Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!!

Wow, what a year!!! It has gone by so fast, yet it has been a WONDERFUL year. Rest assure, we are grateful for that. So let’s tell you what each of us has been doing throughout the year.

The beginning of the year started with a great wedding. David's brother, Stewart, married his sweetheart Tess, in the Logan Temple. It was a beautiful snowy day. They looked so happy and we had a great time.

Later on David's sister, Melissa and her husband Ryan, had a baby girl, They named her Mylee Jane. Nakia likes to call her "Miss Mylee Jane." She is such a pretty baby.

In April Nakia and David had decided that it was getting about that time for Nakia to be a full-time mom and wife. After losing our baby the previous June and seeing how much the boys needed and missed their mom, it was a no brainer. So to make sure that we really took advantage of our benefit with Delta before she left, we took one last free trip to Nakia's most favorite place, Carlsbad, California. We walked the beach, tooked the boys to Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm and the best...we drove up and down the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway). It was great!!

After returning from Cali., we had a chance to spend some time with Aiden's birthfamily. Aiden had a chance to see his birthmother, cousins, and auntie for the first time. We were nervous. We didn't know how he would react or how the birthfamily would. Needless to say, we worried for no reason. It was a great reunion. Aiden talked with and hug his birthmother. I am so grateful for her and her family. They love him so much and we love them just the same.

In May, David had the opportunity to go to Pepperdine University to attend the Cambridge College of Banking or Business or something like that, for a week of certification. He of course was successful. He is CSOP certified now and this has been such a blessing for us.

When June came, we hada great treat. Nakia's nephew Ashanti, from North Carolina, came to visit for 3-weeks. It was full of excitement. David took a week off and we got to be tourist in our backyard. It was fun.


During that time, Nakia had the greatest experience ever. Nakia sang with the Genesis Choir and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This was for the celebration of the 30 year anniversary of the Proclamation of the Priesthood. It was awe inspiring.

Later in the summer, we held a little party at our home for David's youngest brother, Spencer. He was called to serve a mission in Guatemala. To see pics from that click here Stewart and Tess Riding.

This year Alex turned 12. Our young man. We can hardly believe it. So for his birthday David took him on a trip with his boss and bunch of other people to Colorado. They had a great time, roughin' it, four-wheeling and what not. We later celebrated in our home with David's family. Alex received the Priesthood. We have two worthy priesthood holders in our home. It is still hard to believe.


Two weeks later we celebrated Aiden's 4th day. Aiden wanted to make his own cake, so we did. The following weekend we had a tie-dye party with his friends. It was so fun to watch those little boys be so creative.

This year one of the things we focused on was family, so we created time for togetherness. We took one Sunday and spent it at Cascade Springs. It was beautiful and so peaceful. And the boys loved exploring nature and having a picnic dinner in the mountains.



Right before the close of the year came harvest time. We had a garden for the first time in about 6 years. And it was a great success. Our food storage coffers are replenished. Nakia learned a lot with the help and advice of David's cousin, Margaret and her husband Sam. They are such master gardeners. Nakia was completely impressed by them. We traded jobs. David helped them with tiling and they help us with our garden.

We canned so much and it was fun, all of us in the kitchen with the radio BLASTED, just dancing, singing, stirring and sealing. Can hardly wait for next year!

Here's some of what we made and canned:
Peaches, Peach Preserve, Tomato Juice, Stewed Tomatoes, Marinara Sauce, Pizza Sauce, Zucchini Relish, Salsa and Zucchini Marmalade.










Now we come to the end of the year. We are a happy family. We are seeing the blessings of the Lord before us. We have our struggles, yet we know that in order for us to truly appreciate the joy we must have the bitter. We love all of our time together, whether it's working in the garden, riding horses, taking in nature, or just sitting together and watching a game. There is great peace and joy knowing we are a family forever, full of some "F" words that have allowed us to learn and grow. Family, Faith, and Fun.

Our wish for you this upcoming year is continued

good health, prosperity, and love.