The years come and go and each one leaves me a little older with a different perspective on life. It’s a good time to reflect on where we’ve been, how far we’ve come and appreciate the people who have been by our side through it all.
Our 2014 chapter review:
We love and appreciate our home, which we have shared with Mom and Dad for eighteen years. We enjoy helping each other and find comfort in having them close by. They will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary in 2015. We’re grateful for their example and all we have learned from them.
Our son, Christopher, moved to Vancouver, WA in September. He is still working as an Air Conditioning and Heating Technician and found employment there. He is enjoying his adventure in a new city and state. He lives in the same town as his Grandma Wilson, Aunt Karen and Uncle Mark. We miss him, but we are grateful he is living close to family and the opportunity they have to spend more time together. We only wish we could be in two states at one time.
Dad, Mom, Chris, Katie, Eldin, Barbara & Mark
Our daughter, Katie, and her husband, Eldin, live in West Valley, UT. Eldin works for American Express and Katie just celebrated five years with her own business, Graphic Forte, where she’s a successful graphic designer. They are very busy with Eldin being a bishop for the past 3 ½ years. It is so rewarding to watch both Eldin and Katie grow in this calling.
Katie had her cancerous thyroid and several surrounding lymph nodes removed in March 2014. She recovered well and is cancer free now. She looks great and is feeling better, which we are so grateful for.
Mark has spent his weekdays working at Ability Choice Services doing assembling work, but that contract will end this month. I’m still working as an account manager for Earthwork Property Management and appreciate the opportunity they allow for me to have a home office.
I started UnitingCaregivers.com in October 2013 and will have posted 190 articles by the end of this month. It’s time consuming, but rewarding and has far exceeded my expectations. Thoughts of what I’m going to write about are constantly dancing around in my head. I am also a part of two writing groups, American Night Writers Association and League of Utah Writers. I enjoy my association with these two groups and they’re part of the inspiration that keeps me writing.
Another hobby is gardening. We had a great vegetable garden this year with lots of squash, corn, cantaloupe, tomatoes, peppers, onion, cucumbers and broccoli. Unfortunately, the brussel sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower didn’t do well. We also have twelve grapevines, lots of raspberry and blackberry bushes, along with two strawberry beds. Mark was a great help with canning lots of salsa, vegetable soup and grape jam. We also expanded the orchard to twelve fruit trees this year, but the trees are not producing enough fruit to bottle yet. Having one acre gives us a lot of work, but we enjoy being outdoors so it’s great.
Mark and I with Mark Fox, the award presenter.
Mark received the Survivor Award this year at the Annual Brain Injury Alliance of Utah Family and Professional Conference. It’s been twenty-three years since the car accident. He’s not only survives, but thrives and we are so proud of his perseverance, positive attitude and endurance. Mark’s mother flew in from Washington and was there for the ceremony along with my parents, siblings, Katie and Eldin. It was a day we will always remember, which extended into a wonderful weekend as Mark’s sister, Karen, and brother-in-law, Mark, flew in later that night to spend a few days with us in celebration. We loved spending time with them and enjoyed taking them to Sundance and Park City.
Katie, Eldin, Barbara, Mark, Mark Ray, Karen & Mom W. We’re missing Chris, Jerrie & Jon.
Our days have been full with work, gardening, exercise, plays, concerts and writing. No time for trips this year, but we are looking forward to going to Idaho and Washington next year to visit family.
With December coming to a screeching halt I look forward to a new chapter of happy and exciting times, but realize some sad and difficult times will be sprinkled in the mix. I’m anxious to turn the page and see what I’ll have to write about in the next chapter.
I hope 2015 brings you good health and much happiness.
Uniting Caregivers 
You’re a marvel! Congratulations on all your acheivements. That garden is marvelous, I’d love to have one like it one day.
Jodi, one day after your kids are grown, you will have a garden like it, I didn’t take the time while the kids were home either. Too busy caring for them. Thank you for reading the article and for your comment. Best wishes for 2015!
It was a very good year.
Nancy, best wishes for 2015!