2015 Merry Christmas from the Newitts!

Merry Christmas from the Newitts!

Easter Pageant 2015:  Jerry, Gideon (11), Vickie, Stephanie, Kyler (16)

This past year we had a few adventures… Spring of 2015 we were cast members in the Mesa Easter Pageant.  It was Grandma Vickie’s first time to join us.  We really enjoyed the spirit we felt as we celebrated the life of Christ. 

2015 February:  Jerry on hunting trip

We also took a quick trip to Provo, Utah, for Jerika & Brandon’s graduation from BYU.  HOORAY!  Jerika & Brandon are now back here in Arizona.  Jerika is teaching Physics at a local high school and Brandon is in the graduate program at ASU.  They only live about 10 miles from us now!  We have enjoyed hosting them for dinner often and having them join us for family activities.

Jerika and Brandon:  BYU graduation

Wittern cousins with the Newitts at J&B's BYU graduation

Gideon (12) took his lamb to the county fair where he was able to sell his lamb for a good price.   He saves his money to fund his Scouting adventures.  This past summer Gideon and Kyler (now 17) enjoyed attending our church’s Young Men’s Camp.  Gideon worked on merit badges and Kyler enjoyed the high adventure activities.

Gideon at Young Men's Camp

At the Newitt Family Reunion:  Stephanie, Gideon (12), Jerry, Kyler (16)

Summer took our family to Utah for a few days to visit Jerry’s family then we went on to Yellowstone National Park for a few days of camping with the cousins.  It was our first time to Yellowstone and we enjoyed seeing Old Faithful, the hot springs, the buffalo and other wild life.  From Yellowstone our cousins returned to Utah and we went on up to Butte, Montana where we visited with Stephanie’s Uncle Chuck and Aunt Gena.  While in Butte, Uncle Chuck drove Stephanie around to see the areas where he and her father played and lived when they were boys.  It was a wonderful visit.

Gideon at Yellowstone National Park

After Butte, we went on up to Victor to visit our friends Mike & Heather Thompson.  At the Thompsons, all the guys loved quadding together in the Montana mountains and Jerry enjoyed his fly fishing lesson in the stream in Mike’s backyard.  Montana mountains are breathtaking.

This summer Tori’s wings took her to a new job and sharing an apartment with Jerika & Brandon.  She no longer works retail but is now a receptionist at a physical therapy office.   Tori is a student at Mesa Community College, enjoying her psychology classes.  She is taking a painting class too which lets her artistic talents really flow.

Earlier this year Jerry’s company went through a merger and is now Orbital-ATK.  Jerry is in the stake Young Men’s presidency working with the Varsity Scout Teams in the area.  This fall Jerry and Kyler spent a week in Baja, Mexico with a dirt bike group off-roading trails and beaches.  Kyler did an amazing job in keeping up with the seasoned adults.  He and Jerry had a great time. Jerry has also enjoyed a few hunting trips this year.

Kyler (16) and Jerry in Mexico

Gideon is raising a lamb again this year.  Gideon enjoys playing the string bass in the 7^th grade orchestra.  He is an avid reader who also enjoys Boy Scouts and swimming.  In school he enjoys projects that let him learn about space and rockets.

Stephanie taught preschool last year but is taking a sabbatical this school year.  She enjoyed attending with Jerika a national educators’ conference that came to Phoenix this fall.  Stephanie is now a Cub Scout den leader in our ward and also serves on a few school district committees, advocating for the genuine needs of gifted students.

We wish you peace and joy this Christmas season as we join together in celebrating the birth of Christ.  "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The might God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)  View more at https://www.mormon.org/christmas

Merry Christmas!

-Stephanie, Jerry, Kyler, Gideon (Jerika & Brandon, Tori)