Beginning a New Year

Now that we are into a new year, I am catching up on some of the happenings in our life so far in 2019.

Putting up solar panels before 2018 ends

to qualify for the government rebate.

A generator will be added next year as a backup source
should the city have a shutdown.


 
Solar panel installation almost completed.  

Now to see what the savings will be.

A bonus from the solar company was to check 
for possible sites inside needing to be better sealed.
Our home got a good report with very few adjustments needed.



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A short summary of events enjoyed in January, 2019:

We attended the 60th wedding anniversary
of Gary and Kathryn Judd, 
the parents of Scott's wife, Kristine.
(Scott, Ryan, and Tani) 

On January 10th, with friends at the Hale Theater 
in Salt Lake City to see The Wizard of Oz.
(Narene, Cheryl, Sandra, and Christy)
 

We were impressed with the quality of the acting and music
 in The Wizard of Oz.

Lexi Walker had the starring role of Dorothy.
There was a long line to have a photo taken with her,
so we opted to take a picture when these young girls had their turn.



With Hal and Christy Smith, we have season's tickets to see plays at the Hale Theater in Orem; 
and we enjoyed seeing The Odd Couple on January 31st. 



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Our ward Relief Society had an activity in our home 
on January 17th
with a "Speed Friendship" theme and soup buffet. 

Our front yard on January 21st. 

And our backyard.

  This large cat kept coming by and would eat from our cat's dish,
but he was very wild and would run whenever he saw us.
Sadly, we think he got run over; as a friend saw 
a dead yellow and white cat on 400 N.

This is our adopted cat.
The grandkids call him Squally.
He looks like a totally different cat now than he did
when he first showed up in our backyard
when he was just skin and bones and looked like he would not last another week.



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It was a treat to have Joe and Jeanne Cannon 
stop by for a visit on January 18.  
He was the mission president in South Dakota
when we were called to serve our mission in Russia.



* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our neighborhood continues to change as more houses are under construction.
This makes us appreciate all the more our backyard. 


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Jenna (left) has been serving a mission in Rio de Janeiro, 
but temporarily came back to Denver for tonsillectomy surgery
and will be returning to her mission on March 6th.
Shannon (right) has received her mission call to Angeles Philippines 
and will be leaving on June 20th.
The two sisters had an opportunity to be together for a short visit
while Jenna was back in the U.S.,
and we appreciated their coming with
Scott and Kristine to see us.


Successful Ireland wrestlers:  

Weston (Brent and Tauna's) placed 6th in the
South Dakota High School Wrestling Tournament, 160 lbs.

Jamon (Jeff and Rochelle's) placed 3rd in the
Arkansas High School State Wrestling Tournament, 106 lbs.

Zack (Jeff and Rochelle's) was a state champion in the
Arkansas High School State Wrestling Tournament at 120 lbs.

Jacob and Isaac, Doug and Shannon's, are in youth wrestling and
have also done well this season.
(Photo:  Jacob 1st at the Davis Southend Wrestling Tournament, March 2018)  


* * * * * * * * * * * *

Lisa Peterson, a friend and member of our church ward
passed away January 28, 2019 from brain cancer.
I appreciate a special memory of visiting her just a couple of days before her passing
and having a hug and opportunity to express my love.

 We will be attending another funeral.  Our nephew Chad Ireland passed away early in the morning on February 27 in the hospital where he had been taken by ambulance from his home.  We plan to attend his funeral in Martin, SD.  Our love and heartfelt condolences go out to Trish, Roy and Barbie, Traci, and Steve and others 

who loved Chad and will miss him.  

He was one day younger than our daughter Beth.

Chad is the second from the left in the back row

in this photo with his Ireland male cousins who were the

honorary pallbearers at Grampa Harold Ireland's funeral in 2007.

(back row:  Ryan, Chad, Randy, Brad, Steve, Scott

front row:  Jeff, Todd, Craig, Doug, and Brent)

A family is a circle of love, not broken by a loss,

but made stronger by the memories.

An eternal memory until we meet again.