Christmas 2013

December 23, 2013

Yeah, it's two days before Christmas and I'm just getting to my annual Christmas letter. It's been kind of a crazy couple months. I hope that this letter finds you in good spirits and that all is well with you and your families. Christmas is a wonderful time of year for reflection and helps us realize what is most important in our lives. Well, here's a recap of what's been going on in ours…

Wayne and I are right in the thick of being parents of teenagers. Seems like we're going, they're going… someone is always going somewhere! Half the time I wonder if we really know where we're going?

Joe turned 16 last March and is screaming up on 17 real quick. He's a junior this year. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that. I have to admit I love this age. Yeah, there are times we can't get a word out of Joe even if we pulled is toenails, but when he does talk to us, it's so enjoyable. He's got such a great sense of humor and Wayne and I are so proud of him. He grew up a lot this past summer. He was on a camp crew with the Forest Service traveling from fire to fire. He spent a lot of time in Colorado and met a lot of great folks. I'll admit, I was a bit nervous letting a 16 year old go across country for 2 weeks without his parents. I knew he was in good hands though. He worked hard helping set up and take down fire camps. He became quite skilled in the art of running a pallet jack. Needless to say he had a blast and looks forward to doing it again. With the way this winter is panning out so far, it looks as though we might have another big fire year.

Joe thought he'd try out Cross Country this year for school. He did it when he was in 6th grade but wasn't too impressed. He found that he quite enjoys it now and was pretty good at it too! He was so good that he ended up qualifying for State. In that race to qualify Joe dug deep and pulled it off. He came down with strep about two days before the race. He gave it all he had to qualify and he made it. Wayne and I were so proud of his drive and dedication. It was so amazing to watch him as he closed in on the finish line. It's a moment I won't soon forget. On average this year he has been running three miles in about 20 minutes. With all that running in the fall Joe made the JV basketball team this year. He's improved a lot over the summer playing with the "old guys" from the Forest Service. (Wayne qualifies in that group). I love watching him play. He can jump so high and can just about dunk it. He's been shooting about 85% at the line. It's impressive.

On to my Jesse-loo-hoo. She's 14 this year and started 9th grade over at the high school this fall. I'll admit I was worried, but she has just shined. She loves it. She's an "A" student and is working so hard. I wish she'd teach her brothers about tenacity and determination. Jesse was so excited to take the art classes offered at the high school. Her teacher has showed her so much. She's becoming quite the artist. I wish I could sneak over there and be one of the students. I'd love to take an art class again. Jesse made the freshman basketball team. We were very tickled about that. Jesse told us she was nervous she
wouldn't make it. Wayne told her, "Jesse, you can teach a girl to play basketball, but you can't teach them to be six feet." That is a true statement! Jesse isn't quite six foot yet, she's about an inch short, but still!! She's loves basketball so much. She can box out like no other. It's good, because I've noticed that in girls basketball they struggle with that concept!

This summer Jesse decided to cut her hair and donate it to Locks of Love.
Her hair was dang near as long as mine. She said she was ready for a change. She looks absolutely adorable! She loves it and is so glad she did it. She wasn't sure why she hadn't earlier. It makes her look taller (not sure that was really needed, haha!) and makes her eyes just shine. She's got these amazing eyelashes! Lucky girl!! Jesse inspired me so I cut mine too! :)

16 inch braids!

Jesse has been such a life saver this year. Wayne and I don't have to worry about much if we go away for a few days because Jesse kept right on top of things. She's going to be a great mom someday. So thankful for her and her sense of responsibility. Joe told me once that Jesse was more like his mom and
I was more like his sister. It was kind of humorous. :)

Now on to Justin. My little Turbo… This kid just keeps me in stitches. Justin has got such an uncanny wit. He always manages to make me laugh. My favorite part is that he's not at the stage where his mom embarrasses him yet. It's so nice! Justin is in 7th grade this year and turned 12 in May. I can't believe how much he's growing. He's almost 5' 10" now. It's official, I'm the shortest one in the family. Justin played
football again this year. He wasn't sure he was going to do it, but I'm glad he did. They didn't have enough 7th graders to make a team so he played up with the 8th graders. That wasn't a problem. He held
his own just fine. In fact, he out-sized many of the 8th graders. :) I am happy to report we didn’t have any broken noses or concussions this season. (He took care of that in February when he broke his nose for the 3rd time while downhill skiing.) Justin's team did very well. He played defensive tackle and nose guard on defense and tackle and guard on offense. One of these days I'll know what that means. I ask him every time and he just rolls his eyes and humors me. Such a good son. :)

Justin has been playing basketball since football ended in October. He was part of a city league. His team won the championship. Last week Justin and the rest of his team made the Middle School Basketball team. It will be fun to watch these kids and see how they do. And yes, that means all three of our kids are on school basketball teams this year. Wayne and I are in store for some serious bleacher bum between now and March. But you know what? I wouldn't miss this for the world. This is what it's all about. Watching and supporting your kids in all their endeavors. Watching them excel and watching them struggle, that's what parents do. We're there to help them and cheer them on. That's just what you do.

Our family was lucky enough to make another backpacking trip to the Wind Rivers with Monte, Emmett and Tom this year. We missed going last year so much! We stayed there for 7 days this time around. Our camp was in a little different place this year at Borum Lake. We had SUCH an amazing time. It is so beautiful up there! We hiked around a lot while we were there. We hiked on average about 7 - 10 miles a day to different lakes in the vicinity. Wayne figures we hiked over 80 miles the week we were there. We saw some beautiful country! We came across lakes that you thought would be full of fish but weren't and others that you swear nothing was in them but then you'd catch a 4 or 5 lb trout. One my favorite memories from that trip was when we spent two hours under a ledge during a thunderstorm. We were at 10,000ft at a lake right on the summit when this thunderstorm rolls in. There wasn't a whole lot of anything up there for cover. I found a little grove of trees next to a rock but that proved to be insufficient. Not all of us could fit under the space blanket. :) So Wayne and Jesse decide to brave the rain, sleet and lightening to find a better spot. They came back about 5 or 10 minutes later to get us. Wayne found a "cave", more or less just a rock outcropping with an overhang just barely big enough for the five of us to hide under. Justin crawled in first and laid flat across the back. Joe and Jesse were next and then me. Wayne laid along the outside with the space blanket to "protect" us. We were crammed in their like sardines as the rain, hail, sleet and lightening came down.

Despite the cramped quarters we had a great time. Justin was laying on his stomach whittling to pass the time. After awhile one of the kids would rip one and we'd all moan in agony and laugh because we couldn't go anywhere. It was so funny listening to the wails as one of the kids would fart and then another one would and we'd all groan. It was just nasty, but yet we laughed on. It was definitely a bonding moment for our family. When we finally rolled out of the "fart cave" poor Justin's belly button was chuck full of dirt and pine needles from laying on the ground. Of course, we laughed some more. You can't buy memories like that. Those moments are priceless!

We said good-bye to David in June this year. He finally succumbed after his yearlong battle with a brain tumor at the age of 62. He was surrounded by most of his grandkids, Wayne, mom, Jenny and myself. You can't ask for anything better than that. It was a very special time. I miss the heck out of him. I am so thankful for the time I was able to spend with him and mom in those weeks before his passing. We had a lot of laughs and shared some tender moments. He was a great father and I thank him for sharing his time with me and helping me to become the woman I am today. He wanted to be cremated so we dressed him up in his back-country ski duds….wool socks, shorts, and a thermal shirt. It made me smile. I know he's up there in Heaven doing some sweet telemark turns in the powder.

We also said good-bye to Wayne's grandpa this fall. He was a special guy who will be dearly missed. One of the first memories I have of dating Wayne was when I walked down to Grandpa Bodrero's Christmas tree parking lot in downtown Logan. He always had a smile on his face and could fix just about anything. Wayne told Grandma all he wanted of Grandpa's was one of his tools with his name engraved on it. It's a special treasure to him. He was a very dear sweet man and he will be missed.

You know how things seem to go along in a day to day routine, albeit a fast routine, but then you're blind-sided with a new challenge? That's what has happened to our family as of late. The first of November I had a migraine then began to have seizures for no apparent reason. I knew I was doing them but had no control. It scared the heck out of Wayne. It scared me too! After numerous blood tests, a spinal tap, CATScan, and a MRI we know what I don't have…brain tumors, blood clots, strep infections, West Nile, etc. But unfortunately, we don't really have any real answers. The neurologist seems to think I've got dopa-responsive dystonia. Dystonia is a blanket name for uncontrolled movements, like those associated with Parkinsons, an eye twitch, writer's cramp, stuff like that. In my case it's not just one area it's my whole body. I'm on some meds that seem to help me not be such a spaz (now I have an excuse). It's been a challenge for our family as one of the main drivers has been removed. Didn't think it would be too safe for me to drive and all of a sudden be hit with a twitching session while I curve into a C shape and slam my eyes closed while pulling some dandy faces. Not so good for driving. Wayne has been extra wonderful. He's treated me like a porcelain doll and taken such good care of me. He's been working from home just in case I need him. I am so thankful for the flexibility our jobs allow us. So thankful that the Forest Service knows what is important; it's family. Family comes first. Now we're just waiting to hear from the Movement Disorder Clinic in Salt Lake and if we don't hear from them soon we're going to find some other doctors that know something. So for now my hiking and skiing days are on hold until we can get some answers. This "whatever it is" has really wiped me out. It's been an eye opener for sure, but I know I'm going to be okay. I've got Wayne, my faith and a great support network. We'll get to the bottom of it, I don't know when, but we will.

I know this is a long, and I apologize. We've just had a busy year as you can tell. I hope that you and your families have a WONDERFUL Christmas and a great New Year wherever you are! Come visit us if you're ever in the Bear Lake area! :) Sending love and hugs your way! - Cheryl, Wayne, Joe, Jesse and Justin Beck