Valentines Day Newsletter AKA news - later

Dear Friends and Fam,

Hello from the Montana Debenhams previously known as the Alaska Debenhams. We are living in our 8th State. We are slow up here in the colder climates. When we left Alaska one of you said we are moving to the only state colder. How very prophetic. Molecules move slower in the cold. I remember Max Rose teaching me this fact by pointing out that boiling water bubbles because those molecules are jumping around while cold makes them hold still and freeze. My excuse for sending out a Valentine newsletter instead of Christmas is the weather. So much for global warming. It is 12 degrees below zero right now. We bought a house in a great neighborhood that was built in 1973. We love it but it is a project. We are hoping it will build some character in three strong-willed-in-need-of-projects-to-channel-energy Debenham boys.

Doug was thrilled to have more time off but that didn’t last long. He is now working two jobs to support five college goers. He is three days a week in Vegas and two days a week in Billings. We miss him but my adorable 21 year old niece Susannah moved in and is keeping us from being lonely. On weekends Doug makes up for lost time by taking the boys skiing and shoveling snow. He spent weeks finishing our driveway and is planning on taking on our tennis court as soon as the snow melts. Speaking of finishing…Doug finished all of the Board requirements and the St. George Marathon. He came in 25 seconds from qualifying for the Boston Marathon at 3:36:24 (For those of you who don’t speak marathonese, that is 3 hours, 36 minutes and 24 seconds).

Lollie mourned the loss of Lila when she went off to BYU Idaho. She sat in Lila’s empty bedroom looking at old pictures and sobbing and writing sappy poetry for three days after which she pulled herself up by the snoopy socks and enrolled in grad school. She is studying Social Work this time. Check out her blog for details of life from Lol’s laughing out loud perspective. Try not to laugh. I double dog dare ya. Lauradebenham.blogspot.com

James and Marie (24 & 24) are engaged!! They will marry sometime next year. Bren proposed on Christmas day. Em is finishing her degree in either Vegas or Flagstaff so they only have one more winter left in Alaska. They are both at UAA fulltime and holding down jobs as waiters. Bren also sings and plays pianos for weddings and corporate events. We miss them both like crazy and not just their gourmet cooking!

Elizabeth (21) is graduating from BYU with her Bachelor’s in Social Work in April. For part of her internship she directed a choir made up of disabled young men who all adored her. Rach was released from her RS prez calling and moved to a cute little duplex for her last semester. She sings and plays the flute for the Celtic choir and will be going to Scotland this summer to perform with them. After which she is considering serving a mission to who knows where. Nervous Moms like kids close.

Pearl (19) bonked her head. She spent the summer studying traumatic brain injuries at the Montreal Neurological Institute, got back to BYU and promptly smashed her precious helmetless skull against the unforgiving concrete of a campus sidewalk while rushing to her pre-med club on a bike. She didn’t know who she was for several hours but is back to her mega-cerebral self and is majoring in Neuro Science and taking the MCAT in the spring. If you see her riding by without a helmet…feel free to nag.

Brianne (18) completed her first quarter at BYU Idaho which she loved and her Mom survived. She got a guitar for Christmas and was thrilled. Her music is amazing. I can’t help it that my eyes leak when she sings and plays. Something is seriously wrong with my tear ducts. They are directly connected to Lila’s voice. Since she is on the quarter system, she gets winter quarter off. We get three whole months to bask in Lila light. Lucky Billings gets Lila too. Little brothers are rejoicing along with Mom and Dad.

Doug Junior (12) is almost as tall as his mom. In July, in anticipation of puberty, Spencer’s appendix exploded. Nothing like having your innards bail out of the oncoming madness to usher in adolescents. We actually got him to the hospital before all of his internal organs were infected but not soon enough to protect the colon so Spence was hospitalized for several days doing intense antibiotics, (sound familiar?), and had his appendix removed several weeks later. He has recovered fully, was called as deacon quorum president, loves the Beatles and is living to snowboard powder at red lodge.

Joseph (10) has discovered racquetball & Mom is thrilled to see his energy channeled. He is thrilled, (along with his brothers), to be in a school that doesn’t require uniforms. Mom and Dad still insist on haircuts which is a trial but Drew carries on, shorn or not. He got a Wii from Santa & is highly motivated with the promise of game time. Drew writes clever poetry, plays piano & has more energy than the herd of deer in our yard.

Christian (8) is the unpublished author of two thick chapter books. He has a serious Calvin and Hobbs addiction and will only practice the piano when Mom says he has to in order to go on to more fun activities such as writing, reading, computing and frolicking with his brothers. Sam was baptized in July and was relieved to know he could repent weekly after having that first load of sins washed away.

Annah(21) is the newest member of our family. She graduated from Snow College with her A.S. & moved in with us. She is keeping us from being lonely with Doug gone so much. She is looking for a job in Montana & is hoping to attend more college here. She is a joy to have around as is only right since her middle name is Joy!!! Ah, labels.

Brinkley (18 months) found the Frisbees Santa was hiding and gave us no peace. He lives to play catch and produces no tears (because he is such a happy doggie), so we have to squeeze them into his eyes 3 times a day. Poor little Fairbanks native doesn’t understand warm weather and seems relieved when there is snow.

That is the news.