Holman Street Sign

 The Holman family street sign is up! We adopted a stretch of road and completed our first round of cleanup so the sign got installed! I got an email from the city saying it was installed so I kidnapped my kids told them to get in the car for a mystery drive. I verified it was there then I kidnapped my parents and Lindsey. So fun! The sign is actually huge!

Family business

 

Over 8,600 miles away Holman is teaching kindergartners Christmas jingles and Bells who is 1,300 miles at LSU is crafting with littles. The family business is strong 💗 

Holman turns 19!!

 Holman turned 19 on his mission! His last year as a teen and we won't see any of it first hand. Him being gone has been so challenging for our family. It has been a really hard adjustment for everyone.  He is always up for an adventure often the first to initiate an activity. We have missed him deeply.  Almost one year into the mission and it's been a rollercoaster. He's had companions that he has loved and others that have brought him to his knees. The language was a huge struggle and now he speaks with confidence. He's loved the people and they have loved him. He had one ward that threw him a going away party three times because they thought he was going to be transferred each time they hosted a beautiful celebration. He's had a lot of success. Of course he would!!  One year to go!

This family is missing our true middle child, our gentle giant and party animal.  Holman you are an integral part of this family and we can't wait to be reunited. We pray for your happiness and success daily....sometimes hourly. We hope your adventures continue and we can't wait to hear all bout them!!

Adrian turns 14!!

 My sweet baby girl turned 14...how? Why? She is the best! She is so funny, kind and oh so artsy/crafty. She is beautiful and spunky. She loves to help others and volunteers to do so all the time.  She is loved by the young and by kids older than her. She is a self proclaimed fighter. She works so hard. Baby girl is ready for high school. Just one semester left. 

Adrian we love you so very much. I love you so very much!! You are a wonderful young woman filled with love and fun. I am so glad to have you in our home and so grateful we still have four years till your 18. Time is flying!! I love you so very much Adrianna Joyce 💕💗

The Joyce and John Holman road

Last Christmas I adopted a
pima county road in honor of my parents. I attended a class downtown and learned the safety protocols. I signed up to clean the road twice a year and then a sign gets posted in their honor. We ended up bagging 11+ large garbage bags. I bought Dunkin Donuts for all our awesome family members to celebrate all our hard work.  Nana and Papa, Hillary, Julia and John Webster, and Lindsey, Ryan, Calvin, Simon, Owen and Norman Smith came. And of course our crew Olivia, Parkin and Adrian.

 

Charcuterie Board/ Thanksgiving

We had a blast hosting the Howe family Thanksgiving. It was a big event. Ron and Barbara's  household, Scott and Suzie's kids who have kids, their daughter in laws family, and Bekah and her girlfriend (now fiance!) And her parents. We had close to 30 people. Sadly I didn't take any pictures except for Olivia's charcuterie board ...it was a huge spread. We had a fantastic time. The kids even took a dip and went hot tubbing. It was a perfect day. Well almost one of our dogs ate one of our chickens...very sad. But lucky he ate the chicken that lays eggs in the worst spot, that always gets covered in poop. Who needs that?!

 

Light the world 2023

We were so lucky that the East stake was in charge of the Giving machines that were brought to the Park Place mall. It is the coolest thing. They are vending machines that offer services to local and worldwide charities. The kickoff event had leaders of other faiths offer prayers and share the message of how they help and share God's love. As if the event wasn't enough we even got amazing goodie bags. They were filled with candies, chocolates, home made cookies and a little flashlight. 

The line for the machines were long so we came back the following Sunday. After we purchased several items ( I didn't want to stop, one day I will buy all the items in the giving machine!) We headed outside. Benjamin and Parkin were in white shirts and ties and we were stopped in the busy parking lot by a distressed young mother. Her car needed a jump and she wante to know if we had jumper cables. We did, so we drove closer to her car and pushed her car to a spot that we could access her battery. The parking lot was packed but we were able to get to her. She was so relieved. I as ked Adrian and Parkin what was the gift they were most happy about purchasing that day they both said helping the lady was their favorite way to light the world 💗