Best of this December Week

It's Thursday evening and that means it's time to for me to look back over my week to remember the best things that happened.  I am linking up again with Susanne and other grateful bloggers over at Living to Tell the Story for this Christmas version of Friday Fave Five.

COVID Vaccines for Teachers - Thursday, our Utah Governor, Gary Herbert, announced that teachers will be given the COVID vaccine in Phase 1 right after healthcare workers. K-12 teachers may be able get the vaccine as soon as the end of December of first part of January.  Charly will probably be in Phase 2 because of his age, so I am hoping that he will be able to get the vaccine soon as well. I am all in to getting the vaccine and very grateful that it has been approved. 

Opportunities to Give and Share - one of my favorite things about Christmas time is the many opportunities to give and share. This year, we have been able to help Operation Christmas Child, Quarters for Christmas, The Salvation Army, and  a blanket drive for needy students at a local elementary school. This weekend, we will select a toy or two to donate to Toys for Tots.  Helping others - even in a small way - is really my favorite part of the holiday. 

An Unexpected Gift - I received a lovely unexpected gift from my niece and her daughter this week.  I can't wait to fill this mug with some delicious hot cocoa this weekend.

More Christmas Cards - Christmas cards keep coming and I am loving it. Here are the cards that have come in so far.  It' always great to hear from friends far and near. 

New Books - As I have been doing my online Christmas shopping, these books, may or may not have leaped into my Amazon cart all by themselves.  They arrived in the mail this week. Seriously though, I did order a few "thrift priced books" from Amazon because I really do need more books.  ;-) 

Christmas Lights - I love Christmas lights and I love how this tree near our home is done up for the holiday.  

Thank You Emails - As a teacher, I do lots of things for students every day, and just count it as part of my job.  It was nice then, this week, when I received not one, but two thank you emails from students.  It is always nice to feel appreciated. 

Merry Christmas and Looking Back at 2018

Every Christmas since we have been married, we send out Christmas cards to our friends and family members. This is part of our family Christmas tradition, and we love it! Back in 1990, when our oldest son Alex was born, we started sending out a yearly family newsletter with each card. Our family newsletter allows us share our lives - the challenges and the triumphs - with those who mean most to us. Here is this year's Jones Family Christmas card and newsletter:

 Our family Christmas Card this year.

The family Christmas letter we sent out with the card (phone number and email address blocked out for obvious reasons).

Here are a few other photo highlights of our year:

January - Charly walks out of the Health South Rehab Hospital after 56 days in four different hospitals.

 March  - Charly, Debbie and Josh at the Jordan River Temple Open House

 April - A wonderful day at the Bountiful Temple

April - Debbie and Josh at General Conference

April - Josh after Conference 

May - Charly and his friend and teaching colleague from Mesa, Arizona, Gerald Liddy

May - Charly and Debbie at the Gilbert Temple

July - Charly, Debbie and Josh at Grand Canyon National Park

July - Charly and Debbie at Petrified Forest/Painted Desert National Park

July - Josh and Charly at Petrified Forest

August - Hiking Ensign Peak with Josh

August - Josh takes the oath and joins the Navy Reserve

August - Josh with his mom and dad after joining the Navy Reserve

August - Hiking at Great Basin National Park in Nevada

August - Hiking at Great Basin National Park with our oldest son Alex and his wife Jess

September - Attending the Oquirrh Mountain Temple

October - With two teaching colleagues and great friends, Jill and Kathy

October - The birth of our newest granddaughter - Hattie Jo

November - Hiking Ensign Peak with Josh

November - Black Friday shopping at Barnes and Nobel - Charly's favorite store

December - Christmastime in downtown Salt Lake City

December  - Charly and Debbie at the Joseph Smith Building

December - Charly, Josh and Debbie "Lighting the Word" and helping others at the Giving Machines at the Joseph Smith Building in Salt Lake City

December - Christmas lights at Temple Square

 December - at little Hattie Jo's blessing with our daughter - Tiffany, son-in-law - Joseph, 

Josh and Charly

 December - Mom and Josh right before he entered Navy Boot Camp

 December - Dad and Josh right before Boot Camp

December - Josh is off on his new adventure in the Navy

To all my blogging friends and readers - Have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2019!