A YEAR IN REVIEW: 2008

First, we would like to open our yearly letter with a little musical gift for the Christmas Season.

Here's another one of Jeremy and Nathan in their Orchestra's Christmas concert. They are playing Mozart's overture to Marriage of Figaro. It's a little piece of the professional recording that was done, so you only see glimpses of the kids here and there.

2008 has been interesting and eventful for the Sherman Family. Here are a few of the highlights:

Seth (4, almost 5, years old): As you can probably imagine Seth has kept all of us busy. He is a rather precocious little guy. He is already reading as well as his brother Caleb (who is in the top of his class) who is in first grade. We attribute this mostly to the fact that when Caleb brings home a book, Seth insists on reading it with him. He is also getting interested in learning to play the violin like his older brothers. Seth is a very loving little guy. He likes to give hugs and kisses. He is also a great runner. He participated in the 2008 BYU Homecoming race and did very well

Caleb (7 years old): Caleb started first grade this year and is doing very well. Besides being a very good reader he likes math. He also ran in the 2008 BYU Homecoming race and was a strong finisher. He started playing violin and will be passing off his "Twinkles" very soon. Caleb liked our trip to Spain, especially going on top of the towers where their were bells (one of the towers in Teruel, Spain). He is a very friendly guy and made a lot of friends with the students during the study abroad.

Lizzy (10 years old): Lizzy just keeps getting prettier each year. This year she participated in dance through BYU, choir at school, and started fourth grade. She is very smart and does very well in her math classes. She loves to sing, just like her mother. Not only has she been singing in the school choir, but goes to the ward choir practice every Sunday. Like her brothers, Lizzy has musical talent and has started cello lessons. She is progressing very well. One of the highlights of the year for Lizzy was our trip to Spain. Lizzy also ran in the Spanish Fork 5K and took first place in her age group (even beating the boys her age). Hurray for Lizzy!!!!




Ethan (11 years old): Ethan started sixth grade. He has been doing very well in his math class. He is already in pre-Algebra (usually a class taken in Junior High). This subject is one of his many strengths. Another is his ability to play the violin. Recently Ethan started playing the viola. This year he has been playing in the American Heritage Orchestra in American Fork UT. Ethan is a boy with a lot of interests and talents. The picture is of Ethan with his little brother Caleb in Sevilla Spain. Ethan ran in the Spanish Fork 5K and took second place in his age division.





Nathan (13 years old): Nathan started eighth grade. He too is a very talented and passionate violinist. He is sometimes a little accident proned (especially when he is being a little irritating with his father). At one point he was goofing around while standing on a soccer ball in the family room, irritating his father. While the two were scuffling around, he slipped backward and hit his head. As a result he got five staples to close up the gash in his head. The funniest part of the whole incident was when he attempted to negotiate with the doctor about whether he would have to have stitches or not!!!! Nathan is probably the most mischievous of the kids. There is no telling what he will do at any moment. Nathan has also been playing in the American Heritage Orchestra in American Fork UT. Nathan received his Eagle Scout Award this year just before his 13th birthday. We are very proud of him. His project involved the development of a musical program with rhythm sticks for the participants to use. The purpose was to create an interactive program to stimulate coordination and participation. He also attended Scout Camp at Camp Maple Dell. Nathan ran in the Spanish Fork 5K and took third place in his age division.




Jeremy (15 years old): What do you say about a boy on the verge of getting his driver's license. He just entered his sophomore year in High School. Jeremy really enjoyed our trip to Spain this past summer and surprised us with the amount of information that he could share. He has read so many books on myth, legend and ancient Greek and Roman history that he was able to discuss the symbols and figures that decorated the churches we visited. He continues to play the violin, also in the American Heritage Orchestra. He is very talented violinist. Jeremy is most proud of the fact that he purchased an electric bass guitar. He earns time on the bass guitar by practicing his violin. Bribery goes a long way with teenagers. Jeremy went on his High Adventure to Southern Utah. The group went horseback riding for three days. Fortunately he survived the experience pretty well despite being assigned to ride an evil demon horse! (just ask the others on the trip). Jeremy ran in the BYU Homecoming 5K. He did it in 24 minutes 45 seconds (7:57 miles). Not bad for his first race!!!





Jannette: This has been a fun year for me as I have enjoyed the challenge of getting back into shape after so many years of babies. With the expert training advice of my sister Pam, I was able to run my second 10K race ever (the first one was in college about 20 years ago) and was surprised to place second in my age group. I owe it all to the fact that the fast runners my age stayed home that morning - but I still got a medal. The big news though was that I ran my first half marathon ever in September!! The goal for next year is an olympic distance triathlon, I'll let you know if I make it. My other great accomplishment this year was helping to coordinate our trip to Spain. My proudest moment was when I placed 8 different pieces of checked luggage (one for each of the 8 members of the family) on the scales at the airport and see each of them register between 48 and 49 pounds. Then 8 weeks later I turned around and did it again to get us home. If anyone has actually tried to do this, they will know that I deserved a very big high five.


Lin: This year has been filled with some wonderful experiences. I am still the chair of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at BYU. It is such a privilege to work with the students, faculty and administration who are all dedicated to learning. In March I hosted James Spalding, the Ambassador from Paraguay to the United States, and his wife. What a wonderful opportunity to spend three days with them visiting the Lt. Governor, officials from BYU, luncheons, and the highlight, a visit with the First Presidency of the Church. I also had the chance to accompany them to the Church's Humanitarian Center. During spring term we took a group of students to Spain for a study abroad. Aside from their courses, we took them on a weekly excursion to cities throughout the country, including Toledo, Segovia, Burgos, León, Granada, Sevilla, and Córdoba. For me one of the highlights was our visits to Frómista where we saw one of the most beautifully preserved Romanesque churches in Spain. Thankfully our living conditions were fabulous (a chalet with a yard in Alcalá de Henares). We also had a chance to spend time with President Brad Farnsworth and his wife Debi serving in the Spain Madrid Mission. In October I again had the chance to host an ambassador, this time Felipe Ortiz de Zevallos from Peru. Both these experiences have been great chances to build bridges of understanding between these diplomats and the university and Church. All in all this has been a wonderful year and one filled with adventure. After returning from Spain we took time to take the family on a couple of short vacations (one to Southern Utah and the Escalante National Monument to do some hiking and the other to Park City UT). Our together time was wonderful! My big purchase for the year was a new bicycle so that I could train with Jannette. I've gotten to the point that I can cycle 22 miles with no problem and may have plans for longer distances next spring.

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. MAY YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL AND PEACEFUL 2009

The Shermans in Santo Domingo de Silos, SPAIN