December 9, 2019
Dear Mark and Junel and Roslyn;
Here it is the last of November and it is about time to start thinking about what happened to us this last year. At our age the days seem to melt into one another so it is a little more difficult to sort some of the events apart. But I suppose that I need to take a stab at it.
As starters at the beginning of the year we were notified that Gordon had died, (Verla's brother), so we went to Brighton CO on January 3rd for his funeral on the 4th and then spent a few days at Erie, CO with Steve and Kathy Williams before heading back to Iowa City. Steve is my nephew and it is always nice to get together with them and talk about old times.
Dawn and Bob always come to visit us on our birthdays so they came up for Verla's birthday on April 28th and mine on the 6th of September so we got to see them and visit and find out what is happening with their family which is growing. It appears that we will have a new great grandchild early next year as Samantha and Andrew are awaiting a new arrival.
On July 3rd we had a momentous occurrence happen as we decided to leave our home of 42 years and move to independent living at Legacy Retirement Complex in east Iowa City, IA. Thankfully our children had pity on us old goofers and came to help us get rid of a 42 year old collection of stuff. UFFDA! ! ! Without their help I don't know how it would have come about. We seem to be settled in now and think that it was the right thing to do. Even though we are still in relatively good health it seemed too much to take care of the old place on 2 acres of land.
What's not to like if the meals are prepared and they clean the place two times a month. Leaves us more time to do what we want to do and not what we have to do. It's like being on vacation the year around. What's wrong with that?
Verla still sews quilt tops for the needy at our local church and I still play bass guitar in the Praise Band at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Still ride my e-bike occasionally and try to exercise and stay limber. We still attend concerts by Orchestra Iowa and some concerts at Hancher and also some dinner theater at Circa 21 in Moline IL.
We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
May God continue to bless you all this coming year so that you may be a witness to all who need the Lord.
[NOTE: Underneath this in Dad's handwriting was the following: Love you all – Have a great Christmas and New Year. Mom and Dad]
Verla Williams
Showing posts with label Gordon Blakey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gordon Blakey. Show all posts
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
2013
December 18, 2013
Another year has gone by and it's been a good one! We are both in good health, just a little slower, just sit a little more, just nap a little more.
Vince has officially re-retired. He has gone in one day a week as an adjunct professor for about 15 years but decided now was the time to quit. There seems to be enough jobs around here to keep him busy.
We still keep our apartment in Decorah (we go north for the summer) though we did move. An apartment across the way from ours became available so we took that one. It is a 2 bedroom so we now have room for guests. Come see us.
There have been a few trips this year. The most memorable one was to celebrate Vince's 80th birthday. We gathered the whole family for a week in July at a light house keeper's cottage that has been restored and is rented out by the Calvert County, MD, Museum. It is right on Chesapeake Bay - the light house is still in operation, but not the keeper's cottage. It can be divided in half, so 2 unrelated families can use or it can be opened up. It holds 14; we were 19, but lucky for us, Dawn lives about 20 minutes from there so they drove down each day. The times to have everyone free to get together are not very often, so it is extra special when it happens.
Other trips: twice to Mankato, for 'family reunions' - once the usual end of June and the second in July when brother Gordon was there from Denver.
A trip to the Maryland area in the spring to see Heather receive her promotion to Lt. Commander- yes, she still is in the Navy and stationed at Fort Belvoir Army Hospital.
We went to Hayward, Wl for a visit with a colleague at his cabin on the lake. He says we can use it anytime.
Oh, and to Carson City to visit 6 year old Roslyn and while we were there we watched Mark play the part of Javert in Les Miz at their Community College.
We have also had visitors: Dawn and Bob from Maryland, Sharon, Jessica and boys from Mpls. and Duluth, Karlene and Ed Krisker from Minnesota seeking Roe family info--our 4x great grandfathers were brothers; Pam and Tom with Sharon and Dalen, Steve and Kathy from Denver. Not all at the same time, you understand.
Vince plays once or twice a month in the praise band at Our Redeemer. He bought himself an acoustic bass guitar last fall. I keep busy with LWR quilting and Bible study.
As to the grandchildren: I already mentioned Heather; her brother, Andrew lives in Richmond VA and has a job using computers (we call him when we need help) - they are Dawn's 'kids.'
And I mentioned Mark's daughter, Roslyn - she is in first grade.
Then Arik's: Kaelyn is 13, in 8th grade; Amaya is 10, soon to be 11 and in 5th grade and Lauren is 8 and in 3rd grade.
Jené's are BrandiAnne who graduated from high school and is first year in the Community College at Mason City; J.T. just had his 16th birthday - now he can drive alone.
We wish for you Christmas blessings as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
[signed] Dad and Mom
Another year has gone by and it's been a good one! We are both in good health, just a little slower, just sit a little more, just nap a little more.
Vince has officially re-retired. He has gone in one day a week as an adjunct professor for about 15 years but decided now was the time to quit. There seems to be enough jobs around here to keep him busy.
We still keep our apartment in Decorah (we go north for the summer) though we did move. An apartment across the way from ours became available so we took that one. It is a 2 bedroom so we now have room for guests. Come see us.
There have been a few trips this year. The most memorable one was to celebrate Vince's 80th birthday. We gathered the whole family for a week in July at a light house keeper's cottage that has been restored and is rented out by the Calvert County, MD, Museum. It is right on Chesapeake Bay - the light house is still in operation, but not the keeper's cottage. It can be divided in half, so 2 unrelated families can use or it can be opened up. It holds 14; we were 19, but lucky for us, Dawn lives about 20 minutes from there so they drove down each day. The times to have everyone free to get together are not very often, so it is extra special when it happens.
Other trips: twice to Mankato, for 'family reunions' - once the usual end of June and the second in July when brother Gordon was there from Denver.
A trip to the Maryland area in the spring to see Heather receive her promotion to Lt. Commander- yes, she still is in the Navy and stationed at Fort Belvoir Army Hospital.
We went to Hayward, Wl for a visit with a colleague at his cabin on the lake. He says we can use it anytime.
Oh, and to Carson City to visit 6 year old Roslyn and while we were there we watched Mark play the part of Javert in Les Miz at their Community College.
We have also had visitors: Dawn and Bob from Maryland, Sharon, Jessica and boys from Mpls. and Duluth, Karlene and Ed Krisker from Minnesota seeking Roe family info--our 4x great grandfathers were brothers; Pam and Tom with Sharon and Dalen, Steve and Kathy from Denver. Not all at the same time, you understand.
Vince plays once or twice a month in the praise band at Our Redeemer. He bought himself an acoustic bass guitar last fall. I keep busy with LWR quilting and Bible study.
As to the grandchildren: I already mentioned Heather; her brother, Andrew lives in Richmond VA and has a job using computers (we call him when we need help) - they are Dawn's 'kids.'
And I mentioned Mark's daughter, Roslyn - she is in first grade.
Then Arik's: Kaelyn is 13, in 8th grade; Amaya is 10, soon to be 11 and in 5th grade and Lauren is 8 and in 3rd grade.
Jené's are BrandiAnne who graduated from high school and is first year in the Community College at Mason City; J.T. just had his 16th birthday - now he can drive alone.
We wish for you Christmas blessings as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
[signed] Dad and Mom
Monday, March 14, 2011
1966
This comes with some second thoughts this year. I've read articles, and some of these sarcastic, about the annual Christmas "brag sheet" and I began to wonder if I should send out a beautiful Christmas card instead. As you can see, I decided on the annual letter (because I owe so many anyway) and hope it isn't a brag sheet but just a grateful chronicle of some of our happenings.
I'm not sure everything will be listed in the order of their importance but this first one certainly is. Our fourth child (and second daughter) was born June 2 and is by now a healthy and happy six-month-old. She is good now (after the colicky spell) and so enjoyed by the other three. Her baptism was the weekend after the Fourth of July when my aunt and uncle, Bruce and Ella Graves and cousin Elaine and my brother Gordon and his wife Shirley were down to be her godparents and sponsors. We had a real nice weekend! Pam, my littlest - well, my youngest sister came along and stayed on with us for three weeks. Then Elaine came back to spend part of her vacation (?) with us. They both got used to me, saying, "Give the baby her bottle," before they went back home. Elaine even lengthened all the hems on Dawn's dresses so they were ready for school. That's the kind of company to have, huh?!
Arik who is now 2 1/2 is full of it. He is such a tease and doesn't mind being teased back. He is a favorite with everyone (except his mom at times) - enjoys his uncle Spence and still talks about his uncle Lyle's visit here; Grandpa & Grandma Blakey would come to visit with him every day if he could manage it. Just lately he has been enthralled with Pastor Kappelmann, only he calls him master.
Mark is in third grade this year and still likes school. He talks most about football and baseball and basketball, so I would guess his favorite subjects are phys ed and recess. Dawn is a busy one - is in 4th grade and this year goes to a different school than Mark. She is in Girl Scouts, and is taking piano lessons. Both Dawn and Mark do a lot of reading and so with a little time for just playing or watching TV cartoons, their days go by quickly.
Vince's routine and schedule is pretty much the same. I don't think his practice has changed much in the last year, except that he is a little farther behind. His dental hygenist doesn't work every [day] part time anymore. He took a post-graduate course in Endo at Iowa City (three days [in] the middle of November) and also took in the lectures during Homecoming - Oct. 21-22. (I went along for the parade and the game). Sthe[?] State Meeting in Des Moines and the District meetings both spring and fall also help him to keep up with the new. He is considering going to Chicago in February, for the Midwinter Meeting.
Vince hasn't done much hunting, and didn't do as much fishing as he would like to (naturally) though he did go on the annual excursion to Canada. Our vacation was spent on the farm with my folks. The kids especially loved it and Vince and I appreciated the relaxation. Of course, I was still getting up at six with Jené, Mom and Dad probably had to take a vacation after we left.
I've been the lucky one this year. Our living room, dining room, and kitchen needed redecoration. The paper was dirty, torn and colored upon. We decided to panel the walls, paint the kitchen cupboards and refrigerator, get new kitchen floor covering, and install a dishwasher. I have certainly enjoyed that! It was a messy two weeks or month, but we were lucky enough to get it done just before the baby was born. (In fact, three hours before she made her grand entrance into this world, Vince and I were hanging dining room curtains without a suspicion that this was the day).
This coming year promises to be a more involved one - Vince is still teaching in the Bethel Bible Series, and singing in the church choir. I am going to be chairman for the Hospital Auxiliary Unit, Circle Bible Study leader and captain of the bowling team. I still have two units to take in Bethel so will try to finish that up this year, too.
If you are ever in this vicinity, stop in and see us. We love having company.
May you have a blessed Christmas and a worthwile year to come.
Sincerely,
Vince and Verla
Dawn, Mark, Arik, and Jené
I'm not sure everything will be listed in the order of their importance but this first one certainly is. Our fourth child (and second daughter) was born June 2 and is by now a healthy and happy six-month-old. She is good now (after the colicky spell) and so enjoyed by the other three. Her baptism was the weekend after the Fourth of July when my aunt and uncle, Bruce and Ella Graves and cousin Elaine and my brother Gordon and his wife Shirley were down to be her godparents and sponsors. We had a real nice weekend! Pam, my littlest - well, my youngest sister came along and stayed on with us for three weeks. Then Elaine came back to spend part of her vacation (?) with us. They both got used to me, saying, "Give the baby her bottle," before they went back home. Elaine even lengthened all the hems on Dawn's dresses so they were ready for school. That's the kind of company to have, huh?!
Arik who is now 2 1/2 is full of it. He is such a tease and doesn't mind being teased back. He is a favorite with everyone (except his mom at times) - enjoys his uncle Spence and still talks about his uncle Lyle's visit here; Grandpa & Grandma Blakey would come to visit with him every day if he could manage it. Just lately he has been enthralled with Pastor Kappelmann, only he calls him master.
Mark is in third grade this year and still likes school. He talks most about football and baseball and basketball, so I would guess his favorite subjects are phys ed and recess. Dawn is a busy one - is in 4th grade and this year goes to a different school than Mark. She is in Girl Scouts, and is taking piano lessons. Both Dawn and Mark do a lot of reading and so with a little time for just playing or watching TV cartoons, their days go by quickly.
Vince's routine and schedule is pretty much the same. I don't think his practice has changed much in the last year, except that he is a little farther behind. His dental hygenist doesn't work every [day] part time anymore. He took a post-graduate course in Endo at Iowa City (three days [in] the middle of November) and also took in the lectures during Homecoming - Oct. 21-22. (I went along for the parade and the game). Sthe[?] State Meeting in Des Moines and the District meetings both spring and fall also help him to keep up with the new. He is considering going to Chicago in February, for the Midwinter Meeting.
Vince hasn't done much hunting, and didn't do as much fishing as he would like to (naturally) though he did go on the annual excursion to Canada. Our vacation was spent on the farm with my folks. The kids especially loved it and Vince and I appreciated the relaxation. Of course, I was still getting up at six with Jené, Mom and Dad probably had to take a vacation after we left.
I've been the lucky one this year. Our living room, dining room, and kitchen needed redecoration. The paper was dirty, torn and colored upon. We decided to panel the walls, paint the kitchen cupboards and refrigerator, get new kitchen floor covering, and install a dishwasher. I have certainly enjoyed that! It was a messy two weeks or month, but we were lucky enough to get it done just before the baby was born. (In fact, three hours before she made her grand entrance into this world, Vince and I were hanging dining room curtains without a suspicion that this was the day).
This coming year promises to be a more involved one - Vince is still teaching in the Bethel Bible Series, and singing in the church choir. I am going to be chairman for the Hospital Auxiliary Unit, Circle Bible Study leader and captain of the bowling team. I still have two units to take in Bethel so will try to finish that up this year, too.
If you are ever in this vicinity, stop in and see us. We love having company.
May you have a blessed Christmas and a worthwile year to come.
Sincerely,
Vince and Verla
Dawn, Mark, Arik, and Jené
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