Becca’s Shenanigans: 2014 has been a swell year!

Our year in a nut shell has been filled with joy and laughter, fears and tears, challenges, love and insurmountable blessings! This is not one of my crazy-fun family holiday newsletters but this will give you a general idea of many occurrences we have experienced this year.

A delightful wintery visit cross country to spend time with our precious daughter, son-in-law, and grandson was enjoyed in early 2014. This gave me much needed grandmother time for giggles, snuggles, story telling, Primary song singing and holding our little one close as I whispered words of wisdom into his ear and we laughed and played together :) Cameron also made his own surprise appearance at his sister's home (see photo below). He parked himself on her former sidewalk in a chair dressed in a robe reading a newspaper; when she came out to go to school SURPRISE there he was out of the blue! These two have the coolest brother-sister relationship e-v-e-r!

Our brilliant talented, loving, caring dauhter graduated from college magna cum laude in the field of education. Jon, Cam and I flew out to cheer her on with her sweet husband, baby boy and grandma Hansen. We then flew to Florida from Utah for a fun family celebration at Disney World and Universal Studios. Ashley is a devoted Harry Potter and Disney fan! We had a blast and it went by way too fast.

Ash and Connor then soon flew back home to Pittsburgh for a couple of weeks while Paul was busy with his military summer camp. We celebrated an early first birthday for Connor and enjoyed more fun time with them both! This was Ashley's last trip home to see friends and familiar places and sleep in her own bedroom before we left the area. It was such a joy having her and the baby home with us; Ash has grown into such a devoted, loving, caring, thoughtful, capable, daughter, wife and mother - we are very proud of her.

I was on cloud nine early June when I was notified that my book Inspire: Women's Stories of Accomplishment, Encouragement and Influence had been published and now selling on Amazon! It is a compilation of accounts from twenty five women around the country and was a delightful process! Now I look forward to completing my manuscripts Training With A Twist for business and a version for parents and teens; also some other works in the progress which are dear to my heart. As soon as my new office is ready I can't wait to hunker down and work on these projects as well as my personal and family histories!

I unfortunately then found myself facing some serious health challenges which required surgery and still more to come. Hey, I've been this route before and as dreadful as it can be these experiences help to further teach me patience and strengthen my faith! I always seek to have an attitude of gratitude and feel richly blessed for each day I have on this earth with my dear family.

Jon tirelessly worked on our home inside and out so as to list it with a very proactive realtor. He did a marvelous job being the thorough, perfectionist he is; and though it was a beast of burden his efforts paid off and it sold very quickly to a sweet young couple who could see themselves living in this special home of ours. We lived in this home for 27 years! We always meant to move but became very involved with church callings, careers, and our kids lives and pursuits so we stayed put and filled our home with love, family, friends, experiences and treasured memories. Cam wished on a star for his little baby sister when he was five though our sun burst window at the peak of our vaulted ceiling in the living room and she came true - hey it doesn't get any better than that (wink).

Cameron had returned to Pittsburgh the summer prior with his career to our delight! Having him home after literally being away for ten years due to college, mission and work (except for short holiday visits) was a choice experience. He is such a positive influence in every life he touches and we enjoy his positive, cheerful, hardworking, spiritual attitude! While in our home ward he served as the first counselor in the Sunday School presidency but then attended the single adult ward in Oakland and served as the ward clerk. It was such fun meeting him for dinner or a movie when he wasn't working long hours or off with friends. And he loved being home once again attending Pens, Pirates and Steelers games with Jon and doing other fun things with Jon and I. However, many good things must come to a close in life, and as the Lord would have it he had finally met the woman of his dreams who he felt was to become his eternal companion! He interviewed for positions within his company so as to transfer to California where Sarah lives and is going to school and was hired in the bay area to his excitement. This has been wonderful for them to live closer to one another and to more fully explore this new relationship. Sarah flew out to visit Cam and see his Pittsburgh life before he left the burgh and we enjoyed a lovely visit with her! They spent their time exploring the city, traveling to Washington D.C. to do a temple session together and to see some of the monuments, as well as hang with our family; and let me just say that flaming snowballs at the end of summer were on my menu (wink).

With all of our belongings placed in storage Jon and I set off for Utah early fall having accepted Ashley and Paul's gracious invitation to live with them while our home is being built in the southern part of the state. Yikes! Poor kids having mom and dad hanging around day in and day out but it has turned out to be such a choice experience! Spending time with them and little Connor while enjoying all of the holidays together has been a once in a lifetime experience, and our wildly fun late night Rook games rock! A few adjustments here and there but overall it has been a great blessing being together in all of our lives! Jon and I have so much fun with our little babe and have been able to teach him many things, and getting to know Paul even better has been such a treat! Paul is an awesome man; he is very cheerful, hardworking, loving and devoted to his sweet little family. As for us, after so many years of Jon serving as a Bishop, Bishops counselor, on the High Council twice, stake Young Men's presidency, ward Young Men's president, etc., and myself having served as a stake Relief Society president, stake Activities chair, Gospel Essentials and Gospel Doctrine instructor, Relief Society counselor and instructor attempting to make a positive impact in others lives in a meaningful way it has been somewhat odd to be a visitor in Ashley and Paul's ward. A lovely ward, wonderful experience but very different from the many years of service in Pittsburgh Third Ward. We are looking forward to becoming involved in our new ward in St. George! We have so many treasured memories of friends and experiences from Western Pennsylvania - memories we will always hold dear.

Some key experiences and happenings while living here with the kids has also included getting to see Ashley's students who are part of her show choir perform for Halloween and Christmas. Ash was hired by a new elementary school part time as the music teacher and she loves this opportunity! She's very creative, has a passion for music, and the voice of an angel plus she loves children so it was an excellent fit. Also, she and Paul accepted a calling in church serving as the Nursery leaders with little Connor attending with his mommy and daddy. Paul has also been meeting with the missionaries which is very exciting!

While here Jon and I have made several trips back and forth to our new home to oversee its progress and also tackle the daunting task of transferring our life from 2,000 miles away. Everything from new insurance, new doctors, furniture shopping, to a myriad of details necessary to move into this new chapter of our lives. It has been tedious at times and also very exciting as well.

Now that Jon's mom has been moved into a lovely assisted living center near our new home, and his oldest sister and our niece and her family have all relocated near by it will be great fun getting the Christeson side of our family together for fun and frolic.

Cam settled into his new place of residence and job which he enjoys and he and Sarah became engaged recently!! We are thrilled and love this incredible girl to pieces. Sarah is a delight! Emotionally healthy, motivated, spiritual, cheerful, hard working, family oriented, etc. She recently earned her degree in elementary ed and is now pursuing further specialized education to become a middle school math teacher.

We have experienced great sadness of late due to the passing of my very dear uncle Malcolm Beck. Malc was an incredible man and our family loves him, aunt Sharon and their kids dearly! I've always known that Malc sat on various boards, served as Mayor of American Fork and as a County Commissioner; also that he was an incredible husband and father but until we heard all that my cousins (his children) shared regarding the caliber of dad and grandpa he was I was not aware of all that made up this extraordinary man! He and Sharon have been like second parents to me and grandparents to our children. Malc loved my mom (his sister) dearly as she loved him; both he and Sharon are two of the most Christ-like people I have ever known! We know we will see him again after this life and until then his loving presence will be strongly felt by all.

Our year ended by celebrating two Christmas celebrations. One with Paul and Ash before they left on their trip with Paul's folks which included an early visit from Santa for Connor and a special family night focusing on angels and blessings. And then Christmas in Las Vegas where we met up with Cam and Sarah for a few days of family time, a lovely session in the Las Vegas LDS temple together, and a repeat family night focus. Both were wonderful experiences being with all of our kidlets and sharing in the celebration of our Savior's birth.

I am now scheduled for another surgery, a bit unsettling but needed in preparation to further sustain my life. We are dealing with the grief of our sweet little beagle dog Missybellebuttons who appears to be gong blind which breaks our hearts; and our home should close within the coming month for which we eagerly await with great anticipation! We will have easy access to visiting Ashley's family frequently and Cam and Sarah as well. Life is a blessing each and every day no matter what we experience next. I count myself fortunate to still be in love with the cool guy I met at age 14 in high school and went on to marry and create this wonderful life with. This coming new year we will be celebrating 40 years of a most remarkable, happy, loving, adventurous marriage! Over the hill Barbie and mid-life crisis Ken continue to rock and roll hahaha :) ... "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be. The last of life for which the first was made."

We wish you an outstanding 2015! Take some sound risks folks, have some fun, laugh and cry and hold each other tight as its bound to be an incredible ride!