1992

December 1992

Merry Christmas!

Another year, another letter - we've enjoyed the cards and letters we have received thus far, so here goes:

The packages hae been mailed to Guam. Yes, the girls are both still there, though if they get many more typhoons, Jené and John may decide to come back to the states. Those storms are scary; maybe it's more the anticipation as they listen for or watch its approach. This is the 4th year John and Jené have been teaching there and they enjoy most of it. John is head wrestling coach as well as business teacher at Geo. Washington H.S. This year Jené has a desk job (pushing papers, she says) still in Special Education - the stresses have only changed. They think now they will stay one more year since Dawn and Bob will be there that long.

Bob will become CO [Commanding Officer] of the Squadron next June. We have been invited to come over for that ceremony, so we might try to visit Guam again. Dawn keeps busy - she is home-schooling Heather (age 8) again. Andy (nearly 5) is going to Pre-school, but he says he'd just as soon stay home for his schooling, too.

Dawn, Heather and Andy were here with us in May while Bob was taking care of some schooling. We had such fun - the house got too quiet when they left on the 30th to meet Bob in LA and fly out to Guam.

We still chuckle when we think about Andy: one day Vince lightly reprimanded him at the breakfast table for dropping (or throwing?) food on the floor. Sensitive Andy sat quietly and soberly considered that for several seconds and then quietly said, "Some day I'm going to be big, Grandpa."

John and Jené came to spend (John's sister was getting married in August) the summer here and with John's family and friends in the Mason City area. They went with us on a drive around the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. That is a pretty part of the country!

The packages are ready to be mailed to the boys. Arik has stayed put in LA, well no, he did move to a different apartment but just across the courtyard.

Mark went to Tehachapi, CA for a summer job with a publishing company. The publishing company offered him a full time job if he would move to Carson City, NV. - he decided to make the move. He enjoys the beauty of the mountains and is looking forward to the skiing.

There were a few other happenings during the year:

Feb. - a dental trip to Chicago. There we renewed friendships with Dr. Paul Thomas whom we hadn't seen since we left the Air Force in Harlingen, TX in 1960. That was fun!

Mar. - a dental trip to Boston, also heard the Boston Symphony.

July - a short genealogical trip to Madison, and Portage Co., Wis.

Aug. - a weekend in Windom, quietly observing the folk's 65th Wedding Anniversary. [Then] a week in Rochester while Mom had open heart surgery at St. Mary's She said at Thanksgiving when we were there that she is finally beginning to feel like herself again.

Sept. - back to Windom for Labor Day weekend for Dad's 90th Birthday Bash. Eleven of his fifteen grandchildren and four of his 10 great grandchildren were there plus all us "kids" and out spouses.

The usual football games, a few concerts, Nordic Fest, Sander family reunion, monthly circle and book club meetings all keep us out of mischief.

In all this busyness, may we never forget the reason why we are celebrating what our "politically correct" school system calls Winter Holiday, but what we know is really the Birth of our Savior!