Merry Christmas Y'all 
 Bernhisel Christmas Missive 

2020 

 

Merry Christmas and the Coolest of Yules to y’all from the south side of the Alafia river where we live in Riverview Florida.  Who could have imagined an odder or more unanticipated outcome of the year 2020 than we all have gone through with COVID-19 pandemic and the drama of the Presidential election? Nonetheless, there are so many blessings and good things, that may be recognized by the humble observer who honors and loves the “Son of God”, the “Prince of Peace” the “Babe of Bethlehem.”  Those qualities of goodness are certainly found in my eternal companion-Julee, and in my wonderful family of siblings, our wonderful children (5 kids with great spouses) and our tremendous grand children (21 and holding). Those qualities of goodness are also found within the people I treat in my medical profession, where healings occur in the midst of pain and where children are conceived into humble and pleading families. The ultimate example of goodness is with our Heavenly Father and His son-my Savior who took upon Him our pains, afflictions, temptations and sicknesses as well as our infirmities. With the joy that comes in recognizing these qualities and blessings, Julee and I wish you a happy and joyful Christmas and an outstanding 2021!

Julee, the “Angel of Christmas” is doing well  and continues to serve so many with her smiles,  her work and her words of comfort for all. We have recently had our family here for Thanksgiving and my birthday. What a blessing that was, even with the hard work in feeding and entertaining 33 people and keeping them masked, separated and happy. Julee is now in the midst of her “12 Days of Christmas”  gift giving for our 21 grandchildren. She also teaches a weekly Zoom discussion for women in our church on the Book of Mormon. Together we have been assigned to watch and lead the Young Single Adults (single adults from 18-30 years in age) in our Stake (area). Many in that age group were called to full-time service as church missionaries and sent out from our area to many locations throughout the word. Many of them had to return home to Florida with the Covid virus- global pandemic. Fortunately, most have returned to their missions or college.  We are also hopeful to return as ordinance workers in the Orlando Temple.

St Petersburg Beach

Here’s and update on our kids and grandkids

Heidi and Tyler Rex live in Seneca, S.C. (15 minutes from Clemson). They experienced a significant transition this year with both of their girls moving out and now just have their 2 boys at home. Heidi is still a Reading Interventionist at the elementary school where all her children have attended. She enjoys running and hiking in her free time.  Tyler is still the director at Thrive Upstate in Greenville, SC. His agency provides services and support to special needs individuals. Mckenzie (22) is now living at a home in the Thrive Agency, with other adults with special needs. Savannah (19) is a Freshman at BYU and living at Helaman Halls. She is loving college life despite enduring the unique challenges of 2020. Christian (15) is a Freshman at Walhalla High School and is an avid Clemson Tiger Football fan and loves playing basketball and games with the family. Jackson (13) is in 8th grade, plays the French horn and piano and loves to backpack in the nearby Appalachian mountains, mountain bike with his Popa B 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 church duties of being a Bishop. In addition to managing the family and all the kids’ activities, Karee leads Primary Activities for the  8-11 yr. old girls at church and plays in a Women's Doubles Tennis League. Cole (16 – 9^th grade) plays piano and the bass guitar, and loves to mountain bike, backpack, read and (when available) attend rock concerts with Preston. Carter (14 – 8^th grade) plays clarinet in the school band and also plays piano and guitar, and enjoys tennis, backpacking, mountain biking, reading and his Cockatiel bird named  “Harley.” Caroline (11 in Jan – 5^th grade) plays piano and ukulele, and loves soccer, reading and mountain biking.  Cambelle (6- 1st grade) loves soccer, spending time with Dexter, their dog, and riding her bike and scooter. All the kids love to spend time wakeboarding and wake-surfing on the lake near their house.

Brooke and Mike Walden

live in Centerville Utah. Brooke is  in the Primary presidency, trying to keep the kids in her ward engaged remotely.  She is also involved in school for all four of their kids.  Mike has had a great year with his company Bullhorn where he leads their enterprise sales department. He is generally at home with his job now, thanks to COVID, but it does allow him more time with the family. Leila-17, is now a senior in high school, and  has turned her sights on preparing for college, as well as making plans to travel abroad this coming summer. She is also in the Young Women’s class presidency. Andee-12, is doing home school and spending much time as a beautifully talented dancer,  recently joining the premier touring dance team. She is the second counselor in her Young Women's class.  Ethan 8-third grade was recently baptized. He is maturing into a fun- loving young man in this house of women and loves building with Legos, playing sports, playing piano, and generally just making every moment fun. Brooklyn is still the firecracker in the Walden home and is doing great in school, soccer and learning to ride her bike ...anything to keep her busy!  

Lyndi and Kevin Ballard

live in Acworth, Georgia. Lyndi works part time as a  Speech Language Pathologist in a clinical setting. She is the Primary chorister in church and she loves to run, ski and mountain bike. Kevin is in his 3rd year of interventional radiology as a PA and is in his 4th year as the Bishop of their ward. He was just called into the Stake Presidency. He loves being with his kiddos and the youth of the church. Annie who turns 11 in January, is in 5th grade and made the all star team this year in volley ball. She also participates in her school chorus and has started a neighborhood dog walking business. Rhet, who is 8 years old and is in 3rd grade, was baptized earlier in the year and like many others, had a virtual Zoom broadcast of this great event. He participated in tackle football this year and loves a pickup football game in the back yard with his dad and little brother “Sonny.”    Elsie is 6 years old and is in 1st grade. She loves soccer and is a focused soccer scorer. We saw her score two goals in a recent game. She loves art, playing tricks on people and  making them laugh.  Sonny (Emerson) 4 years old, is a live-wire with a big enthusiastic personality. He is a puzzle master,  loves building legos and is a constant chatter box, according to his mom. The whole Ballard family went skiing in North Carolina in the winter and all the kids had a blast.  All of the family have fallen in love with their new dog Archie (Archibald Garfunkel- a “golden-doodle”) who loves walks and digs attention.

 Jenny Leigh and Lance Pendleton live in Kingwood Texas, close to Houston.  Lance started a new job with Rockwool, an industrial insulation company.  Even with the new job, he has been able to sneak the family away on fun adventures.  Lance is currently serving as Elders Quorum President in the church.  Jenny Leigh is busy managing the wonderful chaos that comes with five young children.  During the summer and fall she was able to work as a Speech Aide at Kingwood Speech in Houston and is busy preparing her applications for graduate school.  She loves serving as a youth leader in church.  David (11) is in 5th grade and loving being back in school and staying busy, juggling sports (baseball and basketball) and piano in his schedule.  He is finishing up the year playing basketball in the local league while cheering on his boys at Duke University.  Gavin (9) is in 3rd grade and is our ultimate creator.  He loves building his own Lego designs, writing and illustrating scary stories, and creating all sorts of art.  He is on a new baseball team this year.  Millie (7) is in first grade and known in her school as the second- little teacher, always helping those around her and making sure they stay in line.  We call her "Silly Millie" because she always has a joke to tell or is giggling with the family and playing soccer and basketball.  Maggie (4) is our bold and energetic one and will chat your ear off about anything and is always up for any adventure.  Maggie loves her preschool at home and mom is loving the time with her before she starts kindergarten.  Hattie (1) is a busy one year old!  She enjoys emptying cupboards and standing on tables, anything mischievous!  Her favorite song is Row Row Row Your Boat, or Popcorn Popping and will make sure you do the hand motions with her.                                                       

The year 2020 has been filled with fun, unusual and sometimes tragic events.

We ended 2019 with a family Christmas gathering at our Riverview Florida home. 

Chief Elf Bernie

The Night before Christmas-Grandkids 

Our family at the Bridge going to our back forest area  and up to the berm

All the Family in the newly constructed gazebo on the berm 
overlooking the Alafia River

Our Kids: Jenny Leigh, Heidi, Preston, Brooke 

and Lyndi

    

Newest Grandchild Miss Hattie 
along with mom Jenny Leigh

Family Sing along on the berm

B

Popa and Grandkids Mountain Biking
at Alafia Stake Park

Heidi and Mackenzie at St. Petersburg beach

Brooklyn having fun at the beach

Spring to Summer 2020

Julee and I were given the church assignment of leading 

young single adults (YSAs-age 18-30). We loved having this great

YSA group in our home, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic which

changed our gatherings to ZOOM meetings. 

We also lost a dear friend

and mentor, Robert "Bob" Garff to COVID

Young Single Adult group at our home

Our dear friend Inez Bauer's 91st birthday

Brooke and I skiing our favorite
Solitude Ski resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon
Utah

Big Sky Montana-Wilderness Medicine meeting
and some great skiing

Friends Scott and Suzi Hansen 
at our Heber Utah Home

In Utah with granddaughter Leila- Walden who was acting in the 
Woods Cross H.S. version of "Tarzan"

March- 2020 -COVID-19

Hits the country

Picture of Bob and Kathy Garff
Bob had been a Stake President, Mission President
and Bountiful Temple President. He had
run Garff Motors with his family.
He had been a mentor and friend to me before
succumbing to COVID 19 in March. 

Julee's brother 
Rick Kirkham was admitted and hospitalized
3 weeks on a ventilator during the spring time- from COVID before his discharge

On a flight from Florida to Utah  in late March
2020. We were masked and had
sterilizing wipes

The Mountains (Timpanogos) were still awe-inspiring . We came expecting
to ski with Preston's family, but the ski resorts all closed down due to the virus

The Waldens, Preston Bernhisels and us on our Heber City Deck

During the time at Heber, Cambelle celebrated her 6th birthday and
she started a snowman on the deck

In March we attended the baptism of our Grandson 
Rhet in Georgia

In June, we got to have Leila come join us in Florida. She

was looking at various colleges including the Univeristy of South

Florida  in Tampa

Leila and I went mountain biking several times and we all
went to the Florida Aquarium (masked
except for the pictures) at Tampa Bay

We had a patio with a fire pit
built up on the back berm during the spring. With Leila
there, we had the first fire and grilled corn
and hot dogs, not to mention some
awesome s'mores  

In July we headed out to Utah and ultimately traveled up

to Jackson Hole Wyoming to do a 4 day- backpack

with Preston and his two boys Cole (age 16) and

Carter (age 13). The history of this hike for us starts in 1975, when I

took Julee on her first backpack. Later, in 1999 I took Brooke, Lyndi

and Jenny Leigh on the same backpack hike. Heidi had her baby Mackenzie

and could not go and Preston was on his mission in California.  In 2016 I took

Heidi and Savannah backpacking on the same route.  We took the longer Granite Canyon route then (the previous

routes started at the top of the gondola ride from Teton Village), still coming to 

Lake Marion. In 2009 and 2018, I soloed this hike via the Granite Canyon route.

The 2009 backpack was notable for  the run-in I had with the black bear at Lake Marion.

My brother Paul's and sister Gretchen's family joined  with us at our Heber, Utah home in July prior to the Wyoming backpack. 
(L-R) Paul, Staci, Lexi, Beckman, Jordan, Brenne, Gretchen, Brylee, Ryan, Julee and Marc

J'hole Wyoming. Amphitheater Lake-my traditional warm up hike. 

Hidden Falls. Notice the mask. I passed many hikers with and some sadly, 

without a mask on some tight portions of the trail.

 

Lyndi and her family were also in Jackson Hole. Kevin
had a medical meeting. This is at Vance and
Ann Carruth's home.

The start of the 4-day back pack. Starting
in Granite Canyon, going to Marion Lake.  The second day- to the Alaska 
Basin (Teton Crest trail) then the 3rd day on to  South Cascade Canyon  route
leading to the North Cascade Canyon  and then the 4th day down the main
Cascade Canyon to the boat ramp at Jenny Lake

My bear mask  I wore at times because of Covid-19

My little porcupine friend who I heard with sleep depriving crunching through out the night on what turned out to be my mask, hat and poles. Even after throwing rocks at him to scare him off at one point, he came back to continue the destruction.

The Result. My mask was destroyed and
my hat, hiking poles and backpack straps were all chewed up as well. 

Granite Canyon from Marion Lake camping ground. I tented in 
the same sight for the 4th time.

Preston, Carter and Cole at Alaska Basin

Cathedral View of Teewinot, Owens and the Grand Teton
from North Cascade Canyon at the end of our third day

Preston and the boy's tent. Snow in the backgroung

My "bivie" tent

We finished the backpack the afternoon of our 4th day-

meeting Julee at the Jenny Lake parking area. The 

next day, we went white water rafting on the

Snake River

 

Less than a month after our Utah/J'Hole trip 

 I returned from Florida to join Julee and the 

Walden family for the Baptism of an amazing

young man-our grandson Ethan Walden in

Centerville Utah 

Soon after we got a visit in Florida from
Brooke and Brooklyn

Brooke and Brooklyn  with us at the Florida  Aquarium (Tampa Bay)

Our 46th Anniversary

Starting at Oyster Catcher's Resturant and then going to

Anna Maria Island-our traditional anniversary spot

 Oyster Catchers

We did try a number of new restaurants (our favorite- Beech Bistro was closed). 
We also had to find a new place to stay as the Harrington House closed down their rentals. 
We did take Katie the Kayak. The first time out with Julee, a rough wave capsized us in shallow water. The second time on our last day, we had a wonderful time. 

 

We took our fall trip 

To see Heidi and her family in Seneca S.C.. I always head up to N.C. to go mountain biking at DuPont State Forrest and to eat at Hawg Wild (great BBQ and Hush Puppies) . From there we headed to Bryson City N.C., by the Smokey Mountain national forrest and over by Lake Fontana to Tsali mountain bike trails. 

From Bryson City, we go through Nantahala Canyon to Elijay-Bear Creek mountain bike trail and then on to Lyndi's home in Acworth Georgia.

Halloween night at the Rex's

Bridal Veil Falls. DuPont

Video of BV falls Dupont


Now on to Bryson City

Bryson City- Caboose 

Tsali-Mountain Bike Trails

Fontana Lake-Tsali Bike Trail

Bryson City Ice Cream

We did spend one-half day at Elijay. I did my bike ride. Colonel Poole's

restaurant was closed, so no BBQ. We then headed to Lyndi and Kevin's home

Lyndi and Sonny eating with us

We traveled to Cartersville, a nice town where we had lunch
with Lyndi and Sonny

Elsie scored 2 goals at her soccer game

Its always nice to be in Georgia with "Scooter"-Lyndi

Grandma reading to the Ballard kids

Emerson ("Sonny"), Rhet, Elsie and Annie

Well, the next big event was the Bernhisel family gathering

for Thanksgiving, which happened to be on my 70th birthday.

With some anguish, given the acceleration of the COVID virus with family 

gatherings and the morbidity and mortality statistics, we and our kids

agreed on the family gathering. We decided to separate as much as we 

 could in the available living spaces  and to do all of our meals and

gatherings outside.  We did have two positive tests in the family afterwards, but

without significant illnesses and we did have a great time with each other.

5 -kids and their spouses and 20 of our 21 grandkids (Mckenzie is at a 

 care home center and can't leave the home at this point).  A total of thirty two people

including us!

Gathering for Bernie Burgers-before heading outside to eat

Thanksgiving Dinner at Fort DeSoto park
Love that Fried Turkey- Popa!

Everyone had blue shirts, including adults. On the
back was the individual's name

Here are all the grandkids at Fort DeSoto

Jenny Leigh with the famous- Bethine Bernhisel
orange -Thanksgiving rolls, made by Jenny Leigh

Campfire Songs and Birthday Presentations 

Grandkids with their rocks

Birthday Presentation of Bernhisel family rock. 1974 is our marriage year.
All the grandchildren had an individual small  rock with their name on it which was placed around the big family rock

Grandma B with Hattie 

Popa with Maggie, Cambelle, Else and Millie

Cambelle, Elsie and Brooklyn 

Annie with her dad-Kevin

Our five kids. Jenny Leigh, Lyndi, (Dad and Mom) Heidi, Brooke and Preston

The Rex family. Grandma, Christian, Heidi, Tyler, Savannah, Jackson and Popa

 

Bernhisel Family. Carter, Preston, Caroline, Cambelle, Karee and Cole

Walden Family. Mike, Brooklyn, Brooke, Andee, Leila and Ethan

The Ballard Family. Rhet, Kevin, Emerson ("Sonny"), Elsie, Lyndi and Annie

The Pendleton family. Millie, David, Hattie, Jenny Leigh, Lance, Gavin and Maggie

Here's all the grandkids

And here is there number order in which they were born and below-

our first-grandchild Mckenzie 

We had one last night together. What better way to spend it then

to have a bonfire and s'mores

Maggie

S'mores at the fire pit.

YUMMY !

What a great way to be together

with such special loved ones.

We pray for a happy Christmas and a better 

and safer 2021 for family, friends and the nations

of the world.  

Marc and Julee Bernhisel