Highlights from 2024

 Highlights from 2024

• Vernon completed his 17th year teaching at FIU and 5th traveling to England with study abroad students
• Danielle became the SLP Clinical Director at work
• Vernon and Danielle traveled several times to Utah to visit wonderful and adorable grandkids--and others who happen to be there as well :)
• Vernon and Danielle continued serving in the temple and their callings (Bishop and counselor in the RS)

• Brennan continues serving as a full-time missionary in the Ogden Utah Mission (16 months out)
• Erik graduated high school, attended BYU Provo, and was called to the Chile La Serena Mission

Martinez Family 

• Charlie (Alanna’s husband) earned his MBA
• Alanna keeps up with 2 little ones while being pregnant with a 3^rd (boy, due in May)
• Leo is progressing with his language development, attends Pre-K, and gave Grandma the name “Mum mum”
• Olivia keeps up with her big brother and gives the best snuggles

Happy New Year!

We hope 2025 is wonderful and full of blessings for you and your loved ones.

Happy New Year 2024! From the Dickson Family

 2023 was a great year for our family. 

Here are some highlights:

Erik

• England Trip
• Driver's License
• Senior Year
• Brennan's mission
• Working at Crumbl Cookies
• Cousin Matt visits
• FSY (For Strength of Youth)

Brennan

• Being a missionary
• Christmas
• Shared early birthday with Erik
• England Trip
• Graduating High School
  

  

Alanna (Charlie, Leo, Olivia)

• Having Olivia join our family
• Watching Leo become a big brother
• Buying our house
• Seeing family throughout the year
• Charlie moving to day shift
  
  
  

Danielle

• Grandbaby visits (Leo and Olivia)
• Brennan's graduation, temple endowment, and mission
• Erik's Senior year
• England Trip
• Alaskan Cruise with Schaugaard Family
• Serving in the temple
• New job in private speech therapy
• Anniversary trip to Daytona
• Celebrating my 50th with friends
• Christmas with family

Vernon

• England trip with students and then also family (yay!)
• Brennan's endowment and choice to service a mission
• Alaska cruise with the Schaugaards
• Extra visits with my mom and brothers
• Serving in the Ft. Lauderdale Temple
• Our anniversary trip to Daytona and St. Augustine
• Christmas with Matt and our friends
• Working at FIU with wonderful students and friends 
• So many precious moments as Bishop

We wish you all a wonderful new year filled with the blessings of the Lord!

Happy New Year 2023

 Dickson Family Top Ten 2022

Erik

1.    1.      FSY (For Strength of Youth Conference)
2.      Christmas
3.       My 16^th Birthday
4.       Arizona Trip
5.       Drafting Program at Technical College
6.       Thanksgiving with Matt
7.       Alanna's family visiting for spring break 
8.       Florida Keys Trip with the youth
9.       General Conference
10.   Naples Ian hurricane clean-up

Br  Brennan

1.     1.  FSY (For Strength of Youth Conference)

 2.   2.  Christmas

3.    3.  Arizona trip to visit Dickson Family

       4.  My 18^th Birthday

       5.   Halloween

       6.  Thanksgiving week with Matt

       7.  General Conference

       8.  Alanna’s family visit for Spring Break

       9.  Young Men’s Florida Keys trip

      10.  Accepted to BYU-Idaho

      

      Danielle

1.       Continuous blessings from the Lord
2.       Alanna’s family trip to Florida
3.       Sister’s trip to Boston/Cape Cod
4.       Anniversary trip with Vernon to Marco Island
5.       Utah National Park trips with Alanna, Charlie and Leo
6.       Arizona Summer Trip to see Dickson’s
7.       November trip to UT see Leo
8.       Looking forward to new Granddaughter in June
9.       Birthday celebrations with family & friends
10.   Christmas at home with family

     

      Vernon

1.       Study abroad trip to England
2.       Arizona trip to see Greg and his family
3.       Florida Key’s trip with the Young Men
4.       Alanna’s family’s trip to Florida
5.       Arches and Canyonland trip with Alanna’s family
6.       News of a new Granddaughter coming soon
7.       The chance to serve often in the temple
8.       Excellent and uplifting General Conferences
9.       Being the Bishop in the wonderful Ft. Lauderdale Ward
10.   Anniversary trip to Marco Island

Wishing you all a Happy New Year.

 May your 2023 be filled with love and hope!

Happy New Year 2022

 Happy New Year 
From the Dicksons

We have so much to be grateful for this past year!

Here are some of the highlights!

Erik's Highlights:

• Getting my Driving Permit
• Spending time at home with my family
• Being able to go out  to AZ and spend time with extended family this Thanksgiving
• Getting good grades in school
•  Meeting my nephew, Leo
•  Receiving my Patriarchal blessing
• Going to Galaxy's Edge with Matt
•  Spending time with my Dad's boardgamer friends
•  Being home for the holidays and birthdays
•  Being able to pick the Drafting Technical program for school

Brennan's Highlights:

• Christmas
• My 17^th birthday
• Thanksgiving with family and my new nephew, Leo in Arizona
• Galaxy’s Edge with Matt and my family
• Getting my driver’s license
• Taking a trip to the Keys with the young men in my ward
• Halloween
• Studying digital media/multimedia design in my Technical program at school
• Receiving my Patriarchal Blessing
• Spending time with my family

Danielle's Highlights:

• Being a grandma
• Not getting Covid
• Visiting the Dickson Family for Thanksgiving in Arizona
• Going to Disney’s Galaxy's edge with my nephew Matt
• Brennan getting his driver’s license (no early morning seminary run)
• Starting work at a new school
• Serving as an Ordinance worker in the Ft. Lauderdale Temple
• Enjoying an anniversary trip to Palm Beach with Vernon
• A wonderful summer trip to Utah for my annual Sister's trip, my niece’s wedding and meeting my beautiful grandson, Leo.

Vernon's highlights:

• Danielle--all she does, all she is, her unfailing example and love and strength, even (especially) when things are hard--love you so much!
• A wonderful anniversary trip with Danielle to Palm Beach
• The first extended Dickson family reunion in a long time--a beautiful Thanksgiving in Arizona with my brothers, their families, and our own.
• The chance to continue to serve as bishop of the Fort Lauderdale Ward with such wonderful leaders and members and friends--thank you, all!
• An excellent job at FIU with thoughtful, sincere, and talented colleagues and students--you all make work seem a lot less like work.
• Working in the temple--what a beautiful, clarifying, uplifting  weekly experience
• Board games, but especially the amazing friends and family that I get to play them with--you know who you are--thank you!
• Time with family: bike rides, films, events, time around the fire pit, shows, and, of course, board games
• An excellent family trip to Galaxy's Edge--so much fun--thank you, Matt!
• Alanna and Charlie gave us our first grandchild--sweet little Leo!

Happy New Year! Top 10 from 2020!

 

While 2020 had it's challenges, we have been blessed in many ways. Here are our top 10 lists for 2020!

Erik Top Ten

10. Thanksgiving

9. Easter

8. Halloween

7. Church Children & Youth Program

6. My Birthday

5. Matt Visits

4. Alanna's Wedding

3. Christmas

2. Family Time in the Pandemic

1. Family Summer Trip

Brennan Top Ten

10. Thanksgiving

9. Youth Conference

8. General Conferences

7. Alanna's wedding

6. Online school leaving time for more family time

5. Matt visits

4. Summer family trip

3. Family birthdays

2. My birthday

1. Christmas

Alanna and Charlie's Top Ten

10. Learning we are having a boy!

9. Charlie getting over Covid

8. Learning new games together

7. Spending the holidays with friends

6. Our summer trip with family

5. Spending time together in California

4. Our Honeymoon

3. Finding out we were pregnant

2. Getting engaged

1. Getting married

Danielle's Top Ten

10. Learning new skills as an Teletherapist (SLP) and working at home for a while

9. Having home-centered church with the sacrament in our home

8. Multiple visits from my nephew Matthew

7. Vacation to Jackson, WY with extended family

6. BYU visits with nieces and nephews

5. Meeting my son-in-law Charlie and his family

4. Zoom Christmas visits

3. 22nd Anniversary get-away to Palm Beach

2. Alanna's Wedding and seeing family and friends there

1. Finding out that I will be a Grandma in June!

Vernon's Top Ten

10. Family Boardgaming (lots of extra in 2020!)
9. Visiting my Mom early in the year

8. Wonderful extended family trip to Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming

7. Meeting Charlie and road tripping with him

6. BYU campus visits (so many great memories!)

5. Zoom - not my favorite, but I'm so grateful for it nonetheless

4. Great students and colleagues who have thrived and come together in difficult times

3. All the love and support I've received from my wonderful church family as bishop (love you all!)

2. Anniversary trip with Danielle (including performing my first wedding)

1. Alanna's Wedding and all those that could join us--plus her news: welcome Baby Leo!

We wish you all a happy and healthy new year!

Happy New Year 2019!

 Happy New Year from the Dickson Family!

Our Top Ten from 2019!

 Erik

10. Becoming an Eagle Scout

9. Scout Camp

8. General Conference

7. My 13^th Birthday

6. Thanksgiving with Matt (cousin)

5. Christmas

4. Dice Tower Con

3. First day of summer vacation

2. Nauvoo trip

1. Face to Face with Elder Gong

Brennan

10.  Becoming an Eagle Scout

9. High Adventure Camp

8. Halloween

7. My brother’s birthday

6. General Conference weekends

5. Thanksgiving with Matt (cousin)

4. Dice Tower Convention

3. My 15^th Birthday

2. Nauvoo trip

1. Christmas

 Alanna

10. Being able to visit Temple Square and stay connected with the Sisters

9. Spending Time with baby Samuel (cousin)

8. Reed and Mallory’s weddings

7. Going to Yellowstone with Charlie

6. BYU-I and great roommates

5. Figuring out my doctor mess

4. Family trip to Nauvoo

3. Spending summer with Grandma and Grandpa before he was gone

2. Being a temple worker

1. Training Sister Forbush!

Danielle

10. Getting my CCCs (National certification)

9. Vernon called as Bishop

8. Brennan and Erik becoming Eagle Scouts

7. General conference weekends

6. Alanna returning home from Temple Square mission

5. Being a SLP for children with autism

4. DTC with Dickson clan

3.Serving in the Ft. Lauderdale temple

2. Anniversary trip to Hollywood, FL

1. Family trip to Nauvoo with Schaugaard clan

Vernon

10. Brennan and Erik each earned their Eagle rank in scouting

9. Serving in the Ft. Lauderdale Temple (since it opened)

8. Very cool escape room experience in Indiana with my nephews and sons

7. Two articles accepted for publication

6. My nephew Reed’s wedding to Kaela—and a great trip to MO to visit Kevin’s family and friends

5. Dice Tower Con/Family Reunion—a highlight every year!

4. Humbling opportunity to now serve as bishop of our congregation

3. Wonderful family church history trip from Kirtland to Nauvoo to Liberty, ending with a great weekend with the Holmsteads.

2. 75^th Birthday Celebration with my Dad (who passed during the holidays—I will miss him)

1. Anniversary trip with Danielle to Hollywood Beach, FL

Wishing you all a wonderful new year 2020!

Top Ten 2018

Happy New Year from the Dickson Family

Here are our Top 10 Ten lists from 2018

Erik's Top Ten:

10. Scout Camp

9. Disney - New Toy Story Land for my birthday

8. Disney - Candlelight trip

7. Trip to Keys with Neil (my littlest cousin)

6. 1^st Temple baptism trip

5. Thanksgiving with Matt

4. 12^th Birthday

3. Christmas

2. Summer Break

1. Dice Tower Con with Cousins

Brennan's Top Ten

10. Scout Camp

9. Panama City Clean-up

8. Halloween

7. Easter

6. My 14^th Birthday

5. Christmas

4. Jason and Nora Keys Trip

3. Disney Trips with Matt

2. Thanksgiving

1. Dice Tower Con with cousins

Alanna is serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

She is serving at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, UT. She is having an amazing experience and sends her love!

Danielle's Top Ten:

10. Teaching Primary

9. Keys trip with Jason and Nora

8. Dice Tower Convention with Dickson Family

7. Hurricane Clean-up trip in Panama City

6. Sister’s trip to Chicago

5. 20th Anniversary trip with Vernon

4. Graduation trip with Alanna to Quebec, Canada

3. Erik’s 1^st temple trip and priesthood ordination

2. Completing my Master’s Degree in Speech-language Pathology from FIU/ Starting a new Job as an SLP

1. The blessings of having Alanna serving a mission at Temple Square SLC, UT

 Vernon's Top Ten:

10. Family Disney Trips (thanks, Matt!)

9. Going to the Keys with Jason, Nora, and Neil

8. Trip to Greg's Family (and the Dice Tower Retreat with Greg)

7. Literature Program Successes at FIU - especially a new FIU Intro to Literature text

6. Panama City Hurricane Clean-up 

5. Annual Dickson Family Reunion at the Dice Tower Boardgaming Convention

4. Alanna's Mission to Temple Square

3. Special Temple Trips with both Erik and Alanna

2. 20th Anniversary with Danielle (@ Naples, FL)

1. Study Abroad Trip to England