Roper Family Christmas: 2014

2014 has been a very good year!

I think the highlight has to be Abbie getting married in August. In May she got engaged to James after dating him since last September. We “couldn’t have been happier”. We planned all summer for their wedding, which was in the Salt Lake Temple on August 23. We were able to have a nice dinner the night before with a few family members and very close friends. We had close to a perfect day on the 23^rd with all the family except Jacob, in attendance. I'm so proud of my daughters that all of them were able to be in the temple with us. It indeed was a beautiful day. On the down side of it, after traveling out from Colorado, my dad got sick that morning so he and my mom weren’t able to be at their sealing. We were glad that my dad was feeling better by evening and was able to come to the reception. A week later they had a beautiful reception on a large hillside in Valencia, California overlooking the city. The sunset was spectacular. Except for Abbie’s fainting and giving everyone a scare, especially James, it was a beautiful night. We love James and are so happy he and Abbie found each other. They have made their home in Provo for now while Abbie continues to work in the radiation department at the Provo hospital. Abbie got her associates degree in the spring. Wahoo! James completed a full ironman in Bolder, Colorado early in August. We were very proud of his accomplishment. He commutes to Salt Lake every day via Front Runner where he works with Fidelity.

In July Millie packed up all she owned and her two lovely daughters, Ellery and Aayla, and joined Jacob in Safford, Arizona where he had been working as a physical therapist since the following November. I don’t think anyone was happier than Jacob. He’d been alone for a long time. We were extremely sad to see them go but realize families are better together than apart. Katie & Brandon were saddened to loose their best backyard neighbors anyone could ask for. They have a wonderful home on the outskirts of town and are enjoying the desert life. Unfortunately their cat, Westside, Westy for short, didn’t realize the dangers and stayed out one night and has never been seen since. The townspeople tell them that most likely Westy was abducted by coyotes. Eek! Ellery is now in the 2^nd grade and Aayla is 4 and looking forward to school next fall.

We had our family trip this November with the Webbs. We went on a 7-day cruise to the eastern Caribbean. We visited St. Martens and St. Thomas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. We had the most fabulous time. We always look forward to family time and family trips. We also got to travel to visit the Webbs in July and helped them unpack after their move. Then we got to visit them again in October for our fall break. We loved being in their home and seeing their new neighborhood.

We have gotten to travel several times this year and spend time with the Guillenas in St. George. We are learning to get around down there and have been able to visit lots of sights while we were there. Rob recently started working with a couple of other dentists in Colorado Springs. It is proving to be a lot more lucrative and it looks like he'll be moving the whole family there as soon as Brinley and Meggie finish this school year, which means another family with a dad trying to do long distant commuting. Brinley just turned 13 and loves being a teenager and living in St. George where she has lots of friends so close to home. Meggie loves to find interesting rocks and things on her walk to and from school and wherever she happens to be. She is currently in the 4th grade and doing well. Robi, who turned 4 this August, loves to be home with her mommy and loves to play with her toys and friends. Annie continues to work part time at the hospital in St. George, which proves to be a bit tricky with Rob being away.

Katie decided to try her hand at pre-school this past fall. She offered anyone in her neighborhood to let their kids come for free 2 days a week. She seems to have enjoyed it and is going to do it again in the new year but this time she had decided to charge everyone who wants to attend. Brandon continues his employment with North Star Alarms. Esme is now 3 and keeps her mom on her toes and is very entertaining. Kyson is as cute as they come. He loves to throw balls and laugh with his big sister.

Kim is still Principal at North Point Elementary in Lehi and loves his BIG school, about 1300 students. Next year a new school will be finished and relieve the load at North Point. Yay! I, Rhonda, am still working at 2 elementary schools teaching reading recovery. It's a challenge but I can't think of anything more important! You have to know how to read to survive in this world.

In August Kim was released from Bishop in the YSA Provo 251^st Ward. It indeed was a very sad day. We grew to love love love serving the young single adults in Provo. They taught us so much. We will be forever grateful for their love and friendship. We hold fond memories in our hearts. We will always cherish our 3 years as Bishop and 2 years previous as High Counselor and Stake Relief Society President. We have grown and learned and benefited from our time spent there. Our testimonies of the Savior have expanded. We know He lives. We know He loves each of us. We know He suffered all things so that our hearts and loads will be able to carry the burdens that come our way. We are forever grateful for the many experiences.

After returning to our home ward, Rhonda was called to be in the 1^st counselor in the Young Women’s Presidency. Kim was recently called to teach a youth Sunday School class and is excited to use his teaching abilities and get to know some of the youth in our ward.

We are anxiously preparing for family to fill our home with joy and chaos and noise, as everyone will be coming home for Christmas. We anticipate having all 17 members of the family here Christmas eve through Christmas day. Then slowly they will all trickle away again.

May this time of year remind you of the gift our Heavenly Father gave to each of us, His Son. We have access to his atonement in our lives on a daily basis. We are forever grateful. We know He lives and loves us. We are grateful for families and that we can be a family eternally. We are grateful for all of you and the love we share with you.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year