2017 Christmas Greetings from Dennis and Ramona Dalling
2017 Christmas Greetings from Dennis and Ramona Dalling
We have a large binder filled with copies of our Christmas
letters sent over the years, dating back more than 50 years. With a few changes
in names, dates, and places, we could resend most any letter! Births,
marriages, deaths, tragedies and triumphs, just seem to regularly recur through
the years, but that is the joy of life, always seeming to be more bright and
beautiful as we celebrate another Christmas. I even have file folders with
cards and letters that we have received through the years, but we treasure
every precious little missive we receive!
Early this year, we carefully planned a grand trip to South
Carolina to visit son David and Janet, followed by a cruise in the Caribbean
and a trip to Maine to visit brother Frank and Carolyn. Just as we settled into
Charleston, Carolyn called and said Frank was critically ill. Since they live
out in the country, we rented a car and, in a panic, drove to Augusta, Maine.
By the time we arrived, Frank had lapsed into a coma, but roused enough for me
to give him a Priesthood blessing! Our love and tender sympathies go out to his
sweet wife who cared for him in every way possible; she is a nurse!
We did manage to do some rescheduling and, other than that,
did complete our trip. I am now the last surviving member of my parent’s family,
as also is Ramona.
We had another great-grandson born this year, Riley Weinmann,
2nd son to Nicholas and Dana. We also had a great-grandson, John
Snelders, marry beautiful Janessa, in the Payson, UT Temple. This is Heather
and John’s first son to marry, after he had served a wonderful mission in
Colorado and Wyoming. Family gathered from Alaska, Texas, and Virginia, to
attend that sacred event. Grandparents David and Janet came from South Carolina,
and both sets of great-grandparents, Ramona and I, and Jerry and Ruth Carter,
came from St George. The only one missing was Millie, who is serving a mission
in Southern California! What a happy time!
We attended several reunions this year, including a wonderful Nauvoo
Mission reunion in SLC, a great John Loader Dalling reunion in Idaho, a
nostalgic Frank Dickinson reunion at the Lake Oswego home Larry inherited from
Uncle Doyle, and a delightful reunion of the Chico, CA wards from the 1960-70
era! How precious are family and friends!
Sons Dan, David, and Daryl, all retired this year; you know
when your kids are retiring, and your great-grand kids are marrying, that you
are definitely over the hill!
This year Dennis and Barbie are hosting our extended family
for a Christmas dinner in their splendid new home. We do not expect that all
the family will or could attend; there are now over one hundred descendants of
those two star-struck kids who fell in love and married in the Logan Temple
over sixty-six years ago!
Life has been so sweet for us, and we hope it has been for you
and your family. May this Christmas be a wonderful benediction for 2017 and an
opportunity for each of us to reaffirm our faith in our beloved Savior by being
even more Christlike. We pray that the spirit of peace may prevail in your
hearts, and in your homes, and in the world!
With love, Dennis and
Ramona
Comments
Post a Comment