Merry Christmas to all from the Roseville Taylors!

We hope that this letter finds you in healthy and happy circumstances. Our lives, like yours, have been busy and the time just scoots by at a phenomenal speed. As we consider the state of the world and the current economical situation our nation finds itself in, we are grateful to be surrounded by family and friends who love us. There is great peace in focusing on things that really matter.

Well, let’s see. Here is the individual rundown on the Taylor Family:

Jordan (18) finally finished his Eagle Scout rank just before his birthday in June. It was a sprint at the end—but well worth it. Jord graduated from Granite Bay High School and qualified for a scholarship to BYU. He also graduated from Early Morning Seminary—wow, what an achievement! That means that he attended more than 600 times during his high school years—and class started at 6:30am! He has just finished his first semester at Brigham Young University in Provo. He ended up with 3 great roommates and they had no problems in just chillin’ together. His favorite part of the experience so far, was the gymnastics class he wiggled his way into. He has been able to learn some very difficult skills. He is very strong and can do a sitting pike to handstand press. It has been nice to be able to call him anytime on his cell phone or shoot a text message to him. In addition to Gymnastics, he took Chemistry, Calculus 2, American Heritage, Book of Mormon, Intro to Computer Programming, Badminton, and Intro to Mechanical Engineering. Overall, he took 17 ½ credit hours—too much! He made friends and rode the bus to campus, since his “on-campus” housing is actually quite far from campus. We got to visit him in November after driving to Utah for Thanksgiving at Grandma & Grandpa Ekins’ house. Jordan is making AT&T rethink “free nights and weekend minutes” as he continues to set records on his phone, since his girlfriend still lives in California. He is such a great role model for his brothers. We marvel to think that at this time next year, he will be somewhere on his Mission.

Jackson (16) would say that his greatest achievement this year was qualifying for his driver’s license. He has also been very busy in school. He participated on the Varsity Football team for Granite Bay High School throughout the summer and into the season. However, he was injured with a concussion and broken ribs, so he had to hang up the cleats before the season was finished. Since then he has been coaching gymnastics at TRICKS! He has a gift with the pre-school aged children. They just love to be around him—and he them. Some nights he teaches 4 classes in a row. We are trying to get Jax to finish his Eagle before it gets too close to his birthday—especially after living it once with Jordan. He is currently a Life Scout and only has a couple merit badges and his project left. We would like to have a combined Eagle Court of Honor in May 2009. Jax has also put a “boomer” stereo system in the little white Honda Civic that we got for our high schoolers. He bounces down the road, so we renamed the car “thumper.” He recently discovered how much dating costs as he planned for a couple of weeks for the Winter Ball. Jax was ordained a Priest this year, and I love to listen to him bless the sacrament at church. We love to watch family videos with him and remember funny things that he said as a little squirt.

Jacob (14) was just ordained a teacher. He has successfully rearranged the spelling of his nickname. He is now “Jaik.” He loves to master skills on the skateboard and the piano. Both are self-taught. He really likes to log-on to internet sites that teach. If he sees or hears of a new skateboard trick he would like to do, he just goes to the web and finds a video of someone teaching it in slow motion. Then comes the relentless practice. We see a great capacity for Jaik to be successful in whatever he puts his mind to. He is learning songs on the piano using the same technique. It is fun to, all of a sudden, hear him play something new. Jaik has also discovered girls! It is all we can do to hold back the reins of his recent social explosion. He always has a “plan” for the day—which usually includes friends. He doesn’t like it, but sometimes the answer is just, “No!” He is growing like a weed, and we marvel to compare his recent size to last year’s pictures.

Allie Jo (10) is all girl—well that is until she gets a mind to get in and mix it up with her brothers. It has been fun to watch her develop into a young woman. She loves to dance and choreograph a routine. She also is a Social Butterfly—well actually more like a Social Badger. She says it is all our fault for not giving her a little sister. Anyway, it is sometimes comical as we can almost count the minutes in between the departure of one friend to the planning of the next visitor. She loves to go to “other people’s houses” too. Allie has preferred to drop the “Jo” from her name for now, although we still call her every variation from Al to Jo-Jo to Joey or Muff Puff. She is our delightful little girl. She loves traditions and is usually the engine behind the retrieval of the seasonal decorations from the storage above the garage. She loves to practice her spelling, write little stories, organize her room, play interactive computer games, care for her American Girl babies, cartwheel around the house, engage you in a handstand contest, watch her favorite TV shows (like Zach n’ Cody or H20), attend Activity Night with the older Primary girls, and bounce on the trampoline to music (of course accompanied by a friend). Allie loves our cats and usually has one or the other volunteer to help her wake up and “get used to” a new day—waking up and getting ready for school. She is delightful and becoming a very beautiful young woman. We are really in for a challenge with her—when the boys start to come around. Her dad has already made her make several promises about “perfect behavior” during her high school years—usually as part of deal to get what she wants now (very sneaky . . . and we laugh a lot about it).

Barbara Jo is a beautiful as ever. The years are kind to her and she is always full of life. She loves to analyze behavior and is always eager to learn about new things that fascinate her. Most recently, she has discovered a fascination with human physiology—including hormone imbalances and the effects that can come from it. She still teaches a number of gymnastic classes each week in addition to managing at all three of our facilities. She has created a management style and leadership development program that has inspired so many of the young people who work with us. They become “mentors” to younger coaches and, in turn, become managers themselves. Anyway, it is very satisfying to see the effect that she is having in the lives of the children of our communities as well as dozens of our employees. BJo teaches the sunbeams—and has now for the past couple of Primary seasons. Her last batch has been the challenge of her Primary career. She loves them and usually has a funny story from each week’s adventure; however, she is counting the days . . .

Me, well I am constantly busy with my side of TRICKS (payroll, insurance, accounts payable, etc.). I joke that my job doesn’t “hug me back” as BJo (and now Jax) get all the hugs when they interact with the kids. I am also busy with my assignments at Church. I am in the Presidency of the Stake and we have 12 units—which means a lot of visiting and learning names. I love doing interviews, when I have the chance to visit with people one on one. It is very satisfying to serve others and do what I can to help their families. The most difficult part, though, is not being able to attend our Ward each Sunday with my family. I often have assignments in one of the other Wards. I know that Heavenly Father will bless us though as we move forward. Our faith is in Him and our love extends to Him and to members of our family, and to our friends wherever you may be.

We think of you often, even if we are not always near. May the blessings of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ be with each of you throughout the New Year 2009 and beyond. All our love -- Vern, BJo, Jordan, Jax, Jaik & Allie