Tsai Family of the Parklands

Happy Holidays from the Tsai family, 2014!  Dear family and friends, Another wonderful year has just passed. In February, our daughter's family pleasantly surprised Li-Fang by flying into town on her birthday. In March, Melinda departed to begin her full-time missionary service in Australia, while Joshua arrived home from Australia in June. During the summer we took a quick trip to the Hill Cumorah Pageant. In August, we enjoyed a really fun trip out West, featuring special tours of San Diego and Las Vegas. We were able to visit some really good friends from our past in Taiwan and Missouri and enjoy a fun reunion with our Chinese Branch friends. But most of the time, we relaxed with our families in California and Utah. We actually managed to hold a couple of Family Tree gatherings. Once we recorded the answers from Grandpa and Grandma in response to questions posed to them about their past. Another time, we learned how Li-Fang's brother traveled to China ...

One of the greatest joys in life is being with family.  This Christmas, all of our children came back, except for Sister Tsai.  But we were able to Skype with her on Christmas Day for an hour.  During these three weeks, life was busy but fun.  Our little grandson, Blake, filled our lives with energy and laughter and smiles all the way.  Right after Christmas, we performed baptisms in the temple as a family. That was a special experience.  We also went through Amish land and the Hershey Sweet Lights.  We invited some missionaries to our home for dinner: Elder and Sister Fillmore who knew Jessica from Colorado, and Sister Crosbie who knew Joshua from Sydney.  Most important, we were able to find a lot of quality family time.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This year, we witnessed the turning on of lights at the Washington DC Temple Festival of Lights.  We attended the lighting ceremony, wherein we heard a seventy speak.  The Mormon Choir of Greater Washington sang, along with Alexi Walker.  Alexi took a photo with us and signed a letter for Sister Tsai in Australia.  Outside the Visitor Center, we were surprised and honored to have our family photo taken by our own Brother Johnson.  What a great way to start the season.