Christmas 2020

 Hello! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

I thought I’d fill you in on our family life - 2020 has been a different kind of year, but blessings abound.

#1 and Yellow Rose are still in Texas, but at the moment #1 is away doing whatever the Army tells him to do. Yellow Rose and the dog, Abby, miss him, but are handling things just fine. They came for a visit this fall (before #1’s departure) and we had a wonderful time with them. Yellow Rose keeps busy managing two Orange Theory studios and taking online graduate classes. I honestly don’t know how she does it all, but she does it with grace and a smile. We miss them terribly, and look forward to #1’s return and some time with them afterwards. 

LLB is still stationed here, in DC. She is working hard, completed her Masters in Mechanical Engineering this fall, just finished overseeing both of her bathroom’s renovations, and continues to rock climb in her local rock climbing gym. She keeps busy! She is hoping to be able to ski a bit this year - we shall see what the weather brings and if the ski areas open. 

This spring, when the world shut down, Mr and I decided that we had a lot of chores that needed doing and got to it. We cleaned out barns, closets, attics, and garages. We took copious trips to the dump - it got to be that they knew the car and just waved us through. We cut and split firewood (I do love that wood splitter!), we spent time, we laughed, and basically enjoyed each other’s company. We spent the summer by the pool - he working and me reading or crocheting. 

My life slowed down for a bit until I thought it would be a good idea to participate in a Pop-Up Market sponsored by our church. I spent a few crazy weeks this fall making mittens, table runners, masks, and more. My handbell choirs have combined and shrunk to field one very good combined choir. I look forward to the churches opening up and getting back to ringing - maybe next fall??

Mr is still working at MITRE as a software engineer. He shifted his hours and goes in for the afternoon after working at home in the morning. I guess he never got the memo that senior citizens should not write code! H thoroughly enjoys the fast-paced environment and competing with millennials less than half his age. His time off the laptop is spent playing handbells in my choir and taming Mother Nature on our ten acres with his chainsaw, mower, and a wide assortment of lawn tools. 

If you’re ever in VA or passing through, shoot us an email. We’d love to see you! 

Merry Christmas!