December brought us some rain, a little snow, and temperatures between 32 degrees to 47 degrees on average, with a few days in the 50's. The rain we got did provide some snow in the mountains, keeping the lower areas dry. Hence delightful December, although no snow for Christmas, made it or a not very good Christmas feeling. It's been weird weather.
Thinking we'd have a lot of snow and colder temperatures in December we had booked a trip to go to the Hawaiian Island of Kauai with our friends, the Griffiths, quite a while back, for early in the month.
It was warmer, and we had a nice time though. We rented a car and toured around the island seeing some attractions we hadn't seen before and some we had. We saw a LOT of sea turtles, got in some snorkeling, checked out some beautiful waterfalls, went on a few small hikes, as well as took a river ride to the Fern Grotto and kayaked in the river.
We had chickens around our place that woke us up every morning too! This trip was a delight and good for the soul.
We got home and to get into the Christmas Spirit we joined our ward Empty Nester group and went to the Green Canyon HS Choir's Christmas concert. There were 5 in it from our ward that helped entertain us for a delightful time. They had a fun variety of songs for us. I also ushered at the Eccles Theater for the Pickleville Players Christmas Show: The Bandito Heist.
We got into the feel for the true meaning of Christmas by attending a Living Nativity Story in Morgan, UT. Garrett & Zandra invited us to go to dinner at their house and then to go to the nativity. The Mallory's and Hassell's joined us. It was a delight to experience what it might have been like when Christ was born.
We were also able to go see the USU Men's basketball team defeat Colorado State on our homecourt. We won 93-85. We need to keep our winning streak going, it's pretty awesome!
Dale's side of the family got together for a Christmas party. It took two grandkids to make it happen, but it was nice to visit with those that came. Danica and Maria (Dale's niece) planned it. Danica used her Aunt Jill & Uncle Lane's (Jason's side of the family) "Compound", and we ate, visited, watched the kids put on the Nativity, and as per the tradition used for the Hansen family parties, Santa came and visited with the kids. I think those that made it had a delightful time.
For an early birthday gift, Dale & I took Mazin to dinner at Pizza Pie Cafe and then bowling at The Fun Park (he wanted to practice up for his birthday bowling on his birthday). We all did pretty good and all had a delightful time. I even outscored Dale on a game :)
We spent Christmas Eve with the Mallory's. We went bowling at Logan Lanes and then we had dinner and watched a Christmas show at their house. We slept over and watched them open their gifts the next morning and got to visit with Elder Mallory via Face Time.
After our traditional Christmas Butterscotch balls breakfast with them, we headed home to open our gifts and to get dinner ready for the Mallory's to come to our house for Christmas dinner. After dinner we played games and then went to the cemeteries and visited the graves and sang carols.
Christmas morning was somewhat cloudy, and there was greenish/brown grass with a touch of snow on the mountain this year. It was actually not too cold even. The last time we had a Christmas like this was when I was in 8th grade, if my memory serves me right. Crazy stuff.
Elder Mallory had a delightful month. Here's some of what he wrote about for his week around Christmas in his letter: Wow it's crazy that its already Christmas. My favorite time of year. Everyone needs to go and do a good deed for someone and share God's love. This week was awesome. We had 7 people come to church that loved it. This Sunday was super stressful for me because I had to sing and play silent night and give a talk. But i think it all went well. Our friends loved it. It was crazy because the son of one of our friends played the violin in sacrament meeting and he's not a member and this was his first time going to church. Now he wants to get baptized but he doesn't live in our area. Kind of sad but super happy at the same time. Miracles, Mariana has been wondering if she should get baptized and had a crazy change. She is addicted to coffee and is dropping it and is getting baptized this week.
I got to be in a nativity because there weren't enough kids. We were the shepherds, pretty awesome. God is good.
I'm excited for Christmas. Still miss the family but we are serving the lord. Love you all.
Matt did another month tied in with kindness for the Heritage Elementary students. The theme this month was: Bring Kindness Through Light. The kids wrote their kind deeds on candles to Light the School with kindness. Pretty delightful to see all the good that has happened because of acts of kindness isn't it!
Andrew and Lindsay's Nora celebrated her birthday in sunny St. George. Happy Birthday Nora!!
They also had an early Christmas for the kids by going on a family cruise to Cabo San Lucas. It was a bit warmer than home, and the ocean was a bit chilly, but they all had a delightful time.
They also made the 6 1/2-hour drive to come to Utah to see the family after Christmas and so that Titan could go visit the orthodontist about his braces.
We were hoping that they'd be joining the Mallory's, Garrett's crew, the Hassell's and Dale & I for ice skating at the Stan & Carol Laub outdoor ice rink on main street in Logan, and to see the candy Christmas scenes made by The Bluebird that were hanging in big store front windows around town, but they didn't get away in time, so they only got to see a few of the displays a few days later after they came in quite late that night.
We had the Hassell's and Garrett's crew, along with the Mallory's play some games at the house and then the Hassell's headed home and Garrett's crew stayed with us for the night. We played games with them and visited. Where Andrew's crew got in so late, they were able to visit with Andrew's family for a bit before heading home. Andrew's crew was here until New Years Day, so for New Years we were able to have the Mallory's join us for dinner and to play games with Andrews crew and we all brought in the New Year, horns, sparklers, and all.
We were delighted to have them join us for a while. Luckily the weather was good for them both coming and going.
Garrett and Zandra have been busy helping hand out treat at relators work parties, school activities, and getting together with friends and family, so they had a quieter Christmas, but with their two kids it wasn't too quiet. They stayed home and enjoyed time with family. They also got to see a double rainbow off the back deck of their house! It's not too often you see that around Christmas in Utah!!
They also celebrated their anniversary and got some alone time together. Happy Anniversary!
The Hassell's have kept busy as well. We were able to go watch June in her Christmas dance recital as well as in her gymnastics Christmas Showcase. June's loving every minute too. We were delighted that we were able to go see her preform too.
They also went to the Festival of Trees, checked out the Young Living Aquariums Christmas decorations, and on Christmas Eve went and drove through the Christmas light display at Willard Bay. June got to go to a fun Christmas Village as a field trip with her pre-school class.
Danica's custom banner business has picked up and kept her drawing and coloring a lot this month as well. I'd say her talents are worth sharing. Jason's keeping busy at the office too.
In all of the delight there has been this month, we've had some sorrow as we learned that Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, who was recently made the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with the passing of then President Russell M. Neilson, passed away on Dec. 27, 2026, from complications associated with kidney disease, while being surrounded by his family. He was 85.
Pres. Holland became an Apostle in 1994. At that time, he had been serving as an Authority Seventy. Prior to these callings in the Church, he was the President of Brigham Young University where he received his bachelor of English and Master of Religious Education.
His wife, Patrica, passed away in July of 2023, together they had 3 children and have 13 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.
He will be missed, but what a delight it is knowing that he is with his dear wife, Patricia after being alone for 3 years and in her presence again.
What will the year of 2027 bring for us? Time will tell ----
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