More Annual ABC’s from Poole’s in December 2013
A Afghanistan duty of 9 months ended in July.
B Bryce came home to reconnect with Isaiah (5), and Joshua (10 mo.), and his supportive wife, Heidi!
C Colorado beckoned all 24 of us to join with Greg’s siblings and their families for a Poole reunion in the mountains near Estes Park.
D Dustin was born to Jessica and Braden in Phoenix. Made several trips there early in the year. She still is an office director at ASU and Braden does a great job of caring for their two boys–for now.
E Everything accomplished for Marcie to graduate from Taylorsville High School.
F Finishing classwork for her veterinarian’s degree, Carissa now moves into clinical rotations for her senior year. Then comes residency . . . Jonathan, ever faithful and supportive with home & kids.
G Girls’ camp and Primary activity days still keep Colleen pretty involved.
H Hard bleacher seats are no longer occupying us for all of the swim meets and water polo games that Marcie participated in. She misses that part of high school–not the mean coach though.
I Interest is growing on the subject of Greg’s retirement–maybe it will happen in 4-5 more years. It’s hard, because he loves what he does and is still really good at it.
J Jobs: Maggie got on as a teller at Wells Fargo. Marcie works in retail and attends SLCC. Greg is in his 33rd year with Hansen, Allen, and Luce. Colleen tries to keep the family wheel from spinning out of control.
K Kids (grands) are all growing up quickly. Sarah is now 12 and in junior high. Stewart is 10. Mikaela is 8. Isaiah is a month short of being 6. Allen, Noble, and Patrick are 3. Audrey is 17 months. Joshua is 16 months. Dustin is 7 months. Naomi is 2 months.
L Life events in the lives of all six of our "children" made for a crazy busy year.
M Marriage of Maggie and Hayden in September.
N Naomi was born to Danica and Michael in October. Danica and Michael now have 5 children. Michael is employed at ATK, and Danica sells Thirty-One bags and stays very busy on the home scene.
O On the road for 5 days with Bryce’s family helping with kids and cars when he was transferred to Andrews AFB near Washington, D.C. (Colleen)
P Pictures multiply like rabbits in this family. It’s a good thing we like watching slide shows!
Q Quilt project for the Humanitarian Center. Our ward was asked to contribute 40 quilts, and we ended up with about 140! They go in shipments that help out when disasters hit! I still have 5 more to finish by February. Plus, I made a "college" denim quilt for Marcie and a baptism photo quilt for Mikaela this year.
R Regretting that the pounds I lost last year, all found me again. Not at all what I expected. I was very careful in transition and maintenance–and I had not been gaining for the previous 5 years. Bummed! (Colleen)
S Struggled to learn how to be friends with Windows 8 when my favorite laptop died and had to be replaced.
T Tried our luck with raised bed gardening. Will be trying for better luck next year.
U Unable to go as fast as we used to. Still glad to be going at all! (Any day spent above ground is a good day.)
V Very glad technology exists that allows us to video chat with our farflung posterity. Jessica/Braden are in Phoenix. Carissa/Jonathan are in Albany, Oregon. Bryce/Heidi are in Maryland. Danica/Michael are only 40 miles away in Grantsville. Maggie/Hayden are in Murray.
W Walking an hour every morning is still on Colleen’s agenda and then ½ hr at the gym. Greg has found a master’s program in swimming at the gym at 5:30 a.m. that works well before he goes to work–and he loves it!
X Extra people at our extraordinary events cause extra noise, extra messes, and extra work; but they bring with them extra love, extra hugs, extra jollity, extra purpose, and extra joy!
Y You are thought of often in our home. We wish we could see each of you more often. We are also extra glad that we get to stay in touch with you in this electronic age of information!
Z Zoo-like crazy year! We have been blessed beyond measure or expectation or deserving. We hope your family finds the time and resources to be together whenever possible, to love and forgive and serve each other, and to reflect upon the real "Reason of the Season" this year. We are so blessed by the love of God and of His Son, Jesus Christ! We send our love from our house to yours! Greg & Colleen and family
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