2006 -- that year wasn’t anything like we thought it would be. Plan all you want, but life will at times take a course you did not intend. With the final illness and death of Kim’s father, Joe, and Jeff’s brother, Andy, and the birth of a grandchild, the Lord’s plan for our salvation has taken center stage in our hearts and minds. Sadness, worry, gratitude, peace, and joy have all attended our family this year. We look back in awe as we ponder the eternal significance of the year’s developments.
The year was relatively calm until April. Kim learned of her father’s decline, suffering from multiple myeloma, while Jeff was in Ohio keynoting the annual meeting of the University of Cincinnati chapter of the Federalist Society. Soon after Jeff returned to California, Kim left for Oregon and spent several weeks there assisting her father. Meanwhile, Mindy finished her senior-year coursework at Brigham Young University -- Idaho, and left on tour to Brazil with the Collegiate Singers. Aaron (Clift) graduated from Brigham Young University, and Sarah and Aaron moved to Elk Grove. They brought with them a bun in the oven.
In early May, Kim came home for a few days while her uncle, Tom, cared for her father. On May 14, Tom called to say Joe was slipping away. Kim and Jeff packed and left a house full of family celebrating Mother’s Day to head for Oregon, but Joe passed on before they could reach Bend. The children drove up and met Kim and Jeff in John Day for Joe’s funeral.
Kim and Jeff returned to Elk Grove just in time to refuel and drive to Idaho to pick up Mindy as she returned home from Brazil. After four years, Mindy was finished with school in Rexburg and had only student teaching to complete before graduating.
Joey and Hilary went on tour with Galena Street East to the East Coast in June. They enjoyed some of the historical sites and then hopped on a cruise to Canada and back. Meanwhile, Kim and Jeff packed up Spence and Bradford, who had just finished a successful season in Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth league baseball, and went to John Day to begin wrapping up Joe’s estate -- two properties, a barber shop, and many years of accumulated possessions.
On the Fourth of July, Andy and Coleen invited the extended family to their home to eat, swim, and enjoy fireworks, but Andy wasn’t feeling well. Within a couple of weeks, tests revealed multiple tumors, most significantly brain tumors, and a diagnosis of melanoma. As the cancer despoiled his body, his spirit shone. On September 28, Andy went home to God, who gave him life.
Meanwhile, Joey started his first year at Brigham Young University, and Mindy moved to Utah to do her student teaching at Kearns High School. Hilary (sophomore), Spencer (freshman), and Bradford (fifth grade) also started new school years.
October was relatively calm, but, on the morning of November 2, Aaron called Kim to tell her Mari Roanne Clift had arrived. Kim sped down to the courthouse and was not very patient waiting for Jeff to wrap up his work and join her to go to Sutter Memorial Hospital to see Sarah and Aaron’s new baby. Mari is, of course, perfect in every way -- 8 pounds, 1 ounce and 21 inches long at birth. She has dark hair and dark eyes like her mother and enough adoring family and friends to make her a rock star in popularity. We all gathered at our house for Thanksgiving and, the day after, Mindy went to the temple and Joey received the Melchizedek Priesthood.
December brought more significant milestones. Mindy finished her student teaching and graduated from Brigham Young University - Idaho. She has accepted a call to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Washington, D.C. Temple Visitors Center and the Washington, D.C. North Mission beginning January 24.
May the Lord bless you this Christmas season and always.
The year was relatively calm until April. Kim learned of her father’s decline, suffering from multiple myeloma, while Jeff was in Ohio keynoting the annual meeting of the University of Cincinnati chapter of the Federalist Society. Soon after Jeff returned to California, Kim left for Oregon and spent several weeks there assisting her father. Meanwhile, Mindy finished her senior-year coursework at Brigham Young University -- Idaho, and left on tour to Brazil with the Collegiate Singers. Aaron (Clift) graduated from Brigham Young University, and Sarah and Aaron moved to Elk Grove. They brought with them a bun in the oven.
In early May, Kim came home for a few days while her uncle, Tom, cared for her father. On May 14, Tom called to say Joe was slipping away. Kim and Jeff packed and left a house full of family celebrating Mother’s Day to head for Oregon, but Joe passed on before they could reach Bend. The children drove up and met Kim and Jeff in John Day for Joe’s funeral.
Kim and Jeff returned to Elk Grove just in time to refuel and drive to Idaho to pick up Mindy as she returned home from Brazil. After four years, Mindy was finished with school in Rexburg and had only student teaching to complete before graduating.
Joey and Hilary went on tour with Galena Street East to the East Coast in June. They enjoyed some of the historical sites and then hopped on a cruise to Canada and back. Meanwhile, Kim and Jeff packed up Spence and Bradford, who had just finished a successful season in Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth league baseball, and went to John Day to begin wrapping up Joe’s estate -- two properties, a barber shop, and many years of accumulated possessions.
On the Fourth of July, Andy and Coleen invited the extended family to their home to eat, swim, and enjoy fireworks, but Andy wasn’t feeling well. Within a couple of weeks, tests revealed multiple tumors, most significantly brain tumors, and a diagnosis of melanoma. As the cancer despoiled his body, his spirit shone. On September 28, Andy went home to God, who gave him life.
Meanwhile, Joey started his first year at Brigham Young University, and Mindy moved to Utah to do her student teaching at Kearns High School. Hilary (sophomore), Spencer (freshman), and Bradford (fifth grade) also started new school years.
October was relatively calm, but, on the morning of November 2, Aaron called Kim to tell her Mari Roanne Clift had arrived. Kim sped down to the courthouse and was not very patient waiting for Jeff to wrap up his work and join her to go to Sutter Memorial Hospital to see Sarah and Aaron’s new baby. Mari is, of course, perfect in every way -- 8 pounds, 1 ounce and 21 inches long at birth. She has dark hair and dark eyes like her mother and enough adoring family and friends to make her a rock star in popularity. We all gathered at our house for Thanksgiving and, the day after, Mindy went to the temple and Joey received the Melchizedek Priesthood.
December brought more significant milestones. Mindy finished her student teaching and graduated from Brigham Young University - Idaho. She has accepted a call to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Washington, D.C. Temple Visitors Center and the Washington, D.C. North Mission beginning January 24.
May the Lord bless you this Christmas season and always.
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