Merry Christmas 2006

Dear Friends & Family,
Each year I am amazed at how the past 12 months have flown by. It’s December already! Now, you know what that means!? Yes, the coveted, Christmas Letter. It’s the way to communicate, often because we didn’t communicate!
Debby & I celebrated our 35th Anniversary in January, rather quietly, with a few friends. She was very busy planning our 3-week trip to Europe! So following the intensive planning and creating an itinerary, we flew out of Portland just before school turned out. We met up with Ron & Nancy Pinkerton in NYC and shared a plane to Rome, Italy for 4 days in a Villa. We visited many wonderful sights in Rome, Florence, Venice, Munich, Garmisch-Partenkirken (German Bavaria…you know, oom pah pah, lederhosen, Wiener Schnitzel, bratwurst, yodeling, etc.), Frankfurt, Darmstadt (where I spent 2 years in USAF), a quick day trip to Innsbruck, Austria, then a week in Paris with a visit to Normandy. Flying back from Paris, we stopped in NYC for 2 days to enjoy the sights, sounds and graffiti. You can read about it in my blogs.
My daughter, husband and the 3 are doing okay, although it’s been hard for them. Our grand-daughter continues to run away, often gone weeks at a time before she is found and returned. No one seems to be able to “fix her”. Today she is home (I think). She is only 14.
Our youngest grandson is 11 and is doing okay. He has been out of school so much this year that I’m thinking about giving him an application to work at Taco Bell !
Our heartbreak this year is worrying about Aaron, our oldest grandson (13). He was diagnosed with Leukemia this year and has been undergoing Chemo Therapy treatments. The treatments have been hard on him but he has a great attitude and stays positive. The treatments will last another 2 ½ years. Please keep him in your prayers.
Eric moved to Texas to work for Sherwin-Williams in an assistant manager training position. He has an apartment, car and freedom! Matt continues to work for Oklahoma Christian University; still travels a lot. He recently returned from a cruise with several friends and had a great time. He is also coming home for Christmas. The Lord willing, all of us will be together for Christmas this year.
Debby is sharing her First Grade teaching responsibilities at Columbia Christian School with her co-teacher, Ami. They each teach half a week. It’s a great working relationship and frees her up to do other interests. She loves Columbia Christian School and will have a hard time retiring someday! She’s not ready yet, because she wants “Dawson” to be in her class! She flew back to the mid-west a couple of times this year to be with her Mom & Dad as they were going through some health issues. Debby & I enjoy traveling to various places and enjoying our “empty nest” time together.
I am still working for a Mechanical Contractor as Service Manager. I turned 60 this year and plan to retire in 2 more! Yea! I am still active and healthy. I enjoy the great outdoors and find time to do plenty of hiking and backpacking in this part of the country. We have lots of friends and are very busy with extended family and friends. Dawson, our grandson” (Ami’s) turned 2 this year! Whoa!! He’s BUSY! He’s also a wonderful blessing to us. They have 3 other boys.
We continue to be very active in church. As an elder, I am busy with more things than I can talk about. We have been having a Bible Study in our home. We facilitate a “Homebuilder’s” marriage class of 6 of the most amazing couples! We also host a wonderful “Care Group” of 12. We meet nearly every Sunday at noon. We all bring food and share together, family style. We spend time writing encouragement cards to people who have expressed a need for prayers at church and for those going through family health struggles. Our “Fellowship Group” of 6 meets monthly, inviting 6 others each time to join us for dinner. Our “Leadership Group” of 24 (soon to be 26) meets monthly to fellowship and eat together. We are very encouraged! We both teach classes and serve at church in many ways. It’s all good! We have no family out here who wants to share in our life, so we supplement with those who do!
My backpacking venture on the Wonderland Trail around part of Mt. Rainier this summer was the most amazing trip I’ve ever taken! (See my blog). I had a crew of 8 backpackers this year. We had a wonderful experience.

Natasha, a local college student has “adopted” us and lives with us while going to school. She is a lot of fun and keeps us entertained. We have been chosen to be her guardians while she goes to Cascade College. We’re proud of her! She breaks up the silence when it gets too quiet around the house and we try to encourage her in her school work.
God has been gracious and we are filled with an abundance of His blessings. Even with all the “not so good” things that happen, we can always open our eyes and see “the blessing” that God gives us. We hope your hearts are also filled.

May the Spirit of Christmas dwell in your hearts. May the gift of Blessings be yours in abundance. May God hold you in the palm of His hand, near His heart, as He cares for you and blesses your children.