 |
 |
| The Chinese calendar may say 2013 was the year of the snake, but for us, 2013 was the year of the shed. We rent our basement to a friend, and we have no garage, so we decided to build a storage shed to get our tools out of our living room. We did almost all the work ourselves, and we are now quite happy to pay concrete layers, framers, and roofers whatever they ask for any jobs in the future. (See our 2012 newsletter) | |
|
|
 |
|
| The (almost) finished shed (will it ever be completely done?). David and Shaunda's father Lyle built the porch so that we could hang our hammock between the posts. For now, we are glad that winter has covered everything with snow and we get a break from working on our yard until it thaws. | |
 | |
 |
|
| This past summer we went on a tour of Turkey with David's mom and brother Nathan. Here we are in the well-preserved theater at Aspendos. | |
 |
|
| This gate in Assos is still intact after 2,500 years. I doubt even the concrete we poured for the shed will look this good after 2,500 years. | |
 |
|
| This pillar in Laodicea has a cross carved overtop a menorah. A synagogue converted to a Christian church perhaps? | |
 |
|
| The theater at Ephesus could seat 24,000 people. This is where the Ephesians nearly rioted against the Apostle Paul and his followers because Christianity threatened to eliminate their sales of idols of their local goddess Artemis. | |
 |
|
| Back in the old days, in Aphrodisias, people made a face with a hammer and chisel. | |
 |
|
| A handmade Turkish rug | |
 | |
|
|
| This past summer David worked as an intern at Bard Access Systems, a large medical device company in Salt Lake City. It was David's first time working in a Dilbert-like environment, and this picture shows David with his entertaining cube-mate. This May, David will be graduating (for the last time?) with an MBA from the University of Utah. Shaunda finished her 1-year clerkship at the Utah Supreme Court, and is now working at a small litigation firm here in Salt Lake City. She has a Coca Cola vending machine in her office, a gift from one of the firm's clients. | |
Snow in summer? Shaunda is holding salty foam from the Great Salt Lake. |
We enjoyed visits from many friends and family this year. Here we are with our friends Renee & Andrew at Lake Blanche, one of the many beautiful places in our backyard. |
At Spiral Jetty, which we visited with Shaunda's parents. |
|
At Zion National Park, celebrating the wedding of our friends Brian & Liz. |
|
| |
 |
|
| David's family came and filled our tiny house for Thanksgiving. We enjoyed meeting Nathan's girlfriend Lisa (now fiancee!). We look forward to their wedding later this year. | |
|
|
| Shaunda's father Lyle works as a doctor for Norwegian Cruise Lines, and he had to work this Christmas. So the only way to see him for the holidays was to go on a Caribbean cruise. It was a week of sacrifice and hardship, but that's what you do for family ;-) | |
A beautiful waterfall tumbling right into the ocean in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. |
|
At the Mayan ruins of Tulum in Mexico with Shaunda's family. In the upper left corner is a lighthouse used by Mayan ships about 800 years ago. |
|
| Come visit us in Utah! Even if you just have a layover in the Salt Lake City airport, we only live 10 minutes away so we are happy to pick you up and take you out for lunch. If you have longer, you can stay in our guest room, tour the shed, and ski the greatest snow on earth or visit a spectacular national park. | |
| |
|
We wish you all the best in 2014, and please stay in touch! | |
Created January 3, 2014 |