Christmas Letter to Friends and Family - 2014

The Big News of the Year:

The Wedding of Ryan and Sheridan 

Our family was greatly blessed this year when Ryan and Sheridan were married in June.  It was the greatest, most fun family wedding ever.  Siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandmas and grandpas, and family friends spent a weekend hiking, fishing, making and eating smores, laughing and talking around the campfire in Boulder City, Utah when we gathered to watch two families become one during this very special occasion.  Welcome to the family Sheridan, Max, and Henry.  We love you!

Henry, Sheridan, & Max

Parker, Ryan, Bridger, Regan

Other Family Milestones:

This year was a momentous year that meant many trips to Utah for weddings and graduations.  Jim’s oldest grandson Caleb married Rachel in Logan, Utah, in May.  My oldest grandson Parker graduated from high school in Utah this year.  He is attending Utah State.  Jim’s oldest granddaughter Daphne graduated from high school in Colorado and is attending BYU.   We were back in Utah in June for Ryan & Sheridan’s big day.  

The Year in Review:  

I must begin by saying that I scarcely know where the year went.  We celebrated last Christmas in Utah with Ryan and family and with Keicha and Gillian.  Then, we were kept very busy with family events throughout the spring and summer.  

Sally’s year has been dotted with health issues.  She is doing much, much better after gall bladder surgery in April and a heart ablation in July.  In fact, she is doing so much better that she ended the year by teaching English to international student at UCCS.

Jim also has big news this year.  He began a new career selling apples.  More correctly, he is working for the Apple store.  He loves his job.  It has been the best adventure for him.  A great fan of all things Mac, on a whim, he applied for a job with Apple and was hired in June.  It has been a challenge for Sally to get used to a husband working retail.  He only works part-time, but hours during the Christmas season have been a bit more plentiful.  His patience and teaching skills are a bonus when it comes to helping others with questions about Apple products.

Retirement is not on hold for us.  I will re-retire when the semester is over in a few days.  Jim is still retired on his days off.  He also stays busy with his position on several boards.  He greatly enjoys his daily walks with his best buddy Boston.  Sally will be happy to return to having time to do more writing and blogging.  She also greatly enjoys her Bible study groups and other fellowship opportunities at her church.  We are planning a trip to Florida in February.  

Family Photos from 2014

Daughters
Keicha & Amy

Granddaughters
Hannah, Regan, Gillian

Daughter & Son
Amy & Jon

Grandson Atticus with Boston our dog

Grandsons with Grandpa Jim
Bridger, Parker, and Mason

Many no longer send out Christmas cards or Christmas letters, but it has become a tradition for me that I enjoy doing.  With a family the size of ours, it is difficult to distill the family happenings into a small newsletter.  Jim’s daughters all live close by, so it is nice to spend more time with them.  The highlight of the year for the Wessely family was the wedding of Caleb and Rachel in Logan, Utah.  We also had great fun when we all went to Moab for a marathon that Thia, Brad, and Trinette ran in April.  We will all celebrate Christmas Eve together soon.  It will be good to see the newlyweds and Daphne.  These three have been away at college.  

Grandson Caleb's Wedding
Sally, Jim, Caleb, Rachel, and Grandfather W

The year has certainly brought our family great trials, and challenges, but Sally has witnessed the continued faithfulness of God in her life and in lives of those she loves.  Along with the trials have come much to celebrate.  

It has been such a joy this year to witness a new family come together with the marriage of Sheridan and Ryan.  They live in Bountiful, Utah.  They are very busy keeping up with their children while they also manage Sheridan’s business Hip and Humble.  Visit any of her three locations when you are in the Salt Lake area. 

Keicha and daughter Gillian live in Ogden, Utah.  She just had back surgery and will end the year recuperating.  She has been employed by the credit union where she works for over 25 years.  She continues with all of her community work.

Amy is loving her new job in HR with a company located in downtown Denver.  She and her children, Mason and Hannah,  live in Erie, Colorado.  

Jon is in Scranton, PA with his family where he teaches at Marywood University.  Sally spent two weeks in Scranton with Jon this fall after Jon suffered a terrible accident that nearly took his life.  He continues to recover from his injury.

My mother is going strong at age 98.  She remains an amazing woman who lives in her own home.    

Jim and I end the year healthy and happy.  We rejoice over all of our rich blessings.  We look forward to the coming year.  

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*Blogging friends, this post is a copy of the Christmas letter I sent out this year. I look forward to the coming year when I will be reading all your news, insights, thoughts, and reflections on your blogs.  

Merry Christmas!