"Hope"
The Best Part of Christmas

Oh, how we hope this lonely but wonderful Christmas season is the last hurrah for Covid and we won't again have empty chairs around the tree as we sit in our cozy decorated home with no family gathered round. Christmas is just too important to not be sharing it with family and friends.

We do send our love to each of you, and so appreciate the communications we have through the year, especially at the Christmas season. We think of all the hopes for peace, health, and healing. We pray that our collective lights, angels, and trees pointing heavenward will help bring those hopes to fruition in the coming months.

Despite the circumstances, we look forward to the future and for now, count our blessings -- which truly are many. This was emphasized in a cute video we saw the other day . . .

https://fb.watch/2oUa2tH75V/

We have had a singular year, with the most blessed event coming in January when our daughter, Emily donated a kidney to Matt. As most of you know, 30 years earlier Annie breathed life on a dimly lit flicker when she gave a kidney to our very sick son, Matthew -- age 16 at the time. That kidney was a rock-star, lasting 2-3x longer than most transplanted organs, but the time had come for a new change and Emily graciously provided. There was terrific family and friend support for both families and any of our kids would have donated, but Emily was the best match.

Every family member pitched in to fold a 1000 paper cranes ~
symbol of prayers for restoration of health

The night before

Early morning just before surgery

Gratitude as they separate for surgery

Successful surgery has brought new life to Matt. Both he
and Emily have healed beautifully.

In June, we said goodbye to Tom's mother, Virginia. She left her 93 years with a legacy of vigor, love, and engagement -- seeking to bless others as she spread cheer and faith. Near the end at a very difficult time, she looked at her patient care giver and said: "Thank you for helping me learn how to die, I've never done this before."

Hosting her annual Valentines Party at the Men's Homeless Shelter

Her favorite song was "Accentuate the Positive," by Bing Crosby. The chorus reads: "You've got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative; latch on to the affirmative,and don't mess with Mr. In-Between." Even in her dying days, the song invigorated her . . .

Grandson Tommy designed the "love heart" and Tom made the
box for her ashes. Thanks to Leah and Matt for
"laying her to rest" when others could not be there due to Covid

She was buried in the same grave as her husband, Rudolf Broennimann ~ SLC, Utah

To complete the year of memory, in November we traveled to the Olympic Peninsula to place a commemorative plaque on Annie's parents' gravesite. Like Virginia, Beverly lived out her final days in the same care facility in Corvallis just 2 years earlier. She was a lady of class, great accomplishment, and extraordinary breadth of experience. She sought out the best in others and made them feel like they had an understanding advocate that genuinely cared. Our parents are all gone now, and we honor them.

We often joined family at Dick and Beverly's home in Gardner, Washington on the Olympic Peninsula for Thanksgiving. Fall visits always included apple cider making.

A farewell toast

We did get some ever-so brief times with some family this year despite the pandemic -- squeezing them in as they visited their Gma Virginia and us. Their stays were way too short but we're grateful for the time we had. Here's a peek (in no particular order) . . .

There's a natural products store in Corvallis named, First Alternative. And that might be a theme from our recent year -- using our electric bikes as our "first alternative" in travel, exercise, errands, and sheer joy. We go everywhere on them and have largely given up car travel unless absolutely necessary. We are having fun -- just plain old fun -- and invigorating our health in the process!

Packing Willie home ~ pretty great view!

Riding the Crater Lake Rim with buddy, Mark Rampton
32 miles of blissful beauty!

No matter the weather it's so fun to be out riding!

This year has focused our appreciation for so many essential things. We look forward to a better year, better health for our country, better love between people, better economics, and better attendance to the most important things -- family and fellow beings. As one church leader has said: "We can have hope, we should have hope . . . Among our most indispensable virtues will be this precious gift of hope linked inextricably to our faith in God and our charity to others." Indeed, we can have a "perfect brightness of hope" in whom we celebrate this season (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 31:20) .