$10,000 smile!

Look at that smile!  First it was braces for about 1.5 years and now it's removal of wisdom teeth!  Yay!  Amazing that so many Dixon kids require all this dental work!!  I might add that while I didn't ever have to wear braces I did have my wisdom teeth out!  Ralph never wore braces either so where in the heck did all this come from!!

Summer update!

This summer has really been a great summer! Mallory and I started off by leaving for Utah a day after school let out for an EFY. Mallory had a blast for a week at BYU while I spent time with Scott, Kluane and fam...I had a blast as well!! We spent our last week in Utah staying with Uncle Boyd and got to visit all the family over memorial weekend. I really wish we could visit more than once a year!! We always have so much fun with Uncle Boyd!

Once we returned to AK...Delaney, Daegon and I went to Anchorage for a quick visit and had fun visiting with family there...and shopping! Again, I wish I was closer so we could visit more often than just a few times a year...usually during the summer. When I returned home the rest of the family declared they wanted to go to Anchorage also but we thought we'd wait until closer to school starting. BUT, everyone is working and we discovered after looking at the calendar that there would be no time just before school! Abby started a new job yesterday working at a community garden. Mallory continues to lifeguard at pools all over Fairbanks. And, both girls are mowing the yard of someone who needed it done all summer. So, they drive out Chena Hot Springs Road about once a week for that job! Mallory begins high school swimming the second week of August and then school begins on the 18th. Yikes! We have a month of summer vacation left!! Anyway, on that note we decided to take a last minute shopping trip to Anchorage and fortunately the timing couldn't have been better! We got there just in time for the Nordstrom sale of the year! For the first time ever we enjoying "touring" all the booths set up for the pre-sale goodies. The girls and I found all kinds of school clothes and other stuff and are quite happy with our successful, although quick, shopping trip. Another highlight is to get to visit family also...and although we didn't get to see everyone...we'll see them next time as...we'll be back!!

Ian is doing AWESOME! He was recently transferred to Puerto Plata and was called as District Leader. Above you can see he's looking good, but his shoes are another story! I sent money to get them resoled so I hope they're looking better and will get him through his remaining 9 months!! I'm very proud of him and he's really enjoying his time of service.

Annie finally made it through all her swim lessons and tried out for the swim team. AND, she made it!! Her first meet is coming up soon and she's very excited!!

All is well in the Dixon home and life couldn't be more blissful! We really are blessed and are grateful for all that we enjoy!!

What is this Bliss?

I can remember as a little girl dreaming of the day when I would be a mother. I didn't come from a particularly large family but knew that I would have a "bunch" of kids. One of my earliest memories was watching a movie entitled, "Cheaper by the Dozen" with David Niven. I remember that entire family of 12 kids and their parents all around the dinner table and it was crazy! But, with all that chaos around that big table, I knew that's what I wanted. And, sure enough I got it...a gob of kids (although not the 12 I originally wanted) and that chaos that sometimes comes with it. It hasn't always been easy and there have sure been some challenges and tears, but I can't think of a single moment that I would ever want to return or take back. We've become a very disposable society and when things aren't exactly as we thought, or hoped they would be, we're done and we walk away. The moment I became a mother I committed to being the best mother I could be...through thick and thin. It takes work...lots of it. The rough times strengthen us and prepare us for the next rough turn. Challenges are inevitable. My kids know with every fiber in their body that I will be there for them until...forever. My kids, and just the thought of them, bring me my Bliss. I am grateful that God has blessed me with the sacred calling as mother and entrusted me with these beautiful children. I promise to do my best to help them to reach their greatest potential. I am so happy that we are a forever family!

Latest from Elder Dixon

Ian has transferred to Santiago. Today he told me a bit about the city. It's the largest in the mission but second largest in the country. He's been fortunate that every apt/house he's lived in has had running water and plumbing. I think I may have mentioned though that the people in DR don't take hot or even warm showers...it's all cold!! Ian tells them they don't know what they're missing with a nice hot shower. This pic is a reunion of Ian and his first companion...his trainer Elder Tams. He really liked Elder Tams and was glad he got to see him as Elder Tams is heading home after this final transfer. Ian is almost to his year mark...on the 21st it'll be officially one year! He's doing well and has had several baptisms and loves the work. He's reading Jesus the Christ and is encouraging me to read it too. Ian looks good doesn't he!! I'm quite proud of him!

Quickie Missionary update!!

Ian wrote yesterday and said that there were transfers and his companion left Dajabón after spending 7.5 months there. Ian's new companion is Dominican and Ian will be speaking only Spanish for the next 6 weeks or more. I guess unless he starts teaching the other Elder English! Seriously though...Ian is very excited!! His new companion was already sharing the apt. where two companionships share. So, he only had to move across the hall. I guess each companionship takes one half of Dajabón. All is well and Ian is super excited with the transfer and super happy to be spending more time in this city! We get to talk with him in 16 days!!!

Life in Dominican Republic

I finally figured out how to get another pic of Ian posted. I LOVE this photo because it's so candid with Ian carrying his bananas! Ian says his apt. has electricity and plumbing but the people in DR do not take hot showers...I don't even think they have hot water that runs through the plumbing! Anyway, he says it's not just cold...it's take your breath away for a few seconds! Despite the cold showers and really living without a lot of the modern conveniences that we enjoy, he LOVES it there!! He already wants to plan to return after his mission!! When you immerse yourself in good...good happens!!

Happy Times...

Life is good in Alaska! Ian is doing awesome on the mission and our weekly letters from him are so good! He loves it in Dominican Republic and is really happy! He recently relocated to another city...Dajabón...right on the border of Haiti. He loves the people, the food and doing what he's doing! So, as his mother, I couldn't be happier!

The rest of us Dixon's are doing great also! We survived a recent winter freezing rain storm. Just before Thanksgiving...the Monday before...the temps dropped and it started raining and once that rain hit the frozen ground, it turned to ice and pretty much made going out a bit treacherous. So, the girls and I hung out at home for a couple days waiting for it to get cold again! The four day weekend for Thanksgiving began early and we ended up with 7 days off...yep, the schools even closed!! That's a rarity!

We're all excited for Christmas and the tree is up and the shopping has begun! Eggnog is in the fridge and the Christmas music is playing nonstop! It really is a happy time!

I'll try to get more pics posted of Ian. AND, I need to get our camera out and get more of us here!! Merry Christmas everyone!!