December 2014
Dear Family and Friends,
Another year has gone by. It has been a busy one for us. We are enjoying getting to know a new area and are meeting many wonderful people. The kids love all their new friends and playing in the snow. It has been a good experience for our family.
I would like to share a few highlights of 2014 with you. In March, Neal was able to drive to Robinson, Illinois, for Grandma Hubbard’s 90th birthday party. He enjoyed visiting with Grandma and the other family who came. Grandma came to her house and shared some of her favorite memories of growing up; she cheered the family with songs and charmed them with her quick wit. Everyone went to the country club for dinner and more partying. It was good that Neal was able to attend because Grandma passed away a few months later.
At the end of May, Neal and I took a trip to Ohio for Neal’s cousin’s wedding. The wedding was held at a beautiful outdoor resort in the warm afternoon sunshine. Then there was a big dinner in the lodge with lots of wedding traditions, followed by dancing on the patio. We walked around the lake in the twilight. It was a fun trip and we enjoyed visiting with the family. It was nice that we were able to take a drive to Kirtland while we were there and visit the Church History sites. It was in Kirtland that the Hancock family was baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints back in 1830. It was a neat experience for me to see the Kirtland Temple and other sites and think that my ancestors were there. My sister, Rachel, stayed with our kids, and they all enjoyed their time together.
In May, Neal accepted a new job with Sierra Nevada Corporation in the Denver area. He gave his notice to L-3 Communications, where he had worked for almost nine years. We felt good about this change. Neal left for Colorado in the first week of June. He found this house and we started making plans to relocate the family. Neal enjoyed his new job and the project he was working on. He had some great people to work with.
In June, the kids and I were able to enjoy a visit with Andrea, Neal’s sister, and her children. We had fun with cousins and are thankful they could come. We also had a visit from my sister Jeanie and her daughter. It was fun to have her visit us, too. We always enjoy family time and are so thankful they could have a visit with us.
In the middle of July, we moved the family up to join Neal. It was hard for me to leave our nice little home with a for sale sign in the yard and to leave all our wonderful friends. Change can be a hard thing.
Right after the move we went on to Utah to visit family. Neal wasn’t able to stay and had to return to Colorado for work. I stayed with the kids in Utah for two weeks visiting with family. We spent one week camping with the Hubbard family in the beautiful Cache Valley mountains. It was a fun vacation but different having a vacation without Neal. In the first week of August, we returned from vacation to our new home.
We were able to get the kids into school before the school year started, and they are enjoying their new schools. Ruth (11) is at a middle school in 6th grade. She is learning how to play the clarinet and learning how to study in her honors classes. She has made some wonderful new friends in the ward, who also attend her school. She is happy to have so many young girls her age in our new ward. She continues to love to read and has been writing short stories, too. She is growing quickly into a beautiful young woman.
Andrew (9) is at the elementary school in 4th grade. He is enjoying the boys in his class who are in our ward. He has made some good friends already. He is doing well in his studies and enjoys having men for teachers. He works hard and is very diligent in doing his homework, chores at home, and learning how to play the piano. He likes riding his bike on all the bike trails around our house. Andrew enjoys the Cub Scout program. Before we left Texas he attended a summer day camp which he really enjoyed. He also earned his Wolf Rank and Religious Knot before moving. He really enjoys going to Scouts each week here in his new Pack.
Spencer (7) is in 2nd grade. He has made a new best friend who lives across the street from us. They are in the same class at school, too. He is full of energy, life, and emotions. He can go from laughing to crying in the same minute. Spencer has also gotten good at riding his bike and enjoys going outside as often as he can. He is learning piano and doing better with it. Spencer has a great imagination and loves inventing crazy-sounding things.
Caleb is four years old and enjoying his last year before starting school. I decided not to do preschool for him. We enjoy going to the library each week. We have also made some friends in the ward whom Caleb loves playing with. Caleb seems to suck in knowledge. He knows his numbers and letters so well. He loves playing games with the United States and knows all the states by name and can put together puzzles quickly. His latest things are learning to tell time and learning to read. He is a handful to keep his active mind and body busy.
Becky is staying busy serving the family. I really enjoyed my calling in Relief Society in Texas. It was hard for me to leave the sisters I had learned to love so much. I went a few months without a calling but recently have been called to work in the nursery. It has been a new experience for me. The children are sweet and I am doing my best to serve them and their families. I am thankful for opportunities to serve and help others.
Neal is a hard worker and keeps things going for our family. He was the Ward Clerk in Texas and now is an assistant clerk here. He does well keeping things organized. In September, Sierra Nevada did not receive the NASA contract they were planning on. Neal was laid off along with about 90 other employees. He has been doing job hunting and temporary labor since then. He spent a week in November at our Texas home doing yard work and fix-ups to try to help it to sell; it is still on the market. It has been a trial of faith for us to understand why we felt we needed to accept this job and move here. I do believe that God has a purpose for us here. We needed to grow and strengthen our faith in Him more. We are being guided along our paths. A new job will come, hopefully soon. So there is a good possibility that we will move again in the near future.
At this time of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I want to thank all of you for your friendship and influence in our lives. We are truly blessed to know so many wonderful people. I am thankful that our family can be together at this time. As you can see from all our activities this year, there have been many times when we have been apart. We are together as a family in a home with the things we need to care for our family. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. We are surrounded by loving and caring people. I feel so blessed. I am thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ and all he has done for us. He is the center of everything. I am thankful for Him at this Christmas time as we celebrate his birth and life. I pray that you will all remember the reason we celebrate Christmas and keep that faith alive in your hearts all year long.
With Love,
Becky, Neal, Ruth, Andrew, Spencer and Caleb Hubbard
The kids playing at a park.
Neal and I (with his brothers) I couldn't find another recent picture of us.
The kids experiencing their first taste of snow.
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