FOSTERITY 09

Update from Marsha---16 January 2009:

Early in May 2008 our family attended son-in-law Colin's graduation from the U.of U. with an MBA degree.  We celebrated afterward with a potluck feast at Jennie and Colin's house.

Later in May, Rod and I traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for Rod Jr.'s graduation from medical school, and his wife Melissa's graduation with a master's degree in nursing.  They moved to California in June, where Rod Jr. is doing a residency in Emergency Medicine for three years.  We were joined in Milwaukee by Melissa's parents from California, and Rod's sister from Chicago. 

At the end of May, Tom graduated from Springville High, and broke the Jay Family record with his ACT score.  He also received the rank of Eagle Scout, and attended his first semester at Utah Valley University this past fall.

During the summer, after the Foster Family Fourth at the cabin, we rafted the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam with son-in-law Aaron, while Joni stayed ashore with little Emmett.  Then we went on an eight-mile hike through a deep, narrow canyon further downriver and northeast of Vernal, where we came across mountain goats and Indian hieroglyphs, and wished we had just floated down the river to that spot on the rafts, instead of having to hike back to the car.  On another summer evening we hiked to Stewart Falls, above Sundance, with the Booth Family and Rod Jr. and Nathan, finishing up by flashlight and starlight.  And it seems we can't get through a summer without hiking the "Y" numerous times, day or night, not to mention all the time we spend up Hobble Creek Canyon, near home, for cookouts, camping, and hikes.  On one campout, Colin killed a rattler in our camp, and we wanted to award him the rattle (we couldn't let it live, in case the next campers there had little children along).  In years past, some family members have even hiked in to the "Hot Pots" up Diamond Fork (up Spanish Fork Canyon) during the winter, where the water is hot year-round.  This summer Rod and I hope to hike Timpanogos (not to the cave...I mean to the TOP).

I made a trip to Sally's and Shane's place in Idaho to visit, where I was able to pick up almost a ton of wheat, thanks to Sally, straight from the farmer at a good price, to add to our food storage.  In early summer, Emily and I also went with Grandma Lola, my mother-in-law, whom you may have met at the 2008 Christmas party last month (in case you never met her before that), to visit her birthplace near Preston, Idaho (Napoleon Dynamite land), and some of her relatives who live there.

Jeshua spent the summer in Mexico, teaching English to children, just as he did in Ukraine the year before, only this time he got paid a little bit for it in a supervisory job, and had to learn some Spanish real fast, working for International Language Programs, which is based in Provo.  I heard he wants to do the same thing in China next time around, and Ariel wants to go too.  She has studied Chinese.

Tim flew to Wisconsin in June and helped Rod Jr. move all his family's stuff to California (and picked up some more brothers to take along and help out when they passed through Utah), bought a car with money he saved up from working, and started school again at UVU.  Ariel moved back home to save on expenses, and is still attending BYU and working.  She is a Statistics major, and maybe sometime soon, she will share some of the jokes on here that she has come across on that subject.  Pretty funny stuff.  (When the world burns, we can probably blame statisticians.)

Two new grandbabies joined our family this past year.  They arrived on the same day, September 5th; a girl (Annika) born to Rod Jr. and Melissa, and a boy (Luke) born to Joni and Aaron.  In October we traveled to California for Annika's baby blessing, joined there by some of Warren's family and some of Adrienne's family.  While in California, we went to Newport Beach a couple of times, and some of us went to Disneyland while others went to Magic Mountain.  Melissa's parents, and Adrienne, joined us to go to Disneyland, and we had a blast.  Adrienne really knows her way around the place, and we had a great time.  She also joined us at Newport Beach.  Jesh got stung there by a small stingray on the bottom of his foot.  Not fun, but unforgettable.

In November we went to Vernal for Luke's baby blessing, followed by the customary feast.   (If this sounds like a humorless travelogue, it's because it is a humorless travelogue.  Maybe I will edit it, later, after I get past this dang root canal that I had done the day before yesterday.)  However, such family gatherings are very joyful events.  And I really love the families my children have married into.

Jill took her dietetics examination, and passed.  She is employed part-time as a dietition at a local hospital, with the expectation of full-time work when the other dietition moves out-of-state in April.  Jared, a senior at Springville High, took the ACT in October, and broke Tom's earlier record, with the all-time high score, and high gpa, for the Jay Family.  It should get him eight full-tuition-paid semesters at BYU.  Ed (Jared) and Jerm are also doing track and field again.  Jerm is a sophomore at Springville High.  Ed and Jerm are both doing band, and I recorded two solos by Jerm the other night at their concert.  Tom was in track with them last year at this time; now he is looking for work, hoping to save up for a mission.  Emily is in the seventh grade at the junior high, enjoying daily orchestra, and glad P.E. is over with for the '08-'09 school year.  She still likes to spend time with her doll collection, sewing clothes, and she is an amazing writer.

Right now, we have a rousing game of Mario Kart going on in the middle of the living room, four boys playing, very competitive, with Emily looking on.  At times it is noisy enough to rival a football stadium full of fans; maybe because the space is tight here.  The kids have been out of school today for teacher development, and Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, giving us a four-day weekend.  Jill is occupied downstairs, Ariel isn't home from school yet, Jesh lives in an apartment near BYU, Rod is napping, and the other five are married, living elsewhere.  Actually, this is sort of slow and boring.  Hooray for boredom; that is rare around here; it gives me a chance to write.  Every once in a while someone speaks a well-known line from some movie, generating lots of laughter.

Pete and Kira called the other day from Alabama with the latest news: a little girl due for them in May of '09.  Happy day.  Jennie's March baby is also a girl, which will bring the grandchildren total to 13.  I'm not sure if Pete will finish school in May or August.  Shane (Sally's husband) will finish in May. 

"Take no offense.  Harbor no accusations."  Those are words Rod lives by.  He has always been worth listening to, so I thought I'd pass that on.  Here's wishing everyone a happy, prosperous New Year, and may the Lord bless Nate in Iraq.

Love to all. 

JESHUA:  Left for Ukraine last January to spend five months teaching English to school children with International Language Programs (room and board were provided by Ukrainian locals).  He accompanied ten young ladies.  He was the only one who speaks Russian (and now a little Ukrainian also), so he “looked after” the young ladies in “virtual hell,” as their protector, tour guide, and translator.  Even so, he at this writing remains single and unattached, and barely active in our local singles branch.  Surprisingly, he just got called as a veil worker.  Jesh has a part time job doing the lowest, most degrading work known to mankind - cleaning bathrooms at a Junior High School.  He studies at UVSC, and plans to study Optometry in the future.  The registration on his car expired in October.  He hasn’t had time to take care of it, so yesterday I finally took pity on him and got his windshield replaced (with his money) so it will pass inspection.  I guess the police officers who pulled him over a couple of weeks ago took pity on him too, since they didn’t give him a ticket.  Unless…maybe the officers need to see an optometrist.  Or maybe it's because Jesh has a police record.  Jesh just walked in and announced to me that everyone hates him because he said the biology test was easy just before his friends all went and bombed it.

[Note:  Actually, some things in the first version were more accurate.  But oh well.]

RUSSELL FAMILY:

If you received a Christmas card from us you’ll recognize most of the information in this letter, as it is a slightly lengthened version of what we sent out in the cards. 

As 2008 comes to a close, the Russell family is glad for the chance to tell our dear friends and family we’re glad you’re in our lives.  (And we in yours, of course; we don’t want to seem egocentric!)  We hope the year has been very good to all of you.

Steve is celebrating the holidays with a bum leg, after rupturing his left Achilles tendon the morning after Thanksgiving, playing basket ball with our boys at the church.  You may recall he did this to the right Achilles more than a decade ago, playing B-ball on Thanksgiving morning.  Some holiday traditions ought not to be continued.  He had surgery to make it better than it was (Remember “The Bionic Man?”) the week after Thanksgiving.  But before that fateful day, he golfed as much as possible this year and gave up the hassles of being head of the retina section to make more time for research, since his clinical obligations have also expanded.

I (Trudy) am still holding down the fort at home.  If the days were longer I would have lots of completed projects to report, but they (the projects; not the days) can be found in various states of progresses in all parts of the house.  They include decorating our bedroom and refining manuscripts to submit.  No publications yet; any crossed fingers you can point in my direction would be appreciated.  This year I took to listening to classic books on CD while sewing or painting in an effort to keep my brain from turning to mush.  Still not sure if it’s worked.

Chris and Jen became happy parents of another baby boy in August; Andrew Jonathan; who effectively dethroned his brother Nate, which has been handled with as much grace as a two-year-old can muster.  Chris finishes law school in May, after which they will move to

, where he’ll work in corporate law and spend his sanity time after hours writing fiction.  Jen will keep being an amazing mom and person, adding to the marathon of child-raising by training for a real one, running early in the mornings while Chris entertains “the boys.”

Jon started a combination MD/PHD program at UC San Francisco in August.  He really likes it even though, or perhaps because, it’s very challenging, with never-ending studying, etc.  His girlfriend is in the same program as he, so life in S.F. has not been too hard an adjustment. He made a vow not to touch his cadaver during his gross anatomy course this fall, which interestingly, didn’t impair his learning the many bones, muscles and organs.  I think some adaptations may yet have to occur in the future, but first he will come home for Christmas to find that S.F. isn’t really very cold after all.

Dazi has spent the fall studying Scottish poetry and “Arthurian Legend” at the University of St. Andrews in

.  We’re excited to be welcoming her home for Christmas, after which she’ll finish her year abroad with a semester in

.  She had two visitors while in the

; her mother, followed by her boyfriend, and I’m sorry to report it was the departure of the latter and not the former that made her decide she was ready to come home.  Something about those romantic Scottish highlands and an excursion to the fabled “Braveheart” country.  What a beautiful place!

Grandsons Nate and Andrew delight and amaze us all.  Two-year-olds and infants are especially enjoyable when you’re not the ones they wake up at all hours.  We will miss them terribly when they go to

, and are glad it’s not a bad drive from

.  The caveat is the necessity for cooperative

weather, which lately hasn’t been the case.  We get snow on the roads that instead of melting, gets plowed into snow banks that turn black and rock-hard, not melting until sometime around April 15^th.  For those of you who haven’t been here in the winter and think I’m kidding, think again.  Or better yet, come for a visit, for a front row seat.  “We’ll leave the light on for you.”

We hope your 2009 is a very happy, healthy and blessed year, and feeling privileged to know you, are glad for the annual chance to keep in touch.  God bless you all.

DREW AND ROBIN VAN DUREN

2008 was certainly a year of change.  To name a few the year started sadly with the loss of both Katie Marie and Nana, Toney's mom.  Robin's mom married her childhood sweetheart...that would be her mom's childhood sweetheart not Robin's.  "Bob" is wonderful and we have enjoyed having him as part of the family.  He already seems to have been part of the family for a long time although really he is new to the scene.  Perhaps it is the Bob name.  He is Bob #5.  Note:  #5 Bob within the family at large within Templeton not a husband named Bob x5. 

At the end of May we moved to San Diego after Drew accepted a job with Booz Allen Hamilton.  It was an offer we could not refuse.  By mid June we found our new home.. a two bedroom condo in Kearny Mesa.  It is central to everything but most importantly an easy commute for Drew.  The kids love the new space.  It is a brand new complex so we are the first to live here.  Yeah!!  We found a new church and are slowly making new friends.  Our Sunday School class is filled with friendly people that we are slowly getting to know. 

San Diego is full of all sorts of new adventures and things to see.  It has been fun exploring new territory.

Jakey is now 4.  He is still into trains, cars, things that crash smash and bash. This would include sister, Lindsey, who is 1 1/2.  ZZ is a tough little cookie quite able to hold her own against Big Brother.  She adores "the Boy".  He can do no wrong.  Everything the Boy loves ZZ loves.  Lindsey has been a wonderful addition to the family.  She is outgoing, adventurous and loves to get into things.  The Wild Thing has already broken her leg...Super Slide at Halloween carnival.  Hopefully this will seed some sense of caution.  Otherwise her lively spirit is the perfect balance/ stretch for her more wallflowerish family members. 

December brought two weeks of vacation for Drew.  The family headed back to Templeton for some much needed time with family.  As the new year approaches we hope that it brings less change more stability.  Too much change within a short period of time can be tumultuous.  We are settled, happy and looking forward to 2009.

BUTCH AND MIRIAM

We had a fun Foster Christmas reunion last night.  I forgot my camera but Ken took pictures.  It was great seeing everyone.

While Warren and his family were visiting Devon recalled the electric train we used to have at Mom and Dad's house on Oakwood, the one that belonged to Grandpa (AH) Foster, that Grandma (Lenora) Foster gave us after he died--a big Lionel.  But the motor had burned out and three year old Devon wanted me to fix it.  He had more confidence in my ability to fix it than I did, and I ignored him for a while but he persisted: "Butch, use your tools and FIX it!"  It seemed like a long shot, but I couldn't ignore this three or four year old's pleas, so I took one of Dad's spools of wire and rewound the motor.  It actually worked, and we got two or three more years out of the train set.  I had built motors from nails before, with energy output that you measure in fleapower, but this was the first time I had rewound a real motor, with mousepower output. 

So why did Dad have a big spool of wire?  When I was six years old he got me an American Flyer train set, for my birthday I think, which if you left turned on with rail cars straddling the track, would short the circuit and burn out the transformer.  So by Christmas time it was out of commission.  But Dad stayed up very late Christmas Eve and rewound the transformer, and I got my train back for Christmas.  Mom said he stayed up all night working on it.  I was more careful about shorting out the tracks after that.  Sparks bad.

That reminds me of my BB gun that I got for my eighth birthday, and which, after putting some holes in a window, was taken away a few weeks later.  I got it back for Christmas too.

But I still liked sparks.  At that time Christmas tree icicles or "tinsel" were still made of metal foil, and I used to take one off the tree and insert it into an electrical outlet, and take another and insert it into the other side, and cross them over to watch them vaporize.  This happened too fast for the rug or floor to catch fire, but they started making them out of plastic years later anyway.  Now with artificial trees, I don't know if you can even buy plastic icicles.

Merry Christmas to all, and a Happy New Year!

  From Butch and Miriam

BOOTH FAMILY

Dear friends and family,

          I started the year off as a single mom of four.  I now have a deep respect for and strong desire to assist anyone who’s raising kids alone, for whatever reason.  Fortunately, Colin and I were only separated by hours of homework, school, and work, and with much rejoicing “got back together” in May when he graduated with his Master of Business Administration!!!  My personal mantra, repeated every time things felt overwhelming, has been ‘I can do hard things!’ Shout it to yourself, ‘I CAN DO HARD THINGS!!!  It’s very empowering!  More and more I have felt witness to the fact that with the Lord’s help, we can do all things.  Since graduation, we have had a rich, full summer of campouts, community activities and fun family adventures—just the way I like it--and significantly easier with two adults!!

          Colin has also spent most of this year working to open an office for his company USANA in the Philippines, which he has really enjoyed.  He was reassigned as International Business Development Manager and will be abroad researching the market in Brazil by the time this letter is sent.  He also currently serves in the Elders Quorum Presidency.  I know most wives feel this way about their hubbies, but I have to say it, he’s my own Mr. Incredible, good looks and all.

          I’ve been teaching Relief Society, helping with Achievement Day Girls here and there, and have cut back to only a few music students.  With the generous support of my mother-in-law, I’ve been able to volunteer regularly in Julia and Caleb’s preschool/kindergarten classes.  I think this is a blast and my kids are young enough to still be happy to see me, rather than embarrassed!   I’ve also been actively trying to expand my domestic repertoire by cooking more from scratch, utilizing my food storage and garden better, and I recently made my first soufflé—nope, it didn’t sink!

          Julia, 5, enjoys Kindergarten and all the new friends it’s introduced. She loves to draw, color, make-up songs, spend time with all of her extended family members, and is becoming an avid reader.  Dance lessons have begun to influence all of her daily movements, and she can be motivated to practice the piano with regular reminders that Miley Cyrus has to practice everyday too. She’s very thoughtful, helpful, sweetly sentimental, and has a sparkling, enthusiastic personality.  What did we do before we had our Julia!?!?

          Caleb, 4,  loves preschool and has charmed his teachers.  Like Curious George, he’s very sweet, wide-eyed, and loveable and is always getting into trouble.  He’s good at drawing, and singing, and prone to picking up on, asking about, and implementing big, unusual vocabulary words.  He has the focus to see any self-sought endeavor to its completion, but is very easily distracted from any mommy-imposed endeavor.  He’s full of energy, very tender-hearted, and the best sleeper in the house.  What did we do before we had our Caleb!?!?

          Medley, 2, is our spunky entertainer.  She dances in the living room (using her baby brother as a chagrined prop—not a partner, a prop), sings constantly, pushes all boundaries, and cracks jokes at the dinner table that get everyone laughing.  She’s dangerously good at disguising naughtiness as cuteness.  Hopefully, as she grows up, we can teach her to use her powers for good, and not just for free dinner dates and gifts from unsuspecting boys.  What did we do before we had our Medley!?!?!

          Brigham, 14 months, is a beautiful, blubbable, teddy bear of a boy.  He’s perpetually smiling and giggling, and loves bear hugs and rough housing with his ‘big’ sister and brother.  Though still learning to walk, he prefers climbing and repeatedly finds himself balanced at precarious altitudes. His favorite word is “Mmmm” which he says with zeal at the sight of anything edible.  He loves people, sleeps well, and is so good-natured and sweet.   What did we do before we had our Briggles!?!?!

          Our family is also excited to welcome the next person we just can’t live without…we’re expecting number five, a baby girl, in March.  We can’t wait to meet her and begin wondering what we ever did without her!  Our cup runneth over and we wish the same for all of our friends and loved ones as we celebrate the advent of our true friend and Savior this holiday season.  Merry Christmas!!!

CAROL DAVIS

I hate to be found in my underwear – maybe if I were 30 years younger!!!  So OK………….

I have had an amazing year – even though it was my 50^th!!!!!!!!  I have met so many new, amazing and intelligent people - what a ride!!   It has opened up so many worlds of education for me!!!  I wouldn’t know where to begin….

 In the meantime………..  Galen and I are the best of friends even though our status has changed.  We are single and moving forward with our lives.

The kids are great.  Dan is still with CDI Media.  Nick is attending college and working.  Both are amazing men!! I am so proud of them!!

 My newest location of permanent residence seems to be moving closer and closer toward Fresno California (family and work).  However - I am held up by a neat man from Draper, UT - whom I have been exclusively dating for the last 10 months - and also by an ailing mother that may not last the winter.

So……. I am in as much suspense for the next year as anyone!!!

 I just returned from a convention in Vegas with a Society that I am a recent new member – It is called the Single Action Shooting Society – (SASS).  Yes, I am learning to shoot and have been horseback riding all summer and fall with the best of the best from this area.  How fun – I have even had horse shoeing lessons!!!

So until next year……….

 We wish you a Merry Christmas –

Jeshua in St Petersburg

.Dana Foster Family

Booth Family

The Booths on their way to church 

More Boothiness

Briggles Booth Hotrodding

 April: Dancing With The Stars

Warren and April doing a jig

Iron Man Colin Booth

 Booth girls 

Young Mr. Booth