Thursday January 5 2017  CHRISTMAS CARD LETTER

Dear Family and Friends:

CHRISTMAS CARD LETTER TO OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY

January 5, 2017

Belated Christmas Greetings, our New Year now in gear.

So in place of greeting cards I send a letter of good cheer.

It seems no matter how I try, cards I never mail.

So this year I didn’t try, that way I would not fail.

If I plan to send Christmas cards in 2017 I need to start preparing them now.  Somehow the season always gets away from me before I have full hold of it.  I did do a bit better this year however.  We even had a Christmas tree!

A year passes too quickly and never is enough accomplished.  It’s as if I desire to pack so much in a day because I realize how fleeting the hours are.  As I look back over this year I realize the highlights of the year are all the little every day routines of life.  The simple pleasures of being together as husband and wife for almost 44 years, making pots and pots of soup to share with others, exercising faithfully so my body feels good, meeting with friends on occasion, spending time with God, reading, writing, and working on a myriad of projects I hope to finish some day.  But being with family is always my favorite activity.

Dave and I traveled in the spring and enjoyed the long drives through Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.  We stopped several places both going and coming and had the opportunity to visit with friends and family along the way.  The actual purpose of our trip was to spend time in Florida with our daughter Rebecca and her husband Neil, as well as our grand-dogs, Coal and Jackson.  We had an amazing time in Florida.  Trips are always too short but the memories linger.

Rebecca accepted a new job in management this year.  Neil is remodeling property that they landlord.  Both are extremely booked and over worked. 

Courtland and Amy both work full time, parent two active boys, and Courtland will finish his last year of law school this year.  Needless to say we do not have opportunity to see them as much as we would like due to their schedule.  More than likely there is no amount of time that would be “enough”.

Our greatest joy about being in Wisconsin is our nine and five year old grandsons, Zachariah and Alexander.  We actually enjoy their parents too!  I remember riding home from Courtland and Amy’s wedding about 15 years ago and expressing to Dave how delighted I was to finally have family in the area.  Courtland lived with us until the day he married.  I remember remarking that now we could go someplace else for Thanksgiving dinner.  And so we have, many times, many dinners, lots of fun and lots of laughter.  And we love having the boys over for weekend and holiday sleepovers. 

Dave and I are diligently preparing to downsize everything in our house.  We still have a ways to go but we have made some great inroads.  The journey of going through boxes and boxes of memorabilia is often times an overwhelming task.  I decided to take my time, take joy in doing it, and to do my best to part with as much as possible.  It is easier said than done.  However, I have discovered so much through this experience.  Aging truly is a season of life, one of which many do not look forward to exploring.  I am finding it quite fascinating, however debilitating it may be on certain days.  It is a peaceful time of looking back and enjoying through memories many wonderful experiences.  It is a time of ridding oneself of all the baggage of “what ifs”, and looking forward to what is yet to come.  I choose not to waste any time allotted to me by worrying or regretting, but rather to do all I desire do and all that my body allows me to do in any given day. 

Life is exciting.  The past is behind us, the future unknown.  But I know who holds my future in His hands.  Through my God I find reassurance of hope and confidence of what is yet to be when my numbered days are over.   I love life here on earth, yet I fear not death.  Life excites me and for every moment I have I am thankful. My greatest joy and thrill is knowing that God is real and lives within me. 

Dave and I both enjoy traveling, receive great pleasure being with our children, love and enjoy each other, and delight being with our friends and extended family.  We would love to once again see everyone we cherish.  We encourage you to make memories with your children and grand children and leave a legacy of love when you are called “home”. 

I hold in my heart all the memories of seeing so many friends and family two years ago as I traveled through the United States.  Now I wish that you would all come traipsing to Wisconsin and stay with us for awhile.  Our home is open for guests and we would love the company.  Be sure and call ahead as you can never count on us being at home unless we know you are coming.  From the end of May through September is the best time of year for traveling through Wisconsin.  You can never count on good weather the rest of the year.  Wisconsin is truly a beautiful state and I think whoever ventures here will not regret it.

Two years ago I began writing a blog before I left for my long trip.  I have continued writing it daily.  I have no other mass media accounts so I don’t follow or know what is going on in the cyber world.  I much prefer to connect personally via email, letters, or phone.  You are more than welcome to read my blog if you enjoy it.  I cover many different topics and they may or may not interest you.  You can find my blog at: www.visionsofpoetry.com 

I wish you a wonderful year filled with love, family, and friends.  May God bless you bountifully.  Count this letter either as a late Christmas card for 2016 or an early one for 2017.  It might be the only one you receive from us for awhile.  I write a blog daily but I never seem to be able to get my cards posted.

Sent with love,

Dave and Kathleen