2024 the pinnacle year of retirement thus far

To begin 2024, we did have lots of family visiting:  Steve and his boys, Nicole and family, Seth and family, Natalie and family (they stayed for 3 weeks).  Tom and I celebrated 47 years of marriage.  We did a lot of skiing with family at Park City and also at Nordic in Eden.  I babysat Penny while the rest of the family went to Italy.   I was able to ski two days at Powder Mountain with Charlotte with great powder skiing.  Tom went to Kosovo for Idarm in January

In February we went to Monterey, but that was after Tom went to Brno (yes, just a day after getting home from Kosovo)!  

 

At the end of February, Nicole and Mats were sealed in the Newport Beach CA temple on 02/24/24.   Jake & Mel/ Natalie/Seth/Dan were able to attend.  We flew in directly from Monterey.

The flower girls were adorable.  Natalie officiated the ring ceremony after the sealing.

A small gathering in the foyer of the hotel after the sealing and wedding dinner on the sea.  Tom stayed in the hotel room with sleeping Cora and Jules.

On Feb 28th we flew to Hawaii to spend the month with Natalie and family.  Here we are doing yoga at the beach!  

While in Hawaii, we would plan our days and activities around the Portugal family and they took us on lots of gorgeous hikes.  Fun family!

Bryn's graduation from Kahuku High School.  She and her date at graduation.

The pillbox hike overlooking sunset beach at sunset

Isa started her job at Bonzai Bowl.  She would fix us free bowls when we would stop by!

We arranged to get tickets to April conference since Natalie was in town.  We just left Hawaii but Natalie came to Utah to see Tim McGraw in concert.  We had her all to ourselves and it was SO.FUN.

Seth sold his house in Eden and moved the beginning of April to another house.  It is much bigger but still needed a full renovation!  We were up to help move them to their 'new' house.

April skiing with Colie and her girls.  

Larry Green retires after 40 years with BYU as a guitar teacher.  Tom and I were invited to attend his last class.  The students were there thinking they had a final exam but Larry says, "This is my last class.  All of you get an 'A' and there is no final exam!"  All the students were VERY happy!

Natalie's family went to Brussels Belgium the first part of May and we joined them!

Brugge!  Frites!

Kinderdijk Netherlands!  It was so fun to be together with their family in Brussels.  We hit all the high spots and the time went by way too fast.

Tom and I stayed a few more days in Brussels after Natalie's family went back to Hawaii.  Then we flew to Rome for the Spring!

I love Rome in the Spring.  Flowers were out, the weather was perfect, the sites were not as crowded.

Rome is picturesque!

As often as we go to Rome, there is always something new to discover.

Rome metros.  Never empty!

Besides Rome, we spent a day in Naples with Luigi and Louisa,  as well as Florence.

An outing to the Rome temple with our friends, Luigi and Louisa DeMatais, and Hanim is always a highlight for us.

Our next stop was the French Riviera.  We love our apartment on Cap Martin.  While there, Tom had to go to Kosovo for the 2nd time this year and I stayed behind at this apartment by myself for a week.  I thought I would get bored without Tom, but it turned out to be just fine and quite magical.  I went to the Roquebrune castle, and walked the cape every day, but otherwise I stayed close to home and had a 'Spiritual Retreat' of sorts that really boosted my spiritual health.

When I first landed in Brussels and we were hanging out with Natalie's family, I noticed that my vision was blurry.  I would take off my glasses and try to clean them, but everything remained blurry.  I called my eye doctor and I set up an appointment for the first day home from Europe.  The verdict?  I had had a blood clot to my eye that blocked a vein and my eye was bleeding and I had to go to a specialist and I began eyeball shots!  So far this year I have had 3 shots.  The first photo is the swelling the blood clot caused as well as the pooling blood on my eyeball, the second photo is the left eye which is normal and no blood pooling.  

We got back from Europe on June 7th.  The next day we helped Colie and Mats move to their new house! It is such a great house, move-in ready!   Then we flew to EWR on June 12th!  We spent the week of June 15-22, 2024 in Rehoboth.  Always a big hit and perfect weather (again!)  Dan joined us b/c he had business in DC and he drove all the way out to Rehoboth to have dinner with us!  What a champ!

We do go into NYC with Jake for the day and then attended the broadway show MJ (Michael Jackson)

Loved that show.  It was like Michael Jackson came back to life.

Back in Utah from the east coast on June 26th.  That week-end Levi had a baseball game in Heber so we were able to see Dan/Lara/Levi/Scarlet!  Then for the 4th of July we went to the BYU stadium of fire.  Jake's family was in Utah, and we had an extra ticket and we took Rachel with us.  The Jonas brothers were there in concert.  We also had our driveway re-done that week-end.  We had fun with Jake's family visiting and Seth's family came down to join in the fun.  We also had Isa come and join us for a few days b/c she was in Utah for a youth camp!  Colie and family joined us for a few nights while Isa was here.  Oh, and we were asked to talk in church and the topic was "Why I believe in Jesus Christ" which topic we loved and enjoyed.

Then on July 28th we were off to Monterey again for 2 weeks so Tom could teach for IDARM.  The week-end between his classes we joined the group in Yosemite!  We passed Vernal falls and went up to Nevada falls (594 feet high).  It was gorgeous but very taxing.  Luckily we hiked with others from Tom's class and they kept us energized with food and water!

I love to rent my bike for the 2 weeks I am there and I bike for hours each day, along with loads of beach walking.

We got back from Monterey and had ONE day to do laundry and pack up and leave for 7 weeks to Europe.  We flew into Paris and took the train directly to Brussels for the flower carpet.  We met up with Jake's family to begin with and then Seth's family joined us a few days later.

Thanks goodness the Stockel market was up and running during August.  We made several trips to get waffles from Jacque Gaston!  The lady is American and married a Belge.  She knows Yardley well and loves talking about it to Jake and Mel.

When Jake and Seth get together, there is always a major bike ride included.  They biked from Brussels to Brugge and we met them there.

When Taft and Luke were just toddlers, we took a photo of them in these throne chairs.  This year we re-enacted their photo but of course now they are teens!

This was a definite highlight for me.  Chocolate wheels in Brugge!  I remember sitting on the benches here in the shade off to the side of this canal.  The grandkids were close, even snuggling, as we munched on the chocolate wheels.  I felt a surge of love and gratitude for the opportunity to share this memory together.  

Somehow I turned into bronze!  Not really, but it does look that way.  Leuven!

Is this perfect?  Belgium frites.  Leuven.

Our two Tom Herways passing the Tomberg metro station.

Our last day in Belgium and these two wanted to get waffles one last time.  So off we go!

Jake's family stayed right downtown in an Airbnb (no A/C even though it was advertised as having it) and this restaurant was part of the airbnb so they gave us a discount.  So fun to eat outside!  Jake stayed in Brussels while Tom and I and Seth's family went to the French Riviera.  Poor Jake, this whole European trip was mostly a 'bust'.  They had looked so forward to this 'last' trip with their whole family as Rachel probably won't be available for these kind of trips much longer.  But they had horrible things happen:  scammed on housing in Paris during the Olympics, rented bikes they barely used b/c of sickness, the airbnb in waterloo charged them 900 euros for damage to their couch, Mel got food poisoning....there is more but that is what I remember.

We had a whole week together with Seth and family on the French Riviera.  Here in Rocquebrune Castle.

 We had Taft and Luke with us at Villa Jade which was a real treat for us.  We toured the area together every day.  Rented boats for a full day on the sea.  Spent time at the beach, in Menton, etc.  Seth rented a bike for one day and said his day was 'exquisite'!  We went together on a double date to a Michelin star restaurant.

Tom and I stayed longer and enjoyed discovering another restaurant that we loved, "L'Orangerie"

After Seth's family left, we had more visitors:  Karen and Steve Teerlink.  Karen took this photo on a day we were visiting Menton.

Steve and Karen are easy-going and flexible.  We enjoyed having them visit for a few days.  Karen had a pinched nerve in her back, but she didn't slow us down a bit.  Fun couple.

After the Teerlinks left, we had more visitors, Larry and Robyn Green.  They are always fun to have around.  They love what we love.  We left together for Paris and had a few days together in Paris as well.

We spent a total of 2 weeks in Paris.  Wow, we really do love that city.  This photo is of Elizabeth Ferrier from Brussels!  We were at church in Paris and Tom spotted her and her brother Timothy.  I thought 'no way' but after church he went up to them and they recognized Tom immediately!  Paris has charm and depth and always something new to find.  We loved our week near the Pantheon and our week in the Opera area.

Back in Utah on Sept 25, and we caught the tail end of the Fall colors.  Stunning!

Bryn and Isa had Fall break on the same week.  Bryn wanted Isa to come to Utah!  We had so much fun with them, and their friend Jillian who is going to school at UVU, joined us as well.

Fun to see Bryn's dorm room.  Bryn gave us a tour of the campus as well.  Those girls are really good friends.

Seth and Heidi spoil us.  They come often to visit.   This is October.  Taft loves to thrift shop and he picked up these pants.  It was funny to see that his pants would fit both him and Luke!

The hot tub is still a favorite activity.  We had gorgeous weather and they also shot the guns, rode the motorcycles, we did bubbles and frisbee.  Fun family.

On Oct 21, Charlotte and Ric invited us to Eden for lunch and a hike.  Beautiful day.  Then we stopped in to see Seth and Heidi's house.  They are still living in a construction zone, but progress is being made.  They currently live in their basement while the upper floors are being renovated.  

Monthly we have WBCC  (Wasatch Back Communication Council) meetings.  This meeting was held at Colin Stauffer's house.  This photo was taken of the group.  It's a nebulous calling but we are all trying to do our best.  Tom and I have it the easiest b/c we just answer calls that are made from the website.  

We have been inviting lots of friends over.  This is Veeren Changlaram.  He and his wife Amy and their daughter Ella came up for lunch.  Veeren told us his baptism story....and that he looked up the missionary that baptized him.  Found him homeless and on drugs.  Veeren says, "Vacation over, time to get back to church".  He succeeds and Veeren baptizes the missionary that baptized him!  We have had our neighbors over as well, Char and Jeff, and Tim and Joanna.  We also hosted Mats Swedish family for dinner:  his mom and his nephew. We have also been doing LOTS of Dr. appointments this month.

FINALLY.  We bought electric bikes!  We were in SLC for Nicole's halloween party and stopped in the South Town Mall.  Tom went to buy a new wristband for his watch, and I stopped in to look at bikes.  Voila!  We took them to Park City and really enjoyed them.  I hope we have many happy hours on these bikes together!

Colie and Mats hosted a fabulous Halloween party.  We picked up Bryn from UofU.  It was so much fun.  They put a lot of work into the meal, it was so great of them.  Afterwards we took Bryn back to school and then spent the night at Suzanne's.  When we got home it felt like we had been away on a long trip, not just an overnight.

We then left on Nov 3rd for the East coast for 2 weeks.  We flew into Richmond and stayed in Williamsburg.  Jake and family drove down for a long week-end.  They had a great Marriott apartment with pools, hot tubs, game rooms, and activities which we all benefited from.  Cathy Herway also visited us there as she was in Williamsburg to visit potential rental properties as she wants to move there. We toured the village and had a fabulous week-end together.  In the hot tub one night sweet Lily bore her testimony and said she would always love the church and stay true to Jesus Christ.  

We loved being in Williamsburg right after the election of Mr. Trump as president of the US.  Just before the Revolutionary War, the population was very divisive, confused, and there was not a clear path forward.  War?  Nobody wanted that, but in hindsight we know it was necessary.  It helps put perspective on the confusion and division of our current political climate.  It was fun to talk to George Washington and his wife Margaret, as well as General Lafayette, and Patrick Henry and James Madison.  

Our next stop was in Monticello to visit Thomas Jefferson's home and we met up with Tom's cousin Patty and her husband George.  Then to Petersburg where we stayed at the Fort Hill Motel and the owner was Sarah Moomaw (who knew Loren and Edna and went to Haiti with them!)  We visited the old homestead and saw the old barn still in good shape!  Then to Morgantown to visit with Mike and Debbie and Caitlyn's family.  Mike is now 81 years old and quite physically feeble but still in good spirits.  Debbie is still going gang busters at 76.  A very short but very sweet stay.

To finish up our East Coast visit, we went with Steve and his boys to the Outer Banks, NC and stayed in Kitty Hawk.  What an inspiring place.   Wright brothers:  Fail and fail, but keep trying and you will succeed.  We had a good visit with Steve and hopefully helped as he sorted out his finances to make his divorce happen.  Felicia fixed us two dinners but it was still a bit awkward.  It's a tough situation.  We loved attending church with Steve and going to his class where he teaches in SS.  

We got back from the East Coast on Wednesday and left Friday for Idaho Falls.  We drove to Rigby and helped the Gardiners unpack a bit, and then to Dan's.  Lara and girls were in SLC picking out Daphne's wedding dress and I was thrilled to be part of the facetime along with Dan as she tried on her dresses.  She looked fabulous in every dress but did finalize her choice.  The wedding will probably be in September. (so much for the French Riviera in Sept!) We had a great visit with Dan who really spoiled us with meals and football and lots of undivided attention.  We left on Sunday and went to church with Paulette Bott and husband Joe.  Great visit with her mom (Laverne) afterwards.  On our way home we stopped in to visit with Seth's family.  Their house  renovations are making slow, very slow, but steady progress.

We had Thanksgiving with Nicole and her family as well as Kaylee and Kevin.  Everyone cooked and cleaned but it is always a lot of work!  Nicole and Mats announced that they are expecting a baby in July!!!

Right after Thanksgiving, Tom and I went to Solana Beach for 2 weeks.  We stayed at the Solana Beach & Tennis Club in an ocean front condo.  We loved eating/reading/napping on the deck and enjoyed watching the ocean and sky/sunsets and birds.  (We did have noisy  upstairs neighbors who were up at 5am.  Never buy any condo that is not top floor)  It was serendipitous we were there as there were repairs to do for an A/C leak in our condo.  We were able to get the repairs done before our new tenants moved in.
We love SB area.  Acai bowls at the 101 diner, walk into Del Mar, sit on the beach and watch the sunset, long walks on the beach, swim in the pool and hot tub, the Cardiff Market, Bangkok Bay, Fidele's, the view from the bluff.  
The last night we stayed in the Old Town and went to the Mormon Battalion museum.  Donated at 'Light the World', walked up to the Presidio, and went to Balboa Park.  Fun trip.

The next day after getting home, we were in Provo for my eye shot and the temple, then we went to Mats 46th B-day party at the Galleria in Midway!  Fun.  We saw their new mini-van they bought.  Fancy.

It is New Year's Eve 2024 as I finish my post for the year 2024.  I took this photo of the sunset and thought to myself what a beautiful 'sign-out' for a beautiful year.  We celebrated Nicole's 38th birthday at her house where Mats fixed a fancy meal and we had a cake from a French bakery.  We were able to have a Christmas Family Zoom call on Nicole's birthday as well. She announced her pregnancy and that her baby is a GIRL and her name will be Emilia(Mats grandma's name).   Fun to see everyone at the same time!  Christmas Eve, Seth's family came to Heber and we had a fabulous time together.  It has been a long, long time since we had 'Santa Believers' for Christmas morning.  The house was FULL of the Christmas spirit. Our kids gave Tom and I money to go to Tuachan in the Spring.  Steve spent Christmas at the Sparhawks but we have had them for over a week.  Isaac LOVES to wrestle Tom.  We (Steve's family) were able to ski at Powder Mountain with Seth's family.  We spend lots of time in the hot tub, and we have had snow so they could sled.  It was fun to take them to church and to 'show them off'.  

Now it is almost time to welcome in 2025.  The family has sent in their 2024 High/Low list.  A brand new year is ahead with all the promise of love and learning and growing and changing.  But it is always good to look 'back' and see how much God has blessed this family, how He protects us, how He lets us make our choices and learn from them.  I have loved this year.  Truly I am humbled with the goodness and love of God in my life, and the blessing of health and family.  So let's just see what 2025 brings!