It’s been a happy first year together. Greg is still enjoying his job as an Associate Account Manager, although the company is no longer CompuServe, but now MCI Worldcom Advanced Networks, as the company was bought by Worldcom. Sharon is still working with adults with learning difficulties.

January started the year with Sharon being promoted to a Senior Support worker which meant extra stress, a lot more work, but a lot more rewarding – as Sharon says, it’s all good experience. As for Greg, he started the year as Ward Mission Leader in the ward and we watched the ward grow as some wonderful people were baptised. Sharon was called to work in Primary, teaching the eleven year old girls – a calling that she really enjoys (as do the girls!).

February saw us taking to the high road in our new car and driving up to Scotland to see Greg’s Granny in Dundee. It was great to see her and her ‘new’ flat beside the sea, even though it was a bit chilly. Another seaside holiday was in order for the residents of Sharon’s work for a week in March. Unfortunately a week looking after 4 people with learning difficulties did not prove much of a break for Sharon! Greg reached to heady heights of 28 and with it came an ever receding hairline!

If Greg was panicing about being 28, in April Sharon was just one short year away from the big three-oh and Greg would not let her forget it! In May we returned to Bristol and saw Sharon’s nine year old brother give an excellent talk in front of 900 people at Stake Conference. We also had the unique opportunity of attending the open house and the dedication of the new Preston Temple, sitting in the Celestial room for the first session of the dedication.

July and August flew by with just the usual rainy British weather so we became theatre buffs, going to see several plays, with ‘Phantom of the Opera’ in the West End of London being the highlight. September was our highlight month with our holiday to the East coast of America and Canada. We had the opportunity to visit Boston then drove up through the beautiful scenery of Maine to Canada. We visited Greg’s mission areas of Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa (going white-water rafting on the way) before driving down to Toronto, Niagara Falls, and onto Palmyra. There we visited the Sacred Grove, the Hill Cumoraha and other historical sights before driving back down through the state of New York to Boston. We also spent a few days in New York City shopping and seeing the sights. All in seventeen days!

October brought us back to work with Sharon starting her NVQ studies (vocational qualifications) and Greg being called onto the Bishopric. With November came winter and the ritual sealing up of the windows and the heating being turned on – only four more months before Spring! Luckily December has many distractions, not least of all being off to London Zoo for Greg’s office party! Sharon has to work Christmas Day, so Christmas lunch will be spent in her work, but at least we will be together.

We hope all is well with you – our thoughts and festive greetings go out to all our friends and family at this special time of year. May the spirit of Christmas last with you all year. " He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things." May your Christmas and New Year know ever blessing of His love.

Much Love,

Greg and Sharon