2009

Hello Everyone, and Merry Christmas! What an incredible year this has been for the Victors' Family! When I look back at this past year, it's hard to believe all that we have been through and accomplished in just a year.

We started out this year still in Provo Utah while Miles was going to school fulltime at BYU, and I was able to be home with Hyrum. Hyrum really started to develop a lot of character and personality. He mastered eating solid foods, and still continued to sleep through

the night.

Miles and I had the opportunity to train for and run a 1/2 marathon. Neither one of us had ever ran a race like that before, and it took a lot of hard work. Miles may not suggest it to others, but I actually enjoyed it. It's always fun to have a goal to push you past what you think you can do. We did it in about 2 hrs and 45 mins. We weren't very fast, but we did it!

This summer we had the opportunity to go back home to Alaska and to stay with Miles parents in Eagle River. We knew that Miles needed to get an internship to be able to graduate, however at the beginning of the summer we had not been able to find one in his field. When we left to Alaska we still had not found one but felt that we should go anyway. Miles was going to start up his own research company and be an intern for himself, while working a labor job to bring in some money. Only two weeks after getting to Alaska we were very blessed. Miles was offered a job working at AK Supply as their field engineer out in their Palmer branch. Not only was he hired for the summer (which would fill his requirements for an internship), but they actually hired him on to be full time. We were so grateful to the Lord for blessing us with this opportunity. Miles was a very valuable asset to this company and was able to really help them move forward with a lot of their projects. They paid well and provided a good steady monday-friday 8-5 job. This is where Miles worked all through out the summer.

We love Alaska! It was so great to be back for the summer and to enjoy all that Alaska has to offer. We were able to go hiking and camping quite a bit. Hyrum really enjoyed being outside and going along with us on our journeys.

This summer we celebrated Hyrum's first birthday! It's hard to believe how fast his first year went by. Throughout the summer he learned to crawl and has been on the move ever since. Hyrum also switched over to all table food, and has a pretty good appetite on most days. He loves fruit and pretty much anything that's sweet.

This summer Miles and I actually bought our first home. We came across a house that was a great deal. It just needed quite a bit of work done on the interior. We replaced all of the flooring and repaired and repainted all of the interior walls, ceilings, doors, and trim. It turned out to be quite the project, but it sure was rewarding to have such a beautiful house in the end. This took up all almost all of our time for the last two months of summer. Hyrum was a great help all throughout, and let's just say, looked like a carpenter at the end of each day.

This fall has been a very busy and crazy time. This was Miles' last semester here at BYU. As of next Friday the 18th, Miles will be done with school and we will be moving on with the next step of our lives. He is graduating in Manufacturing Engineering Technology. I am so proud of Miles and all that he has done. This semester was a very stressful one for him as he was finishing up 22 credits. He has been more busy these last four months, than at any other time in our marriage, but I am so grateful for such a wonderful husband who has still made time for his family.

Hyrum started walking just after we moved back down to Provo. He has become more active than ever, and is such a fun little guy. He loves to make you laugh, and loves being outside.

Hyrum and I got the opportunity to go visit my grandparents in September up in Ontario Oregon. I am so glad that we got that opportunity as it was the last time I got to see my Grandpa. He was such a wonderful man, that was so full of love and compassion for all those around him. I'll miss you Grandpa!
Hyrum absolutely loves to read books with us. We always read to him before he goes to sleep, and often throughout the day. We really hope that his love of books will continue on as he gets older. At one of Hyrum's well-baby checkup's we learned that he is actually well above average with his vocabulary. He says new words almost every day, and is already copying us in most of what we say. His favorite words right now are "car" and "vroom vroom". I am pretty sure that he is going to follow in his daddy's footsteps with his love for cars.

Hyrum has developed into quite the little social butterfly. He absolutely loves going to play with his cousins Natalie and Kaylee. They sure have lot of fun together.
We are excited to announce that we are going to be adding another addition to the family. We found out that we are having another little boy! We are planing on naming him Michael Jeffry Victors. He is due to arrive on March 27.

Well, we were all set up for our new life as we had it planned. We were planning on heading up to Alaska to our new house, and for Miles to continue working at AK Supply as their Field Engineer. We had our five year plan and we were just about to embark on that Journey, when Heavenly Father let us know that things would be different. On the week of Thanksgiving, Miles received an e-mail that changed all of that. The company he was working for was making some major cut-backs, and decided that there was no longer a position for him there. Through much prayer, fasting, pondering and weighing out our options, we decided that we would not be going to Alaska after all. We also decided that we would have to sell our house and that we would be staying down here in Colorado with my parents. So we put our house on the market, and within one week we have an offer on the table and the paperwork is rolling forth. Although this has been a major curve-ball compared to our original plan, we know that Heavenly Father has been with us through it all. We have grown closer as a family and also to our Heavenly Father. This has been a great blessing in disguise. Although Miles still does not have a job lined up yet, we know that things will work out. How grateful we are for Parents who have been so supportive and helpful through all of this.

So as the Holiday Season is upon us, and as our situation has humbled us, I would like to take this opportunity to let you know how I feel about the Savior and our Heavenly Father. I know that God loves each of us so much! I know that he is aware of our fears, trials, joys, struggles, and the desires of our heart. I know that we are never alone, no matter what we have done to pull away from our Heavenly Father. He loves us so much that he gave us the greatest gift that has ever been given. He gave us the gift of His Son Jesus Christ. I know that through the Savior we have a constant companion and help, and that we can all return to live with our Heavenly Father. I love that one of the names given to the Savior is Emanuel, which means, God with us. I know that He is with us, and if we will listen with our hearts, we will feel His presence. He truly is the Prince of peace! I pray that we may all remember Him more, not only now, but throughout all the year.

We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! May your heart be filled with love as we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ!

Love,

Monica, Miles, Hyrum, and (soon to be) Michael