Monday, January 1, 2024

Happy New Year! (2023 year in review)


Dear Family and Friends, Happy New Year!! 

This has been a wonderful year with some amazing adventures with family and friends. This year also came with its setbacks and disappointments, but I am full of love because of all of you in my life.

Below are some photos capturing highlights from 2023, including: several trips to parts of Southern California with family and friends; Thomas women annual retreat; seeing my friend Marty Ross' solo concert in Milwaukee, WI; visiting family in Austin, TX; vacationing in various parts of Florida with family; international travels on a Caribbean cruise to Mexico and Belize (loved Belize!!) and a family vacation in Alberta, Canada for my niece's wedding; and seeing Micky Dolenz in concert four times!

Here at home, I continue to do my work as an attorney in the Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor. In June we celebrated a significant land acquisition for the Bureau of Reclamation's Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project. In June I also marked my 20th Anniversary in my job. That's an incredible milestone. In October I participated in the annual J. Reuben Clark Law Society leadership meetings, and at that time I became the chair of the International Service Committee. We have an amazing committee of wonderfully committed attorneys determined to provide and promote service opportunities worldwide. I am inspired and humbled by these great people I call my friends. Most of all, I have loved my associations with each of you and am so grateful for your love and friendship.

Cheers to 2024! 

love and peace,
Susannah



Santa Monica Beach, CA January 2023

Santa Monica Beach, CA January 2023 (with friend behind the camera)

My mom and sisters in Utah, March 2023 (Rebecca, Mom, Amanda, Christina, Erin, me; with Mary behind the camera)

Snowshoeing with mon and sisters above Aspen Grove, UT at the base of Timpanogos, March 2023
(caption by friend ๐Ÿ˜Š) 

My birthday! March 2023

One of my many fun outfits on the Flower Power Cruise March 2023

From the Flower Power Cruise 2023 souvenir reel

From the Flower Power Cruise 2023 souvenir reel - yep, that's me with some of our Monkees crowd cheering on Micky!!

Flower Power Cruise 2023 (cabin-mate and great new friend Marsha, me, wonderful friend Jodi who made this cruise happen for me - so grateful!!)

Mocktails in Austin, Tx April 2023 (with Karin behind the camera)

Picking strawberries near Austin, TX April 2023

Kayaking in Austin, TX April 2023 (me, Dave; with Karin behind the camera)

Marty Ross in concert at Shank Hall, Milwaukee, WI April 2023

Easter Sunday with niece April 2023

Brady Bunch house in North Hollywood, CA May 2023 (Dad, me, and John) (with friend behind the camera)

Exploring Hollywood hills May 2023 (with friend behind the camera)

Having fun in Hollywood hills May 2023 (with friend behind the camera) 

Caledesi Island, FL May 2023 (I almost got run over by a manatee out there!)


Magic Kingdom, Orlando May 2023

Near Farmington, NM with our land acquisition team June 2023

Roasting marshmallows with Christina's family in Provo Canyon, Utah June 2023 

Sundance, Utah June 2023

Getting ready to raft the Bow River in Calgary, Alberta July 2023 (me, Matt, Bec, John)

Canmore, Alberta July 2023

Banff, Alberta with John's family July 2023

Ojai, CA September 2023 (yes, that's a virgin Margarita๐Ÿ˜Š) (with friend behind the camera)

Micky Dolenz Headquarters Concert, Libbey Bowl in Ojai, CA September 2023

Micky Dolenz Headquarters Concert, Ace Theater in Los Angeles, CA September 2023

Law Society Service Committee in Utah October 2023

LDS General Conference in Salt Lake City, UT with Angel October 2023

Best shirt ever from my friend October 2023

Santa Monica Pier, CA October 2023 (with friend behind the camera)

Family Halloween costume party in Utah October 2023

Freezing in my office in Salt Lake City, UT November 2023

Orem, UT LDS Temple Open House with family November 2023

Farewell lunch for retiring co-worker at Red Iguana, Salt Lake City, UT December 2023

Lights at the Shops at Riverwoods, Provo, UT December 2023
 




Friday, December 23, 2022

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 2022!

Dear Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas and happy holidays! I hope this finds you and loved ones well.

As many of you know, I thrive on any opportunity to travel and go places – any place! The family joke, which isn’t really a joke because it’s entirely true, is that if anyone is going anywhere, my first question is always “Can I come?” followed by “Where are we going?” ;) I have a poster in my office urging its readers to “See The World!” I have enthusiastically accepted that challenge this past year with many travel experiences near and far and everywhere in between. 

In my travels I have seen beautiful and amazing sites, experienced wonderful food, and enjoyed many other adventures. But above all, the most significant memories for me from this past year’s adventures are the amazing opportunities I had to travel with many family and friends, to renew old friendships, to make new and lasting friendships, and to meet so many wonderful people everywhere. 

All of these opportunities have reaffirmed for me just how small this world is. Whether we live 5 miles or 5000 miles apart, we truly are all so connected with each other. (After all, it’s a world of laugh- …ok I promise not to go there. ๐Ÿ˜€) 

I am so grateful to each of you for your love and friendship, and I am so blessed to share this world with you wherever you may be. I wish you all peace, love, and joy in this season and in the new year.

Love,
Susannah


In February I was back in Disneyland with my parents, my sister Erin and her husband Travis and kids; and John and Sandi (Travis' parents). It had been a solid 3 months since my last visit to Disneyland so it was time to go back! 

In March I celebrated another birthday! This was special because we had our Canadian family with us for the first time since before the pandemic began. So fun!! 

In April I went to a big Monkees party in Philadelphia hosted by my friend Jodi Ritzen (black/grey hat on right in 3rd photo). Parties are really out of my comfort zone, but this ended up being one of the funnest things I did all year! 

At the end of April and beginning of May I fulfilled a long-time dream to visit Israel. Half of the tour group were our family and friends, and it was everything I hoped for and more.
Tel Aviv with Mom (Joppa/Jaffa in the background)
In a traditional fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee (Kinnereth) with Afton (niece)
Floating in the Dead Sea with Bec (sister) and Afton (niece)

Meditation in Shepherd's Fields in Bethlehem
I will love this view forever.
South wall of the Temple Mount right below Al Aqsa Mosque listening to a live call to prayer. I'm up at the top right in a black jacket next to the railing. The stairs in the foreground are from the 1st Century. This was the last thing we did before going home, and no one us was ready to leave.

At the end of June and beginning of July Mom, Dad, and I went on a family history tour to the UK (Scotland, England, and Wales). My former colleague Grant and his wife Linda were amazing guides.
Royal Mile in Edinburgh with Dad
Liverpool with the Four Lads๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜
Bryn Celli Ddu - a henge in Angelsey, Wales
Coracle Museum in Cenarth, Wales
Lawn Bowling in Aberystwyth, Wales with Mom, Dad, and some of our tour group
Merlin in Camarthen, Wales with Mom and Dad
Home of my 3rd great-grandparents in Llandeusant, Wales with Mom and Dad
Home of my 4th great-gandparents in Llandeusant, Wales with Mom and Dad. This is an AirBnB now!
Big Pit Coal Mine in Blaenavon, Wales. My 3rd great-grandfather worked here as a child. 
Phone booth in a field in Abergavenny, Wales. So many spiders and spider webs.๐Ÿ˜ณ 

August evening with my niece who requested to "see Mike!" - meaning videos of Michael Nesmith on my phone. I have taught her well. :)

Also in August I also went to Chicago with my friend Angel Zimmerman (she took all these photos). It was my first time, and it was amazing!
Top of Willis Tower
The Bean
Color Factory

In September I had my 20th law school reunion! I'm the short one in the back, haha!

In October I attended the J. Reuben Clark Law Society leadership meetings at Aspen Grove, UT. Here are founders and past/present members of the Women in Law Committee. I love these people! :)

Also in October I went to Pennsylvania for two wonderful Micky Dolenz concerts celebrating the Monkees...
...and from an auction fundraiser for Monkeemania Radio I acquired a table sign with autographs from Micky and Coco Dolenz and all the band in the photo above. Priceless and wonderful!

In November we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Central Utah Project Completion Act. It was SO amazing to be with so many colleagues I have worked with during the past almost 20 years and celebrate our many accomplishments. (Apologies for the poor quality of photo that I took as a screenshot; I'm sitting in front, just right of center.)

Also in November I went to California to see the Wrecking Crew in concert, including my friend Marty Ross (black hat on right in 2nd photo). One of the best experiences ever! 

And finally, for Thanksgiving I went to Indianapolis to see my sister Erin and her husband Travis and kids. I started this year of travel by joining them in Disneyland, so it's appropriate to finish the year with them!