Our Family Newsletter 2019

This morning I came across an old blog post from 2011 where I had each of the family give their own overview of the year.

It was pretty fun and funny to look back and see what they all had going on.

You can see it yourself HERE. 

I loved the idea so much that I decided to do it again this year.

So here you have our Hale Family Newsletter 2019!

Matt:

This year I learned that the Lord is aware of me and our little family and loves us. Ginny and I celebrated our 25th anniversary. It's hard to believe that time has gone by in what seems to be a flash. We took a short but much needed trip together. I loved exploring Oregon and California coast with my sweetheart, and as our kids grow up I am excited for more trips like this!

Ginny:

This year I found myself all over the place: Hawaii, Seattle, Oregon, Arizona, Soldotna, McCarthy and under the knife. I hugged a redwood, ate Chik-fil-a sauce for the first time(which I now dream of) and kayaked around glaciers. I got to witness the birth of my second grandson and my first son being sealed in the temple. I met a new niece and great nephew after their arrival into this world. My time was filled with homeschool, garden, lots of healing, and some hiking. I started the process of pursuing a full-time position teaching seminary and institute, which I hope comes to fruition this year. And Matt and I celebrated 25 years of marriage. It has been a beautifully hard and fruitful year!  

Sam:

2019 was a year of growth and self introspection. I learned deep truths about that which drives me. This year sweet Emerson joined our home, much to the delight of Afton. 2019 defined my family's goals and dreams. This year the 4 of us set the groundwork for continued growth and learning. The Slate family is looking forward to a productive 2020.

Dallin:

This year has been awesome. I met the most wonderful woman ever and I'm glad to now call her my wife. We are happy to have each other and wouldn't have it any other way.

Brittan:

This year has been a bit of a roller coaster, filled with good and bad. I left home to serve a mission in Idaho, then a few months later I came back a different person with new experiences, new memories and a bit disheartened. But my faith was strengthened from my mission and I learned I can do hard things. I learned it's okay if things don't turn out the way you wanted them to, because God has something even better in store for you. 

Makenna:

This year I failed college. And then mom decided to put me into home-school so I can graduate or something weird like that. I got a very lovely blue Volkswagen Jetta for my birthday/graduation present. I learned how to paint a little bit better. And how to hold my tongue more....(I should probably work on that more). I’m getting ready to move outta here, even though it won’t be until like October, I’m ready for a new adventure! 

Corban:

This year I visited Seattle and loved seeing Microsoft. I finally earned enough money to buy a VR headset. I'm a freshman in high school now and I still love video games and sleep. I loved going to Hawaii this year and boogey boarding in the ocean even though I got a rash on my stomach. 

Happy New Year! 

Hale Christmas 2019

I didn't take very many pictures this Christmas.

I just enjoyed being with my people more I guess.

Christmas Eve we each took a candle and Matt lit his and then share one thing he knew about Christ.

He then lit Brittan's candle and she shared and then she lit Dustin's and it went all around the room.

Lighting candles and testifying of Jesus.

It was a moment that I always want to remember.

I got really emotional as each person shared and then when I shared that I knew He is an abundant giver.

It was probablymy most favorite moment of Christmas.

Because Christmas really is all about Him. 

Dallin, Jessica, and Dustin all slept over on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning we enjoyed Matt's traditional rosemary monkey bread and stocking stuff.

We played games and listened to Christmas music.

We opened gifts from each other.

Sam and her family showed up by the afternoon and we ate lasagna and rolls.

Then Afton opened his gifts, which he was MOST excited for and we opened the rest of the ones we hadn't opened earlier. 

It was just a good time together.

I am grateful for the moments we gather with the ones we love.

There is something so special about gathering.

 

The Reason for This Season

In a few hours my people will fill this house.

There will be games and laughter and food and visiting.

Right now the house is quiet and I have still moments to think of the reason we celebrate today and tomorrow.

It is because of Him.

This last year I have come to know Him more than I have ever before.

My in depth study of the New Testament has taught me so many things about Him.

He is my friend.

He understands every thing I experience.

He sees me as I really am.

He meets me where I am.

He has prepared the way- every way!

He is where peace comes from.

When He is included in something it can not fail.

He is not far from me.

He is my promise.

He has a purpose and plan for me.

He always keeps His promises.

He loves me in a way that nothing can separate me from His love.

He lives!

Living IN Him simply means loving.

He is an abundant giver.

He will 'yet' deliver me.

HE knows how to help others.

He completes me.

I never have to wonder where I stand with Him.

He is my 'earnest' money for heaven.

He brings us together and breaks down the walls.

Because of Him I am not 'tossed to and fro'.

He is life!

There is power in just speaking His name in times of trouble.

He strengthens me to do what I could not do on my own.

He will never let me down.

He knows who are His. 

He is my garbage man and makes sure my trash is taken out.

Because of Him I come boldly before God to ask the things I need.

He is my helper.

He is my hope.

He is IN my midst.

Life is just better with Him!

 

How grateful I am that He stood and loved me (and you) enough to come to this earth.

And He is coming again.

I pray for that day.

He was not just a babe born in Bethlehem, He is EVERYTHING!

Baby Hale!

Today Dallin and Jessica announced that baby Hale will be arriving in July!

I'm so excited for them and when I saw the picture of the ultrasound I knew I already loved this little one.

I'm so excited to meet him/her when they get here.

I am voting girl but don't tell Dallin.

He's convinced it a boy. 

If it is a boy we will have 3 boy grandsons! 

Hooray for grand babies.

Hayes Family Christmas Party 2019

Another Christmas Party is in the books.

I took more pictures of my own grandkids than anyone else.

I'm that grandmother now!

Afton was so excited to see me when they showed up and I got to snuggle with Emry while he slept.

Being a grandma is the best, for reals!

We also ate tons of yummy food.

My mom brought the traditional cheese log, orange bread, and so many other yummy things.

We brought pizza because I am all about simplifying this time of year.

The gift exchange was fun.

The pope made a showing again this year.

I love my family.

I'm so glad I get these moments to spend with them.

 

Twelve New Things

At the end of last year I set a goal to do twelve new things this year.

I set some other goals but we won't talk about those...

2010 has been one for the books- for sure!

It has been the hardest and the most beautiful year for me.

I have felt that the heaven's were opened to me and that life is truly an adventure.

As I compiled my list of new things, I realized I had done over 40 new things this year! 

So here they are with a few pictures added in:

1. Attended an endowment session at the Provo City Center temple.

2. Met Al Carraway

3. Saw a turtle on the beach in Hawaii

 4. Had open heart surgery

5. Met grandson #2 Emerson Otha Slate

6. Felt the spray of Barbara Falls on my face

7. Kayaked around glaciers

 8. Drove through a forest fire

9. Visted Kennicott/ McCarthy

10. Found a wishing rock

11. Ate an Amazon banana

 12. Road the Washington monorail

13. Saw a troll under a bridge

14. Rode through the Alaskan Way Viaduct

15. Had chik-fil-a sauce

16. Visited Epic Games

17. Ate at Mod Pizza

18. Saw the Seattle gum wall

19. Watched flying fish at Pikes Market

20. Visited an Amazon Go store

21. Visited Microsoft

22. Ate spumoni ice cream- yuck!

23. Rode on a ferry that carries cars!

24. Explored the Boeing factory

25. Saw a deer in the wild

26. Went to Bedrock in Arizona

27. Hiked Thumb Butte in Prescott

 28. Visited Portland

29. Went to the fallen police memorial at Waterfront park where my grandpa's name is

30. Explored Multnomah Falls

 31. Walked through the tunnel at Oceanside beach

32. Visited my grandma's grave

33. Went to the Portland temple

34. Hugged a redwood

 35. Drove through a redwood tree

36. Found out who my grandfather was...that was interesting!

37. Visited Whidby Island

38. Witnessed my son being sealed to his sweetheart

 39. Made a cheesecake in the Instapot

40. Met Megan Stohl

41. Learned how to replace my driver side mirror and did it!

42. Explored Soldovia with Corban

 43. Got to be a witness while my kids did baptisms in the temple.
Update: 
44. I made a key lime pie for the first time! (12/22/19)

We still have 11 days left of this year.

I might add to this list before the time is up.

I'm so grateful for all the experiences and the memories made with people that I love.

Christmas Cookies

Every year I see ADORABLE sugar cookies decorated on social media and every year I decide that I really want to do it too.

And then we do it and a very few turn out cute.

But it was still a TON of fun!

Makenna and I spent hours baking and decorating.

It was fun to create things with her.

 

Heaven Knocking

The Light the World prompt came across my messages this morning with this:

"Share inspiring stories online about your ancestors."

I've been meaning to share something that happened while I was in Oregon and this is the prefect reminder. 

The first day there I wanted to find some of my ancestors. 

We first found the fallen police memorial in Waterfront park where my great grandfather's name is on the wall.

 His story is one of love and enduring.

He died because of his service to the people of Portland as a police officer.

Then we visited my grandma Claire Lucille's grave.

I think she went by Lucille.

I have felt connected to her for a little while. 

Then just a day after that I received a message from a relative that said, "I heard a rumor that Marsha was Claire's but not Edgars."

I have never been in contact with this person before.

And that sent a ball rolling.

By the time I got home and a day after I came to know that the person I believed was my mother's father was not.

I kind of kicked myself because I am a genealogist and somehow I missed this.

It was funny because I looked in my family history journal where I have DNA matches that I couldn't figure out where they went and all of sudden I knew what was going on.

All these pieces went into place.

By the end of a few hours I knew that my grandfather's last name was McKay.

I contacted my mother and through some encouragement I was able to get her to tell me what she knew.

It is not a coincidence to me that I knelt at my grandmother's grave on one day and the next I received a message that led me to new discoveries.

There were people that wanted to be found.

And a lot of them! 

I'm so grateful for these connections that span beyond the grave.

Now I have a lot of work to do! 

 My grandma, Claire Lucille

Oregon Day Three

Our wrapping up day involved a LOT of driving.

But I loved it. 

We drove through the inland and not the coast on our way back.

There were so many farms and sheep.

I just have farming in my blood!

 We visited one of Matt's high school friends, Chik-Fil-a and spent over an hour going only 11 miles.

That last part wasn't fun. 

And our last event was going to see the Portland Temple.

Which means I was able to check one more temple off the bucket list. 

 

Oregon Trip Day Two

Day two we spent SO much time driving!

But we drove down to the Redwood forest and visited the trees of Mystery.

It was awesome to see such huge trees and the weather was a little sprinkly but still perfect.

When we came to the Cathedral tree Matt pulled out letters from his pocket that our kids had written saying what our marriage meant to them.

I got all kinds of teary and it was one of those moments that I will never forget.

It was so thoughtful of Matt to do that! 

We also stopped at the Oregon Dunes and just enjoyed our time together