Foley Christmas Card - 2025

Merry Christmas from the Foleys!  For many years we sent out Christmas cards and letters by mail. We loved that opportunity to connect by sharing our year and expressing our love and appreciation for each of you.  It became more difficult over the years and then as missionaries for two Christmases we got out of that habit. However on the other hand we were able to develop mad blogging skills.  So for 2025 here is both our Christmas card for the year and our eight-month-home update!

Family

PC: The amazing Lori Garcia

This Christmas has been the very first time since 2022 that we have had all of our posterity together in one place.  Since that last gathering, our children have given us one additional grandchild (Will) and one additional granddog (Max).  It has been so nice since our return to spend individual time with each family member, including visits by them to our home and trips by us to them in Connecticut, Virginia, Utah, and elsewhere.  Now over Christmas we are enjoying a couple weeks of all-together time.  We have made big meals, gone out to eat, watched movies, played games, attended a live nativity, took family photos, saw the Nutcracker, hit the gym and pool, and much more.  And we still have another week and a half to go!

“What are you doing now?”

This is definitely the most frequent question we get.  Life is still busy, but it is a different busy.  Instead of counseling missionaries and working with Young Single Adults, we are (in addition to our family time mentioned above) preparing and teaching a weekly adult religion class together, serving frequently in the temple, serving in church callings (Elders Quorum President for Sean and Gospel Doctrine teacher for Vivian), exercising, doing home projects, and volunteering weekly with the nonprofits Days for Girls and Pawsperity. 

As for work, we both considered going back either full or part time, but have not felt that is the right path. We are very blessed to be OK financially and so are just focusing on the other parts of life.  We “never say never” but for right now, it seems like we are really staying retired!

Also we definitely plan to serve again as full-time missionaries, but not right away.  We know some amazing “serial missionaries” that serve back-to-back and have the greatest admiration for them, but we have not felt that was the right path for us. One of these days though we will be back out there!

The Reason for the Season

The past month we have been blessed as we take time in gospel study.  Together we are studying Matthew and in Alma in the Book of Mormon.  In my personal study I am in 3 Nephi focusing on when Christ came to the people of America and am also re-reading the book “The Second Coming of the Lord” by Gerald Lund. And we are also very much enjoying going back and viewing The Chosen (for the 7^th or 8^th time). 

All of this study and being back in the temple (after 18 months of very limited access) have really strengthened our testimony of Jesus Christ, His birth, and His mission.  We are so grateful for this Christmas celebration, back around family and home where we can think of Him and try to share His light with others. Most of all we are grateful for Him!

Love,

Sean and Vivian

Photos

Nutcracker at the Kauffman Center (Willow loved it but hid for the picture)

Grandma's craft camp

The entire gang at Andy's

Lots of time in the kitchen

Adult dinner out at Lula's

Another trip to Kauffman, this time for A Charlie Brown Christmas

And yet again at Kauffman for The Messiah

Thanksgiving crowd

Light the World!

Back on the Bike

Hard to say goodbye after visits!

Cold beaches are better than no beaches