Merry Christmas 2008! Dear Friends.
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How time flies! If it weren’t for the leafless trees and frost on the car in the morning, I would not believe that four seasons have passed, and we are once again at this most wonderful time of year. With some pride of accomplishment, Jeanne and I completed the “more active management” phase of child rearing, as Bryan, our youngest, packed off to BYU this summer. While there is no way to replace daily, lively interaction with kids in our home, the long distance interactions have become more valued and meaningful, and Jeanne and I now have a new phase of life to experience. The former one lasted 27 years, and with some luck, maybe we can get 27 years out of this one as well.
How time flies! If it weren’t for the leafless trees and frost on the car in the morning, I would not believe that four seasons have passed, and we are once again at this most wonderful time of year. With some pride of accomplishment, Jeanne and I completed the “more active management” phase of child rearing, as Bryan, our youngest, packed off to BYU this summer. While there is no way to replace daily, lively interaction with kids in our home, the long distance interactions have become more valued and meaningful, and Jeanne and I now have a new phase of life to experience. The former one lasted 27 years, and with some luck, maybe we can get 27 years out of this one as well.
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Bryan started his freshman year by breaking his ankle at his first BYU lacrosse practice. His first six weeks of college life were spent on crutches with a handicap sticker in the window of Grandma Whiting’s borrowed truck. After a high school state championship football season, he was named all state in lacrosse. He wanted to continue lacrosse at the college level, but we’ll have to see. He’s excited to start a church mission in the summer, hopefully after getting to spend a couple of weeks with Dave when he returns in early June.
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Dave is in the last six months of his mission in Argentina. The past year has been one of extremely hard work and complete immersion into Argentine culture and language. Some of 2008 was spent in urban areas, where people are more concerned about material matters than spiritual matters. But most of the time he has been in smaller towns where the people have more interest in and time for heartfelt conversation. He has met many wonderful people and made great friendships.
Bryan started his freshman year by breaking his ankle at his first BYU lacrosse practice. His first six weeks of college life were spent on crutches with a handicap sticker in the window of Grandma Whiting’s borrowed truck. After a high school state championship football season, he was named all state in lacrosse. He wanted to continue lacrosse at the college level, but we’ll have to see. He’s excited to start a church mission in the summer, hopefully after getting to spend a couple of weeks with Dave when he returns in early June.
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Dave is in the last six months of his mission in Argentina. The past year has been one of extremely hard work and complete immersion into Argentine culture and language. Some of 2008 was spent in urban areas, where people are more concerned about material matters than spiritual matters. But most of the time he has been in smaller towns where the people have more interest in and time for heartfelt conversation. He has met many wonderful people and made great friendships.
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Dan will graduate in May from the University of Colorado with a a major in Economics and a minor in Poltical Science. The next big adventure is looking at the job market—a fairly daunting challenge in the best of times, let alone the current situation. Dan has a great attitude and will get things figured out. He has been most resourceful throughout his college career.
Dan will graduate in May from the University of Colorado with a a major in Economics and a minor in Poltical Science. The next big adventure is looking at the job market—a fairly daunting challenge in the best of times, let alone the current situation. Dan has a great attitude and will get things figured out. He has been most resourceful throughout his college career.
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Cara graduated from BYU twice, sort of. She “walked” with the cap and gown in April, but still had to complete a project required for her minor in family history. She was able to do that by accepting an internship in Washington DC at the National Archives during May and June, and officially graduated in the August ceremonies. She decided to stay in the DC area, and got a job with the company that manages the Fulbright scholarship program for the Department of State. She loves the DC area, and has been able to come home a couple of times for the weekend.
Cara graduated from BYU twice, sort of. She “walked” with the cap and gown in April, but still had to complete a project required for her minor in family history. She was able to do that by accepting an internship in Washington DC at the National Archives during May and June, and officially graduated in the August ceremonies. She decided to stay in the DC area, and got a job with the company that manages the Fulbright scholarship program for the Department of State. She loves the DC area, and has been able to come home a couple of times for the weekend.
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Mike and Kathryn renewed their lease in NYC for another year. They are both working way too hard and way too much. I guess they didn’t learn from my bad example on that front. They are our great communicators, and keep the family close together with their picture sharing, blogging, frequent calls and visits. It’s great to have them close by and to be uplifted by their enthusiasm.
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Mike and Kathryn renewed their lease in NYC for another year. They are both working way too hard and way too much. I guess they didn’t learn from my bad example on that front. They are our great communicators, and keep the family close together with their picture sharing, blogging, frequent calls and visits. It’s great to have them close by and to be uplifted by their enthusiasm.
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Jeanne still conducts our church choir, teaches children’s music and serves in the presidency of the church’s women's organization. Rowing has become a passion. Five days a week, rain or shine, she's out in Long Island Sound paddling away, and on Saturdays I join her. We row in singles or quads, and have even started to master the art of rowing a double shell together without upsetting the delicate balance required in the boat as well as the marriage. It is great fun. Jeanne is still devoted to her foundation that supports desmoid tumor research. This year researchers made a groundbreaking discovery of a beta catenin mutation that is already impacting treatment decisions. This exciting discovery renews motivation to press forward for a cure.
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I have spent the year the in middle of the global financial turmoil. Despite what the politicians and pundits have said about this, my view is that this situation is the freaky result of what happens when all of us do the same dumb thing at the same time. We all borrowed too much, bought too much—particularly in the area of housing, were too happy to see our home prices go up, and then, all of a sudden, the music stopped and we are shocked that house prices dropped. My clients have had a horrible time with this, and my firm’s job has been to help them get through it. I have worked more weekends this year than all of my prior 24 years in New York combined.
I have spent the year the in middle of the global financial turmoil. Despite what the politicians and pundits have said about this, my view is that this situation is the freaky result of what happens when all of us do the same dumb thing at the same time. We all borrowed too much, bought too much—particularly in the area of housing, were too happy to see our home prices go up, and then, all of a sudden, the music stopped and we are shocked that house prices dropped. My clients have had a horrible time with this, and my firm’s job has been to help them get through it. I have worked more weekends this year than all of my prior 24 years in New York combined.
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While 2008 will go down as one of the country’s worst, for the Whitings it will be remembered as one of our best. We have seen the fruits of faith in the lives of those that we love most dearly, and our appreciation for the message of hope offered by our Savior is deeper than ever before. May that message of hope be in your home always. Merry Christmas!!
While 2008 will go down as one of the country’s worst, for the Whitings it will be remembered as one of our best. We have seen the fruits of faith in the lives of those that we love most dearly, and our appreciation for the message of hope offered by our Savior is deeper than ever before. May that message of hope be in your home always. Merry Christmas!!
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Love, Jeanne, Steve, Bryan, Dave, Dan, Cara, Mike & Kathryn
Love, Jeanne, Steve, Bryan, Dave, Dan, Cara, Mike & Kathryn
Keep in touch!
swhiting@yahoo.com, jgwhiting@gmail.com (203) 972-8624
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