Happy Valentine's Day 2018 - #43
Dear Family and Friends,
Truly it seems like just last week we were preparing the 2017 letter! We deeply treasure our friendships with each of you and have loved hearing from you!
We continue to greatly enjoy our three children and eleven grandchildren and do indeed find "joy in our posterity". We love the times and events that bring us together. We find it hard to believe our oldest grandson, Austin, just turned 21! For this momentous occasion I have made a family history book with photos of his childhood, his families, ancestors and their history, as well as annual updates by his mom, Monica. Our youngest grands are the triplets, who are now three.
Fred reached a milestone on November 25th of 2017 by becoming 70! He is the oldest surviving male in four generations. We celebrated with all of our family and over 80 friends by hosting a dinner. The youngest grandchildren helped blow out the candles.
Attending yoga classes twice weekly taught by our close friend, Barb Price has really increased our core strength, balance and flexibility. Fred continues to participate in our son Scott’s HealthQ boot camps three times a week as well as ongoing physical therapy and massage sessions. He frequently climbs over 100 flights [stories] of stairs to build strength and endurance. Fred has worked hard to make a comeback. He climbed four 14'ers [14,000 feet high mountains] and ran his first 5K in 15 years that was pain free. Having overcome all his injuries, he is excited about his prospects for the future. Jan still walks 10,000 steps about five days a week.
After having a private speech-language and academic tutoring practice for over 40 years, Jan is still tutoring about half time and is seeing children of children whom she has taught. She is still “addicted” to family history and loves pursuing our family’s and others’ ancestors. Fred has been working in our Denver Temple for over six months, which he has greatly enjoyed. Now in his 37th year as a Scout volunteer, he especially serves in archery camps and helping Scouts earn merit badges. [As I write this he is camping out and sleeping in almost zero degree weather in the mountains at a Scout Klondike with our 11 and 12-year-old grandsons, Jacob and Titan. They did receive quite a bit of snow as well!]
In addition to Fred’s Scout trips, we enjoyed going to Leadville in August to watch and support Scott and David as they competed once again in the Leadville 100, a grueling 100-mile bike race up and down steep Colorado mountains. We also spent a few days in Breckenridge in September and October…and hiked Mt. Quandary, a 14'er, in a snowstorm. Jan joined two dear friends, Dee Ann Ludwig and Jayne Swapp, on a quick trip to Utah and attendance at the BYU Genealogy Conference...very worthwhile! Jan also accompanied Jill and her seven boys for a ten day trip over Spring Break to Utah, staying with the family of our dear friend, Tami Stewart Ward. We were on the go constantly to half a dozen museums, BYU, the Heber Creeper (train), seeing friends and (the highlight for Jan) a visit with her brother, Barney, his wife Nancy and their grandson, Alex.
We send our best wishes to each of you for a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Love,
Fred and Jan