Ashley and Connor bear fly home to Pittsburgh!

We had great fun in Utah with Ashley and Paul for a week and a half leading up to her graduation!  We then all flew to Orlando to Disney World to celebrate and a week later Ash and Connor then flew out to Pittsburgh to spend a week with us while Paul was at his summer National Guard training.  We loved having them home with us and were able to celebrate a pre-1st birthday party for Connor also :)

 Connor getting to know Missy Belle Buttons :)

Connor wearing his darling Pens hockey jersey that aunt Lauren sent him!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10203761785636029&set=vb.1560405052&type=2&theater

 

 

Congratulations Ashley - Magna Cum Laude graduate in field of education!

Our talented, intelligent, beautiful inside and out daughter graduated Magna Cum Laude from Utah Valley University!  What an incredible achievement especially considering having given birth and raising their new born son her last two semesters!  It was a team effort for sure; Paul was a great support to Ashley and their adorable little guy.  We are so very proud of our extraordinary, motivated yet humble daughter who is also the best little mommy on the planet! xoxo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At her family graduation party - I gave Ash a first edition Dick and Jane book for her book collection; this one from the era Jon and I learned to read as kids and also a darling charm necklace with cute items representing a teacher. :)  Also for her upcoming first Mother's Day I passed down to her, her grandmother Maybelle's locket that dad gave mom when he was serving in the Navy during WWII on the battleship South Dakota; inside mom had placed a photo of her and dad; Ash surprised us wearing it around her neck with her cap and gown along with her Maga Cum Laude medallion!   Also, I passed on to her, her great grandmother Maggie Elizabeth's engagement ring which grandma passed down to my mom (her daughter), mom to me and now me to Ashley; she was very touched! :)

 

 

 

Connor Cotton Tail :)

First Easter for our little snickerdoodle boy :)  Sitting on his lamby blanket great grandma Maybelle made for her first great grandchild.  She loved crocheting the edging on her baby blankets.  It warms my heart to know that mom and dad knew Connor in heaven before he was born :)

I love you bear!

Now we're rockin' it!

Dining in style  :)

Can't wait to be spending almost a month with our little snickerdoodle boy and his darling mama and daddy!  We'll all be having fun in the sun together in Salt Lake & St. George combined with Ashley's college graduation festivities.  Our family will then fly off to Orlando for a crazy-fun visit to Disney World and Universal Studios to meet Mickey Mouse and Harry Potter.  After which we will separate for several days and while his daddy is at his military summer camp Connor and his mommy will arrive home, here in Pittsburgh, for his first time visit to the burgh!  Also, for our Ashley babe to enjoy being in her childhood home once again (maybe even the last time), and to hang out with dear friends.  We will conclude our gallivanting by enjoying a little road trip driving Ash and Connor bear to Kentucky for them to visit Paul's parents for a few days before returning back to their happy little nest.  Yes-siree   the baby bear is becoming a world traveler even before his first birthday! (grin)

Love notes xoxo

While sorting through items we have stored for many years, now in preparation for our future move, we came across my little cedar memory box filled with love letters I sent Jon when he was a junior at USU and I was living out my dream of being 'Gidget Goes Hawaiian' in Honolulu!  What fun to reread each letter; and true to form my writing then just as throughout the years was very conversational and filled with fabulous details I had forgotten about.  The merriment and mayhem my girl friends and I experienced during the months we lived and worked on the island was delightful to reread once again! :)   It was while living in Hawaii that I realized I was in love with my best friend Jon and rushed back home to him!  I married the guy - and soon to be 39 years later over the hill Barbie and mid-life crisis Ken continue to rock and roll :)  I LOVE this man!!

And speaking of love notes ... My heart went a flutter recently when I was greeted at the airport by our daughter, son-in-law and sweet little snickerdoodle grandson holding a "Grandma will you be my Valentine?" poster!  For a woman who values the written and spoken word I LOVED each of these experiences!!

My heart sings with joy in having a family!

 Our sweet Amber punked Connors hair :)

My greatest joy is derived from my family!  Being a wife, mother, and now a relatively new grandmother simply makes my heart sing.  It has been such a rewarding journey raising our kids Cameron and Ashley; now interacting with them as adults who are loving, kind, motivated, creative, and brave. 

I am also very fortunate to be married to Jon, the love of my life, soon celebrating 39 years of bliss together!  When I say bliss of course I say that with a wink and a smile on my face because we have truly been two of the lucky ones; but like all couples have grown through both our challenges and our successes in life.  We are very compatible and our differences in personality, work styles, etc., have complimented one another - plus the fact that we are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as I've mentioned many times, believing in eternal marriage which anchors us in love and devotion for one another!

Our faith in God our eternal Father and in His son Jesus Christ, our Savior and redeemer guide us in all that we do.  We love being Mormon's!  There is nothing more empowering than having a sure knowledge regarding where we came from prior to birth, why we are on this earth and what it is we are to accomplish during this life, as well as where we are going when this life has ended.  We live our religion, our faith twenty-four hours a day every day of our lives :)  

Life is such a magnificent journey friends!  I 'choose' to lead a joyful, happy existence and fill my days with love, insight, wisdom, excitement, service, and passion.  Follow me on www.twitter.com/rebeccachris   also on www.facebook.com/trainingwithatwist   and www.trainingwithatwist.com     

Salt Lake, Utah LDS temple - This is the temple where Jon and I

were sealed (married for time and eternity)   :)

INSPIRE book launch!

As a co-author of the book 'Inspire' I am very excited to announce we are in the home stretch of production.  The book is in the final editing and layout process preparing for a launch date in June.  You may purchase the book from me at a discount or on Amazon or at Barnes and Nobel book stores; I will have ordering information to share soon.  For questions and/or pre-ordering information contact me at RLChristeson@comcast.net.  

Yippee - a life long dream of becoming a published author has been realized - now on to the completion of and publication of my other manuscripts!