Jill and I had a wonderful visit with Dylan and Krystal in Houston. We played around on the Battleship Texas and visited the San Jacinto Monument. That's where Santa Anna surrendered to Sam Houston. Dylan has a new job with Fastorq, Inc. doing public relations, website development and marketing.

This is what happens when grandpa watches Avery

On December 31, I caught my biggest fish ever, a seventeen pound Steelhead, at a secret location on the Clearwater River.

Notice, Dylan's is smaller than mine!!

Here is my granddaughter Jena and I sledding at a secret location in Northern Idaho!

Merry Christmas

Dear Family and Friends,

We always look forward to this time of year so we can connect with all of you once again. We’re grateful to hear from so many of you these past years and love staying in touch. This year brought more changes, some challenges, and certainly some wonderful blessings to the Roberts family.

Dylan and Krystal are still in Houston where he works in public relations as a marketing coordinator. While Krystal was visiting family in Utah, Dylan weathered Hurricane Ike alone in their home as it went right over Spring, Texas. The intense wind and pelting rain lasted over 10 hours and left them without power for 5 days. Having friends with a generator allowed Dylan to still view Saturday football, so we didn’t feel too sorry for him. They will be with us in Lewiston for the holidays which is in an Arctic freeze right now-a big change from the balmy temperatures of south Texas.

Alison and Jeff bought a home in March. Jeff commented that he wondered why they’d moved out since we seemed to be together for nightly dinners! We love having them close so we can be with Jena and Jackson and Avery too. Yes, we welcomed a new granddaughter in September when Erin Avery arrived. She is extremely mellow and tolerates Jackson’s suffocating hugs well.

In June, we gained a new “daughter-in-law” when Boyd married Rebecca Barton. We think of her like “Ruth” in the Old Testament as she has embraced all of us and become a tender, nurturing partner for Boyd and mother for Sam, Alex, and Kennedy. We could not have asked for anything more. Interestingly, we knew Rebecca’s grandparents when we lived in Mtn. Home. Strange coincidence? We think not. The Rolfsons, Bartons, and Roberts families all celebrated when Boyd passed the bar exam this year.
Our last once-in-a-lifetime vacation was 18 years ago, so we decided it was time for another. Don and I spent about three weeks traveling to Russia and Scandinavia this past summer. Standing in Red Square as children from the Cold War was just unbelievable to us. I would have added a picture or two, but Don seems to just prefer buildings and monuments to having people in photos. We loved every minute and Don now thinks a cruise up the Amazon is our next adventure. Any takers?

Thank you for all the love and expressions of support we have received from you, our dearest family and friends. We hope these holidays bring each of you wonderful memories and a renewed commitment to Him whose birth we celebrate. Merry Christmas!

Love, Don and Jill

Each Life That Touches Ours for Good

Each Life That Touches Ours for Good

1. Each life that touches ours for good
Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;
Thou sendest blessings from above
Thru words and deeds of those who love.

2. What greater gift dost thou bestow,
What greater goodness can we know
Than Christlike friends, whose gentle ways
Strengthen our faith, enrich our days.

3. When such a friend from us departs,
We hold forever in our hearts
A sweet and hallowed memory,
Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.

4. For worthy friends whose lives proclaim
Devotion to the Savior’s name,
Who bless our days with peace and love,
We praise thy goodness, Lord, above.

Proverbs 17:17; Proverbs 4:18
D&C 42:45–46