still works for the bank (they’re letting her rotate between working at home and commuting to the office since they live over an hour from Denver now). Nick is between jobs temporarily but is still oil painting and showing his work. They continue to be involved with breeding and showing their beautiful dogs. Dagney has had five of her offspring “finish” in the competitions now, which puts her into the breeder’s “hall of fame.” Toney and I are anxious to get back there to see their new place in Strasburg and enjoy the plethora of grand-doggies. We'll try to time it so that we can help out next time they have a litter of demanding little mastiffs!
Drew and Robin also have their hands full with two extremely lively little ones. Robin has had to take on the entire school down there in order to protect Jakey (who has a severe peanut allergy) at school. We are in awe of the campaign she has waged just to get the school to come into conformity with laws already in existence but which so many schools are painfully lax in following through on. The administration's intimidation tactics don’t work on Robin (it helps that she’s a teacher herself), and a lot of parents at school are grateful to her for breaking ground where most people fear to tread (you know what public schools can be like)! Drew continues to enjoy his work safeguarding computer encryption systems for the government, the military, and for businesses in general. We’re delighted to see him garnering a fair share of accolades for some rather remarkable accomplishments about which he is so modest.
Lara and Jamey are enthralled with wee Mad Maddy (born June 5), while her two big siblings (our other two grand-doggies, Clyde and Bella) are slowly forgiving her for dethroning them! Bella has already begun mothering her, but Clyde still thinks Maddy is a bit of an upstart and only begrudges her a lick now and then. We haven’t decided whether Maddy has an overly developed sense of humor for a 6-month old or is a particularly demanding critic, because when Lara plays her violin Maddy bursts out with a belly laugh twice her size! She seems to think her mommy’s 200-year old “toy” is hysterically funny! Jamey was finally able to hire another chemical engineer at his plant to help relieve him of some of the pressure, and is looking forward to being able to relax and play a little more. He’s so big it’s fun to see him melt like a marshmallow over that tiny baby girl.
Well, folks, we’re healthy and strong down here and hope you all are as well. We love hearing about what you’re up to and deeply appreciate the Fosterity candleholders. We wish you all myriad blessings, much love, and peace and harmony in your homes, and remind you that our home is yours as well. Merry Christmas to you all, and a Happy New Year! Lots of love, Toney & Gogi
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Greetings to all Fosterites from Warren and Kaye Foster family.
The short version for 2010 is Warren spent most of the year in Afghanistan, Sarah and Todd are building a new house in Fruitland, Idaho, Scott finished his cruise ship gig, moved to Utah, is still working on his CD and has a permanent gig at the Montage in Deer Valley. Devan and Maura are still living and working in Salt Lake. Levi and Nicholous are still working and living in West Hollywood, California. Rachele and her fiance John are engaged to be married in Aug. 2011, and they are both working and going to school in Lewiston Idaho. Kaye, Marty and April are still living in Wasilla, Alaska, (Warren too, when he gets a vacation.)
That's our year in a paragraph. I'll break it down in a little more detail now.
Warren went to work in Kabul Afghanistan as an air traffic Controller. Most of January was spent in basic training in Kansas City. Then I went home for almost two weeks, then to Shaw AFB in South Carolina for shots and briefings and stuff, then went to Kabul, arriving in mid February. Before you ask, I've never really felt in danger there, but yes, there is always the possibility of an attack, it just hasn't happened. The job, controlling air traffic on radar at Kabul Approach Control is like having a front row seat for the war, and it is the most difficult air traffic control I've ever done. It's usually 10 hours a day 6 days a week. The money is good, but not good enough to make it worth doing for very long. I wanted to one year for service to our country, (I wouldn't have done it free, but I didn't do it just for the money either). I'm extending 2 months, until the end of April, 2011, then I'll go home to stay. I had two vacations, one in July and one now for Christmas. The first week of my summer vacation I met Kaye and the kids in L.A. and we went beach camping with our old ward from Palmdale California. This second vacation I was home for Christmas, and the second week we are spending at Sarah's place in Idaho, where all the kids are gathering for our own family New Years party.
Kaye, my lovely wife, is managing the home and family on her own, while I've been gone. She paid off almost all of what we owed on the 80 acres we bought in Sutton. She's been going to the gymn a lot and is in good shape. In church she is having fun as Primary Chorister, and spends most of her time running Marty and April around. We are down to two kids at home now.
Sarah (age 31) and her husband Todd are still living in Fruitland Idaho with their 3 beautiful children, Brielle, 6, Ashton, 3 and Lainey, 1. Todd is still helping manage his family's hospice business and it is thriving. They are building a beautiful new home in Fruitland and plan to move into it in the spring. Sarah and Todd both trained and ran triathalons this summer. Sarah took first in her age group. They met up with the family at the beach in California with Warren and Kaye and Levi, Marty, and April. Brielle is in first grade. Todd is teaching Gospel Doctrine in church and Sarah is 2nd councilor in the Relief Society.
Scott (age 29) was performing on a Carnival Cruise ship through the winter in the Western Carribean. He mostly performed solo with his guitar, but occaisionally performed with the ship band. He finished in the Spring and spent some time in Alaska and most in Utah and Idaho. He started work on a CD in Vancouver BC, but then moved to a home studio in Idaho Falls to finish it. He is living in Salt Lake City and most of the summer worked construction, but he recently got a permamanent gig playing guitar at the Montage in Deer Valley. If anyone wants to see him peform, he is there Monday through Thursday afternoons. He performed several concerts in Utah this year, and one benefit concert in Alaska to support Marty's Eagle Scout project.
Devan (27) and his beautiful wife Maura live in Midvale. Devan is still working as the health and wellness coordinator for Usanna corporate headquarters in Salt Lake. Maura is head teller at a credit union in Salt Lake. Devan is Executive Secretary in his ward. In March they want on the same Western Carribean Cruise that Scott was performing on. They just recently had an offer accepted on a home in West Jordan and they plan to close and move in in February.
Levi (24) and Nicholous are living in West Hollywood, California. Levi is Assistan Manager of John Barbados clothing store in Beverly Hills. Nicholous just completed several years training and became a certified Acupuncturist. They joined the family for the beach camp out this summer.
Rachele, (21) is living in Lewiston Idaho. She is engaged to John Rhodes, and they will be married August 7th. They are both attending LCSC in Lewiston where Rachele is majoring in Elemntary Education and minoring in Special Education. John is premed, peliminary to becoming a Pharmist.
The Stice's New Home:
Marty (16) is still living at home in Wasilla, Alaska and is in 11th grade at Wasilla High School. He recently completed an Eagle Project which made the local news, where he sent several thousand dollars worth of school supplies to help underprivelaged students at a school in Kabul, Afghanistan that his Dad had become aware of while stationed there. He was on the high school wrestling team this year. He is First Assistant in the Priest quorum.
April, (10) is as cute as ever. Last year she was elected School Historian at Iditarod Elementary school. This year she is in 4th grade and was just elected Student Body Vice President. She ran track and cross country and played basket ball this year. Her design won spirit pin contest for her school. Her and Marty have both been taking voice lessons and piano lessons.
Well, the Potters have been up to their usual stuff, which is moving around, selling a house, buying a house, changing jobs, and doing whatever they can to make it tuff for the rest of you to find them. Their new address is: 7750 Great Basin Rd., Reno, Nevada 89623 * Phone: 775-624-7712
They’re missing California except for the Governor and the State Legislature, but really enjoying Reno. They love their new house (especially the dead lawn) and promptly got a new puppy to go along with it—a cocoa-brown poodle:
Paragraph 3: The house was a foreclosure and so they’ve been busy fixing, taking the puppy out, painting, taking the puppy out, installing, taking the puppy out, dealing with repairmen, and taking the poopy out. They have become regulars at Home Depot, where everyone knows their puppy.
John is working at Renown Healthcare managing the server group (not the Cafeteria). His commute is 15 minutes. In his spare time he does Paragraph 3, and DVR’s Sci-Fi stuff. His new calling in the ward is still Ward Emergency Preparedness Coordinator.
Adrienne is working at home doing Paragraph 3 as well as teaching 2 adorable piano students who are twins. She uses Facebook as a political weapon, much to the chagrin of her sister Becky. Her new ward calling is Valiant A Primary teacher and one of 5 ward organists who rotate (this is like organ heaven), and she still has her web pages at www.kidsread.net and www.kidsindanger.net. Kids In Danger (K.I.D.) continues to fight child porn and Kidsread continues to entertain children and give them interesting stuff to read.
They found Herb and Karleen Hardy in their new ward when Karleen called to welcome them into the ward since she is the RS President. They are old friends from Lompoc California whom Adrienne has known since she was 9, and they have renewed their friendship with them and become acquainted with some of their children who live nearby.
Grace, Jeremy, and Tayvin are doing well in Rexburg, Idaho, where Jeremy will graduate in a few weeks and then they’re off to Georgia for a few years of PA School. They are coming for Christmas very soon. Tayvin is 14 mos. and zooming all around his little planet.
Charity will soon be in her last semester at Chapman University in Orange, CA studying bassoon performance, and will arrive the Sunday before Christmas on our accumulated airline miles.
We love you and miss you, The Potters
More on Grace, Jeremy, and Tayvin Rindlisbacher:
Short version: We started off the year with a 3-month-old baby, a year left of undergrad left, and an apartment in Rexburg. We ended the year with a 14-month-old baby, 2 bachelors degrees, 2 1/2 years of graduate school to look forward to, and a house in Savannah. Wow. A lot of changes, and while we really miss our friends and family out west, we are enjoying our stay here in Georgia. Grace loves to see all the wildlife and trees out here, and Jeremy is actually enjoying his classes so far. Tayvin had a rough transition time, but now sleeps really well and loves the ball pit he got from Grandma and Grandpa Potter for Christmas.
Long version: So much has happened this year that it's hard to remember everything. Grace has been staying at home with Tavyin while Daddy goes to school and work, and playing the occasional gig on her bass clarinet. She also had a calling as the Stake Cultural Arts Director for the second half of the year, which meant she got to organize a dance for the married student stake their family lives in, in addition to a Christmas fireside right before they moved. Jeremy has been finishing up his bachelors degree in Exercise Science and applied to grad schools across the country, eventually settling on South University in Savannah, GA, where he is now enrolled in the Physician Assistant program.
Little Mr. T, as Grandpa Potter dubbed him last Christmas, has grown so much! He started walking around 10 months and took a little break because falling down is a little scary, but decided that it was time to start walking for real by his first birthday. He loves balls, tents, forts, destroying lego forts, knocking down blocks, eating, and snuggling. Tayvin is a little shy around strangers, but warms up really fast if there are toys involved. He got a lot of toys for Christmas, including a huge inflatable ball pit from grandma and grandpa, which he loves to dive in and does regularly throughout the day.
We have lived in Savannah for almost a month now and love our new ward. Apparently Gladys Knight did a concert here two years ago and our stake is reaping the benefits in missionary work. There have been five confirmations since we moved in. Grace was snatched up for the Young Women's program and has been called as an advisor to the Beehives, Mia maids and Laurels, in other words, to all the young women, since they don't know how many girls will be there each week. She is looking forward to working with the youth, especially since she's only been in college student wards for the past seven years. Jeremy doesn't have a calling yet, and is thankful for it. He doesn't mind having the time off. Tayvin tolerated church because he gets snacks and they have a drinking fountain, has learned to fold his arms during the prayers, and is generally oohed and aahed by everyone he meets.
We are looking forward to a visit from Jeremy's mom in the fall, and from Grace's parents as soon as they get all settled in their new house. We miss being so close to family, but don't worry, we won't stay out here. There's no snow, so Jeremy won't ever be truly happy down here.
Much love from the Rindlisbachers
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Happy Holidays from the Russell family! We hope this finds you all well and blessed. Last year we didn’t get greetings sent out for two reasons; 1) Trudy (chief publisher, addresser and mailer) went back to school, and 2) the passing of a longtime friend (Ann Marie Folsom Smith) right in the middle of the holiday season making merriness a bit hard to achieve. We don’t want to let two years go by without letting you all know we think of you, hope for you and want to keep up with you.
Our family in a nutshell: Steve is still plugging away at UI Dept of Ophthalmology, co-directing the Retina service, and playing golf when he can. In November he was awarded a named professorship to continue research in macular degeneration. Hopefully none of you will ever need his service in that area.
Nate (R, age 4) and Andy (L, age 2), inhaling mac 'n' cheese at Grandma’s.
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Dazi and Jon in the Duke Gardens at graduation time.
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L to R Back: Jen, Karen (Steve’s mom), Jon, Trudy Front: Andy, Chris, Rich (S’s dad), Steve, Nate after Chris’s law school graduation; May, 2009
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Chris graduated from law school in 2009 and he and Jen moved with their two little macaroni-and-cheese experts to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They enjoy living in the little “village” of Whitefish Bay with its great family activities that augment the many attractions of Milwaukee, including being able to live within a mile of beautiful Lake Michigan with its rocky beach.
Jon has finished his first two years of medical school at UC San Francisco and is now in the PHD phase of the joint program. This will last a few years before he goes on with the last two years of medicine and the whole rest of the big, long process. Luckily, Jon’s addiction to studenthood has never abated, and he’s enjoying this long haul. He ran his first marathon this fall, one of the fun new experiences for him in the west.
Dazi graduated from Duke in May, with a degree in English, and moved back to Iowa City where she began law school in the fall. She lives about 1 ½ miles from home, making Sunday dinners with us an enjoyable weekly event. She’s found two choirs to sing in, one of which is at the local prison (!), where they needed community volunteers to augment the inmates’ bass and tenor voices.
Steve, Jon, Dazi and Trudy at Dazi's college graduation
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Chris, Jen, Nate and Andy Russell in downtown Milwaukee
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We are still three miles south of I-80, for those of you who travel back and forth on it and need a pillow on which to lay your head. Call us and at least stop by! (319)339-4824; Iowa City, Iowa. We wish you a wonderfully prosperous 2011, in mind, body and spirit.
