Houghton Adventures 2015

Houghton Adventures 2015

20451 Charlotte Court, Soulsbyville, CA  95372 * (209) 536-9231 * werooc@gmail.com

We’ve so enjoyed hearing from many of you over the holidays that we’re inspired to, once again, recap the past year’s happenings in efforts to keep in touch with friends and family who seem scattered far and wide!

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In early June, we celebrated having all seven of us together for the 

first time in two and a half years with a Houghton “epic adventure”—

biking 430+ miles along the California coast from Oregon to the Golden Gate bridge.

Who knew what “swole” meant?  We are learning new vocabulary from Levi (15 ½) relating to his most recently acquired activity of  “lifting,” upon which he has embarked in efforts to add width and strength to his lean 6’ 2” frame.  A Sophomore, Levi  spends his waking hours eating, learning (well) in seminary and school, swimming (fast), lifting, eating, playing water polo, studying, eating, reading, and playing the trumpet at band events.  He has also been granted a piece of paper that he claims allows him to drive.  He was the only Houghton to complete the entire family bike trip.  Then he got to spend a week backpacking in Montana’s Beartooth wilderness with his Dad, uncle, two cousins, 150 million mosquitos, and a few grizzly bears that left cool tracks and hairballs.  

Tess (18) wrapped up her High School swimming career with a league championship in the 500 free.  A month later she graciously accepted the call to speak as Salutatorian at graduation.  After a summer of lifeguarding, she was the first Houghton to be able to start her college career (BYU) with a sibling (actually 2), and she seems to be enthusiastically embracing (and responsibly organizing) all aspects of her newly independent life.  Academically, Tess surprised us by declaring a major in Computer Science with an emphasis in Bio-Informatics, and despite some shell shock at the intricacies of coding and the rigors of college grade curves, she excelled in her first semester, is finding great mentors in the program, and (much to her dad’s delight) may actually stick with her major!

As the family reviewed the highs and lows of 2015, the first regret voiced was “We let Marta go.”   Indeed, we miss Marta (20), who departed in June--a little scared and a lot excited--to begin an 18-month mission in Mexico City.  She had a great training experience in the Mission Training Center there and so far, she has been blessed to be paired with native Spanish speaking companions.  She now confidently shares her testimony of Jesus Christ in Espanol.  She’s learned to appreciate Mexican culture (especially ice cream), walk everywhere, and truly love the people she meets.  Before departing, Marta finished her second year at BYU, did a bang-up job as a Resident Assistant in the Freshman dorms, happily welcomed Luke home, and was a hardy peddler and camp organizer on our biking adventure,

Luke ( 21)  concluded his two-year service in the England Birmingham Mission with a happy five month assignment in Wales.  Returning home in April, he amiably acknowledged his status as shortest brother and promptly dashed off to Utah to see sisters and friends and gain employment as a Counselor for EFY summer youth conferences, where he wrangled teenagers and built character (his and theirs) in Texas, Massachusetts, and Utah.  Then it was back to BYU in the Fall to re-enroll in Chemical Engineering studies--gratefully, he remembers more than he thought he did.  Luke is enjoying his courses and related academic activities (including designing a chemically powered car for an engineering competition), and he even ekes out time to cater and host weekly parties at his apartment.   

Upon meeting the CEO of a “Customer Service Experience” company who was giving a keynote address at a BYU event, Eliza (24) introduced herself and proceeded to procure an internship with the company, where she spends most of her time as blog manager, soliciting articles then “rewriting” what experts have submitted for the company’s blog (fits her perfectly since she was the high school newspaper editor as a Freshman.)  The opportunity has provided good experience and funding as she continues as a full-time student in Business Management, expecting to graduate in December 2016 (which makes Mom and Dad happy). In her spare time, Eliza has taken to running (sometimes with Tess)—finishing several 5k’s last year.  

Mark (still young and good looking after 25 years of marriage), dodged major house projects in favor of spending time on the bike he bought in college.  After the family ride, which he thought was a practically perfect trip with everyone safe, sore, and happy, Denise surprised him with a new bike for next year’s adventure!  Then he enjoyed a reunion backpack trip with his brother in gorgeous Montana.  Mark also managed a few lengthy peak bagging trips with Levi, including Tahoe area’s Mount Houghton.  In between his hiking and biking (and swimming) he continues to serve as Bishop in our congregation and to endure his 3-hour a day work commute.

Denise (younger by the day) survived another year with family more dispersed than ever.  In addition to “adventure support,” teaching seminary, coordinating comings and goings, making dinner most nights, biking, outfitting missionaries and return missionaries, chauffeuring, swimming, and occasionally putting the household in order, she has rediscovered the joys of travel--making several expeditions to visit/deposit/retrieve college kids in Utah, and thoroughly enjoying our 25^th anniversary trip to Charleston and Savannah.  She managed to have an Amazon package delivered almost every day in December in preparation for Christmas, the celebration of which capped a wonderful year, and which delighted us with a beautiful 5” snowfall on Christmas Eve. 

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As we reflect on the events of 2015, we are deeply grateful for God’s blessings, for our good health, and for the faith and love we share with family and friends.  We now look forward to another year of excitement and adventures, and hope that we can bless and enrich others’ lives as we have been blessed.

Love,  The Houghtons               

Eliza, Levi, Tess, Mark, Denise, Luke, and Marta

                               

For updates on Marta and her mission in Mexico visit: Hermnanahoughton3.blogspot.com