Whiting Christmas: Remembering 2020

Remembering 2020

2020 has truly been a year for the record books! It was the best of times -- we are healthy and safe, as are our kids and their families, and we safely welcomed two new grandsons into the family. But it was also the worst of times -- with national civil unrest, divisive politics and elections and the global Covid 19 pandemic. We have transitioned from the world of shaking hands, hugs, and normal interactions with people in person, to the world of "social distancing," wearing masks in public, no live music or entertainment or gatherings, no travel, and conducting personal and business interactions via zoom.

Here are some key photos from our year, and updates on our children below. As we reflect on the ups and downs we have all been through this year, we are grateful for the scriptural promise that "all these things shall give [us] experience and shall be for [our] good... [and our] adversity and afflictions shall be but a small moment" in the scheme of things. Actually, we've come to see many things "for our good" that have come from this year and are grateful for all the tender mercies and lessons learned that we'll never forget.

We trust that 2021 will witness the passing of many challenges and the restoration of a brightness of hope in all of our lives. We send wishes for a bright new 2021 to everyone! Love from Steve and Jeanne

2020 Memories

Before Covid hit, in January we were loving visiting Bryan & Veronica's new baby Desmond around New Year's Day, and then taking a trip to Kauai.

But soon stark reality hit. We went into self-quarantine March 11 when Covid 19 was declared a global pandemic. Utah woke up when the NBA shut down just after we'd attended a Jazz game where it turns out two Jazz players had Covid.

Then within days on March 18, Salt Lake was hit with a 5.7 magnitude earthquake! Steve was rowing on the indoor rowing machine and Jeanne was jarred from a deep sleep. We're on floor 17 of 30. The building shook and swayed like it was going to collapse. Aftershocks continued for days, revealed by our "seismographic" pendant lights in the kitchen swaying wildly with each aftershock. Fortunately, our building came through the earthquake with little damage, but we did have a fire in the basement a couple days later and had to run down 17 flights! Across the street--look closely--Angel Moroni lost his trumpet... a foreboding sign for the year to come.

Angel Moroni loses his trumpet!

After two years of applications to obtain the required permits, we started the renovation of the house that we had been renting out for many years in Park City and was intended to eventually be our retirement home. First, the old original house was taken down, board by board, leaving only 3 walls standing, and we donated the materials to a Habitat-type foundation. The new construction continues slowly with both the pandemic and the huge building boom causing shortages of materials and available subs. Maybe by next Christmas we'll have a new mountain gathering place?...

A long construction journey

One of Jeanne's most treasured moments this year: While writing her personal history, she wondered what had happened to two girls she had taught and were baptized in France in 1975. They had totally lost touch through the years. She checked to see if they might be on Facebook and was amazed to reconnect and learn that Chantal had married and raised her family in the church in the US, and Brigitte had just retired from a lifelong career with the church, most recently as director of the French translation department in Paris. As all missionaries will understand, it was beyond thrilling to learn that missionary service of 45 years ago has borne fruit to three generations! Photos below from Chantal's journal show 1975 in Grenoble (Jeanne 2d from left)/ and Chantal's 2020 posterity below.

Reconnecting after 44 years!

We've treasured our weekly visits with Steve's mom, Lora Whiting, in Mapleton over the past two years. When elder care centers closed to visitors, we had regular "window visits," zooming in the kids. Within three hours after she had waved good-bye to us one day at the window, she passed away peacefully. We celebrated her life with two quilts of supportive high-five handprints from each of her 114 descendants, a funeral with local family, and others zoomed in, and a salute of dozens of "Y" flags (She was a true blue BYU fan to the end). Such a wonderful life of 97 years. How we will miss Grandma Lora!

Remembering Grandma Lora

Rowing on the Great Salt Lake was a safe place to be in 2020. But the year, like this photo of us taken by a swimmer, felt like rowing through a haze with scary and unpredictable waves. * Non-profits were hit hard with cancelled fundraisers. We rowed 100,000 meters as part of a virtual fundraiser to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Jeanne's foundation (The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation). Thanks again to all who donated so we can keep the research going!

We've been so grateful for recently-developed technology that makes having virtual gatherings and meetings online possible. We had no church meetings for 6 months, then finally went online. (We're actually loving virtual church.)

Steve has had a remote consulting project that has kept him busy part time, along with bishopric work and his many trips up to Park City to check on the construction. Having meaningful work has been a good diversion and has helped give purpose to long days at home this year with the world basically shut down.

Also, we successfully transitioned DTRF's annual meetings to zoom, tripling our normal registration to 190 physicians and researchers from 72 institutions in 32 countries.

We saw one glorious constant in a chaotic year: nature continued its cycles in spite of dismal world conditions. Not even a global pandemic could stop us from enjoying the beautiful seasons and fresh air. We treasured spring cherry blossoms at the Utah State Capitol; daily walks around resplendent Temple Square: hikes with lakes and mountain wildflowers; driving through canyons with spring green next to snow-capped mountains; and the glorious Utah fall.

* * * * *

SEE OUR FAMILY UPDATES BELOW

Bryan & Veronica with Helena & Des

in Pleasanton, California

In March, Bryan and Veronica moved their family west to Pleasanton, California. After 5 years on the East Coast, they're thrilled to enjoy life in the Bay Area, back in the area where Veronica grew up. Bryan started work with Google on the Google Maps team during the pandemic and was put on "work from home" before even getting through training or meeting his team. Veronica is staying busy with the kids and has found a sweet escape playing tennis with her mom in the mornings. Helena turned 3 in June and loves all things Frozen and preschool every morning at home with Veronica. Relatives enjoyed participating virtually in Desmond's blessing day. Des recently had his first birthday -- soon to surpass his sister's weight, he is referred by many as "big baby." He is a sweetheart through and through, and can be found running after Helena or hiding in her closet.

Bryan & Veronica with Des and Helena

Living in the Bay Area is sweet!

A happy Des on his blessing day

Virtual attendance: Desmond's blessing day at home in Pleasanton

* * * * *

Dave & Kylie, with Kate, Molly, & Jack

in Broomfield, Colorado

For Dave & Kylie, 2020 was the year of navigating major life changes through a global pandemic. After 8 years of training, Dave completed his residency and became an official oral and maxillofacial surgeon in July. They wrapped up their life in Connecticut and landed in Broomfield, Colorado where Dave joined a Comfort Dental Oral Surgery practice in Westminster. As if that wasn't exciting enough, they welcomed their first son, Jack Steven Whiting on September 3. (But not before they took the plunge and purchased a minivan). They all love the joy Jack has brought into their family during a year where we could all use a little boost! Otherwise, life is chugging along with preschool, work, and getting outside as much as possible in beautiful Colorado. They look forward to getting all the kids on skis (Jack probably needs to learn to walk first...) in the coming years.

Kylie and Dave with Jack, Molly and Kate

Saying good-bye to the East: after 4 years in NYC and 4 years in Connecticut

Finally finishing up a grueling residency! Biggest. smile. ever.

Jack Steven Whiting born Sept 3, 2020

Kate and Molly just love baby Jack!

These lucky girls still get to go to preschool, while other schools have closed and gone to virtual learning. So excited, all dressed up, pink manicures in place, and ready to mask up!

* * * * *

Dan & Sonia in Denver, Colorado

Dan and Sonia started the year with a bang and traveled to Japan to explore the famous Onsen (hot springs), local cuisine, and Japow (the deepest powdery snow on the planet). Sonia has been in education for nearly 12 years and Dan continues his work with B. Braun Medical. Since they could both work remotely in the fall they spent a month living in a mountain cabin in Durango. They hadn't been back there since their wedding in 2016. They took other adventures around southwest Colorado exploring the San Juan mountains, taking time to backpack, bike, boat, Jeep, hike, tube, explore hot springs, and watch the magnificent night sky! Since returning to the city they have been hunkering down like the rest of us, working from home and taking many walks around the local neighborhoods.

Mt. Yotei in Japan

Barn at Durango B&B

San Diego

* * * * *

Cara & Eric in Richmond, Virginia

Cara and Eric Gladfelter are grateful to have been able to maintain some normalcy during this crazy year. Cara continues to work as a physical therapist and Eric has embraced his shorter commute, working from home as an actuarial analyst. They bought their first home in Richmond, learned to garden, compost, reupholster, and use power tools. They spent a lot of time exploring Virginia's state parks, enjoying socially distanced vacations and time with friends. They are expecting their first baby in the spring!

First home!

Celebrating 1st anniversary, back at

"The Valentine" museum garden where they were married

Stiles Falls

McAfee Knob

* * * * *

Mike & Kathryn, with Quinn, West, & Hayes, in Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Mike writes: The Denver Whitings (version 2 of 3) took a standardized approach to this year's blog contribution. See below Q&A for pertinent 2020 updates. See interviewer (Mike's) comments in italics.

Kathryn (38): My greatest achievement in 2020 was keeping my kids fed, watered, and (sort of) educated (She's an absolute saint. Seriously. She completely changed everything about home life to keep things positive and productive for them and our family. I absolutely love her for it). My favorite moment of 2020 was when my kids ate EVERYTHING I PUT ON THEIR PLATES for our solo Thanksgiving feast (she is an amazing cook, and one day these kids will look back and marvel.) My vote for the theme song of 2020: Exile by Taylor Swift (she's a Switftie through and through, so anything off the "folklore" album screams 2020.)

Mike (39... expect something more poignant at 40). My greatest achievement in 2020 was listening to over 58,000 minutes of Spotify music to keep my sanity while sitting in the exact same spot in our home office every 5 out of 7 days. My favorite moment of 2020 was glamping with my family at Piney Lake in the Gore Range, cooking hot dogs and smores in the early evening as the water turned glass and the mountains blazed their reflection onto the still water. My vote for the theme song of 2020 is Be Fine by Madeon. Quinn, West, Kathryn and I were supposed to see him live at Red rocks in May, but we had to make do with listening to this album on constant repeat (footnote greatest achievement: I'm in the top 0.05% of Madeon listeners)

Quinn (10): My greatest achievement in 2020 was getting ripped on Peloton workouts on the regular (kid is an absolute animal on the treadmill). My favorite moment of 2020 whatever was my last moment before COVID shut everything down (FACTS). My vote for the theme song of 2020 Wizard by Martin Garrix (Yellow Claw Remix). (message me separately if you're interested in hearing the story about how I accidentally got my kids addicted to EDM)

West (8): My greatest achievement in 2020 was not getting COVID (pretty admirable, given the super spreader neighbor situation). My favorite moment of 2020 was my 8th birthday party (extremely limited guest list) My vote for the theme song of 2020 is Turn Down for What by DJ Khaled and Lil Jon (undeniable banger... a timeless choice, really)

Hayes (4): My greatest achievement in 2020 was going to preschool (last year!), and my Christmas program. My favorite moment of 2020 was getting Transformers toys (WHY are these toys so insanely complex?!). My vote for theme song of 2020 is I Wanna Wish You a Merry Christmas (a big hit with his fans).