Christmas Card 1983

 Well, it's been a strange and wonderful Christmas!  We began with Christmas Eve on December 22 so Jimmy could be a part of it.  He and three friends left for Park City on the 23rd and are having a skiing holiday.

     Meagan, who continues to delight us, performed "Up on the Housetop" this year, with accompanying actions.  She also helped with the Christmas baking this year and wrapping of presents.  3 1/2 is a wonderful age!

     Maria arrived home from Utah and immediately prepared all kinds of Christmas goodies to give away.  Maria always makes Christmas fun and festive.  We are happy to have her back for a while...she is doing away with the poverty student routine and getting a real job...hopefully, in our mortgage business, she is a real dynamo at getting things done.

     John will be joining Jimmy for skiing also.  He is continuing his studies at San Diego State, working on his MBA!  We're very proud of John's graduation from UCSD with a very high-grade point average this last spring.  He received a Bachelor of Arts in History with a Minor in Literature.  (When John was once asked what he could do with a History Degree, he said he could make good conversation while standing in the Unemployment Line.)

     The most precious Christmas gift of all was delivered December 23 during the Holiday Bowl game (at a hospital) of course).  Kristi Marie Pulsipher made her debut into the world with both sets of grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles cheering from the hallway.  She is a real beauty and we are all looking forward to lots of baby tending.  Linda and Gary did a super job and will somehow jostle parenting, schooling, and earning a living.



     Richard is talking seriously about exercising and is continuing to sell all the foreclosure properties his business acquired during the economic slump we have had in San Diego.




     Janet lost and gained innumerable pounds this year and decided to go au naturale (grey hair).  She continues to be fully enmeshed in the very hectic, pressured world of commissioned loan officer but has managed to survive and even succeed--much to her surprise. 

     We enjoy hearing from you even though our cards don't go out every year like they used to do...Have a very Happy New Year!

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Note written on Christmas Card to Mom:

We're off to Park City for a few days--never did hear back from Carole--be fun if they could come. 

Meagan says, "Grandma is going to Utah for a rest!"  I closed 18 escrows on Thursday and Friday I had all my other 8 loans approved!  So I am tired and need a rest.

The problem with this business is you're always in the middle of some others,  no rest.

Linda's Kristi is a doll and Linda feels really good.  

Enclosed is $500 I owe you--thanks so much.  We surely needed it.  

Jo Anne (my working partner) is so depressed I feel sorry for her.  She sees how neat our kids are and what a different life she has led and what problems she has because  of that and she's not making it moneywise besides.    

But we have been blessed and I appreciate so much our solid beginning from y and Dad.  We love you very much!  I didn't do well on the Christmas gift,  I never do,  I'll look for something else!

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Business Update:

Since Richard Jones retired, Bill and Amy and Richard are at logger heads as to how the business is to be run.  We have agents doing the A paper loans, a couple in La Mesa office and a couple in La Jolla office and I supervise the whole operation.   But Amy and Bill do not understand that side of the business at all and there are and have been a lot of Richard's family involved in the business, which is good, but they are probably concerned about it all.  It has become very ugly.

Business is Good but Always Problems and Miriam's Family revisited, 1985

I lost my calculator again!!! So I will have to buy another one.  I have about 22 loans working right now, with only about 5 of them iffy that may fall out, that's over two million in loans!!  I have been up till midnight every night and then up early.

Maria has had a kidney infection and been really sick so I've been running there, too.  Her medicine cost $59 and I cannot use my insurance for it, bummer.  I kind of hope they will decide to move back here and save some money.   Maria says their home teacher calls them a lot and Mark is playing on their basketball team so that part is better than our ward.

Richard and I went to Seegmiller's for a Swiss Sunday night supper and it was potatoes with melted cheese over it, so good.  

Richard turned his ankle today.  Did not go in to the Doctor, called Kunzman but he wasn't there so he has been limping, do not know how he can go to Knott's Berry Farm with us.

I have been so busy I haven't even been able to buy a turkey yet, etc.  Guess we'll have one Sunday at least.  Meagan is spending the weekend.  Maria's baby Michael was 14 lbs 10 oz at 2 months and he is solid as a rock!  

Mark's car broke down and then my plymouth had something in the carburetor causing problems, just one thing after another!!  But I did give a pretty good lesson in R S on Sunday on marriage.  I envy James on his mission having classes all day,  just learning more and more.

Susan Degn called and said they all love Escondido.  

Things are so hectic, rates are down and everyone wants to refinance,  don't blame them.  A couple guys are getting foreclosed out and time is pressing.  Richard is still having problems with Jones Mortgage but otherwise we are doing ok.

We are going to Knotts Berry Farm for Thanksgiving!!!  

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In 1974, Miriam, wife of Richard's brother Scott (death in 1962), remarried to Don and this is a picture of the family 11 years later.

News of the Children and Grandchildren, 1986

 Jimmy writes such great letters,  his "big" spirit lifts us all.  I need to take his advice and live the gospel and be happy.  So often I feel sorry for my role in life when I should be grateful the Lord has blessed me with a good mind and ability to do loans.  I had my biggest month ever.  $8900!!  It helped to pay a few bills but we still have a  lot more to go and unwinding from Jones.

We are starting a new company asap so we can get paid on both sides, by summer we will probably be on our own for better or worse.

I decided it would be smart to sell this big house eventually and to buy a new smaller free and clear with cash and not have to work so hard.  I think I would like to live where there is more openness.

This last month I worked every day from 6 am to 10 pm and caught a bug and went to the doctor today to try and get well.  Had to give up my walks with Jean but hope to be back tomorrow or next day at it.

I put Jimmy's stereo in my bedroom and really enjoy the good music so much.

Mom enjoyed a letter from Jimmy.  Glendive won the state championship in basketball again, 4 out of 5 years. Hunter plays on the team!

Mary is sending us all a plan that I had suggested originally on setting a time for each family at the cabin so hopefully we will all use it.

John did not come home this weekend but Linda and Gary were here.  Gary is doing well.  Linda's cooked us all dinner and does all very well.    Kristi is very petite and she and Meagan play well together though Meagan gets a little frustrated because Kristi is not quite old enough for some things.   

Meagan gets more beautiful all the time with her silky brown hair and brown eyes,  Kristi looks like a pixie and Michael looks a lot like Jimmy did as a baby though his eyes seem much bluer.   He laughs and smiles all the time and has big dimples like Mark.  

Jimmy says his leg is getting stronger, he has surely had a challenge with that. 

Jimmy's bank statement show he spent a lot last month, he must be eating well!

                          Meagan, Kristi and Zack

Fuquas to Come and New Family News, 1986

As of May 31 Richard is completely separated from Jones.   

The Fuquas are going to live with us this next year to see if Len can do this business.  Coming down in time to get the boys in school.

Richard and I enjoyed a weekend in Big Bear, need to get away from it all sometime.

Maria and Mark are in Michigan, Maria went a week early so they could have more time with baby Michael.  Mark is working with a air conditioning/heating company and quite likes it.  Hope that works out.

Linda and Gary spend weekends in El Cajon and Linda is here all week and has gotten some sewing done.  The last two weeks she also took care of Meagan because Meagan went to Zoo school in the mornings one week and to Scripps Aquarium School in the mornings the second week.  Meagan can read and can write also.  She is going into first grade this year.

John is taking a real interest in cooking so I am giving him a small food processor for his birthday, he wanted it!  He and Gary are planning a trip to the High Sierras. 

We received a letter from James' mission president saying he is being called to be a district leader!

Richard and I switch furniture around a little so we can have a private sitting area in our bedroom to maintain our privacy.

We put the bunk beds in James' bedroom for a couple of the Fuqua boys. We have quite a juggling of people in our house.  Linda is having her baby in San Diego instead of Chicago and so may be here for a bit even after the Fuquas come and Maria and Mark come down quite often, too.

Two of the boys will probably be in the garage.  We have new carpeting  in there and we will make a wall out of high storage shelves.  Everybody says we are  crazy and asking for trouble but I think we can all get along if we try.

Roberta was very surprised to hear the Denver Temple will be dedicated in October.  It was started the same time as the San Diego Temple and it is getting nowhere.  Evidently the architect here displeased the church officials so not moving forward fast.

Meagan is sewing her own Barbie doll clothes.  I cut out a lot intending to make them for Christmas but never had time so I showed her how to sew them by hand and she loves doing it!!!

My Mom is now living permanently with Jeanne, She is 84.  I was in an old folks home last week and those people sit around like vegetables, and a lot younger than Mom, too.  So sad.  Happy Jeanne can take her in.  

Lots of News About Family, Date to Move to Remodeled Choice Mortgage Office, 1987

Richard and I are still working 14 hour days.  I hope eventually the new office and new people we have will cut down on our workload.  Now it seems I just have to spend more time teaching other people and less time to work on my own deals.  With the new owner of the building making changes our office will be like new and on the ground floor.

We are moving into the  new office on the first of April.  They have painted the office and we have selected carpet, they will be putting in the phones next.  

We had $30 in overdraft charges, communicating and handling the money for James' mission is a continual problem.

Last night we went to the movie "Lethal Weapon" with Mel Gibson.  Very exciting.  We still go to Horton Plaza on Friday nights for our eat treat and movie.

We are really enjoying Michael, he is such a fun baby, makes all kinds of faces, about. 15 months now.  Maria and Mark are staying here till she has her new baby boy in March.   

I hope we can eventually make enough money to remodel the bathroom, kitchen and add a deck to this house.  We've decided if we can make it here we will not sale this house, also want to add a west window to the front west bedroom, wouldn't that be a great view. 

We took Meagan and John and the Pulsiphers to Disneyland and it was relaxing.  The new Star Tour is really exciting.  These two creatures take you on a flight in space and it is the driver's first trip so we have sudden drops, lots of swerves, bump into things, have sudden stops and starts and travel at space rate, very realistic.

John has a nice apartment in LA.  It is a 3 bedroom with large living, dining, and lots of light.  He has a roommate but it is still expensive.  His office is very impressive and he is very well-liked for his work, etc.   

The strawberries are finally planted and we have had lots of rain lately so they look very good.

 It is a real blessing to know how to work and be willing to do it.  I feel blessed for having such responsible, sensible, and beautiful children.

I pray for Jimmy in his travels and pray he comes home to us safely after his mission.

Christmas 1991

It's December 25th and all is quiet at the Hardys--so Janet can tell you what the year has been for her family.

 James graduated from Brigham Young University and is now on his own--looking for a new seminar company to work for or something else exciting while he is still single and fancy free!  He is still living in Provo but talks about Australia and other romantic places!  He brought a new girl home a for the "California Test" and her name is Camber Carlston from Mission Viejo!

John is Senior Manager at Peat, Marwick and Main in Los Angeles and is working most of the time but manages to get a few good hikes in at Yosemite or the Sierras.  Meagan, his daughter, and Jessica, his girlfriend, have backpacks now, too, and can try and keep up with him.  Even Janet and Richard accompanied them to the base of a mountain and waited till they came back down!!!

Maria and Mark Valko and their four children moved to Troy, Michigan this fall and we miss them so much.  Mark is working in air conditioning back there and Maria has given up the office work with us and been more creative with making and selling 40 Christmas wreaths and numerous angels before Christmas. Mitch is now walking along the furniture and loves to climb the stairs.  Michael is reading amazingly well and should probably be in a special reading group for the more advanced.  

For Halloween they paraded through Birmingham and got donuts and cider!!  Michael was Dracula,  Matthew was a pirate,  Melissa was a clown and Mitch was a bunny!  Forgot the camera so no pix.

Mark wrote and thanked us for helping get the house sold and loading up for the big move.  We hated to see them go but they feel it is the right thing to do right now.  Life is hard.      Linda and Gary Pulsipher returned to San Diego after graduating in orthodontics and are living in El Cajon with their four children while getting started in a new practice.  Linda keeps the books for Choice Mortgage in between tending the newest "Kelly" just four months old.

Janet and Richard continue to work hard in the mortgage and real estate business.  The low rates have kept Janet busy with refinancing her clients while Richard has been preoccupied with building homes in Tulare and Bakersfield, Ca.  The computer has changed Janet's life dramatically!!!!

 We enjoyed seeing Janet's relatives last New Year's and Richard's in August and October of this year.  It is such a joy to see all of the niece's and nephew's with their own families.

If this news sounds vaguely familiar it's because we do the same thing every year--work and take a winter vacation at Park City and work and take a summer vacation at Big Bear Lake--in between we cope--and are thankful for the enjoyment we have from our four children and nine grandchildren.

May your new year be bright and joyful in 1992 and may the whole world make a little more sense than it did this year!!!

Pictures from Years Past

Christmas Card and Events of 1993

We, Janet and Richard, continue to live at 18391 Camberwell Lane in San Diego, CA 92128 and continue to work in our business Choice Mortgage, but the rest of the family has moved around this year!

John and Jessica Hardy have purchased a condo in Pasadena.  John is now the Tax Director for Countrywide Funding in Pasadena.  Meagan Hardy (13) lives in La Jolla, CA 92037 with her mother and new stepfather.

 Linda and Gary Pulsipher have moved to El Cajon, CA 92020.  Gary is an orthodontist in El Cajon and La Jolla.  Their children are Kristi(10), Craig (7), Amy(4), Kelly(2), and Tanner(3.5 months).

 Maria and Mark Valko have moved to Tehachapi, CA 93561.  Mark is building homes in Tulare and Bakersfield, CA.  Their children are Michael(8), Matthew(6), Melissa(4), and Mitch(3).

       

James and Camber Hardy have moved to La Jolla, CA 92037.  Camber is a Title Rep for United Title and James is an agent for Worldwide Marketing and Choice Mortgage.

Highlights of the year were:

...Janet stayed with her mother in Orem, Utah for 10 days in the summer, Her mother is 91 years old.

...John's exciting new job with one of the largest mortgage banker's in the country!  John buys a home in Pasadena.

...San Diego Temple Open House and Dedication.

...Richard Hardy Family Reunion in May at Big Bear Lake.

...John and Jessica are married in July.

...Tanner Pulsipher is born the fifth child to Linda and Gary in August.

...Merlin and Vida Hardy Family Reunion at Torrey Pines Beach in August.

...Meagan's mother marries in August.

...Michael is baptized in Tulare in September.

...Maria and Mark move into a new home and city in October.

...James and Camber move to the beach in October.

...Linda and Gary move to a larger home with a view and swimming pool in November.

Everyone is blessed with good health and we have been delighted to be able to all live near enough that we can see each other more often this past year.  We are grateful for all our friends and family and wish for all of you in 1994 a very happy New Year!  Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you!
  

A Ski Vacation at Park City!

Some pictures from past and present Christmas's at Park City.

We Take Kristi and Meagan to Silver Gate, 1995

In August of 1995 we took Kristi and Meagan to Silver Gate and Camber and James met us there.   The intention was that the following summer we would take the three oldest grandsons Michael, Craig, and Matt.  That trip never happened and I am not sure why, but I really enjoyed this trip with my oldest granddaughters.

Unfortunately we had some car trouble with our van and it was the transmission so we actually bought a new van in Salt Lake City!

I wonder how much they enjoyed the trip.  Meagan looks so tired and gloomy in the following picture.

Who was taking the pictures of us at the waterfall, hmmmm?

I remember that we have pictures of sliding in the snow but where are they!!