We’re not even halfway through the month of December, and we’ve already been the recipient of enough family Christmas cards to wallpaper a gymnasium. Obviously, Erin is the one so universally beloved and deserving of these glad tidings and the reason we receive as many as we do. As I take a gander at these perfectly posed, carefully coiffed, blissfully beatific photos, these questions leap to mind: How many hours and attempts were made to get this one photo? How much medication was involved and/or needed afterward? Did PhotoShop stock spike a few weeks back? Rest assured, no PhotoShop will be required for this year’s missive from The Greenes, but I can’t promise that medication won’t be needed after you read it.
With the world slowly coming out of hiding as 2022 dawned, Sam started his second year at BYU. In his major, there’s a class that many put off until the last possible minute but is required in order to climb into the upper levels of the program and get serious – Sam decided to bite the bullet early and subject himself to the inevitable torture. While Sam happily came through alive and kicking, and able to move on to bigger and better things, there were times in that semester I believe he would have preferred undergoing waterboarding to some of the tests and assignments he had to endure. He’s thrown himself headlong into his major and has joined a club/group (I’m not quire sure what the kids are calling these little organizations these days) with the goal of building an electric car to compete with other groups from other schools. Sounds to me like he’s on a career path to buy and run a social media giant someday.
In June of this year – in fact, on the same date as Erin’s parent’s anniversary – we welcomed a new member into the clan: please allow me to introduce you to Kali Stoker Greene, Jack’s better half. They were married in Las Vegas, but Elvis didn’t officiate at the wedding. Leading up to the nuptials, whenever I would tell people that Kali and Jack were getting married in Vegas, I would either get a slightly raised eyebrow or a knowing “been there, done that” nod, which would require a brief explanation that Kali is from Las Vegas where most of her family lives. They were married in the temple for our church and not on the Strip, in case I still hadn’t painted enough of a picture for you. As of the writing of last year’s Christmas letter, Kali was someone we had met only once, and this meeting was a memorable one: Jack had come home from work that day and made a beeline to his bedroom in the basement. That wasn’t TOO unusual, but what ensued was two hours of furious cleaning of his bedroom, a thorough scrubbing of the basement bathroom, and the hauling out of at least three bags of garbage. While we didn’t quite know at the moment what inspired such anomalous behavior, it soon became clear when he announced a “friend” of his named Kali was coming over to visit. Kali is a Chemistry and Mandarin teacher at one of the local high schools, and Jack has moved from the field as an electrician and into the position of an estimator. They currently live in a guest house on some rural property surrounded by livestock and other farm animals. Their dog, Hank, spends his day hanging out with the jackasses – and by that, I mean, the donkeys, while Jack and Kali are off at work.
On the day after Christmas last year, we had to say goodbye to Lola. I’m not quite sure where religious doctrine ends and fantasy begins, but I hope we get to see her again someday. Yes, I’ve become one of those crazy dog people.
With the wackiness of the housing market in full wack, Erin has maneuvered the real estate landscape extremely well and continues to kick butts and take names – and sometimes it’s to sell a house. She continues to teach at church, and no one has gone to Hell because of it – win win. As for myself, I was asked to work in an outreach program where we serve the folks in a local detention center who are awaiting trial, awaiting sentencing, or have been detained by ICE and awaiting deportation. I’m pleased to say that my activities this past year have kept me free to come and go at this detention center
Enjoy
your holiday season with family and friends – whether you need medication or
not to do it. Our doors are always open
to you. Peace on earth and in every
life!
