Hello!
I thought I’d fill you
in on our family life this year. Since there is so much to tell and I’m too
lazy to write it all down in each and every Christmas card with a pen, you’re
getting this note.
#1 is now 23 and graduated
from the Virginia Military Institute in May. He commissioned as a 2nd
Lieutenant in the US Army and is currently stationed at Ft. Bliss in El Paso,
Texas. He left here in July and
spent a few months learning everything about his new job as an Intelligence
Analyst at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona.
While he was in Arizona, he studied hard, had a great time, met a lot of
terrific people and even purchased his first new car – a Honda Accord – which
he absolutely loves. #1 arrived
in El Paso on a Friday night and jumped in with both feet first thing on Monday
morning. He is currently looking forward to moving into his first apartment –
on December 17th. Gram and I packed his pod with all kinds of “goodies” and shipped it to him
right before Thanksgiving. I am so glad we don’t have to unpack it! FYI: Mr has claimed #1's room as his
new Model Train room.
LLB is a Junior
Applied Mathematics and Physics Major at VMI. She continues to play the trumpet
and is a member of the Regimental Band, the Jazz Band, and the Brass Ensemble. She
will be marching in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena for New Year’s.
This is one trip that Marc and I refuse to miss. Watch for us on TV!!
LLB has had an
amazing year. She continues to embrace all that VMI has to offer. This past summer,
LLB spent a week on a submarine and absolutely loved it. She enjoyed
everything about her week - except the flight to California and back. Because
the dates of her sea week changed a few times, it turned out that we would be
in Canada upon her return. So – we booked her a flight to Burlington, Vermont,
and picked her up there. We brought Captain America with us to Canada. Somehow he managed to survive the family for a
few days without her and didn’t hop on the first flight out while we waited for
her to arrive at the airport. He was and is a real trooper...
Mr was LLB's date
at the VMI Ring Figure Ball this fall. He dressed up in a tux, didn’t drop the
ring, and danced the night away. He enjoyed every minute of the evening. Mr is
still at MITRE doing whatever it is he does there. He enjoys sawing fallen
trees with his chain saw and mowing our acreage with his tractor in his spare
time. He continues to play bass
guitar in the Church Gospel band, and rings bells in three choirs. I now direct two handbell choirs and
ring in one. I am active in the Prayer Shawl ministry at a local United
Methodist Church. Mr and I are
involved in the VMI Parents Council and a half dozen other volunteer
committees. Basically, we keep busy.
We had a rough summer
and fall. My father contracted West Nile Virus in early July. He fought it
valiantly, was doing great, but succumbed to congestive heart failure in early November. We all miss him dearly, but know that he is in heaven with his siblings
eating my grandmother’s cookies, donuts, and pie. Zeb, our sweet corgi,
crossed Rainbow Bridge this past Sunday. We aren’t sure what happened, but we
do know that he and my dad are together – sharing snacks.
Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year!
