Sunday 12/28 was our last day at Grammy & Papa's before headed home on Monday. Our family was the only one there after church and we enjoyed the time visiting with one another. On our way back from New Mexico, we stayed with Tommie and Karen for the night. The kids enjoyed being with their cousins and being goofy (like a plank contest).
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| You have to look closely to see Aubree sleeping in the back |
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| I had fun playing with old pictures of my kids with AI. |
2025 has been a year of changes and travels (Helen GA, Boston MA, Paris France, Alaska, Ft Lauderdale FL, and San Antonio TX) for the Farrell family. We have lengthened our stride.
Renee' has experienced a year of growth through with "faith evolutions" scattered throughout the year. There have been many times I felt alone, yet on the same hand buoyed up by my Heavenly Father. I am hoping to become better than I was and to more trust in God's timing and path for my life. I have not accomplished anything spectacular but I have made it through the year still smiling.
Jake is still serving and bishop, which he so very much enjoys. He leads with love (words someone used to describe him in November) not only Heavenly Father’s Bartlett ward but in our home. He has developed a new liking for trucks after owning one for a year now. He especially likes the get up in it because it’s electric.
Ginny, the traveling queen this year! Ginny worked full time up through May and decided she wanted to temp to allow her to travel more and be off when she wanted and she did just that. She ventured to Boston MA, Paris France, and little weekend getaways.
Aubree has made her way back from Utah to Tennessee and is enrolled in the nursing program at UTHSC. Being back here may not be her favorite but we enjoy seeing her more and see her continue to blossom into a beautiful adult. Her days seem to spent either at school, studying, or at the gym. She is a dedicated to getting her RN. Aubree ended the year with knee surgery (torn meniscus) and is non-weight bearing for six weeks….she is not enjoying that.
Will got his braces off and is one handsome boy. He loves Chick Fil A, maybe a little too much. He is working towards preparing for a mission and rounding out his senior year of high school. Will has learned to value the temple. One of my favorite moments from this year was seeing he and his dad (we have plenty of young men but it was a moment for them together) bless the sacrament together.
Christopher lives his best life. He is learning to drive and that is an adventure for us all. He is extremely cautious and tries to avoid driving when we allow him. Christopher is a gatherer of people and enjoys getting his friend group together as often as possible.
2025 brought laughter, growth, and memories for our family. We count ourselves fortunate this year and continually pray for our loves ones who may not have experienced different overall feelings. May we all continue to see the Lord's tender mercies in our lives and turn to Him. Let us allow His grace to transform us and make us whole. We are excited to see 2026 has in store for our tribe.
Yesterday morning when it was time to help Aubree out of the shower, she told me she felt like she was going to pass out. We turned off the shower and I wrapped a towel around her, then she put her send around my neck. I told Ginny to go get Jake to be in standby but she and him cane running in after u yelled for Jake. Within seconds of Aubree putting her arms around me, she passed out and slid down my body despite my best efforts to hold her up. She was unresponsive as I tried to wake her, with both legs bent on the shower floor. I feel and felt horrible. She came to in a few seconds and was in tears with excruciating pain in her knee that is non-weight bearing. It took all three of us to get her from the shower floor to the bed. My heart hurt so bad seeing her in that much physical pain and knowing I was unable to hold her when she blacked out. Ginny did not leave her side for most of the morning. We feel a contributing factor is that she is barely eating. Once we got the pain a little more under control, I had to take a few minutes and let a few tears come. The surgeon called her in more pain medication yesterday and will see her when we get back to Tennessee. Today the pain is better and we hope that the she did not re-tear the meniscus.
I did not sleep well last night and kept seeing my baby girl (okay not a baby, baby, but my kids are forever my babies) on the shower floor with her legs bent in opposite directions. After I did fall asleep, when I woke up during the night bring onto the restroom, I saw Elder Jeffrey R Holland, one of the twelve apostles had passed. I love Elder Holland. His talk have built my faith and pierced my soul more than any other apostle or prophet I recall.
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| Christmas afternoon with my boys. |
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| Grammy & Papa with my 4 and Brennan & Conner Fullmer |
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| Conner, Sarah, David, & Brennan Fullmer |
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| This man loved me so good & is a source of joy! |
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| Stopped by village coming back from Alamogordo. |
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| Walking a minute to see the lights. |
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| Playing around with AI…. |
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| My family in Jackson Christmas Day |
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| I love our families so much |
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| Aubree resting some 12/27/25 |
What a blessing it is to know that our Savior was born and lives today.
This season I am trying to focus more in His gifts to me and my family and the gifts we can offer him.
I love the message that was shared from general young women’s presidency (Emily Belle Freeman, President). Dear friends,
“Our Christmas wish for you is inspired from the holy story in Luke 2.
May you have the heart of Mary and find the quiet courage of saying yes to God, even when you don’t know how everything will unfold.
May you stand steady like Joseph and protect goodness in all the places you are.
May you celebrate like the angels and find ways to rejoice in Christ this Christmas season.
May you run to Him like the shepherds, and then share your witness of His wonders with all you know.
May you seek like the Wise Men, with all your heart, trusting He will lead you exactly where you need to be.
May you make room like the innkeeper—room for kindness, for compassion, and for God to work miracles in unexpected places.
And as you remember the baby Himself, our wish is that you will feel His love this year in a way that is unmistakable.”
We are having a wonderful time in New Mexico with Jake’s family. We left Sunday (12/21) and drove to Abilene to stay with TW and Karen, and drove to Cloudcroft on 12/22. Megan and Jenny were also here a couple days but left the morning of 12/24. Staying with tradition, we did Reindeer games on 12/23 and a Christmas concert 12/24 followed by reading the Christmas Story in Luke 2 and watching “The Other Wiseman”. The messages shared and testimonies bore were beautiful. I felt my Savior’s love.
Christmas morning, the kids came to our room and received a small gift or 2 from Jake and I. I am so blessed to have the husband and children I do.
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| Jake & his dad after Reindeer games (courtesy of Papa’s daughter & Will) |
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| Reindeer games |
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| Walked to the village together. |
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| Wherever the baby was, so was Ginny. |
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| Jake holding his great nephew (Brian & Maddie Langford’s son, TJ) |
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| And the journey begins |
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| Headed home from church to get ready to leave (Jake had to do a bishop thing or two). |
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| Lunch with my parents on 12/20 before leaving town. |
