The music of life soothes the soul. Many years of piano lessons with our two children tinkering away on these old and worn piano keys are but one of many treasured family memories :)
2013 was a year filled with many extraordinary happenings and blessings!
We
ushered in the New Year in style! 2013
sprinkled buckets of fairy dust on our family as we focused on many first time
happenings:
- A delightful daughters marriage was heaven sent
- The birth of a precious, long awaited grandchild
- A remarkable son moving back home after ten years for his career
- An extraordinary husbands anticipated retirement
- And as for me, I got to participate in each magical moment!
We have enjoyed a wild ride filled with excitement, new experiences, challenge and fun. I cannot begin to describe the weeks and weeks associated with Ashley's wedding planning, giggles, tearing our hair out, ohhhh's and awwww's and a great deal of long distance coordination thanks to texting, calls, google docs and the like. It was delightful planning every last detail tied to an exquisite dream wedding for Ash and Paul based on her desire for family tradition and tender moments; truly a treasured mother-daughter experience!
Ashley babe is wrapping up her student teaching through UVU and thoroughly enjoys the 5th grade class she has been assigned to! She was awarded a first time ever scholarship at UVU for music in education so as to effectively integrate music into her classroom curriculum. Her audition process, interviews, written requirements were challenging but very rewarding and helpful financially as she finishes school. She will be graduating in April with honors! Also, it has warmed our hearts to see her evolve into the role of wife and then mother; she and I are much alike in being very self-motivated, proactive, creative thinking individuals so these skills and attitudes serve her well as she magnifies these new roles in her life. I am very pleased to say she is an excellent wife and mother; she loves her husband and son dearly and enjoys nurturing, teaching, helping and loving both of the new men (i.e., + little man LOL) in her life. (grin)
Our 2nd son Paul is a remarkable man indeed and such a loving husband and father to his sweet family. Paul possesses many fine qualities and character traits including an ever cheerful demeanor, sharp intellect, stellar work ethic, and deep love for his family. He has become one of the Christeson gang; we enjoy being with him and are so very proud of him.
Connor's birth was another extraordinary blessing and adventure! Our precious little grandson, a true gift from heaven, has brought great meaning and joy into all of our lives! He is so darn cute I could just eat him up (wink). Jon and I are simply smitten with him and enjoy every moment we spend with him along with little phone chats and family Skyping sessions. I can't wait until we once again reside in the west and see our three Utah kidlets more frequently!
Cameron's move back to Pittsburgh due to an exciting career move has been fabulous! He has been away for ten years going to school, mission (Hong Kong) and working out west; as such he has only been able to come home to visit for short periods of time using vacation time. He has been hired by TD Ameritrade in their Pittsburgh office and is a shining star on the rise. He thoroughly enjoys his work and workplace team and it appears that he has a very bright future in store within this industry. Of course Jon and I are thrilled to have him living so close! My two boys enjoy heading off to Steelers, Pirates and Pens games together just like old times, or cheering on their teams while watching TV. We enjoy many wonderful dinner dates with Cam, movies, family activities, etc., it is such a blessing to interact with him on a daily basis!
Jon excitedly retired from United States Steel Corp as Manager of Raw
Materials the end of October after 36 years of service; he thoroughly enjoyed
his job especially these past 12 years at corporate! He was such a well-liked, respected influence
among his colleagues and received several incredible letters from vendors who
felt that his level of integrity and personal influence on their lives was
greatly appreciated! Jon will forever have choice memories of working for USS Geneva Works in Utah and at several plants and corporate offices here in Pittsburgh. His knowledge of the industry is vast as he has experienced many roles and duties via starting out in the Management Training Program when he was 24 years old :) However, he LOVES retirement and had planned and prepared well for the next chapter in his/our lives and so we anticipate additional anticipated changes in the near future and upcoming years of delightful shared time together! We have always been each others very best friend and enjoy our many activities and outings together. We can't wait to do some additional traveling and building our new home. Jon also continues to serve as first counselor in our LDS ward bishopric; this is his third bishopric, once as bishop and now twice as both first and second counselor. He is a very wise, proactive, caring man and will surely be missed by many whose lives he has touched throughout his 27 years of service in this ward and stake when serving twice on the High Council and as a member of the stake Young Men's Presidency. (Jon dear - Grow old along with me the best is yet to be, the last of life for which the first was made)
I continue to enjoy my calling in the church as an LDS Family Service Missionary as a group leader for the Addiction Recovery Program, a truly inspired program designed by our church, based on the 12 step program, only tying all recovery to the atonement of Jesus Christ. This continues to be a remarkable experience as I see lives improve and become more emotionally and spiritually health as a result of the process. I have also remained busy with my company (trainingwithatwist.com); I have a passion for what I do and we are approaching 15 successful years seeking to teach individuals from diverse businesses and industries and touching their lives for good. I am a firecracker! We have a great deal of fun and laughter in my classes and presentations and accomplish a lot helping employees become more creative thinking/problem solving members of their workplace teams. My company receives a lot of repeat business which is proof in the pudding that what I instruct "works" if people put my theory, techniques, and concepts into action. Along with my many other interests and pursuits did I mention I am a NEW GRANDMOTHER!!!! haha, just had to say it again :)
Life is good! We have been very blessed with challenges (such as my health), joy and tears, laughter, hard work, fulfillment, strong family ties and dear friends, adventure and whimsy. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we have a sure knowledge and testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We know without doubt that our Heavenly Father (God) loves us, as he does you; and that His son and our Savior Jesus Christ who atoned for all of our sins also loves us and each desire for you and I to be happy, successful, and valiant in living our lives with honor and purpose. It is our wish that each of you reading our blog enjoy happy, fulfilling lives - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 2013
Note: My more in-depth Family Holiday News Letter is not being posted on this blog
