Dear Family, Let’s get the important news out of the way first. Saturday, February 4th was the 19th annual “Krispy Kreme Challenge,” a five-mile footrace that begins and ends at the North Carolina State University bell tower. It’s a fairly straightforward and not especially memorable out-and-back course – a few noticeable hills but nothing too…
Author: Timothy Willis
Managing Editor of The Famlet Monthly
On scenic bluffs, appliance nightmares, and where Grace might very well possibly go to college (vol. xxvii, no. 1)
Dear Family, I am starting to write this letter at 10:22 p.m. on Friday, January 27th, inside my tent at the Marsden Tract Campground perched atop a bluff overlooking the Potomac River a little less than 3 miles south of Great Falls. It’s 30 degrees Fahrenheit, and I suppose I’ll continue typing until my hands…
On timely Christmas gifts, silly Christmas traditions, music in abundance, and “a railroad line on the road to Hell” (vol. xxvi, no. 12)
Dear Family, Let us begin by tying off two loose ends from last month’s letter so people will stop pestering me about them. First, regarding the demise of our 29-year-old bread machine last month, Grandma (Christine) and Grandpa gave us a new one for Christmas. Crystal put it to work that very day to make…
On the agony of more trips to the orthopedist, the ecstasy of airport reunions, and the singular joy of helping introduce refugees to Thanksgiving (vol. xxvi, no. 11)
Dear Family, As the holiday season gets underway, we note with sadness the passing of our beloved bread machine, which stopped working on Thanksgiving while Crystal was making rolls. A bridal shower gift to Crystal from Rod and Karel nearly 29 years ago, the appliance was an important source of sustenance to us during our…
On being a fanboy, broken vows, unconventional birthday celebrations, Grace’s homecoming date, and an inordinate amount of boasting over coming in second (vol. xxvi, no. 10).
Dear Family, I got my picture taken with one of my heroes this month! I am not attaching it, however, because of a vow I made with myself nine years ago. I think it was nine years ago – I am trying to remember the circumstances. For whatever reason, I was on an overnight flight…
On failed and successful auditions, interfaith unity, and lots and lots of complaining (vol. xxvi, no. 9)
Dear Family, As if further evidence were needed that I am not a very good father, I found myself feeling a sense of relief earlier this month upon learning that Grace had not been cast in Northwood High School’s fall production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Grace had auditioned for the role of a fairy….
On fastidiousness, officiousness, and the temple dedication account you won’t get anywhere else. (Also, more bike crashes, school starts, etc., etc.) (vol. xxvi, no. 8)
Dear Family, “I met your sister in the temple this week!” Those are the words I was greeted with at church two Sundays ago by a smiling 80-year-old ordinance worker in our ward whom I’ve known since I attended her baptism 16 years ago. I told her I didn’t have a sister and asked if…
On Idaho, Palmyra, and some unconventional reasons why bike commuting is profitable (vol. xxvi, no. 7)
Dear Family, First, a coda to the final eighteen paragraphs of last month’s letter. I probably got more email in response to those paragraphs than in response to anything I have ever written. (This is not an especially high bar, but it’s a bar.) I responded to almost none of these emails, not because I…
On pool operators, summer camp counselors, mispronounced vowels, and why accepting divine rejection is hard (for me) (vol. xxvi, no. 6)
Dear Family, In some respects, it feels like we’ve been gradually transitioning into summer for a month and a half. I’m not sure why that is, but there’s no denying we’re fully immersed in it now. The end of the school year has brought a significant change in employment status for three of our house’s…
On Crystal’s new job, Grace’s covid-riddled musical, prom, Sophie at the Tabernacle organ, and the most romantic anniversary celebration imaginable (vol xxvi, no. 5)
Dear Family, Crystal got a new job this month. It’s not that Crystal’s 18-month stint as a para-educator hasn’t had its thrills. And I am sure she is looking forward to her final two weeks of helping her little cadre of (mostly) boys on the autism spectrum navigate the treacherous waters of middle school. But…