Friends and Family,
We have had an eventful, exciting 2017, concluding our seven years in Shanghai and moving back to Michigan! Here are some of the highlights:
John loves his job as the VP of Global Operations for Ford Smart Mobility. It’s been fun for him to move from Shanghai skyscrapers to six acres of land — quite a change, driving the riding lawn mower and having campfires in the backyard! When we moved to Michigan, he was released as the branch president and called as the Young Men’s president.
Laurel loves being home in America! Costco, no pollution, good health care, closer to family… With all the doctors' appointments she has taken Mia and Tessa to this year, she could probably be a doctor herself. She found a small personal training gym to teach Zumba two mornings a week. She enjoys her calling as a Relief Society teacher. She had two great vacations with John this year: one in the Maldives and another in Italy celebrating their 20th anniversary!
Emma finished her freshman year at BYU this spring. She spent the summer performing in two shows at Pickleville Playhouse in Utah. For fall semester she lived at home with us in Saline being “super nanny” and working at the store Loft as she prepares to serve in the Taiwan Taipei Mission. She enters the Provo MTC on December 20th. Christmas in the MTC!
James was a lead in the spring musical and thrived in his classes at Concordia. Moving back for his senior year was difficult, but he is adjusting well. He almost has his driver’s license and works several nights a week at a local grocery store. He is part of his new school’s robotics team and ultimate frisbee club. He loves all things math/science/technology. For his college applications, he wrote about Artificial Intelligence as a topic so enthralling that he loses track of time when thinking about it.
Eliza is also adapting well to life in Saline. She is in 10th grade this year, does gymnastics and performed in the school play Inherit the Wind. Eliza is extremely helpful at home, especially with Mia—they are like soul sisters! She is also super artsy—she loves playing the piano and trying new things she finds on Pinterest.
Tessa is in 5th grade and growing up fast—she started using lockers in school and has braces now. Tessa loves her dance classes and is a good reader. She doesn’t love playing the piano, but faithfully wakes up early most mornings to practice. Tessa enjoys attending Activity Days and watching Studio C.
Mia has had an eventful year as she became an American citizen and was sealed to our family in the Logan temple! She is in Kindergarten and has new leg braces and a walker to use at school. Mia loves riding our ATV with James and jumping on the trampoline. She wishes we would let her watch TV on school nights and we wish she didn’t wear diapers and would still speak Chinese with us.
We wish you all a Merry Christmas! How grateful we are for the Light of the World.
Love,
The Larsens
