Madsen Family 2010 Newsletter

Christmas / New Year's, 2010

 

Dear Friends and Family,

 

No one should be surprised that we don't send out the "Madsen Annual Report" until after Christmas (and sometimes – like this year –  not 'til after the New Year). There has been an additional stress recently that has helped delay our letter: Barbara's mother took a turn for the worse and was in the hospital and a re-hab facility for much of the month. She needed to be discharged after Christmas, but was unable to return to the Senior Living Center where she was staying since they could not offer the needed level of care. So, Barb and her siblings had to find another facility and we moved them just before New Year's. We appreciate all of the help that Barb's siblings have provided and the love that is shared among the whole family. Barb's parents are now mostly settled into a care center in our own neighborhood.

 

This is not to say that you're not on our minds and in our hearts throughout the season; you are a special part of our lives. This year, we've collected some memorable quotes, month by month, that we thought we'd share with you.

 

January: "What have I gotten myself into?!?" (Chelsea, as she starts student teaching band classes at Butler Middle School.)

February: "Wow! Look what else I found!" (Bruce, as he and his siblings clear out their dad's house and find many forgotten treasures and relive old memories. That house, where they all grew up, has now been sold, virtually gutted, and is being completely remodeled.)

March: "How do you spell celiac?" (Chelsea, on getting test results that show she has beginning signs of Celiac (wheat gluten intolerance). Since Chelsea is living at home with us, this diagnosis has played havoc with our normal meal planning and preparation. But, in general, we find that we're all eating healthier.)

April: "Ahh." (Bruce, standing on the banks of the Susquehanna River in (what was once) Harmony, PA, in the general area where Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery baptized each other. Bruce was on a business trip to the area and had the opportunity to do some sight-seeing.)

May: "Wah-hoo! Ummm … Now what?" (Chelsea, after the graduation commencement exercises at Southern Utah University. She later got a job at Snowbird working with the summer recreation programs and then stayed on as the seasons changed and is now a Lift-line Ticket Checker. Needless to say, her skiing is improving.)

 "Now … how do I get down?" (Bruce, after climbing the steep steps and standing on top of an ancient Mayan pyramid in the ruins at Coba, Mexico.)

"Make sure you have all your fingers and toes when you come out!" (Bruce, to Barbara, Chelsea, and Erik before they go swimming with the dolphins in Xcaret, on the Riviera Maya in Mexico.)

"Where is their church? I thought it was right here…" (Bruce, trying to find Jessica and Sam's church where they were blessing their new daughter, Cara. We got lost and were late, but they waited for us so that Bruce could also participate in the blessing.)

June: "*sniff*" (Barbara, with moist eyes, after seeing Joshua bless his and Barbie's new son, JJ (Joshua Joseph) in Chicago. Bruce and Barbara spent a long weekend in Chicago to meet their new grandson.)

"Who, me?" (Bruce, after being asked to fill a management position at L-3.)

July: "Sweet!" (Bruce, after getting an iPad – his first Apple product.)

August: "Do you know how to drive that thing?" (Bruce, to Erik as he drives a front-loader around the BSA's Bear Lake Aquatics Base as the staff there closes up the camp. Erik has, once again, been on the staff at the camp and was the director over one of the Merit Badge areas.)

"I know where I'm sitting: the driver's seat!" (Erik, to Bruce, Barb, and Chelsea as they get ready to drive to Cedar City to attend the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Erik drove the entire way there and back, allowing Bruce a rare opportunity to actually see the scenery along the way.)

September: "Where'd they all go?" (Bruce, at the local BSA council's big "Jamboral" event where we celebrated 100 years of Scouting. There were many activities and thousands of scouts – not to mention pandemonium and fun. Bruce is still an Assistant Advisor to the Priest's Quorum – and loves it.)

*Whoosh!!* (Barb on the Alpine Slide at Snowbird Summer Activities. The Race Was ON!)

October: "30th? Already?" (Bruce and Barbara as they celebrate their wedding anniversary.)

"I did it all by myself!" (Barb, after staying with Barbie in Chicago. She went to help with JJ while Josh was in Singapore as a TA for classes sponsored by the University of Chicago. Barbara went solo and successfully navigated planes, trains, and automobiles in the Big City.)

November: "Amen." (All, after Bruce ordained Erik to be an Elder.)

December: "What do you mean, there's *too much* snow for these snowmobiles??" (All, after 2+ feet of new powder fell while on a snowmobile vacation. We rented a cabin and had the entire family there for a couple of days.)

 

As I've said before, it's always an enjoyable trip through pictures and memory as I review the year in order to write this letter. Thinking about the year also allows me a chance to reflect on what's important and how grateful I am for the reason we celebrate this holy-day – for the birth of our Savior and His Atonement. We wish all of you the best during the rest of the Christmas season and throughout the coming year.

 

Love - Bruce & Barbara Madsen & Family

 

We still find it difficult to keep our family blog up-to-date. But, such as we write is on www.madsenclan.blogspot.com. There are links to other family blog and picture sites on our this blog; we invite you to check in on those, too. And, just to prove that we're not the old fogey's our kids sometimes think we are, even Barb and I have Facebook pages. Look us up! (Yeah, we don't post there very often, either. Oh well…)