Welcome 2008

2008! Unbelievable! With great anticipation we welcome the new year. It's a time of renewal . . . for us this week has been a time of renewing friendships and celebrating family ties. We've visited so many by email and phone, but we've especially enjoyed the visits from old friends.

On Friday Gloria, Tim and Elizabeth met Angela (Skinner) Atkinson and her husband downtown and took them to lunch at the Red Iguana. They are from Norwich England just over on holiday. Angela was one of our missionaries in the England Bristol Mission. What a joy to see her again and to meet her wonderful husband.

Saturday memories of days in Bristol continued when the Aldridge family stopped by on their way home from Chirstmas in Disneyland. Bruce and Yvonne and their daughter Lisa were great friends of Tim, Gloria, and Joseph in Bristol during the mission. We all enjoyed visiting before they had to return to Alberta Canada where they are now living.

After a New Year's eve visiting Gloria's parents in Logan we spent the evening with neighborhood friends and welcomed the new year as a family.

Today our homesickness was topped up when Chrissie and Celyn Willicombe from Pontarddulais, Wales (between Swansea and Llanelli, don't you love Chrissie's photo of their street sign) spent the day visiting. Danny Willicombe was our assistant in the mission and we still love and miss him. It was so great to visit with the girls on holiday, though. We had a wonderful time together, it was especially great to meet Celyn with her beautiful bright eyes like her dad. These are two intelligent and lovely ladies. . . and fun too! Chrissie is a terriffic photographer, we include her photo of Temple Square from last night.

Wherever you are, we wish you an eventful and engaging new year--knowing you will be as happy as you choose to be. For us, it will be a GREAT YEAR. Thanks for all your love, prayers and friendship.