2005

December, 2005

Dear __________,

It seems that Christmas comes sooner and faster each year. There are some people who are more organized than I am who already have their cards sent. We have had the annual brunch at the home of the Chair of the Department, and also the reception for the faculty and staff emeriti of the Dental College. And it looks like winter and feels like it what with the snow and the cold.

There have been few changes within our family – we have all gotten a year older. That’s probably most noticeable on the grandchildren, who grow and change.

We spent last Christmas with Dawn and her family in Maryland. Andrew will be graduating from high school this spring, Bob will be retiring from the military, Heather is continuing her pursuit of a Doctor of Physical Therapy, and Dawn is completely enthralled (most of the time) with the 4-yr. olds in the Preschool at their church.

We visited Mark in October and met his fiancée, Junel. We spent about 5 days packed with trips to Virginia City, where Mark was the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera in Concert. We saw the production 5 times, besides a couple of rehearsals. And between performances one day, we went to Carson City to see the house that Mark and Junel will be living in halfway between her work and his.

Arik and Stacie are still in McMinnville, OR. We visited them on a long Memorial Day weekend. Then we went out again in September for another long weekend to get acquainted with our newest grandchild, Lauren Maile, born July 29. Kaelyn started kindergarten this fall; Amaya is busy in Pre School – they both love to play dress-up.

John and Jené are in Traer still busy with teaching, home and family. BrandiAnne is a fifth grader, loves being on the Drill Team, and in the band. She does an amazing job on the flute. J.T. is in second grade, likes soccer and wrestling.

Vince still teaches one day a week as a Prosthodontic consultant. He enjoys the students, seniors getting ready to go ‘out into the world’ and work. We still go to Decorah every once in a while – though being sooo busy it’s hard to find the time. Vince enjoys catching the trout – and he cleans them, and then fries them. Um, good!

As for me, I still type Norwegians listed in the 1900 Minnesota Federal Census for Vesterheim, still “lead” the Wednesday morning Bible Class, and still tie quilts for Lutheran World Relief. Relating to that, with money that was given in memory of Mom, I bought quilting material. The finished quilt was raffled at church with the proceeds going to LWR. Pam, Sharon, Jessica, Dawn and Jene all bought a bunch of tickets. And the winning ticket was BrandiAnne’s. When I called LWR for the address, the gentleman answering the phone told me that if a gift is over $500. a brick can be placed in the plaza of the LWR building in Baltimore – there will be a brick there with Mom’s name on it – we got $571. Isn’t that neat?!

With all of you, we celebrate “the good news of great joy that will be for all the people…a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord”.

Merry Christmas!

Vince and Verla