December 2011
As we come to the end of the road in 2011 we are truly amazed at the blessings we enjoy. This 1995 Jaguar still only has 19,000 miles on it, but Sterling treats it like a toy and we decided to feature it on our Christmas card this year as he turned 80 and still likes to take it for a spin once in awhile. We put a lot of mileage on our regular car throughout this year. We drove to Palm Springs in February where we enjoyed some warmer winter temperatures. Our daughter, Susan and Dale Buxton added air mileage to come and join us for two weeks.
In March we drove to Salt Lake to witness the convert baptism of our grandson, Adam Spafford, age 24. For Mother’s Day, Susan and Dale spontaneously flew to St. George and we enjoyed their company. It is good to report that Dale has shown some small signs of improvement in his health this year. In June we welcomed Jake Spafford, our missionary grandson, home, who served faithfully in Korea. In July miles were driven to Laguna Beach, California where we both experienced birthdays and family gatherings. Sterling turned 80 (that seems like a lot of miles) on July 19th and the family who could make it, celebrated at the Peking Dragon in Dana Point, California, for Chinese food and then back to our condo for some gifts and tributes. Thanks to many of you who contributed to the Surprise 80th Birthday Book. It is a treasure to have these words and thoughts on paper.
Susan flew to Laguna Beach and drove us back to our home in Washington, Utah, the first week in September. Another road trip to SLC was taken when we welcomed Sam Spafford, another missionary grandson, home from the California Los Angeles Spanish Speaking Mission. A great event occurred in September when a group of old Galbraith and Green professionals gathered in St. George for a reunion. Many traveled from miles around and we enjoyed great dinners and catching up.
We have watched our children and grandchildren put mileage on vehicles and airplanes this year. Brent Caldwell joined the army and graduated from boot camp in South Carolina. Brent, Nichole, Carter and Abby moved to Arizona and on August 11th our great grandson, Max T. Caldwell was born. Our grandson, JD and his wife, Kallie, were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. She graduated from nursing school in March and they flew to Thailand for a belated honeymoon. Jen Hallam, our granddaughter and her family moved from Thayne to Afton in Wyoming. Our son, David Spafford, uses the airlines almost as much as he uses his car. Serving as bishop of a single’s ward he has been diligent about returning from wherever he is to be with those youth on Sundays. He and Susan took their family to Israel, Egypt and Jerusalem in October. Our Colorado Grandchildren, Shae, Derek and Liz have enjoyed travels to Laguna Beach. Mitchell graduated from BYU and entered Law School in the fall.
It truly is amazing that we have this much mileage on our bodies but we seem to be enduring the aging process with some ability; always wishing for more agility, but grateful for the positive aspects of this life. No trips to the hospital or rehab this year. Yea!! We never dreamed we’d be this old!
We hope your day’s travels are meaningful and may you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are grateful for the true meaning of Christmas in our lives and friendships with you through the years we’ve traveled together in this journey called life.
Love,
President and Sister Spafford
The thrill of the year came with the birth of a beautiful great granddaughter, Ellie May Hallam, on May 18th (our Susan is the Grandma!!). Further excitement came in June when three of our grandchildren (Shae Whitney, Adam and Tynette Spafford) graduated from college. And in July our grandson, Derek Whitney, from Denver got married. Our son, David and his wife, Susan, arranged for Sterling and me to fly from Laguna Beach with them to attend the wedding. David was called to be the Bishop of a student ward in our church. He will be very busy for a few years. We are very proud of him and his wonderful family. We also love having two grandsons (Jake and Sam Spafford) still serving in the mission field. 
President and Sister Spafford supporting each other always
"Should we start a fire?" one sister asked.
"It gives you a perspective of what it was really like here," father Zann Horlacher said. "Our family is close to the size of the family here."
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(Quoting from KSL) Since becoming Church President on Mar. 12, 1995, he has directed the most intense temple building program in the history of the Church in an effort to extend temple blessings to more members. He has exhibited vitality and energy as he has traveled about the world meeting and speaking to members of the Church. Through television interviews and national press publications, he has increased media attention and improved the public image of the Church. He has counseled Church members to fellowship new converts, befriend members of other faiths, live exemplary lives, and avoid the evils of the world. He began his role as president of the Church in 1995 by holding a rare news conference, citing growth and spreading the LDS message as the Church's main challenge heading into the 21st century. "We are dedicated ... to teaching the gospel of peace, to the promotion of civility and mutual respect among people everywhere, to bearing witness to the living reality of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the practice of his teachings in our daily lives," he said at the time. President Hinckley was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Pay Hinckley, whom he married in 1937. She died April 6, 2004. Family members will meet with Church officials to arrange the funeral. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is now leading the Church. That body will choose the next leader of the faith. By tradition, it is the senior member of the Quorum, and that is President Thomas S. Monson, who has been President Hinckley's First Counselor.
