Happy New Year
Even though this has been a roller-coaster year for our family, we want to share with you some of its highlights. It seems like we always end our year with a longing to have spent more time with so many of you than we did. Each year flies by so quickly! Where does the time go??
Eric has been enjoying the year working for Kodak. He is a photographer, in Branson, Missouri at Silver Dollar City. Go and have your picture taken with some saloon girls! He also works part time as a waiter in a local Mexican restaurant. Stop in sometime and give him a nice, fat TIP!
Matt lives in Oklahoma City and works for a promotions company called Red House, http://www.thisisred.com, and also for a company that matches employers with potential employees, http://www.talentmax.net, as a “head hunter”. He just returned from taking a trip to Japan.
Teresa & Kevin still live here in Portland, not far from us. They are doing okay…could be better… but okay. Kevin works for the school district and Teresa does part time work cleaning houses. Emily, 16, is, and has been a run-a-way for quite some time. She dropped off her baby girl for mom and dad to take care of (more about that sweet girl in a minute). Thank you for your prayers for Aaron. He is now in his 3rd year of Chemo treatments. Although they are hard on him, he is doing quite well. He’s making mostly “A’s” in school and stays in shape by riding his new bike and bench-pressing his Tuba!
Evan is Evan. He is a busy boy! He loves video games and cutting up. He’s a bit hyper but he’s a good boy!
Melody Rose came into this world March 12th. She is a wonderful baby! We totally adore her! She is just now starting to crawl….well, mostly “scoot”. It won’t be long before she’s walking. I am her Great-Papa but Debby is still just “Grammy”, as she is in “D-Nile” about the “Great” part.
Debby is still the greatest teacher at Columbia Christian School. She really is! Her class is full….it usually is. Parents love to have their kids there for Deb to teach.
I just took on a new job as HVAC Service Manager with another company. I have been very pleased with it so far. My job is to build up the service department with work and manpower. I’m excited about it.
We didn’t take any stupendous vacations this year, but doing vacation planning for next year, perhaps to China. Debby & Ami took an educational trip to class Denver this summer. Debby also went to a class in Houston, Texas. I flew down to meet her and we spent some wonderful time with our friends, Bill & Debbie. I also took a group of 12, mostly Teens, from our church, into the Wallowa Mountains in August for a big backpacking adventure.
Our Grandson-of-the-heart, Dawson, is growing so fast! He’s 4 already! We just went with him and his family on a POLAR EXPRESS train trip in Hood River, Oregon. It was fun!
Natasha, our Daughter-of-the-heart, is in her last year of school at Cascade College. She “walks” in May. We are excited for her! She has been a great addition to our home these past 3-1/2 years.
Many more things have happened but that’s a taste of who we are.
May the joys of the Christmas holidays be yours to enjoy this year. We realize many families are fragmented and some are going through some hard financial times. The really important things, however, are free whether you are rich or poor, sick or healthy. THOSE are the things we wish for you!
Perhaps our paths will cross this next year. We can HOPE!
Happy New Year!