The Bernhisel Christmas Missive 2019

The Bernhisel Christmas Missive 2019

Merry Christmas and a wonderful Cool Yule to you superb friends of ours, from the  south side of the Alafia river.

This is such a special time, particularly in the face of an otherwise tumultuous world. We hope and pray that your lives may be full of faith, hope and special blessings. As always, we appreciate y’all’s letters and pictures at this time of year. Julee and I are busily preparing for the time coming up soon when our five children’s families and our 21 grandchildren (the 21st- “Hattie” came this year in May to Jenny Leigh and Lance) will be joining us at our Riverview Florida home. It will be a blast and a logistical stretch for us. I am sure the new year, 2020 will be “interesting” as the passing years have always been.  We are looking forward to going to Utah to our Heber home to visit family and get some great skiing and other adventures in this year.
This year I have combined practicing medicine at the Reproductive Medicine Group, serving in our Church and doing my best to keep in shape ( mountain and road biking, running, weights etc.) for skiing (Brooke and Lyndi’s families skied with me this past year and Preston’s are coming out in March of 2020- to Utah) and for our hikes this past year  in Jackson Hole/Grand Teton and Glacier National Forests. Whenever I gaze upon the  beauty of this world, be it in the Mountains of Utah, Wyoming or Montana or the sea shores and swamps of Florida, I am profoundly grateful to a loving Creator who loves them as well. Julee and I do service work at the Orlando Temple, once a week and we were recently assigned to look over the group of single church members from 18-30 years old (“Young Single Adults”) in our area (Stake). 

Julee is doing well. I call her the “Angel of Christmas” as she does so many things for family and friends. For years she has done  a “sensible” gift giving to our children and their kiddos-“The 12 Days of Christmas.” The list seems to be as profound as the “Ten Lords a Leaping;  Eight Maids a Milking and the Five Golden Rings”-combined. We have also continued our tradition of Thanksgiving at the beach (Fort DeSoto) with many friends, and the Bernhisel Hot Chocolate Christmas nights (two of them this month). All this is before the Christmas rush. Julee only had one surgery this year (yeah!) - a knee replacement on her left knee.  She still

teaches a scripture study class (this year the New Testament) on Thursday mornings.  She is a sweat heart to me and is so generous. She is also a great mom and grandma.
Julee and I are so glad to have friends like y’all. It is great to have friends whether they are from our neighborhoods; through my medical practice; from  our church or those who came into our lives on our missions (Thailand and North Carolina). A beautiful movie produced by our church depicts the travel of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and our Savor’s birth (Light the

World, One by One- churchofjesuschrist.com). The message at the end is from the New Testament, Acts 10:38. “Jesus of Nazareth…went about doing good”. A simple but profound statement that if followed by emulating His example, brings us to peace amongst turmoil and a growth of faith, love and happiness in a world where these virtues may be temporarily missing. We love y’all and wish you the best for you and  your wonderful families. 

Merry Christmas. 
Love Marc and Julee 

Here are our kids and our 21 Grand Kids

Below them are the 2019 Marc and Julee Events/Adventures & Marc's Pictures

 

Heidi and Tyler Rex are in Seneca, S.C. (near Clemson) with their 4 great kids: Mckenzie, Savannah, Christian and Jackson. Heidi is now a Reading Interventionist at the elementary school where all her children have attended. She enjoys running, biking  and hiking in her free time. She is an adviser in the church’s YW’s program. Tyler is still the director at Thrive Upstate in Greenville, SC. His agency provides services, opportunities, and support to special needs individuals. Mckenzie (21) has transitioned to a Day Program for adults with disabilities, where she is learning job skills and enjoying community activities. Savannah (18) is staying busy applying for colleges and enjoying her senior year as the  Student Body V.P.. Her 4X8 track team won state earlier this year. Christian (14) is in 8th grade and is an avid Clemson Tiger Football fan and loves playing games with the family. Jackson (12) is in 7th grade, plays the French horn in his school’s band and enjoyed his first year running Cross Country. He loves to backpack in the nearby Appalachian mountains (going to the Tetons next year) and loves to make his family laugh.

Preston and Karee Bernhisel are in Dallas, Texas. Preston is a corporate  lawyer

with Baker Botts, which keeps him busy along with his recent church duties of being a Bishop. In addition to managing the family and all the kids’ activities, Karee teaches fitness classes at the gym and leads Primary Activities for the  8-11 yr. old girls at church. Cole (15 – 8^th grade) plays the euphonium in the school band and also plays piano and bass guitar, and loves to mountain bike, read and attend rock concerts with Preston. Carter (13 – 7^th grade) plays clarinet in the school band and also plays piano, and enjoys tennis, football, mountain biking, skateboarding and reading. Caroline (10 in Jan – 4^th grade) plays piano and ukulele, and loves reading Harry Potter books. She plays on multiple soccer teams, and just won a championship with her team.  Cambelle (5 - Kindergarten) loves soccer, spending time with Dexter, their dog, and riding her bike and scooter. All the kids love to visit Florida and Utah (to ski).

Brooke and Mike Walden live in Centerville Utah. Brooke was recently called to the  Primary presidency and is super involved with the kids and running them all over town each day.  Mike works again with Bullhorn corporation (software for the staffing industry) as a senior leader in their enterprise sales department. When not traveling, Mike still tries to get out on the bike and has picked up pickleball as a side hobby. Leila-16, now a junior in high school, continues to amaze in her theater performances. She was somewhat terrified to start driving  when  she got her driver’s license recently, but now is doing well. Andee-11, is doing home school with Brooke, but also spending 20-25 hours a week as a dedicated and beautifully talented dancer,  recently joining the premier touring dance team and will be participating in Nationals this coming spring. She's also playing piano and preparing to go into young women's in a few weeks  Ethan 7-second grade, is maturing into a fun loving young man in this house of women (Mike travels a lot) and loves building with Legos, playing sports, playing piano, training in Krav Maga, and generally just making every moment fun. He is preparing for baptism when he turns 8 in July. Brooklyn is still the firecracker in the Walden home and is doing great in school, soccer (she was unstoppable among the ranks of 5 year old girls, scoring 5 goals in the final game of the season!), ice skating, tumbling...anything to keep her busy! 

 Lyndi and Kevin Ballard live in Acworth, Georgia. Lyndi works part time as a Speech Language Pathologist in a clinic and in a school setting, She is the Primary

chorister and just got back from a trip to Peru, completing a 50K hike to Machu Picchu with Kevin and friends-and took a mountain bike back down some of the trail. She did get back on the ski lopes of Utah with Kevin and kids this past year. Kevin is in his 2nd year of interventional radiology as a PA and is in his 3rd year as the Bishop of their ward. In addition to going to Peru, he has taken his ward’s youth on hiking and overnight camping adventures. Annie (10 in Jan, 4th grade) finished up her soccer season and is in the show choir in school. She also got the role of “Jessie” in Annie Get your Gun in the local high school production. Rhet (7 years old, 2nd grade)--competed in his first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament and took first place in two different divisions. He loves spending time building forts and exploring the woods behind the house.  Elsie-(5 years old) finished another soccer season with multiple hat tricks per game. She loves kindergarten, reading, art, and making people laugh.  Emerson (called Sony sometimes) is 3 years old--Loves wrestling, football, and baseball. He has a big enthusiastic personality and loves doing anything his older siblings are doing. 

 Jenny Leigh and Lance Pendleton-are in Kingwood Texas-close to Houston. Jenny Leigh had Baby #5, little Hattie who will be the  caboose for her family. She was born on May 3, 2019. Hattie has turned into a happy and content little girl( as long as she is within reach of mom!).She always has arms that want to hold her and someone wanting to give her kisses. Jenny Leigh- besides her  multiple “Mom duties” for 5 kiddos, works with the Young Women (age 11-18) in the church. She loves biking and reading with her family. Lance is now the Elder’s Quorum President in his ward. He works for Baker Hughes (oil and natural gas) and is the person you can count on if there are difficulties or repairs (experiences in the last several hurricanes). He loves being with the family as they boat and wake board and coaching kids in sports, particularly baseball (former major leaguer player). David (10 years old-4th grade) loves all sports (cheer’s for our Gators and Duke Blue Devils). His favorite sport  is baseball (lefty batter, pitched a lot and played catcher, SS and 1st base). He loves reading and just qualified for the Spelling Bee competition for the second year in a row in his school and plays a mean piano. He is a great big brother. Gavin (8 years, recently baptized in October) is a creative fellow who loves to build, write and illustrate. He plays baseball-and enjoys it, but has a hankering to play more soccer. He is a sly guy and a joker. He and David do jumps on the wake board. Millie (6 years) is in kindergarten and loves every minute of it and loves to draw and paint and really loves to read. She is a great soccer player and is called “Little Mama” because she is concerned about how every one is doing. She has now started to wake board along with her big bros. Maggie, turned 3 on May 4th (her little sis was born on May 3rd). She loves to be involved and has a million questions always on her mind (asks most of them to Grandma and Popa B). She had her first season playing soccer and loves to play with friends, ride her bike and go with the family on their boat and is now getting up on the wake board.

Bernhisel Events/Adventures 2019

Christmas 2018 at home in Riverview and then with Heidi and her kids (Mckenzie, Savannah, Christian and Jackson) who visited us and went out to Fort DeSoto 

March/April '19

Skiing at Solitude with Brooke and then with Ethan and Andee.



The Ballard family-Lyndi and Kevin with kiddos-Annie, Rhet and Elsie who joined with Ethan and Andee. Emerson (two years old at the time) did get a ride on Lyndi's shoulders at the end. He will not settle for the side lines the next time we all ski!

May '19

Our  21st grandchild Hattie Pendleton, joined us on May 3, 2019. She is reportedly the "caboose" for our caboose child-Jenny Leigh.

Jenny Leigh with new born Hattie and kids Maggie, Millie, Gavin, and David (Lance is taking the Picture)

Little Hattie

With Popa B and Grandma B on her Blessing day.

Memorial Day '19 

We had a lot of folks over for Memorial Day and  to eat some my famous (or infamous) Bernie Burgers. We took all of our guests to our back area-where bridges and stairs have been recently been constructed so that that we could walk down to the Alafia river. We saw this white Manatee going downstream to the left and before we knew it, he/she was coming upstream right in front of us. I have never seen a Manatee in the Alafia river before.

June '19

Our first Grandchild Mckenzie Rex graduated from Walhalla High school in June. Mckenzie-21, born with no eyes, one ear, cleft lip/palate and some cardiovascular issues-now attends a program designed to help and train in job skill for disabled adults (this is a part of the state run program Thrive Upstate that her father Tyler  directs)

Mckenzie with Popa B and Grandma B and sister Savanah

July '19

July (and preparation for July) were busy times.  We had decided to have a Bernhisel family reunion, which my cousins (Dave, John and Steve Bernhisel-Jay's sons. Kurt Bernhisel and Kristin Bernhisel Osborn-Ted's kids and Liz Wilson Roach- Betty's daughter, all supported). The 4th of July in Lewiston Utah, has always been a tradition for the Harris Faye/Marie Beirdneau Bernhisels-so the reunion at Maddox was on July 3rd. It was a great success with over 60 Bernhisel decedents (and family) attending. 

We then went up to Lewiston and spent the time with Steve and John Bernhisel and families; Paul and Stacy Bernhisel and Ann Bernhisel Andrus. Heidi and Brooke's families also where there with us. 

Heidi and Mickey and Liz Roach with families

Ann, with Kurt Bernhisel and Kristen Bernhisel Osborn and families.




       Dave, Steve and John Bernhisel families

Fourth of July

At Lewiston for the parade with followed the pancake breakfast

The Walden family at the parade with Savanah

The Steve Bernhisel family

The John Bernhisel family

The Harry and Bethine Bernhisel kids-Ann, Marc. Todd and Paul at "Bernhisel Corner"

A silly/whacky moment

A cute Cow Girl and Cow Boy couple

In front of the old JMB-Jr/HGB family farm home in Lewiston with Heidi and Brooke and kids Jackson and Andee

Julee and I then traveled from Lewiston to Jackson Wyoming

  

                       Rafting on the Snake River-Rapids course

Got at Bike ride in going down to Jackson 

and then winding up to Gross Ventre and passing  Taggart Lake, Lupine Meadows and Jenny Lake

Huckleberry Shakes at Jackson Lake Lodge-a tradition 

Meeting up with friend Vance Carruth at Calico Resturant

I did hikes up to Amphitheater Lake and up to Marion Lake in Paint Brush Divide Canyon. Julee actually started up the PBDC trail that goes by String Lake and Leigh Lake and then headed back-but it was a good hike for her.

 Hike going to Paintbrush Canyon Divide. Lake Marion noted below

Indian Paintbrush Flowers

Columbine-Lupine Flowers

                                    ~25 Crossings of beautiful streams

It started to Rain on the way back. It is good to be prepared!

Julee and I did a Boat Tour of Jackson Lake-which was wonderful. The tour guides gave us a great history of the founding of Jackson Hole and Yellowstone as well as an accounting of the Native Indigenous Americans and the early Explorers-John Colter (Yellow Stone was called "Colter's Hell," referring to the many geysers there before it was named "Yellow Stone")

Jackson Lake-looking southeast to Cascade Canyon-Grand Teton to the left- Symmetry Spire to the right

 

 

Jackson Lake Boat Ride.  The area we started the boat ride on Jackson Lake at an area called "Colter Bay". 

Our daughter Lyndi worked at Colter Bay  for the Grand Teton Lodge Company, which had a grocery store and a restaurant.

In 1968, I worked at Jackson Lake Lodge for about a little over a month, then three months at Jenny Lake Lodge, as a "bus-boy"/waiter in the restaurant. This introduction to the area I love dearly, occurred the summer just after graduating  form HS. I was 17 years old.  We love going back to Jenny Lake Lodge. This year we stayed at the Columbine cabin there.

After saying "Good bye" to our beloved Tetons, we headed northward to Glacier National park, staying in Kalispell. A beautiful drive to get there.

Glacier National Park

McDonald Falls and River

A mountain view from the "Highway to the Sun"

A great way to end the trip to Glacier-- Huckleberry Pie and Ice cream 

After a great trip to the Tetons and Glacier, we headed back to Heber City for a few days before driving Freddie the Ford- back to Georgia at Lyndi's home along with Heidi and her crew (as we had driven out west from Florida/Georgia) 

July (early) August '19

I am adding a birthday celebration of our Blog which occurred in early July. Birthdays: Mike, Brooke and Ethan Walden and Christian Rex. Also, I added some biking in Coyote Canyon with Heidi and  a brief return trip to Heber City home in August where we had our High School buddies  Frank Taylor and Brent Cleverly up to our Heber Home

The Birthday Bunch with special cake for Christian (in Clemson Tiger's colors)

Cute Bernhisel Sisters, Heidi and Brooke

Coyote Canyon-Heber. Heidi and I mountain biking

With Brooke, Mike and Kids in August . Brooke and Leila had gone to Thailand and worked with Thai elephants

September '19

September 4th marked the 45 anniversary of our marriage. We had planned our celebration location at Ana Maria Island at the Harrington House- Bed and Breakfast where we most often go for anniversaries, however, there was a hurricane path which was projected to go over the west Florida costal islands (including Ana Maria) during that time. Fortunately the path shifted and stayed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Traditional Yellow Roses with "one white rose". Dinner on the way to Ana Marie Island at a favorite Tampa sea food restaurant  of ours- Oyster Catchers. They added on the "Happy Anniversary"-Key Lime Pie. 

Bedspread decoration for us at the Harrington House.

A rose given to Julee for our anniversary-at the Sea Food Bistro  restaurant

Holmes Beach-What a beautiful Florida place

First Gator Football game

The Gators did pretty well this season (10-2 at this time in December pending the Orange Bowl vrs. Virginia), losing only to top 5  LSU and Georgia. The Gators had  a new quarter back (QB)- Kyle Trask who filled in for the injured Philipe Franks and pulled us out from a loss with Kentucky and did a great job the rest of the season

October "19

Raleigh Temple Open House/Re-Dedication

We traveled to our beloved North Carolina and attended the Open House for a re-constructed Raleigh Temple that had been under construction for two plus years. It was our first time back to N.C. since 2017.

In front of the Raleigh Temple

At Sarah P Duke Gardens

Dames Chicken and Waffles in Durham

We had Peruvian chicken at Mami Nora's and chocolate "concrete" at Goodberry's in Raleigh

Preston and Carter Bernhisel visited us in early October and we attended the Gator-Auburn game in Gainesville Florida, won by the Gators 24 to 13.

We then traveled  3 consecutive weekends to Dallas/Carrollton (it was Carter's 13th birthday); to our grandson Gavin's baptism in Houston/Kingwood and then to Heidi's home in Senica South Carolina 

Birthday Boy

Dinner with Caroline, Cole, Cambelle, Keree and Carter

Preston and Cambelle at Carter's baseball game

 Gavin Pendleton's baptism day

The cute Pendleton family in Kingswood

The Pendleton family along with the Dallas Bernhisels and the Florida Bernhisels attending the baptism.

Hattie being watched by her Cousins Cambelle and Caroline Bernhisel

Now we are off to Senica S.C. to be with the Rex family (daughter Heidi).

Heidi and Tyler's family-Jackson, Heidi, Christian, Savannah, Mckenzie and Tyler

 Off for Pizza and then to the Clemson Game. That's me wearing the orange shirt (Clemson colors), but pointing to my Florida Gator

 The Rex family enjoying some Mellow Mushroom Pizza

 At Clemson Stadium

Trashing Boston College to the delight of Jackson, Savannah and Christian

I can't go to Senica without my mountain and rode bike. Here are some scenes in DuPont Stake Park (many scene's from the 90's movie-The Last of the Mohegan's was taken there) where I mountain bike.

Julia lake with fall colors

Bridal Veil Falls

 Triple Falls

Best BBQ in Western N.C. Brevard-N.C.

An interesting log carving found at Issaquena park-Walhalla S.C.

Civil War era- Subhump Tunnel-Issaquena, Walhalla S.C.

From Heidi's, we took off to North Carolina, passing below Asheville to go to Bryson City to the Calhoon House, B & B.

Bryson City

The Bistro

The tunnel on the "Road to Nowhere"-Great Smokey Mountain National Park

Of course there was mountain biking at Tsali park/Lake Fountain 

We finished off the trip by going to by traveling down to Lyndi and Kevin's home in Acworth Georgia

 It was Halloween time so we were part of the trick of treat fun.

Annie- Dracula 

Rhet-Boxer Man

Elsie-Wonder Women

Emmerson "Sony"-Shark Man

November '19

Back in Florida 

Out by the Hillsborough River- facing the Univeristy of Tampa at the Straz Theater production of "Fiddler on the Roof"

Kayaking on the Alafia river (from our home-upper picture and with Julee from Balm/Riverview Park-lower picture)

We had a "Old Heads" reunion of the Drs Verkauf and Bernhisel/Reproductive Medicine Group at the Bernhisel home

Thanksgiving-outdoor Bernhisel fashion at Fort DeSoto

The Benavides, Adams, Manci, Alcott and Bernhisel families.

We had the traditional Fried Turkey and Ham as well as Cuban food.

 "Sand Gator"

Gradual Setting of the Sun over the Gulf of Mexico from Fort DeSoto

December '19

We have been listening to Christmas songs and watching Hallmark Christmas productions since Halloween day. Its coming soon along with 5 kids and spouses and 21 grandchildren.

Here is our Bernhisel Hot Chocolate Night for this year.

Great Hot Chocolate, wonderful treats (including Thai curry rice balls, Buffalo Wings and a ton of cookies), and the celebration of Jesus Christ's Birth with the Silent Night story and song, The Nativity Video/Luke chapter two and the Bernhisel 12 Days of Christmas. 

Merry Christmas and a great 2020 y'all