Yokley Christmas Letter 2011

December 2011


Merry Christmas!

We would like to start this letter by saying that whether good times or bad, we are blessed.  We are blessed to have you as family and friends and blessed to know our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the honored guest on Christmas Day.

2011 has been a good year for us.  January, Cliff and I experience Yosemite National Park after a snow.  Even though Yosemite is nearly in our back yard, we have never been there in the winter.  It's a breath taking, spiritual experience where God invites you to see Him, no matter the season.

Spring chimed in, starting with almond blossoms and a variety of flowers as we waited with bated breath for Corry's homecoming from Europe, in April.  He was deployed to Germany, and even though it was only 6 months, we had missed him!!  Technology is certainly a blessing with computers and Skype (a way to communicate visually by computer across the seas).  Our hearts were filled with joy welcoming him home as he told stories of Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Greece and The Netherlands (I feel like I'm missing a country or two...oh well).

The month of May was an exciting month for us as Cliff completed his 3 3/4 year rebuild project of Odessa, our 14 foot 1971 Roadmaster travel trailer.  All I can say is, "she's a beauty!"  Cliff tore her apart down to the metal frame, keeping pieces for patterns, and masterfully pieced her back together to a custom fit for us!  I LOVE her!  We took her on her maiden voyage in May and have taken many local camp trips in her since.  We have not only enjoyed her, but met so many nice people along the way.

Odessa's Transformation Video Link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtZswSR2QGk

We were blessed to schedule another trip to Yosemite in June and this time we met up with an old Vernonia High School friend of mine, Mike, and his wife, Cindy.  It was their first visit to Yosemite and we were just excited to see them as it had been a good 25 years or more.  It was beyond great to reunite with old friends, and doing so in such a beautiful place!

Yosemite with Friends Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61SzWJGQleg


A shout out to friends and family this past July, who helped make the two movies submitted to the 6th Annual New Life Film Festival (from the Yokley and Rios families) titled “The Adventures of Cliff on a Stick” and “Buster’s Identity Crisis.” Both were extremely entertaining and were awarded notable prizes. (chuckle)

August was our annual trek to Oregon. On our way there we were so excited to spend time with friends that had moved to Grants Pass (hello Dave and Cathy!). We had not seen each other for a year and I don’t think 24 hours was enough to catch up!! Then we were on our way to pick up Mom on our way to Vernonia. Gosh it’s so good to be with family after so much time in-between. We sure love the family potlucks you put on and it’s nice to have that time to visit with all of you. I would name you, but there are a lot of y’all in the Welch family! We were also very fortunate to have some of my BEST friends from childhood stop by for a meal, good visit and golf game (what a riot). A shout out to Mike, Cindy (yes the same ones), Kathi, Bill and the beloved Deborah! Sorry Rich couldn’t make it! We traveled the Oregon Coast back home and the weather was unbelievably beautiful the entire way. We also discovered a hidden gem, Sunset Bay State Park that we hope is a future destination with Odessa.

Our last camp trip with Odessa was last month and we invited the kids and grandkids up for the day.  It was terribly cold, but we made the most of it.  It happened to be tarantula migration season, and we were hoping our grandson, Maycin, would be able to go home with a pet!  Sure enough, he did!!  He named his tarantula Jonah.  Along with camping we had a fantastic Thanksgiving with everyone attending (kids and grandkids).  Also, it’s nice when the kids host…Gilbert and Ashlee hosted this year and it was lovely.

Cliff and I are extremely proud of our kids…Corry’s service to our country, Ashlee’s Trash Bags purse business, Lacee’s humor and pursuit of a future and Gilbert’s expertise in the kitchen…along with our grandkids Maycin’s artistic ability and Margo’s undeniable cuteness.  How fortunate we are to have a close relationship with each of them.  God has truly blessed us!!

Merry Christmas and have a blessed New Year!!

Christmas Letter 2010

2010...a year to remember...

A year ago in January, I was 1 of 10 finalist in my first photography contest ever.  It happened to be with "The Pioneer Woman," Ree Drummond.  My photo earned a $100 gift card and I was tickled pink since there were close to 80,000 entries in all.  The winning photo is below.  You have to understand photography to get it, I suppose!  =o)

In February Cliff and I took a much needed get-away trip to the coast and just soaked up the sounds, smells and sights!  the beach just seems to magically renew our spirits and relax our minds.  It's one of our favorite things to do together.

In March, Cliff and I took a road trip to Tempe, Arizona to visit Ashlee, Gilbert, Maycin and Margo.  The weather was perfect and we so enjoyed being with our kids and grand-kids!  They showed us the sights and we also got a chance to visit the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden before we left.  It was beautiful and there were saguaro cacti throughout.  We stopped at Sedona, Arizona on our way home...too beautiful for words!  If you have never been there before, put it on your bucket list!

April was a difficult month for us.  While we were in Arizona, someone had hijacked our credit card # online, and we had to stop the card and they reissued us another.  In the mean time Dad was very ill and we needed to get back on the road to Oregon this time.  BUT, because we didn't have a credit card (we were waiting for the new one), we were unable to leave right away.  You need a credit card to secure motel rooms, car rentals, etc., even though you pay in cash.  So, there was a bit of a delay.  Then when we finally got on the road, we were delayed again with bad weather and it took 3 days to get there.  The time with Dad was short, but we were blessed to have what time we did.  Dad went to be with the Lord June 7th.  I miss him terribly.

The end of May and the beginning of June, Ashlee and family moved back to California and our family grew from 3 to 7 overnight!  The Rios family lived with us for 3 months before Gilbert was hired at the University of California Merced in the food services department.  They are now on their own and live in the cutest house only a mile from us!  It's great to have them back in California!!

July was a month of celebration!  We celebrated Ashlee's 28th birthday on the 4th.  Later that evening we helped celebrate Lacee's best friend's engagement only to find out at the dinner that the happy couple would marry directly after our meal!  They got married at the fountain in Applegate Park...we sent them off with sparklers after their vows.  It was really quite a fun and lovely time.  The following day Cliff and I took another trip to the beach in celebration of his 60th!  Time sure flies when you live, love, laugh!

We made a second trip to Oregon in August for Dad’s Life Celebration (memorial).  It was a happy occasion in his honor.  It was a time to share his life with family and friends…friends I haven’t seen for decades.  It was just perfect, and I’m sure it was exactly what Dad would have wanted.

(Below:  Ron, Darwin, Short, Larry, Darlene, Idris and Gayle)

On our way back to California, Cliff and I took our time coming back down the Oregon and California Coast.  We were not on a schedule and took our time.  It was probably the best thing we could have done for the two of us with raw emotions and lack of rest.

Corry left for Germany in October for a 6 month deployment with the US Air Force working on the Ramstein Air Base.  Corry is taking advantage of his stay in Germany, and touring the beautiful historic villages and cities on his weekends.  He is good to keep in touch and post photos via Internet.  What a blessing modern technology is!!!

Pictured below is Corry at the Trier Roman Baths

Christmas truck in Rothenburg

Quaint streets of Rothenburg

Rothenburg Cathedral

Lacee is still taking college courses, working and just recently got hired as an employee with Rite-aid.  They are promising her more hours than her other job, and she's excited about that!  Lacee's hair style this year went from platinum blond afro to short, short hair cut, to growing it out to have it cut into a Mohawk, and now she has a short, almost bald hair cut.  She is the only person that I know that can wear any hair style and still look fabulous!  Her hair definitely matches her unique, lovely quirkiness that we so love! 

I continue to enjoy my passion for photography and Cliff is nearing the completion of our 1971 Roadmaster retro travel trailer (named Odessa, meaning long voyage).  Odessa has been in rebuilding mode for 3 years now (bought her September 2007).  Cliff's attention to detail and quality craftsmanship is creating a beauty!

Maycin/Buster Photo Shoot



Our Odessa!  What a makeover!!!

In closing, Christmas for us is a time of preparation and celebration for our Lord, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  It's a time for fellowship, warmth, gifts, good food and memories.  Cliff and I encourage you to read the inspirational Christmas Story, Luke 2:1-20.  Jesus is much more than a baby in the manger.  That baby in the manger was the beginning of mankind's redemption.

Merry Christmas and blessings to you and yours!

Cliff and Gayle

PS  If you would like to see more photos and keep up with the Roadmaster (Odessa) updates, log onto:  http://www.myroadmaster.blogspot.com/