Brent & Tina Vernon Family Blog: Christmas Letter 2014

December, 2014

We wish you a very merry Christmas from the Vernon family.

Ellaina just turned 16. Boys are drooling with the dating opportunities that await. Ellaina got her driver’s license, and will now exercise her independence by being the primary driver of the truck. Dad’s been demoted to riding his bike. Ellaina remains a straight “A” student as a sophomore at Rocky Mountain High School. Ellaina has found a passion for hiking. She has gone on many hikes with the family. She summited her first 14er this year by climbing Mount Bierstadt. It was a challenging hike, but the view at the top was worth the effort. She also did a 16 mile hike in the Grand Tetons through Cascade Canyon to Solitude Lake. It was beautiful seeing the mountains, waterfalls, snowfields, yellow belly marmots, and a moose.

Cory spent the entire year serving as a missionary in the Santa Maria, Brazil mission. He is a hard working dedicated missionary. The family wonders if he ever has any challenges or trials, but cannot tell because his letters are always positive and cheery. Cory writes, “Every week is a good week.”

Chad returned home from his mission to Atlanta, Georgia in January. His parents and sister enjoyed having home for a few months. They caught up on doing favorite local hikes, and spending time together at the YMCA near Rocky Mountain National Park. He is attending BYU-Idaho, and working as an early morning janitor on campus. He is dating and enjoying playing racquetball and basketball with his friends and his brother Aaron. Chad has run two half marathons, since returning home.

Aaron and Emily’s big news is they are expecting their first child in July. Aaron and Emily ran the Big Cottonwood Canyon Half Marathon in September. It was Emily’s first half marathon. It was a challenge for her, but she finished. She did lose a toe nail or two for her efforts, but that is part of the fun. Emily graduated from beauty school and is working full time cutting hair. Aaron will graduate this year with a four year degree from BYU-Idaho, and is applying at Physical Therapy schools to continue with his vocational goals. He continues with his job working with handicapped individuals.

Arlee and Tuawana are enjoying married life. They are no longer newlyweds, but one could never tell by the way they fawn over each other. Arlee survived his first year teaching High School in Las Vegas. It was a challenge trying to teach kids with no desire to learn. His second year teaching is going better as he is more experienced and has better classes to teach. Tuawana is working for her uncle and has taken a few college courses. Also, she maintains a Utube channel on how to do arts and crafts. Arlee and Tuawana have gone on several short trips with both sides of their families.

Brent and Tina kept busy with Church callings. Tina was especially busy serving as the Stake Young Women’s Camp Director. They kept up their running by doing three half marathons, and one full marathon. The full marathon was the Monument Marathon in Scottsbluff Nebraska. It was at the end of September, but the weather was unseasonably warm. The temperature was in the upper 80’s making running very difficult, but they both finished the race

We had a few losses this year. Brent’s Mom passed away on November 18^th. It was a blessing as she had been in declining health for several years. She is now reunited with loved ones on the other side. Those on this side have loving memories of the optimism and dedication she exhibited in this life fulfilling her duties as a spouse, mother and grandmother. Also, our dog, Gidgidiniah, passed away in July. He was a great dog, he was 10 ½ years old. He enjoyed running and hiking, and loved everyone in the family.

We went on several small trips this year. One trip in April taking Chad to school in Idaho was memorable because of a motel we stayed in. The motel had bed bugs. Ellaina got several bites on her arms. Brent was bitten about 50 times. He had an allergic reaction to the bites as well. We won’t be staying at that motel again! The rest of the trip was fun as we visited sand dunes near Rexburg Idaho, played basketball and racquetball as a family, and enjoyed swimming together at a bed bug free motel in Rexburg.

At the end of the summer we rented a condominium in West Yellowstone and had a nice trip with all of the kids and their spouses, except for Cory. It was fun having everyone together at the same place. We enjoyed playing games and seeing the sites of Yellowstone. We went swimming in Fire Hole River, and enjoyed boating on Yellowstone Lake and hiking to Natural Bridge.

As the kids have gotten married, and all live in different places it is hard to get the whole family together. We are grateful for the above special times with them. We plan on getting a family picture when Cory gets home next year as we haven’t had the whole family together since Aaron got home from his mission. We are so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ who loves us and made it possible for us to be resurrected. This is especially meaningful to us now that Brent’s Mom has passed and all our parents are on the other side of the veil. We are grateful for “The Plan of Salvation” and that we know our parents are happy with our other loved ones who have passed on and someday we can be together again.

We are grateful to hear from you as often as possible. Thank You for being part of the tapestry of our lives that has made it more beautiful. Love Brent and Tina Vernon

Elder Cory Vernon is serving in the Santa Maria Brazil mission.

Girl Scout Day Camp- Program Assistants-Ellaina loves doing this and teaching the girls to sing, canoe etc.

Ellaina was in the play "The Wizard of Oz" She played Glenda- the Good Witch

Ellaina and Tina's first Fourteener

Zion's National Park

Betty Ann Giles Vernon at her Grandson Ben's wedding with her two sons- Scott & Brent

She could still play Que Vive and Nola even with Alzheimers. It was awesome!

A family picture of Betty and her children taken in June- the last family picture together.

Yellowstone water fun at Firehole Canyon with all the family but our missionary.

Family Basketball and rest time at BYU IDAHO

A Gaucho Baptism!

Gidgidaniah- take up your sword! Our Dog Gid passed away in July, here are a few pictures from when he was younger.

A picture in the spring when he was healthy still- we will miss that boy!

Georgetown Half

Vedawoo Picnic

Ellaina made about 35 of those beautiful macrame necklaces for YW and leaders who read from the Book of Mormon at least 102 days to get ready for camp.