Happy New Year ! At about 5 minutes to 12:00 the firecrackers in the neighborhood began crackling and popping. There must have been quite a celebration! We had stayed home and were working on the computers, so we just took a moment for a kiss.

It seems like just a short time ago that we were all worried what the year 2000 would bring. The predictions that the computers would all go crazy, didn't happen--
but many other things that no one would have imagined have taken place.
Communication growth through use of Internet, cell phones, digital cameras and other technology continues to evolve worldwide; search for alternative forms of energy continues; relations between nations have become more strained rather than less; currency values have fluctuated wildly due to unbelievable economic downturns; the presidential elections of 2000 and 2008, the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina plus an ongoing war in Iraq and Afghanistan have created political partisanship and a disenchanted electorate in the United States while drug wars in Mexico and discussion of global warming worldwide create an atmosphere of unrest and anxiety. Even the earth is restless, with tsunamis, earthquakes and hurricanes increasing
President Hinckley and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were increasingly in the news with stories of recognition from government leaders, the continuing growth in membership (13 1/2 million members now) and recognizing that 1 million missionaries have now served . There has been an upsurge of criticism of traditional Christian religious observances and practices. We have been able to watch General Conference from the Conference Center since 2000, and that was the year the 100th temple was dedicated. Now there are 130 operating temples and 21 more are planned. The Perpetual Education Fund was begun in 2001, and the recent count of beneficiaries was 40,000. In 2002 the Nauvoo Illinois Temple was dedicated, marking 172 years of the Church's existence and a changing attitude toward the Church in the area. In 2004 and 2005 and again in 2009, the Church extended humanitarian aid to those whose lives were forever changed by the Tsunami in southeast Asia, Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and natural disasters in Samoa, Tonga and the Philipines. Beloved President Gordon B. Hinckley died and President Thomas S. Monson was sustained (2008).
Also in 2008, Mitt Romney's presidential candidacy brought out anti-Mormon sentiments in areas of the U. S., while the marriage referendum in California in which Church members played a large part brought personal attacks and media attention from liberals. In 2009 the Church published the Bible in Spanish with all the footnotes and study helps that we have enjoyed in English.

Our family has been richly blessed this year beginning in January with Elena's successful emergency C-section and the birth of Jean Dietrich. David, Kerensa and Tyler came to visit us in March for a fun couple of weeks. Victor and Rebecca returned to Spain 10 years after they served their missions there. Rosie's broken nose and losing her job came one after another, but the nose was repaired and Rosie found another job--one that gives her welcome challenges and where the days pass quickly. Gary, Diana and Karl came to visit us in June and we enjoyed having them here. Ted and Tanner climbed the 2nd highest mountain in Washington state as a Venture Scout activity. Katherine began the 3rd semester of nursing classes in September, and this meant a full day of clinicals at a hospital. She is glad that she has been able to get this far before the company Eric worked for finally let him go. Gary, Diana and Karl were able to travel to Bulgaria to revisit their mission areas and step across the straits into Constantinople. Their little Marian Rene was born in December.

"Surely every soul who understands what the Savior did for us loves him and desires to demonstrate, in a realistic manner, thanks and gratitude." Marion G. Romney, "Thou Shalt Thank the Lord Thy God in All Things," Ensign, June 1974, 4