Rolling through December

Backing up to December, lots happened in the few days between Brooklyn's homecoming on Wednesday and her homecoming talk on Sunday.

For starters, Annika played percussion in her Middle School band concert. She did great, especially on the xylophone. So many thanks to Mr. Watson for teaching her!

ASSIST had their annual Christmas party as well. Here are Jen and Georgia setting up.

Perhaps the best part was the empanadas they made. Andres invited everyone to his home to teach them the secret family recipe. Well done!  They were delicious.

So glad Uncle Justin and Violet could make it. It's worth the drive for a piece of Jason's stellar cheesecake!

As long as I'm talking about ASSIST, here are some photos they took a long time ago that I forgot to post. From left to right we have Bailie, Georgia, Sam, Zizheng, Andres, Jason, Soudabeh and Jen. If you have a prayer to spare, we'd love some positive thoughts sent into the universe for Soudy. There have been some pretty discriminatory challenges with renewing her work visa because she is from Iran. We are praying that the authorities will review her file with more fairness and compassion instead of sending her back.

Later that evening we went out to eat with our friends Sonja and Brian at Avenues Proper. Tasty! Afterward, we headed to Hatch Family Chocolates for a sweet treat.

Plus, the live music was great. I love Bluegrass!

We also squeezed in a Christmas concert with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Thank you Melanie for the amazing seats! Even though we had tickets, almost all of the seats in our section were filled when we arrived so we opted to sit separately and still have a great view up front.

Unlike those who sat in traffic for hours, we drove for about five minutes and walked for ten. Sometimes I really love living in downtown Salt Lake.

Even more exciting was Eli's Red Rock Robotics competition. I tell you, until you see these robots in action, it's hard to imagine how big they are and how fast they moved It is SO fun to watch!

It's just as rewarding to see how much Eli is looked up to as a leader on his robotics team. He invests so much time in the program. It's heart-warming to see him thrive and excel in an environment that he loves.

The theme for this AMES competition was "chill and grill." They had to put wooden planks of "firewood" in the bottom portion of this "stove" and toss "vegetables" (plastic balls) into the top chute to grill.

Of course, it's extra fun when your robot is performing so well. Their 3006A bot made their way to the top of the rankings at the very beginning of the competition and stayed there.

In the end, they won the competition. I don't know if I've ever seen Eli cheer so loudly. He was thrilled! The team left motivated to take apart their robot and build something even better for the primary competition season.

Congratulations Red Rock Robotics! West High sponsored three robotics teams--that's amazing! In their main competition season, they are planning on two teams: RRR (Red Rock Robotics) and RPR (Red Pebble Rebels.) I love it! 

Also, cheers to Ms. Bulson for committing so much time to the team. Her license plate shows the level of her devotion. Now go 3006!

Hermana Talia Wheeler--Called to Serve

Perhaps it's fitting that the blogpost immediately following Brooklyn's mission homecoming should be all about Talia's call to missionary service.

Yesterday afternoon I received the most unexpected text: a screenshot of Talia's phone.

Her mission call had arrived on a Monday! We were shocked, not only because calls have traditionally come on Tuesday, but because it hadn't even been two weeks since her papers were submitted.

With little time to process, we gathered the immediate family and hopped into the car so that we could drive down to Provo and be with Talia during this important moment. On the way, we started sending out Zoom links to even more friends and family in the hopes that they could join on the spur of the moment. Amazingly, so many people came! Talia, you are loved.

As our Talia Lily read her beautiful call, I wept. I felt this incredible assurance that she had indeed been called by the Lord to serve. I felt how God knows and loves her, just as I do. And I felt how much the people she serves will be blessed by her love.

Before she opened her call, we sang "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go." So where does God want Talia to go? Our Hermana Talia Lily Wheeler has been called to serve in the Argentina Santa Fe mission!

So far, and yet so right. 

On the way to Provo, Annika was complaining how she had to say goodbye to another one of her sisters when the first one just got home. But you could see that Annika was happy for Talia, as we all are.

I'm glad Talia had friends there to support her. Here she is joined by her roommate Molly, her friend Hannah and bestie Clara.

The Spirit can be felt in so many ways. For Talia, the nerves and excitement and anticipation and spiritual confirmation all came through with bright red cheeks that were flaming hot to touch.

Grateful for a family photo. Thanks to Brooklyn's roommate Bella for taking it. (We opened the call in Brooklyn's Cinnamon Tree apartment.

Talia, we love you SO much. We are proud of your courage in following the promptings you received to serve a mission. I know it wasn't an easy decision to make, but hope you can feel confidence in knowing that you took your questions to the Lord and received real answers. We will miss you ever so much, but we will be ever so glad to be reunited again. Long live the family group hugs!

Just for the record, while we didn't collect many mission predictions, multiple people guessed Argentina, including Papa Kay, Grandpa Charles, and Aunt Callie! I guessed South America, but as my Mom pointed out, that was definitely hedging my bets. Assuming all goes to plan, Talia begins home MTC on June 3rd, leaves for the Mexico Missionary Training Center on June 18th, and departs for Argentina July 15th.  And of course, she'll be sharing the Gospel in Spanish. It will be fun to tell everyone that she is serving in Santa Fe and see how many people assume New Mexico or California. In truth, I didn't even know that Santa Fe, Argentina existed! Her mission borders Uruguay and has a humid, subtropical climate with 42 inches of rain per year. Gonna be exciting. :) Felicidades, Hermana. Te queremos.

 

Bienvendida a Casa, Hermana Wheeler!

Here's a happy post! December 10th,  2025. Our Hermana Brooklyn Wheeler returned home from her 18-month mission in Spain! I can't begin to say how joyful it is to have her home. Our family simply feels...complete! The first breakfast with every seat at the dining room table filled was delightful. Brooklyn brings such happy wisdom into our home.  Even though we already miss her at college, I know she shares that same peace and positivity with her new roommates.

So, back to the big homecoming. Brooklyn's flight was delayed a couple hours and didn't arrive until 10pm.  That whole day I felt lost--it was like the emptiness from when she first left came rushing back and I ached to see her.  Fortunatel there was plenty to do.  We filled the time preparing balloons and making signs. In fact, NomiAnn was so excited to see our girl that she started cricuting signs weeks earlier.

Gathering at the airport! Brooklyn had quite the special crew. Here's her mission companion, Hermana Turner.

And her bestie Lily who came home from her mission in Texas just a couple weeks prior.

Hiding behind this lovely sign (made by Talia) are two of Brooklyn's freshman year roomies: Taylor and Laura.

Gathering at the airport!

Of course Talia was there, along with her talented friend Hannah who volunteered to take photos. Thanks, Hannah!

All the rest of our family was there too, along with NomiAnn, Papa Kay, and Aunt Callie. If hadn't been for the flight delay, the rest of the Wilhoits, the Spackmans, and the Millcreek Wheelers would have been there too.

At last! Oh, how we waited for these hugs and her smile. :)

All I want for Christmas is Hna Wheeler! The sign says it all.

Four siblings at last.

Friends and family.

Some more special signs made by the Wilhoits This one was Eila's. 788,923.8 minutes--that's a lot of mission!

Our brilliant Hermana and her posse.

Even though it was late and Brooklyn was jetlagged, we still snagged some delicious pizza from the pie hole and partied. I think it was nearly 1am before we all went home! Good thing Spaniards are used to evening festivities.

Bottoms up! Brooklyn requested root beer floats but got so busy chatting that she never drank one.

These holey/holy shoes are pretty solid proof of how hard she worked. Well-done, Hermana!

At home we'd made a special "finish line" banner for her to run through. Took a couple tries--turns out paper can be more difficult to tear than one might expect. :)

Pop-up pancake for breakfast the next morning. No empty seats!

Lamenting her final hours as a missionary. Whipped cream helps soothe the pain. 

Later that morning President James came over to release Brooklyn as a missionary. It's amazing how abrupt both beginnings and endings can be. But the beautiful thing is that most endings mark the beginning of something equally wonderful and new.

I took the day off work so that Brooklyn and I could spend some time together. I figured a trip to Deseret Books might help her feel at home.

I LOVED getting to see all of her souvenirs, including this scarf from her Real Madrid game. Seeing pictures of the number of peple in the stadium was CRAZY!

Scarves from the Running of the Bulls. While most famous in Pamplona, apparently it happens in most of the little towns, and each town has its own identifying scarf and pattern. Also, missionaries aren't allowed to participate in the actual running.

This stack of journals is arguably her most precious treasure.

A picture that one of the youth drew for her. Hermana Wheeler, there is no doubt that you are so loved by so many all over the world! Welcome home and happy new beginnings. We love you and are blessed by your light.

***

Brooklyn came home on a Wednesday, was formally released from missionary service on Thursday, and gave her missionary homecoming talk on Sunday. I thought about creating a separate post for Sunday's festivities but decided they fit best right here.

Here is Brooklyn speaking in church at our 4th and P building. While the Gospel is true anywhere, we feel very blessed to worship in such a beautiful space.

Afterward, we had a sandwich bar, a cookie bar, and a hot chocolate bar at our home. So many thanks to my Mom for both bringing cookies and setting up the food while I was accompanying the ward choir!

Hosting occasionally stresses me out, but I wish it didn't. It always feels wonderful to have our home full of family and friends. We may not have a huge space, but it's always expands to be enough.

Sunday, December 14th also happened to coincide with Annika's heartiversary--1 year post-transplant. We wanted to do a service project to remember her donor and decided that rock painting might be a simple way to commemorate their interconnected lives.

It actually worked out better than I expected. The rock painting brought people together into a comfortable space where they could color and chat and simply enjoy one another's company. For me, organ donation is all about cherishing the small moments and holding those you love close. Whether you are on the giving or receiving end of a transplant, both life and time are precious.

Plus, rock painting is just fun!  There's something liberating about engaging in something creative. Some of us (myself included), haven't really painted since we were children. 

A rock is such a small canvas that it doesn't feel overwhelming. When the canvas is plucked off the ground, it removes the pressure of having to create something impressive. But even more, I love the connection with nature. It fits Annika's woodsy personality perfectly, plus it's pretty poignant on a meta-level as well. Created from the dust of the earth, each one of us will return to our Mother Earth as well.

Best of all, the results are just so cute and cheerful! Especially the gnomes and Snoopy.

Oh, and can't forget the guinea pig.

Happy heartiversary, Annie! You are so loved.

By this time Zion needed a walk, and I was happy to get some fresh air in the foothills.

Rising above the inversion.

Our unseasonably warm winter is certainly creating problems on the ski slopes, but on the plus side it makes for some pleasant walks. Thanks to Christy, Charles, and Susie for joining us!

Back at home we took a couple photos of NomiAnn and Papa Kay before they took off for the Cottage. My parents are the cutest!  Gotta say, I LOVE these pictures. Brooklyn's glow certainly rubbed off. You can tell they are delighted to have all their grandchildren together again.

Our family was inspired and took some photos as well, this time at NomiAnn and Papa Kay's house in front of their towering Christmas tree. Plus, I was pretty desperate to get a photo for our Christmas card.

NomiAnn and Papa Kay were super kind and volunteered to host everyone for soup and bread for dinner. Brooklyn, just to let you know how MUCH you are loved, it is amazing that you had two parents, four grandparents, three uncles, three aunts, three siblings, and four cousins there to celebrate your Homecoming all day long! So many thanks to all!

NomiAnn and Papa Kay spent so much time decorating their new home. It was beautiful!

A few close-ups of Papa Kay's Dickens village.

The Bah! Humbug flag lives on.

We feel so fortunate to not only get along with both sides of our family, but both sides of our family get along with each other. It makes for some fun celebrations!

Thank you for bringing us all together, Brooklyn. Bienvenida a Casa, Hermana Wheeler! Mijita, te queremos. Gracias por compartir tu luz.