Christmas Letter 2012

Celebrating the birth of our Savior,Jesus Christ, with our
family is what makes Christmas so special.  When I was
writing our 2012 Christmas letter,I wrote a special one to
our children,grandchildren and great grandchildren. I
wanted to thank them for all of the beautiful experiences
we have shared. Rhonda suggested that I should post the
letter on my blog. I thought that was a great idea and
would be the perfect place to share my tribute to our
amazing family. Thank you,family,for being the amazing,
wonderful,and beautiful people you are. Thank you for
loving us.

Hello and Merry Christmas,with memories and a brief
look at 2012 (did I say brief?)

To our children,grandchildren, and great grandchildren;
Thank you for making 2012 such an exciting and wonderful
year for us. You are amazing! We are excited about
celebrating Christmas with you. We can't wait to share the
joy of Christmas morning with the little ones. They are what
puts the excitement and joy into Christmas. On a spiritual
note, it is a blessing for us to celebrate the birth  of our Savior,
Jesus Christ, with those we love.

Excitement! On August 14th our 7th great grandchild, Harlee
Mae Colburn,was born. She is beautiful and Montana is now
an adorable big sister. Thank you,Jenna and Trey, for using
the Mae from Ina Mae as her middle name. In September, their
Daddy,Trey, became a Gilbert Police Officer. Thank you,
Trey, once again you are serving "We,The People". Thank you,
Jenna, for supporting him. Thank you both for being such
loving, kind, grandchildren and friends.  The meals you
have brought to us are delicious and give George a break.
Thank you,for the amazing dinner and good time we recently
had at your home. You are great cooks and  gracious host and
hostess. Thank you for sharing  George's love for leather art
and learning the skill of tooling, we have had fun doing it
together. Thank you for loving the outdoors, soil, and animals
Thank you for sharing your beautiful farm with us.. Thank
you for being the "cutest couple" and fantastic parents and
for bringing Montana and Harlee to our home. Thank you,
Montana, for showing us how you dance and tumble on the mat,
what a show you put on. Thank you for being a fun,happy,
little girl and for your smiles and hugs and thank you for
building a Gingerbread House. Thank you, Harlee for
letting us cuddle and love you,for your smiles,and sharing
 my name. You are a special family. We love you.

Thank you Rhonda and Steve for the wonderful Thanksgiving
we celebrated at your home. I was overwhelmed as I counted
my blessings and basked in the love of my family. Next you
host our annual Christmas breakfast. Thank you for this
tradition. The little ones love to go to G-Mama and Papa's.
Thank you for being such fun and loving grandparents.
hanks,Steve, for playing with them. Thank you, Steve,
for breakfasts and good conversation on our special days
at the Golden Corral. Thank you for being so kind to us
and for sharing my idiosyncrasies. Thank you, Rhonda,
for giving us two fantastic grandsons. Thank you, Steve
and Rhonda, for a wonderful blended family. Thank you,
Rhonda, for always being my best friend. Thank you,
for lunches at home and out, for hospital visits and errands
ran, Thank you for beach trips, hundreds of word games,
movies and popcorn. Thank you for sharing my love of
books and the animals who share our lives. Thank you
for carrying on family traditions and making it possible
for me to continue being a zoo volunteer and sharing it
with me. Thank you for service "above and beyond";
dusting Teddy Bears and dolls and for being a loving,
wonderful daughter, so many memories. We love you.
 What would we do without you?

It is wonderful getting to know Brinton's beautiful girlfriend,
\Allison Taylor, and her adorable little girl,Presley. You are
both lots of fun. Thank you, Allison, for Brinton's surprise
30th birthday party and thank you for inviting us. Thank you
Brinton, for your sweet,happy spirit and for being the fantastic
father you are. What you have done for your children this last
year is amazing! They are blessed to call you Daddy!  Thank
you for your unique sense of humor and years of fun and
laughter. Thanks for being a caring, loving grandson and
for all you do for  us.  Thank you for coming by on your
lunch hour to visit with us.  Thank you for helping me 
with my Kindle Fire. Thank you, Cote  and Brexton,
for inviting us to your ball games. We love them and are
 proud of you. Thank you Nixin, for inviting us to your                             
dance recitals. You look so pretty in your dance clothes
and dance beautifully. Thank you Cote, Brexton and
Nixin,for inviting us to your birthday parties. Thank you                   
for coming to our home to visit us and for the smiles and
hugs we get each time we see you. Thank you, Brinton,
for loving our family traditions and making sure your       
children observe and love them. Thank you  for helping
them build their Gingerbread Houses just as you did
when you were a child like them.  We love and appreciate
all of you so much.

Thank you Rhonda for driving us to Panaca to celebrate
Leo's 92nd birthday. Thank you for helping make Mom
and Dad-Granny and Granddad's Tribute. Thank you
Paul, Ethan, Justin, Craig and Tracy for joining us there.
Thank you Ethan, for loving to take trips with your grandpa.
Thank you Paul for choosing him as your traveling buddy
and making sure he has ice cream stops. Thank you Tracy,
for letting us show you "all things Panaca". The people,
places and history of Craig's heritage,and thank you for
tolerating my endless narrative about Panaca. You
exemplified the word "patience".Thank you Craig,
for bringing her and sharing your memories of Panaca
with her. Thank you  Paul, Justin, and Ethan,for letting us
play with your NASCAR race cars at Cathedral Gorge.
Justin and Ethan, "peas in a pod" in your shirts and hats.
Thank you,Justin,for being a fun and fantastic uncle.

Thank you, Craig, for sharing your world travels with us.
You are a fantastic Travel Guide and generous host.
WOW! We have visited you in California, Iowa, Florida,
Nevada, Kansas, Texas, and Puerto Rico.  We tell people
we "Have Son,Will Travel".  Thank you for the excitement!
Thank you for Mother's Day calls which are never missed
even if coming from China, India, or other "faraway places
with strange sounding names". Thank you for always letting
us know where you are and what you are doing. Thank you
for  dding so many fun adventures to our lives and for
broadening our horizons.  Thank you for introducing us
 to amazing eating experiences and the culture of many
countries. Thank you for your visits and you quirky sense
of humor. Thank you for three amazing grandchildren.
Thank you for being a wonderful son,  We love you.
Thank you Miranda, Hannah and Joshua for being our
youngest grandchildren and sharing your lives with us
in so many different and exciting places.  We shared our
first tornado with you in Kansas.   Thank you for showing
us how to fly kites in Puerto Rico.  Thank you for visiting
zoos with us in Wichita, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Diego,
and Phoenix.  Thank you for going beach camping with us.
Thank you for loving to play Yahtzee with me.

Thank you Tracy for loving Craig and becoming part of
our family.  Thank you for being beautiful, happy, and
so much fun.  Thank you for giving us three more
wonderful grandchildren to love.  Thank you Jared
and your lovely wife Christy, Cameron and Chasity.
What a joy it has been to get to know you.  Thanks
to all of you for loving our family and thank you
for loving Arizona, our Family Reunions and our
traditions. Thank you for sharing our love of playing
games and laughing with, and teasing, each other.
We love you.

Thank you Paul,Rhonda and Craig for a wonderful
Family Reunion.  The Marriott Resort at the Buttes
in Tempe was a wonderful place to have it. What fun
for George and I to bask in our lounge chairs as we
watched everyone enjoy the beautiful pool and huge
slide. How the little ones loved that! It was a perfect
way to celebrate our 61st year of marriage. Thanks to all
 of you for being there. Thank you for the fun games
played and stories shared.

Paul and Joanne, so many memories. Thank you. Thank you,
Paul for being a wonderful son. Thank you, Joanne, for
being a loving daughter-in-law and good friend.  Thank you.
for giving us our first two amazing grandchildren and
always involving us in their lives.  Thank you for helping us
start family traditions. Thank you Paul and Joanne for letting
Justin and Jeni stay with us often in El Cajon and Descanso.
Thank you Joanne for inviting and encouraging me to visit
England and Germany with you, for helping a dream of mine
come true and being such a fantastic travel companion.  Thank
you for the love and laughter shared on that trip.  Thank you
Joanne for sharing my love of collecting dolls and Thank you
Paul for sharing your bedroom with some of Joanne's Madame
Alexander Baby Dolls and trying hard to not let them disrupt
your sleep as they stare at you with unblinking eyes.   Thank you
Paul and Joanne for our trips to California, for being the perfect
host and hostess, making sure we do some of our favorite
things; zoo, beach, Anthony's, Sea World, Wild Animal Park.
Thank you for introducing us to fabulous restaurants and
eating experiences. Thank you for being so kind, gracious,
and generous. Thank you for our many trips to Aha Quin on
the beautiful Colorado River, one of our favorite things to do.
Thank you for boat rides and other river adventures.  Thank
you for helping us build our "Descanco Dream" house.  Thank
you for being such fantastic and loving grandparents to Ethan
and Ryann..Thank you, Paul, for golf games with your Dad
and Upwords games with me. Thank you Joanne for
 tolerating them, even though you do roll your eyes a lot LOL!,
Thank you, Paul,for your frequent phone calls.   Paul and
Joanne,we appreciate all you do for us, we love you.

My beautiful granddaughter,Jeni, thank you for the special
friendship we have. Thank you for all we shared while you
were growing up;birthday parties in Balboa Park,a precocious
little girls love of olives,watching you cheer at ball games.
Thank you for wonderful memories of your college years;
coming to our home for a meal and loaf of warm bread, fun,
relaxation, and good conversation. Thank you for being a
loving grown up granddaughter and for all you do for us.
Thank you Chris,for loving Jeni and being a wonderful
husband and our friend. Thanks,both of you,for being
 fantastic parents. Thank you,Jeni and Chris,for inviting us
 to Ryann's 2nd birthday party. Thank you,Ryann, for being
 so adorable when you blew out your candles and opened gifts.
Thank you,Ethan, for showing us your tricks on the Slip N'
 Slide and what a great NASCAR driver you are. Chris the
car you built is fantastic. Thank you, Jeni, Ethan,and Ryann,
for staying with us when you come to Mesa. Thank you,
Ethan and Ryann, for being so much fun and for your hugs
and high fives. Thank you,Jeni,for pictures and phone calls.
Thank you for loving family traditions, for making cinnamon
rolls and Gingerbread Houses.  You are a special family and
we love you very much.

Justin,our first born grandchild; Thank you for being such a
special person, and for your love for us. Thank you for inviting
us to your home in Cedar City. You have done so much to it to
make it into a warm and welcoming home. Thank you for being
so talented. Thank you for sharing the beauty of Cedar City and
the surrounding areas with walks and tours. Thank you for loving
Ani and taking such good care of her. Thank you for sending me
pine nuts. I LOVE THEM! Thank you for your phone calls.
Thank you for always making me feel so special. Thank you for
 living life with enthusiasm,joy,and courage. Thank you for being
 such a wonderful cook like your father and granddad and loving
doing it. Thank you for your wit and fun personality and for years
of smiles and laughter. Thank you for being a great athlete.
Remember when a baseball broke the windshield in my new
Thunderbird?  You told me not to park there but I wanted to be
up close where I could watch you and all of the action.  Thank
you for yours and Jeni's fabulous Gingerbread Houses
 (mansions), and thank you all of these years later for still
having fun building a house with your beloved niece and nephew,
Ethan and Ryann.  TRhank you for loving Panaca and Thank you for loving to come to our Family
Reunions in Arizona and especially   You are loved and appreciated.

To our threes youngest grandchildren. Thank you for keeping us young in spirit and mind.

Thank you,Miranda, for being such a special person from the day you were born. Thank you for the special times we have shared through the years. Remember, "Yes Grandma, it is a very blustery day,indeed",said a tiny little girl with hands on hips on a very windy day in Las Vegas? Thank you for letting me watch you grow up. Today,thank you, for being a loving,caring granddaughter and best friend. Thank you for being my "soul mate" as we share our love for writing stories and poems, and thank you for sharing yours with me as you were growing up. Thank you, Miranda, for living with us for awhile when you were attending ASU. It was fun. Thank you for the good times we share;cooking,eating out (Tia Rosa's is a favorite),reading (especially fable and fantasy),playing games (Yahtzee and Mexican Train).Thank you, Miranda, for loving Muggles and bringing her toys. Thank you for choosing to fall in love with Ryan, a very nice young man, and thank you for including him in our family activities. Thank you for loving children and for being a wonderful Nanny to those in your care,and thank you for sharing my love for our ancestors and for our many trips to the temple. Thank you for your phone calls and visits and for being a beautiful "you".

Thank you, Hannah, for your beauty and zest for life. You have been beautiful since the day you were born. Thank you for being the precocious and mischievous little girl you were, always full of adventure. We visited you in Wichita when you had just started walking. You climbed on a bed and then onto a dresser to reach mine and your Aunt Martie's chocolate. We found you in the middle of the bed covered in chocolate. You ate it all! Thank you for always being so happy to see us whenever we were together while you were growing up. Thank you for sharing your baptism day with us in the beautiful little town of Panaca,Nevada,where my father,your great grandfather,James Allen Wadsworth,and I were baptized. Thank you, Hannah, for sharing mine and your Aunt Rhonda's love for horses and letting me tell you stories about the horses I loved as I was growing up. Thank you for the books we have read and the games we have played together. Thank you, Hannah, for sharing your Granddad's love of cooking and letting him introduce you to some of his favorite recipes and how to prepare them. Thank you for your talent for making beautiful jewelry. Thank you for loving Willow and thank you,Hannah, for being a shining ray of sunshine in our lives.

Joshua, our youngest grandchild,what can I say? We have always been so proud of you.
Thank you for bringing love and laughter into our lives. Thank you for always making us smile. Thank you, Joshua, for so many fun experiences as we have visited you in so many different places. Do you remember flying kites on a beautiful day in Old San Juan,Puerto Rico? You were so excited to show us how you could "fly your kite and make it soar" up into the beautiful blue sky. On that day, you loved showing me the huge Iguanas that ran wild in the area where we were playing. Thank you for being the most exuberant and excited tour guide wherever we visited you. Thank you, Joshua,for growing up to be such a handsome and fun young man. Thank you for loving movies and the many we have watched together. Thank you for a zillion Yahtzee games played. Remember when you rolled three Yahtzees in one game and you laughed at me when I couldn't believe it? Thank you, Joshua, for visiting us and going to the beautiful Mesa temple to do baptisms for your ancestors. It was a very special gift. Thank you for sharing it with us,we will never forget it. You are loved.

To all of our children,grandchildren, and great grandchildren, thank you for sharing Family Traditions with us,the things I love the most;your visits,beach trips,Zoo lights and zoo trips. Thank you for loving zoos like I do. We have visited them with you in California,Arizona,Kansas,Texas and Utah. Thank you for years of building Gingerbread Houses wherever you may be. Thank you for loving our Family Reunions and for the fun we have when we are together. Thank you for sharing your lives with us. We love and cherish you.

I have recorded current memories,but I need to mention sports activities you all were, and are, involved in;football,baseball,golf,wrestling,swimming,water polo,equestrian,gymnastics,cheer, skateboarding,snowboarding,knee boarding,water skiing,and soccer. Each of you has participated in one,two,or more,of them. We love the excitement. You are our pride and joy.

Now to those I share my home with; Thank you Muggles for being such a loving,funny,sassy, little presence,you make us laugh every day. Thank you,Conana, for letting me serve you for 21 years! Thank you,George,for being the most fantastic husband and friend I could ever have hoped for. I love and appreciate you more than you will ever know. Thank you for loving me,caring for me,and COOKING for me! Thank you for endless memories of dreams come true. Thank you for 61 wonderful years. Its been an amazing,fascinating, and wonderful journey, I love you.