Christmas Wishes - 2010

Christmas 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

We all love this special holiday season every year that inspires us to have kind feelings for our fellow man and to hope for peace and joy.

We are counting our blessings this year as we’ve had no hospital stays - we’ve been known to say that we are thrilled for a seemingly boring year. YEA for boring!!!! My knee has behaved well and become fairly strong again. I am walking with no pain in that leg and that is terrific news for me. On the other hand, Sterling decided to scare us when the painful sore on top of his head revealed Squamous Cell Carcinoma. The doctor removed a small section the first time, but needed to remove a larger section the second time to get all of the cancer. We were both relieved when the tests came back that the second skin graft was cancer free.

Our picture shows us at our lovely condo in Palm Springs. We enjoyed February and March there this year. It’s a beautiful place where we see spectacular flowers, palm trees and lots of sunny days. We found numerous restaurants awaiting our visits who happily took our money but left us extra poundage.

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.

Yes, we finally made it to Laguna Beach after three years’ absence. Can you believe we were actually cold at the beach this year? Temperatures in July were below average and the sun only came out a few days. August made up for it, however, and the sun was our companion once again, and we warmed up a bit. Back home to St. George on September 1st found us really warming up, temperature-wise. The weather in Utah was above average and we were hot.

Christmas is just around the corner, where it is time to remember our Savior and His precious gift of eternal life that He gave to us. May we strive to be worthy of His blessings as we enjoy this special season and send best wishes for the New Year.

Mom and Dad

Marilyn and Sterling

Grandma and Grandpa

November in Washington, Utah

A warm hello from Washington, Utah

October, 2010

Mother's Day 2010

A very happy Mother's Day to all. This was taken today in Washington, Utah. Here are the Spafford's outside the church.

Christmas wishes 2009

As we make preparations to celebrate the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" we remember the Most Important Reason of the Year. We celebrate the birth of our Savior, which was the beginning of such an extraordinary life. His life has been the benchmark of all that is exemplary in our lives. How we love Him!
This past year has shown us that we can love life and enjoy each other even though we spent most of our year pretty close to home. We spent February and March in our Palm Springs condo, where we had special friends and family visit us.
In April I had cataract surgery on both eyes, which was no big deal, but found out you do have to follow instructions for total success (and I did and it was!!)
We planned to meet our total "Spafford Family "in Laguna Beach in July for our bi-yearly time of fun and frolic in the sand. But, two days before Sterling and I were to leave, I was taken to the hospital in St. George with another bout with infection in my right knee. It was decided I needed to be in Salt Lake under the care of the physicians who previously replaced my knee.
In Salt Lake, the knee was cleaned out from a serious infection and the spacer removed, followed by a couple of days with an open incision. Then a new spacer was inserted and I began the recuperation process at St. Mark’s Hospital. I struggled through rehab and after ten days we were able to come back to Washington (my joy!!!) Sterling became my nurse as he administered the antibiotics via IV for five weeks - twice per day.
While we were in Salt Lake, our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were basking in the sun and frolicking in the waves of Laguna Beach. It was a reunion, of sorts, with the Spaffords, but without us. They had a great time and said they missed us. When we think of how close our timing was (the "knee experience" occurring just two days before we would have been in Laguna Beach), we were counting our lucky stars we were still in Utah. I’ve had a long recuperation period. It has been tough, but once again, Sterling has been my great care giver and supporter. I am one very fortunate woman.
We had a grandson graduate from high school, a grandson’s wife graduate from college, and two of our grandsons left for missions this year - one to Seoul, Korea, and one to Los Angeles, California - Spanish Speaking, so our buttons of pride are popping off the chest. Another grandson became engaged - always something exciting going on in our family.
We are mindful of many of you who are struggling with ill health, and our wish is for complete recovery and restoration of good health. May the joy of the season lessen the pain and may we all remember the wonderful legacy given to us with the birth of this very important Son of our Heavenly Father. May 2010 be full of happiness and joy.
Mom and Dad ~ Grandma and Grandpa
Marilyn and Sterling Spafford