FIZZY SODA THROUGH THE NOSE MOMENTS … We wish YUNZ a Merry Christmas
Holiday Newsletter © Vol. 18 2005
OH FLIP! … Napoleon Dynamite filmed in Preston, Idaho is a twin city to Pleasant Grove, Utah where Jon and I grew up! … A nifty, dweeby, milk toast existence … Teens unaware that life existed beyond the city limits! … Hula hoops and skate keys, Pixi Stix to TV test patterns …Hunky guys, Doris Day movies, hiking up to the “G” on the mountain … 25 cents a gallon to fill up the car & a nickel for a soda … Hearing, “Do I sound like a broken record” when your mom was nagging you about cleaning your room or turning down the hi-fi … High school proms in the gym decorated with crepe paper, clotheslines in every yard, “Shhhh I’m on long distance!”, and hanging out at the Purple Turtle drive-in to grab a burger, fries and a malt … Pep club initiations, Future Homemakers of America meetings and Strawberry Day’s parades …Skirts down to your knees or you would be sent home from school for sure and later on everyone all a buzz over the newest Beatles record or the guy at school who dared to grow side burns … A real Leave It to Beaver existence … Memories of a life long ago ... Comfort food for the soul !! .. Sweeeeet – right Napoleon??!
DADDY WARBUCKS $$ ... Bonnie Boylan, alias Ashley Christeson, was a smashing success in her part as a member of the singing threesome during the high school’s spring musical ‘Annie’! ... As an Oxydent toothpaste girl who harmonized her way to radio stardom dressed in a royal blue suit and 1930’s feather hat and glove ensemble Ashley won the hearts of the radio listening audience! ... Smiling and gushing and otherwise looking endearing and obnoxious all at the same time the Boylan sister’s “doo-doodle-dooed” their way through O-X-Y-D-E-N-T ! ... “The tooth paste of the stars! To make your teeth Hollywood bright!”... And catapulted their way into the hearts of millions ... Well at least into the hearts of the ‘imaginary’ millions and of course all of the audiences at Plum Senior High School! ... “Hey hobo man, hey dapper Dan, you both got your style but brother you’re never fully dressed without a smile!”... Arf!
SAY CHEESE IN CANTONESE ... While riding the Hong Kong transit system two teenage Chinese girls sat giggling as they looked at Cameron and his missionary companion ... “juk leith sih gung” (bless your work) said one girl to Cam as they disembarked ... An old woman in an elevator said, “hou leng jai” (You are very handsome.) ... Watching a video clip while listening to a young man speaking Cantonese tell us about his conversion and of our son’s impact on his life while hearing Cam translate was incredible! ... .GO ELDER CHRISTESON !
COUPON CLIPPLING ... Pre Christmas sales, YIKES! … I take a bull horn along with me, place a dog collar with studs on it around Jon’s neck hooked to a heavy duty chain link leash and pin a sign on him that reads, “BEWARE of RABID dog! … Hey, clears the isles every time then I’m good to go! … haha ... Head em’ up move em’ out ladies, Rebecca’s commin’ through to do some serious shopping girl friends! … The only problem I can see is the probability of being pistol whipped by the mall PD, slung into a straight jacket and hauled off with the riffraff for cruelty to animals! … Hey folks, I’m only kidding! ... I LOVE this man who has a sense of humor when it comes to my zany holiday updates ... But golly, I wonder what would really happen if they knew that I ALWAYS bite the head’s off first from my chocolate Easter bunnies and animal crackers in my Barnum and Bailey box? ... Hey, we’d have a major animal rights up roar for sure!
LOVE BUG BITES ... Wow ... What a Valentine’s Day treat! ... My sweet, thoughtful Jon, with yellow roses and chocolates in hand, together with friends Leland, Ed and Peter stood in our living room; each dressed in white shirts, bow ties and jaunty barbershop style straw hats ... They serenaded me by singing, “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”, a’capella! ... Oh my goodness, can you even imagine how endearing that is for a wife! ... Yup, I stared crying as it was sooooo wonderful! ... Oh Moon doggie, does this mean that you’re asking me to go steady? ... Gidget got her guy and we’re still spooning by the light of the silvery moon thirty years later!
GENERATIONS OF WOMEN ... What does a pre-Civil War southern plantation and an African American nanny ... A one room school house and a love for playing Chinese checkers ... An 80 year old ceramic mixing bowl and a 1940’s pill box hat and gloves ... A depression glass tea cup and a World War II Hollywood glamour shot ... A 1975 wedding veil/hat, Dick and Jane reading book and a POW bracelet ... And a pink, pint size cowboy boot and a beanie baby all have in common? ... Experiences and artifacts which knit heart to heart throughout the generations of time ... From Ashley’s 3rd generation (great-great-great) grandmother all the way down the line to Ashley herself! ... For months we spent mother-daughter time dreaming up, laughing and planning a delightful activity to be shared with the young women of our ward ... An 1800’s English tea with all in attendance dressed to the hilt ... An artifact display comprised of actual belongings of six generations of Latter-day Saint women (and one in the making = Ashley!) ... And a presentation focusing on interesting facts and trivia of each era and on each of the women in Ashley’s life who have influenced her; as a result of their commitment to their families and to the gospel of Jesus Christ ... Family history!
WHERE WERE YOU ??? ... Cam was in Hong Kong; it was his p-day so he sent us an email and was about to enjoy time with the other missionaries on an outing ... I was at home fine tuning one of my employee development training workshops and contemplating my weekly date night with Jon ... Ashley was in school counting the days until school would soon be out for summer break ... Jon was at work in meetings and anticipating the weekend ahead ... Relatively insignificant happenings for the Christeson family on this particular day - and yet that is why everything actually was so significant! ... An everyday family accomplishing every day things ... But ever cognizant of our many freedoms & blessings as Americans who have the luxury of choosing to live our lives as we see fit ... Bless our troops!
TAXI ... We gave our regards to Broadway while celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary! ... A trip to the big apple, Ashley’s first ... The bright lights and excitement of Times Square at night ... Enjoying a cool lemon ice in Central Park ... The Staten Island Ferry across the harbor to view Lady Liberty ... A look see at the FAO Schwartz toy collection ... Lunch at Jekyll & Hyde in the Village ... Subway madness a result of the London terrorist attacks taking place ... And of course a couple of Broadway musicals with all of the glitz and glamour that make being back in the city a special treat! ... Sharing a NYC street vendor’s salty pretzel, dipped in thirty years of incredible memories never tasted so good!
NOTHING BUT A HOUND DOG ... Missy Belle Buttons, newest member of our family, a little beagle with an attitude has a lengthy pedigree ... Parents are Balacera Solo and Beaver Hollow Belle ... Great-great-great grandparents are Star City Belle and Nicky Buzz Saw! ... I’m sure the latter is a little Mafia hit man beagle with an Italian bark and a submachine gun stashed in his dog house – behind the wall in the secret compartment no less?! ... Ash & Cam finally got a puppy after many long years since Bugler Beau Beagle and Jake were part of our family while living in Orem ... And how is allergic, asthmatic mom doing? Inhalers baby! ... Modern medicine has saved the day (somewhat) and I’m as smitten with this precious little critter as Ashley and Jon are! ... I’m sure Cam would have enjoyed having a Buck or a Scooter running around ... Or perhaps a Runner, Ozzie or even a Ned (like he wanted to name his own little sister when she was born!)... But alas, the doggie is a she and cute as a button!
FABULOUS FIFTEEN! ... And speaking of Ashley’s 15th birthday ... Cam sent her a beautiful, pastel blue silk Chinese dress – toggle clasps and all ... He also included a hilarious audio tape with he and the other elder’s singing a crazy birthday song as Cam accompanied them on a guitar ... They also sang a beautiful song in Cantonese and then a Primary song in English for her ... Of course he then provided brotherly advice as any terrific older brother would do which included everything from challenges to chit chat ... Hey Bret I think you’re adored in this family! ... Ya think?!
BARNEY FIFE ... Serving as first counselor in the stake Young Men’s presidency one of Jon’s many responsibilities consist of serving as a member of the teen stake dance boarder patrol ... Wahhhhhhh! … Slam em’ up against the wall, hose them down and then frisk them if the kids don’t show up with their official dance card in tow! … Oops, no bear hug dancing or brother Jon will zap you with a stun gun! … Punch and cookies? Better watch out! No spiking the frappe with a little Mountain Dew! … Try to slip out into the parking lot to sneak a little kiss – NO WAY JOSE! Jon will read you your Miranda Rights, slap the cuffs on you and haul you off to the pokey! … Golly, aren’t teenage stake dances a riot?!
DON’T MAKE ME GET MY FLYING MONKIES!! ... Cam’s experiences in Hong Kong have been enumerable ... Hiking the tallest peaks while surveying extraordinary views below to being surrounded by monkey’s who tried to swipe their soda bottles ...Performing baptisms in natural spring rock pools to observing ancient Buddhist religious rituals ... Riding what he referred to as his ghetto, wicked witch of the west bicycle with a basket on the front to literally riding a slow boat to China to retrieve his mail ... Eating a bowl of fresh snake soup to standing at an intersection in HK, no less, called – Cameron Road! ... Life in Hong Kong has been fascinating, the work daunting yet rewarding and the blessings simply incredible! ... Tested and tried and teaching people who struggle profoundly with severe hardships and sacrifices has deeply affected him ... Cam can be very pleased with his work and the many lives he’s touched.
AHHH SHUCKS ... So I’m in the process of enjoying my little nervous breakdown crying and carrying on ... And feeling like there is so much more I could and should accomplish as a wife and mother and in life in general ... And Jon calls out from the other room, in an attempt to comfort me, “You’re great! All you need to learn to do is to replace the toilet tissue roll!” … Humph! … He always makes me laugh even when I’m in a tirade! ... xoxo
HERE COMES TREBLE ... Selected as the only freshman female to advance into concert choir during her sophomore year Ashley has enjoyed an incredible experience thus far! … A soloist during last springs chorus concert performing one of her favorite pieces from ‘Les Miserables’ to this years Madrigal Christmas dinner show ... Sing baby sing! ... Oh, and in honors English they completed their focus on Shakespeare and now on to ‘Pride and Prejudice’!!
COUNTING SHEEP … Due to sleep apnea I look like an alien space freak hooked up to my head gear, face mask and breathing apparatus some nights! … Ashley screamed in terror the first time she saw me hooked up to my new life support system and was down for the count! …I’ve sure given Darth Vader a run for his money as I inhale and exhale at an even but horrifying sounding pace … Jon’s up next for his sleep study!! ... Hey honey, you never told me middle age would be like THIS!! … Breathe in … Breathe out.
BIRTHDAY BASH! ...Happy birthday to Jon! How many guys can say they spent $8 million dollars on their birthday?!! ... Too bad it wasn’t money from the Christeson coffers! ... He took a day off from work to pursue some fun activities with us but also ended up solving a major crisis at work by phone ... Ten guesses where the money was spent? ... China! ... Rather ironic, huh.
TAKE TWO ASPIRIN AND CALL ME IN THE MORNING?! ... “Can’t you just be a NORMAL mom for once and NOT care!” haha ... Was one of Ashley’s recent pleas as I hold her to task, enforce curfews, oversee her homework, make her take her daily vitamin and the like ... As we rolled with laughter due to this uncanny comment I thought to myself, nope! ... My role as a mom is to make life perfectly miserable for my kids ... Hugs, kisses, homemade cookies, please and thank you’s, chores and church, a solid education, adventures, friends and a wide array of special privileges ... Don’t you just LOVE raising teenagers?! ... Hey Ashley Babe, ya ever hear of a little place called the Looney Bin? ... Give me another week and I’ll gladly buy my own one way ticket! haha
A BLESSING AVAILABLE TO ALL ... Cam states that to say the word endowment in Chinese is pronounced yun dough moon ... Yun, comes from the word ‘gau yun’ which means salvation; dough comes from ‘dough low’ which means road or way; and ‘moon’ means door ... So the word ‘endowment’ is like saying the door to the way of salvation ... This ordinance is paramount for all of Heavenly Father’s children upon this earth ... The key is waiting for you to open the door ... Please ask us how we may assist you.
TEE FOR TWO ...Hey ya’ll golfing buddies ... Jon spent a fabulous summer day on the links at Laurel Valley Country Club in the Laurel Highlands; another one of those exceedingly difficult days at work on the links! lol ... His foursome tied for first and Jon did the best in his group! ... He’s also enjoyed golfing Fox Chapel and Oakmont (a future repeat site of the US Open) ... With a shoulder that continually aggravates him to no end it is wonderful that he still enjoys the game as much as he does ...
F-O-RRRRRR-E !!!!
COMMUNITY EXTRAVAGANZA ... After months of planning our Plum Senior Community Center fund raiser ‘Generations of Music’ it was finally performed and well received by our audience! ... Many diligent committee members, including Ashley and I, spent a great deal of time and energy on this project ... Focusing on a family celebrating their great grandmothers birthday we intricately wove terrific vocal, dance and comedy numbers representing the various era’s of music into the story ... Everything from Big Band music to Abbot & Costello’s ‘Whose On First?’ ... Surfin’ USA to Jail House Rock ... Ashley had solos in Its My Party (and I’ll cry if I want to), Eight to the Bar (Big Band era number) and the finale Don’t Stop Belivin’ (by Journey) ... A fun, wholesome program for all ages was enjoyed by all!
CURTAIN CALL ... Ashley wrapped up her spring term of acting classes at Point Park University with her teacher Dr. Jill Wadsworth; a professor at Carnegie Mellon University ... CMU is renowned for its caliber of acting and musical theater programs where many well known playwrights, actors, directors, producers and singers have studied ... Jill teaches a wonderful workshop each spring at Point Park University wherein we were fortunate enough to discover her! ... Ashley’s particular theater company was invited by Jill to perform at a pre-college summer session consisting of students from throughout the country; the CMU conservatory is one of only a handful of serious acting conservatories in the US ... Jill opened her student’s eyes to many unique forms of theater unfamiliar to Ashley and the others such as Image Theatre and Forum Theatre which promote social change ... Ashley particularly enjoyed their invisible theater piece and found the overall experience to be very enlightening.
HOME IS WHERE YOUR STORY BEGINS … My speaking/training career evolved from home-central ... Christeson & Associates has provided endless hours of professional development training for businesses and industries over the years ... In an attempt to train employees from all walks of life and work levels as they seek to enhance their workplace skills I have come to know and appreciate a great many, fine individuals ... A special public thank you to a few of my dear friends and colleagues; Sue, Alex, Jack and Scott who have especially provided me with delightful opportunities to make a lasting impact on so many ... Kudos does not even begin to express my thanks to you in believing in my ability and in my personal vision! ... Passionately inhale life & exhale gratefulness ©
ONE OF MANY SACRED MOMENTS ... Cameron experienced a marvelous moment when President Hinckley, our Prophet, traveled to Hong Kong to dedicate the new building in Wan Chi ... A spectacular building situated in a prime location housing several chapels, classrooms, offices for the area authorities, etc ... Cam was assigned as an usher on one of the floors during this special meeting wherein President Hinckley entered the room, looked him in the eye and shook his hand ... Lay ho ... Cam indicates that it was a very moving, powerful experience ... A memory he will treasure throughout his life!
PONCHO WHERE ARE YOU? ... Jon spent a few days basking in sunny Tucson, Arizona while on a business trip ... Luxuriating at a local resort, golfing an incredible course surrounded by saguaro cactus and beautiful desert landscapes and dining at incredible restaurants ... Of course in between business meetings and listening to speakers drone on and on (yeah right)! ... A tour of the University of Arizona campus and dropping in for lunch at El Charro, a Mexican restaurant which has been operating since 1922, was a big hit! ... Chili Rellenos – bring em on! The hotter the better Jon thinks! ... Ashley and I endured a week of torrential down pours at home caused by the aftermath of the hurricane which hit Florida and endless razzing from Jon! ... Hummm, sounds like a raw deal if you ask me ... I’m thinking somewhere warm and sunny; mid-winter just might fit the bill ... Anyone interested?? ... Hey its pay back time!
HEAR THE ROOSTER CROW ... Early morning seminary rocks!! ... The youth in our ward studied the New Testament last year and Ashley feels that her love for Christ and for His teachings has grown immensely ... This year their focus has been on the Book of Mormon and Sister Salmond has once again kept them interested and challenged in order to read and ponder the Book of Mormon by years end ... However, arising every morning at 5:00 a.m. for nine months of the year in order to prepare for the day and get to class on time (?!) is always a challenge for our little gal who loves to sleep in ... Ash says Marc Kofford is her hero! ... A great friend and very patient with her dawdling haha ... Seminary and YM/YW keep our teens continually challenged and engaged in learning about Christ’s life and ministry ... And of course enjoying hot cocoa and donuts once in a while doesn’t hurt either! Beaucoup hugs to Kristi & Denise!
RAM ROD TOUGH ... Can you believe his luck?! … Not even a 12 point buck dared to jump his front end this year! … Instead it was a 16 year old female driver who rammed into the back of him last New Year’s Eve at a stop light! … She decided to gun it through a red light EVEN THOUGH Jon and others were already stopped in front of her!? … Hummm, his back end was demolished while he was plummeted directly into the woman in front of him … A peanut butter and JON sandwich! … And what was he most concerned about? His beloved Civil War license plate holder! It was crushed … Now THERE’S something to flip out about! haha
BARBIE & KEN GO TO THE PROM ... Yup, I thought he was pretty cute at age 15 life guarding at the local swimming pool ... Golden tan, chocolate brown eyes and a bright, confident smile! ... We found ourselves smitten ... Good buddies with shared memories of football games, dances, school plays and flirting in the halls between classes ... We were on again and off again like many fickle high school teenagers yet with great sincerity he told his best friend that he planned to marry me one day (though I didn’t find this out until after we were married many years and experiences later!)... Fast forward – USU campus, the 70’s bro! ... There he was again, a year a head of me in school only this time with longer hair, a beard, contacts, hippy boots and bell bottoms haha ... I lived in the ‘Morm Dorms’ no less with two best friends, was a Chi Omega chick, Angel Flight diva and Orchesis dance group fanatic ... And the beat goes on ... Until I decided to fulfill one of my ambitions of becoming GIDGET GOES HAWAIIAN leaving MOON DOOGIE to his studies and college shenanigans ... Surfs up! ... I, along with many new LDS friends discoed till dawn, tanned at Waikiki, body surfed at Waimeia and snorkeled at Hanama Bay for several months; in between working to pay our rent ... Jon courted me from afar sending me thoughtful surprises and touching sentiments ... I sent him coconuts still in the husk and comical island souvenirs ... And then ZING after having dated a wide variety of young men through high school, college and now on the island it became as clear as a bell! ... I had ‘liked’ everyone else but was actually ‘in love’ with my best friend! ... I rushed home to the guy of my dreams and into the arms of the man who confided in his best friend that he would one day marry me! ... Patience and prayer win out we say! ... Thirty years and two incredible children, a graduate degree, a nearly paid off mortgage, a wide array of phenomenal church callings, enjoyable career success, many dear friends, interesting travels & adventures combined with a myriad of trials and tests which have helped to refine our souls and a wealth of marital insight and experiences later FRED and WILMA now continue to spoon, slow dancing to the oldies and sharing many delightful memories! ... Race you into eternity sweetheart! ... And those two ‘best friends’ lived happily ever after ... (Not) the end!
IN CLOSING ... "ngoh ngoi ngoh ge gaa tihng", I love my family, Cameron states in a recent letter ... In concluding this years newsletter let us share our son’s written testimony with you ... Each member of our family, just as millions of Latter-day Saints throughout the world, have deep and abiding testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ ... May you enjoy a spiritual and meaningful Christmas season all year round! ... “I know that this Church is true. The witness from the Holy Ghost is my confirmation. When I teach, find, make calls and share the message of the Restoration I feel the same fire, warmth and peace that I share when I testify that Jesus is the Christ. The Book of Mormon; another testament of Jesus Christ is evidence of it all. It inspires and exhorts all of its readers to come unto Christ as does the Bible. Joseph Smith was called of God to be a prophet just as Moses or Abraham. We have a living prophet today named Gordon B. Hinckley, whom I have shaken hands with; when I did so I felt the spirit of God course into me. What a comfort it is to know that not only did God call prophets in ancient times but also today to lead and guide his children in a world of ever changing values. The power to seal a family together forever is once again on the earth. Truly the fullness of the gospel has been restored, and I add my humble testimony that this is true. Jesus is the Christ, and I echo His invitation to all “fear not, but only believe.”
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