FAMILY UPDATE
~Benson is now in High School!!! He started 9th grade and is a freshman at Mountain Ridge High. He just finished a busy season of high school swim team and marching band. He plays the trombone in his band (which took 1st place in the state!). He is trying out for jazz band, so we’ll see if he’ll can hone his internal Louis Armstrong. He also plays the cello and piano, which he also enjoys. He is 15 years old so he will be ordained to a Priest in January. He is a leader in our family-so far the kids are following his lead in extracurricular activities.
~Eden is in 8th grade at Sierra Verde. She is such a great help with Gracie. She is a second mother to her younger siblings whether they like it or not. She plays soccer in the fall and spring for a team that has been together for the past 5 years. She also plays violin and piano. She loves tumbling and has mastered the double full on the trampoline. She, as well as all the kids are on a community swim team during the summertime. She got first place in the championships in Breaststroke! She is both sweet/feminine and strong/resiliant.
~Levi is in 5th grade, also at Sierra Verde. School comes easy to him- he started the clarinet in band class this year and is…improving quickly. He is thriving in violin and piano lessons, and does soccer and tumbling as well. He turned 11 this year, which means he will be ordained a Deacon in January. He set a goal to read the entire Book of Mormon in 3 months this year and finished early. We love and appreciate his good natured and kind disposition.
~Asa is having a great time in 3rd grade. He loves the violin and piano. He is learning quickly and recently learned how to play the theme song for Harry Potter. He also plays soccer where he recently found his calling in life– goalie. He’s almost a foot shorter than all his teammates but we’re hoping he’ll grow into his gloves. He also enjoys wrestling with his older brother. In spite of the fact that he is much smaller than Levi, it is still an even fight, probably because Levi goes easy on him. Asa also turned 8 this May and made the decision to be baptized. He is enthusiastic and FUN!
~Apollo just started Kindergarten and loves it! He is full of energy and enjoys trying to keep up with the older kids. He is in soccer and is trying to learn to keep the ball in bounds. He is a master at finding sweets in the house. We regularly find empty ice cream containers and candy wrappers behind the couch. He is so active that many times we’ll find him asleep in a random spot around the house in the afternoon. He was blessed with the ability to project his voice. We're not sure if that's a result of nature or nurture, but are glad he knows how to be heard. His comments provide a plenty of comic relief for our family.
~Grace is now 2 and is so fun! She is working on talking, swimming and potty training. Stacey sings Amazing Grace to her before every nap and bedtime, so she cries whenever she hears the song now (even when we’re at church). Once the older kids discovered this they began to tease her mercilessly. She has the cutest smile and laugh! She has everybody in the family wrapped around her cute little finger. We love our little Gracie!
~Stacey is amazing and somehow is able to manage 6 kids while making it look easy. She keeps up her pristine good looks by keeping a rigorous running schedule, spurred on by friends who are training for the Boston Marathon. She did her first marathon this year and rocked it! She loves biking around the neighborhood, and using the family's new hot tub to teach Gracie to swim. Managing the family's schedule keeps her busy.
~I (James) am loving life, even though it’s been a little more crazy lately. I turned 40 this year and my hair is officially dark gray. I was called to be Bishop of the ward in March and enjoy serving with great people. I am still passing gas and stabbing people in the back professionally and has been with Valley Anesthesia Consultants for 6 years now. I love my job!
We were able to go on many great family vacations this year, but the most impactful was to the Northeast US on a church history tour. It was over spring break and a specifically poignant time in life. It was the time between when I was called and when I was set apart as Bishop. It was a time of reflection for the family but most especially for me. But this time allowed all of us to revisit our own personal relationships with Jesus Christ and with each other. We are so grateful to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for allowing us to be born in a time where we know about him, to be born in a country that allows us to worship Him, and to be in an area that embraces Him. We are so grateful for the coming forth of truth and knowledge that has allowed us a firm foundation on which we can build our testimonies. While we are imperfect, we strive each day to solidify that connection.
Repeat the Sounding Joy! (video created by Eden)
We hope you find joy in celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We love this quote- "When the focus of our lives is on Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can find joy regardless of what is happening-or not happening-in our lives."
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2016/10/joy-and-spiritual-survival?lang=eng
If you made it this far, remember we love you! We're so grateful for the many wonderful people in our life!
