My Christmas Letter!

While I'm on a roll, I decided I should probably put this here so it doesn't get lost.  I'm actually quite proud of it. Even if I can't get the pictures to post :(

A New Zealand Journey
-and-
The year of the Con
2015

So I really do need to start with the end of last year.  You see, I went to Middle Earth last December, and I had the TIME of my LIFE!  My friend Kellie went with me, and we met so many great people and did so many fun things! We were there for Red Carpet Tour’s Lord of the Rings tour, including the Premiere of the final Hobbit movie in Wellington!  There’s really too much to go over in a single letter, so please check out my pictures on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ Julia Andersen (from Laurel, Md)

Getting back from such an amazing trip took a while – and I’m not just talking about the plane ride.  I did have more travels planned, though.

February: off to FanX in Salt Lake City where I got to meet Carrie Fisher!! (for those keeping track, this is Con number 1)  I also dressed in my dwarf costume, which went over really well.

April: off to NYC to meet up with friends from the New Zealand Tour, for three nights of The Lord of the Rings, complete with full orchestra, Howard Shore, and soloists.  The days were spent running around NYC playing tourist, the evenings were spectacular.  Not really a con, but it was fan related so I think it counts.

April again: at the end of the month my nephew Doug returned with honor from his Mission for our church.  He served in the San Diego, California mission.  Such a cutie!  I got to stay with my brother and his family while there, which was so fun.

May: Off to see my niece Anna before she left on her mission to the Arcadia California Mission (Spanish Speaking).  We even sang for her Sacrament Meeting, me, two sisters, two brothers, our dad, and my niece.  It was great.

June: Spent one Saturday at the Joy in the Journey LDS Single Adult Conference in Frederick MD.  Came back enlightened and encouraged to do better (can’t we always do better?)

July: My first Supernatural Convention, held in DC so I took the Metro in and out each day.  The con was really good, and I got to meet Mark Sheppard and Misha Collins!!  (I think we’re up to Con 3)

August: The very next weekend I went to Richmond for a Wizard World Comic-Con.  I got to meet Billy Boyd!!!  I dressed as a hobbit, of course!

October: Off to Tulsa and Wizard World Comic Con with my niecie Daph!  We got to meet Sean Astin and Christian Kane!!  Ok, Christian was just me, but she was thrilled to meet Guy Gilchrist (he draws a frog, a pig and a bear!).  She even got a drawing of Miss Piggy from him!  I got a hug from Christian, so we were both very happy.

November: Time to go to Tucson AZ for the family reunion!  It was amazing.  Kudos to my sister Kathy for hosting this time.  We did a 5K walk Thanksgiving morning, and more than made up for it that afternoon.  And there was pie.  Lots and lots of pie!

So 5 Science Fiction/Comic-Con Conventions.  Yes I dressed up most days, though I did repeat several costumes.  Next year I’ll probably not do quite so many.

For Christmas I’ll be going out to Utah to spend it with a couple of sisters and their families.  The big news for next year is that I’m moving to California.  I’ll definitely have to do Christmas Cards next year – or maybe Easter cards! – because I’ll have a new address!!