Camille and David Butler Family

Merry Christmas from the Butlers. This year we have added two new grandsons to our family. Joy and Aaron welcomed Ian Lee Branham into their family and Wayne and Deena have a new little son named Jacob. Both of these little ones have laid back, calm temperments. Please see attached photos to see these new additions. Along with all of our other grandchildren, we love them dearly.

Cole, JaCee, & Bailey Smith

We are doing well! Cole will begin the last semester of his MBA in January at Utah State. We are anxiously awaiting our baby boy due the first week of February.

Merry Christmas!

Dear family,

It is so delightful to hear from you and see the fun pictures you have posted!
Hoping for wonderful holidays and new year for each of you.
In November, I moved back to Post Falls, Idaho. It feels good to be near my family here. It is unusually snowy and cold right now, and also very beautiful.
I have some ideas and plans for the new year. I'll let you know later how they come out. It was so good to visit with you at the reunion this summer. Take very good care of yourselves and each other!

Love, Susan

An American Hero

AN AMERICAN HERO


It was a gray, cold day in December
The desperate phone call from Taylor:
"Dad, you need to come home..."

I sensed what had happened...
Noble Naval Officers at our door,
The dreaded encounter--the nightmare come true.

My little boy--bruised with violence,
He won't come home again.
But, his mission is completed.

Deep and penetrating pain,
Confusion, desolation, and loneliness...
My son--bruised with violence,
He lies cold and still,
Not to come home again.

In the darkness
A calm and sweet assurance:
"All is well with Mark."
A comfort and peace beyond understanding,
Externally delivered to my aching heart.
Strength to move forward.

In the hours and days that followed...
Kind words from friends,
Tender embraces of family,
Honored reminiscences from brothers in arms,
A universal tribute to a fallen soldier.

We came to know again our Mark,
He was the best there is,
Noble in excellence, courage, and commitment;
He died with honor and glory,
An American hero.

But I remembered my son
As the sweet, kind, and good boy;
Tender and caring;
The sensitive glance and ready smile;
The eyes blue and penetrating;
The firm expression of his countenance.

Memores of childhood pranks,
Wrestles and outings into the wilderness;
"I'm so buff it hurts."
Boyhood dreams of action and honor.
True and loyal to his family and friends.

Mark had a dream.
He brought his dream to reality
And lived it to its fullest.
No small accomplishment.

He was the best of the best.
Proud we are of our son...brother,
Proud am I of my boy
My little boy who tugged at my knees
And who is now
My American hero.

Christensen family

It is so fun to read everyones posts and see how everyone is doing. We are all doing really good. They boys are now 9 and 10 and they are so excited for Christmas. Dylan is really into sports and Denver loves to skateboard. They are excited to be big brothers to their little sister (due in March). Candice is anxiously awaiting her arrival and staying busy keeping up with the boys. Darren is doing well, he has been fortunate to still be very busy at his job. We are living in American Fork Utah and we really like it here. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Love you all!

This is a letter that Grandpa wrote in 1988 which is very appropriate for this Christmas.

Dear Family,

We have three red candles in our front room window. Holly and I cut two

fir trees some time ago from the ranch in Soda Springs; one small one Holly has in her room, and the other one she has decorated with tiny twinkling lights which shelter a pile of presents beneath. Altogether, there is a feeling of peace, goodwill and joy which brings back memories of past Christmases.

When the older children were small, they used to hang their stockings by the big stone fireplace. We had a little musical Christmas tree which turned around as it chimed. Jim was always trying to catch an elf by turning his head quickly. The snow deep and the weather cold as we bundled everyone up and went down to the old country church for the school Christmas program. For years we cut Christmas trees for many of our friends in Bozeman.

What a wonderful time it has been to have shared so many good times with all of you.

Your mother and I are now reliving those joyous times as we see you providing the same opportunities for your children (our grandchildren). Grandchildren are such a blessing as we see them growing up, each with endowments unique to himself.

Mother, Holly and I are well and happy. We are looking forward to being with Pam and Ray and family at Christmas time.

We wish distance didn't separate us so much, but we will be thinking of each one of you.

We love you for just being you and the good you have brought into our lives.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 1988

Dad and Mom.

These are pictures taken from Paul's house on the San Juan Island in September of 2007.

In January of 2008 I flew to the island of Molokai in Hawaii for a three week stay with my brother Gerald. We checked his cornfields in the mornings and went sight-seeing in the afternoons.

This past year has been a happy one for me; I am in good health and doing well thanks to the suppport of good neighbors and family. I think of all of you often and wish you the happiest of Christmasses and the new year.

Love, Mom

Jim & Kari

Merry Christmas from Las Vegas,

As I am sitting here writing this I can look out the window and it is actually snowing - big flakes and melting as soon as it hits the ground!

Kari and I went out with a friend and walked through a Christmas lighted desert. All the cactus, desert trees and shrubs. It was a beautiful sight.

We are doing well. It's hard to believe that we've been here for three years. We've made some good friends and have good neighbors.

May the peace of Christ be with you and yours through this new year.

Love,

Jim & Kari

Our new home in Dayton, Idaho

Zach holding baby Ella right after she was born.


.

Shane and Elizabeth went on a cruise to Alaska.

Shane caught a 15 lb salmon

Sol, Liz, Shane at family christmas party.

We Love Being Grandparents

Luke, Gabhriel, Elizabeth, Carter and Kendrick Lungren
Happy Holidays! We have had a busy year. The farm planted corn, barley and new alfalfa seed in 2008. Luke chopped the corn himself and put in a new water line for the feedlot. Gahhriel has been active keeping the lawn green and tending to a garden. Elizabeth started kindergarten this fall. She enjoys school. She loves to play on the monkey bars and put together animal blocks. She also likes to draw and paste. Carter is 3 and loves to chase his brother around the house. He enjoys tying his rope to all the furniture. Carter also loves to go with Grandpa in the truck. Kendrick is 19 months old. He follows his big brother everwhere. He can say, "Mom' and "DaDa" and makes a pretty good attempt to say, "Trick or Treat". He loves to play with minature horses and tractors. We enjoyed seeing everyone at the reunion this summer. We spent a lot of time on the mountaincamping, hiking and riding around in the Rhino. Like made a back seat for the ATV so the whole family is able to go together. We wish everyone a great holiday season and a happy new year. Love Luke and Gabhriel

Laurel and Ross

Jasmine and Laurel

the beginnings of our new home

Markell

Gavin and Lyndy and Drew

Marie, Brandon, Alex and Cy

Laurel with grandsons

Merry Christmas to all. Ross and I are busy and excited building our new home in Mink Creek. Everyone is well. I love seeing everyone's picture's. I love you all. Laurel

Happy Holidays!!!

Love Shane, Jamie & Rylee Smith

Cutting our Christmas tree in Star Valley
Merry Christmas to everyone. We miss
those of you far away. We send lots of love.
Love, The Comptons








Connor's first time
up on waterskiis












Dylan, Tyson, Sparky
& Connor






Tyson & Kaitlin on
TicTac














Dylan playing
Lacrosse

Dylan, Tyson & Greg

backpacking