Holman went to the temple. It was a great day. It is a big moment going to the temple for the first time. Bella and Same came and both sets of grandparents were there along with several Aunts and uncles. The Potters, the Clarks, the Claridges, Scott and Suzie, uncle Pete and our friends the Whettens. He is deeply loved my them and especially me. We went for Sonoran dogs afterwards.
This magnificent woman turned 20!! She absolutely crushed her teens. She conquered during some of the most uncertain times that the world has collectively gone through. Surviving COVID during her last two years of high school and killing college all with the energy of a gazelle in the Savanna running from a Lion. She is like triple majoring, heck she might be getting four degrees!! She is driven, she is fun to be around (my favorite shopping partner) and oh so quick witted. Her future is bright!! I love you my Janey twin and am beyond grateful that I get to be your mom.
If you're reading this, then you got the Howe family Christmas card! Are we your first one of the season? 2022 has been quite the ride. Adrian turned 13 today! She loves swimming, volleyball, painting murals on the walls of her bedroom, and building miniatures. This caboose cracks us up and keeps us on our toes. Parkin got his permit and will be street legal in 5 months but his Dad thinks he's been legal for 4. He swims, he acts, and he can unload the dishwasher faster than the phrase, "who wants to load the dishwasher?" Holman becomes an official adult in 4 days. He got his mission call this week and will be headed out to Bangkok Thailand, speaking Thai. The mission covers 3 countries so maybe he'll end up speaking Mandarin too. In honor of his mission I have committed to eating regularly at one of my favorite restaurants, Bai Thong. It's a sacrifice but I too can show dedication. Olivia, soon to be 20, got back from her study abroad program in France. This has only deepened her love of all things French. This crazy girl is simultaneously working on three degrees. Intelligent and pretty. Let's say the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree. Bella, 21, got married!! She found her better and taller half just down the road. These wildcats both graduate in May. Bella is getting a degree in conservation biology and Sam in finance. These two are going places, they have started a business called Croak Tees. Check them out! https://croaktees.com/
This last year for Holman has been a whirlwind!! He graduated in May, became an adult on December 1st, registered in the selective service (yikes) and put in his papers for his mission!! He has been working full time at DQ to save for his mission and it was there where he found out where he is going. He got to work early and was there when he got an email from the church saying his mission call had been assigned. After waiting maybe 5 minutes he opened it up read he was going to Thailand and then dropped to his knees. A completely unexpected call. He took Mandarin for the last 9 years, so learning a different language was not on his radar. He's excited though! This mission call requires no suits or seasonal clothing. In fact he is allowed to wear sandals! Thailand keeps a temperature of about 70 degrees. He enters home MTC on January 9th and will be home for two weeks then heads to the MTC in Provo until March 15th. So soon!!
We all love this gentle and fun giant. This mission will probably be the hardest thing he does and as a family goes time away will be the hardest separation we have had.
Holman is intelligent, witty, humble and strong. On his mission papers he had to describe himself. He said, "I'm an Eagle Scout, a swimmer, I graduated early and I have the strength of 7 men." I would add a lot of adjectives to this description...one that I love is "son." Thanks for being an absolute joy these last 18 years. Your future is bright you gotta wear shades..and flip flops!!
Our youngest is a teenager!! Not sure how we got here so fast but we did. Adrian is in 7th grade and if you ask her if she likes school she will say "it's middle school." Judging by her friends and her teachers I'd say say she is doing great.... especially for someone in middle school 😅
She had a movie night with her friends. A lot of kids came. We served dinner and an ice cream.
On her actual birthday we had grandparents over we made her favorite meal, cornbread and chili.
Adrian is a strong, independent, creative, smart and beautiful 🥰 She keeps us on our toes. She earned money to buy her first cell phone so how our entire family can communicate quickly with each other. I know the next couple of years are going to go quickly so I will enjoy when she licks my face and climbs into my lap 💕 We love you so much Tinks and we know great things are ahead of you!!
We had Thanksgiving with the Smiths, Nana and Papa and John and Robin and their kids. Preston even flew in and brought his boyfriend. It was a full house!! The Smiths made two kinds of Turkey. One made traditionally from the oven and the other was smoked in their new smoker. Both were great but the smoked turkey wins in my book!! The spread was awesome and the company great 💕
Of course my new school had spirit week. Some day's themes were better than others. We had twin day, sport day, solid color day, dress for success day and free dress Royal day. The school mascot is the Royals so naturally I dressed like a royal queen..the only adult to do so. The kindergartners loved it. A coworker took a picture and I made it to the school Instagram. It's the little things.
It's crazy that Benjamin and I have been married for 24 years. 24...that feels like a big deal.
We started the anniversary trip with a vow renewal with going to the Mesa temple. Very serendipitously Benjamin's mission president and wife were working at the temple. They are lovely people. I told President Udall I was praying for my son to have a mission president that he looked up to as much as Benjamin. It is my constant prayer.
We celebrated with a two night trip in Show Low Arizona. Lately we have picked small towns to visit. We love eating local food, hiking, catching a festival, market event and thrift stores. This time we had the added bonus of visiting with one of my favorite friends Alison Altop. Unfortunately her husband was off on a wildfire assignment. We met her for ice cream. It was great to catch-up. The next day we hiked, ate cinnamon rolls the size of our heads and caught a murder mystery movie at the theater. On Sunday we went on another hike, went to the only covered bridge in Arizona and caught church with Alison. We also ran into our friends Becky and Brandon Clark. It was great to see them and catch up. They were a fun couple that we hung out with in our early marriage. Time moves so quickly year to year. There kids are adults now, in almost 5 years we will be in the same boat.
There are lots of things I would do differently in life, little things. I would change them because once you know better you do better. Who wouldn't want to do better?! Of all the things I would change one thing I wouldn't change is Benjamin. For a woman who often has buyers remorse this statement means a lot. I love him for forever and a day.
When we got home the kids (Olivia and Holman) made an excellent meal, grilled chicken, broccoli, homemade mac n cheese and homemade rosemary bread. It was a perfect ending to a great weekend 💕
The Smith and Holman Jr's were there. Some slept in the loft others camped outside. It was lovely. We ate yummy meals, played volleyball, shot BB guns, used a bow and arrow, and played basketball. We all had a blast!
Mom and Dad showed the video about our ancestors Cornelius and Adriana Zappeij. The church produced a video about their service and sacrifice in Holland as they helped fellow saints in Germany. It was during a critical time following world war ll where relations were very tenuous between the two countries due to Hitler's regime. The dutch saints gave their full potato harvest to their former enemies. It set the stage perfectly for the service we did the next day around camp.
We painted several railings, steps and amphitheater benches.
As always it was a great time. We sure love Nana (and Papa) and her constant energy and enthusiasm for life. She is a woman of faith and fortitude. She is our rock and we love her 💕
