 |
We imagine you with your families and memories finding ways to join with loved ones and dear friends throughout the year, and especially at special gatherings like Christmas. Wouldn't it be great to have a big reunion and share appreciation for all we've meant to each other over the years! In place of that, we send out some moments from our year past and look forward to receiving yours as well.
We still find ourselves snuggled in the same cozy home in Corvallis, Oregon where we've lived since our move here in 1988. Though Seth and family gratefully remain in Corvallis, the other kids are scattered from state to state.
 |
| Thanksgiving gathering in Utah at Matt & Jessica's home in Midway |
We continue to love it here in the lush green Willamette Valley and have no plans to move. From home, the tops of the Cascade Mountain range are an hour to the east, and the beautiful Oregon coast is an hour to the west. Pretty ideal.
We suppose our days are much like many of yours at our stage of life: We keep in touch with and visit the kids, and welcome them when they "come home" with their families; we weekly serve the needy at a meal program; we engage in regular church service; we do all we can on bikes; we head to the mountains for recreation & skiing, and to the coast for crabbing and fishing; we kayak and paddle-board on the rivers and lakes; we take care of our little plot of land, garden, and aging bodies; and, we find lots of creative projects to undertake for ourselves, family, and friends.
 |
| We've taken an interest in making rock sculptures in the last few years. Annie is the artistic designer and its been fun exploring this new endeavor together |
 |
| July family reunion near Bend, Oregon |
 |
| Sara, Leah, Matt, Tom, Annie, Laura, Emily, Luke, Seth |
 |
| "Off to conquer the world": Lucy is at BYU this year and leaves in March to serve a mission in Tahiti; Sofia has accepted a position on the swim team and will attend University of Southern Virginia next year; Tommy, Sage, & Chloe are also finishing up high school and off to university next Fall ~ can't wait to hear where they're going! |
 |
| Annual camping trip with the Andersen & Watts families |
The week of July 4th we had the good fortune to return to New Hampshire with Luke, Emily and Seth's families at Rockywold-Deephaven camp ~ RDC (begun by Annie's great grandmother in 1897). It's a beloved summer family camp to so many and we had a blast together.
 |
| On Rattlesnake Mountain overlooking a small portion of island studded Squam Lake where RDC is located |
 |
| Utterly unique - people from all over the lake jump in their boats to attend church services each Sunday on "Church Island". Such a peaceful and reverent setting. |
 |
| So fun to have Matt, Lizzie, and Sofia stop by for a couple days. Jessica had to work so we missed her. Matt is an administrator with the BYU Alumni office and we're lucky his business travels brought him to the Northwest for a visit. |
 |
| Soon after returning from mission service in Spain, Nathan Ditto came with his family for a visit and trip to the coast |
 |
| Helping Seth field-dress his first elk ~ now that's a big animal. We packed out about 250 pounds of delicious meat. |
 |
| After Isaac's wedding on November 21st, many of the family stayed in Utah to celebrate Thanksgiving at Leah & Geoff's home in Mapleton |
 |
| In January 2026, we will celebrate 54 years of marriage! |
At our family reunion, we were fortunate to get updated pictures of all the kids and their families ~ thanks to Leah's expertise:
 |
| Matt, Jessica, Lizzie, and Sophia Sherry Midway, Utah |
 |
| Tyler & Hailee Ditto, Alysee & Dallin Johansen with baby Nora, Sara, Birch, Nathan, Chloe, Alexa & Alex Ditto with Quinn & baby Rome ~ 3 great grandchildren! (Missing: Cooper Ditto is serving a mission in Texas) Yakima, Washington |
 |
| The Andersen family: Mila, Truman, Ryan, Sage, Emily, Hazel Yakima, Washington |
 |
| The Wright Family: Madelyn & Isaac, Lucy, Geoff, Leah, Kate Mapleton, Utah Isaac returned from mission service in Armenia last summer and in November he married his high-school sweetheart, Madelyn Warren  |
 |
| Caroline & Seth Sherry with Tommy, Cali, & Willie Corvallis, Oregon |
 |
| The Watts family: Sawyer, Jared, Laura, Isla, Rue Wenatchee, Washington |
 |
| Luke Sherry - Dana Point, California #1 Favorite Uncle ~ and loving his jr. high teaching experience |
No comments:
Post a Comment