Showing posts with label Roslyn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roslyn. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

2020

December 2, 2020

CHRISTMAS LETTER - 2020

I hope the year of the Covid 19 finds you all healthy and wise. Verla and l have been very fortunate in that we have not contracted the disease or other serious illnesses. Thank God for all His blessings this past year. The independent housing facility that we live in, shut down Mar. 9th for visitors, and restricted many privileges for us so that has been a bummer. The praise band at the local church that I played bass with also shut down so the band has not played a service and we have not attended church services since then. We have worshiped online at Concordia San Antonio where Dawn and Bob worship.

Our family increased by one in March when Lily Boyd was born to Andrew and Samantha Boyd of San Antonio TX. Dawn and Bob were very happy with the new addition as were we.

We were able to make many trips to Decorah to our apartment this past year so we were very thankful for that. We were able to see many old friends such as Norma W. and Karen B. old neighbors of ours when we lived in Decorah. Verla quilted and I read a lot as we enjoyed our old haunts. Mark, our son and his daughter Roslyn joined us in July for a few days at Decorah about Nordic Fest time so that was a lot of fun.

Verla continues her passion of quilting by making and designing quilts for Lutheran World Relief and zooming with her buddies down at Zion Lutheran every Wed. morning for a few hours. Since Covid 19, they have not been willing to meet at church in fear of catching the dreaded disease.

Vince has been busy writing his third paper on the Eucharist. He has had an interest in the subject of Holy Communion for many years and the last paper is about the meaning of the words of institution and how they may be interpreted. So a literature review of two theologians who described the views of the patristic fathers up to the age of the reformers in Europe in the 1400 to 1500's was assessed and summarized in a paper to compile the views of learned people for two thousand years. It isn't exhaustive but is a snapshot view of what Christians have thought and recorded for many years. If any of you are interested I can send you an e-mail copy of what I found. It is entitled: THE EUCHARIST: IGNATIUS TO ZWINGLI.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year,

Vince and Verla

Saturday, December 22, 2018

2018

Dear Mark, Junel and Roslyn,

With some music on the FM for background and the sun shining in the window at 4333 Pine Ridge Trail I will try to remember some of the highlights of the year for Verla and me.

She usually writes this letter and is so good at it that I feel that my attempt to take her place will end in total failure so if you will bear with me I will try to utter a few thoughts.

Last Christmas we spent in San Antonio, TX with Dawn and her family, and Heather and Andrew with their families. Except both of us being ill on Dec. 24, 25, and 26 the time spent there was most enjoyable. Heather and Andrew had two young boys that kept things lively. Their weather in Dec. and Jan. is usually a bit more tolerable that what we are used to in Iowa.

In July, Mark and Roslyn came to Decorah to see and participate in the annual Nordic Fest at the end of the month. Roslyn and Verla marched in the Parade of Flags that opened the Fest. Sharon, Verla's sister, and Verla each modeled a bunad, (folk costume) that she had acquired when she was in Norway years ago, to be in the Bunad Show in Decorah. Roslyn modeled a child's costume with Grandma and Sharon and of course they were all stunning to behold. Arik and Stacie and their three girls, Kaelyn, Amaya, and Lauren also decided to attend Nordic Fest this year. This was their 1st time at Nordic Fest and they said they had a blast and want to do it again next year. All that Norse food and music and dancing in the streets were really fun for them. They even danced a turn or two with Grandpa Vince on the street to a polka. They also explored all the haunts that Arik was used to when he was a kid growing up there.

Then in Sept. Vince celebrated his 85th birthday, so Arik, Dawn and Bob, and John and Jene all were so kind as to come for a long weekend and help him realize that he is now considered one of the older old. A term we learned at a Senior College Course on "Mild Cognitive Decline and Dementia" which we just finished a week ago. If you are up there in age you need to know what they are talking about when they refer to you in a specific category. Before that I thought I was just getting older. So now Verla and I are at the peak of oldness. Verla continues her love of quilting with her Wed. group at Zion Luth. and I still play bass guitar in the praise band at Our Redeemer Luth. which give us much fun and camaraderie.

In closing, Verla and I wish to give thanks to our gracious God and Savior for the many years that He has given us together and we wish all of you a Very Blessed Christmas and A Happy New Year.

Blessings,

V & V

Verla and Vince

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

2015

December 10, 2015

Dear Mark and Junel,

May you have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year! It is difficult to know where to start - so many who are on my Christmas Card list are also on my e-mail list. So what I write here, you may have already read.

But a review:

We drove to northern Pennsylvania the end of May to see grandson Andrew and to meet his bride, Samantha; and of course to see the rest of the Boyd family. We won't be driving east to visit Dawn and Bob any more - they have moved to San Antonio, TX and live quite close to Heather and Xav. We plan to drive down to see them over the holidays.

In June, we flew to Reno (Carson City) to visit Mark and family. He and Roslyn were in the show, Beauty and the Beast. Roslyn was the little cup with a chip. She's a budding actress. It was fun to see that.

Arik and his family came here in March (their spring break) for a visit. It is so much fun to see those 3 granddaughters “growing up.”

BrandiAnne graduated from the community college in Mason City in May, so we were up there to see her graduation. She is now enrolled at the University of Northern Iowa.

And we have been to Traer a few times - in October for J.T.'s confirmation where we heard the best confirmation sermon ever. The Archbishop spoke directly to the “kids” and he had them listening!

We were up there again for Thanksgiving and J.T.'s birthday, right on the day!

And of course, several times to Decorah: Nordic Fest, etc.

We've barely just begun to think about starting to go through files and drawers to see what should be given away or trashed or whatever. It was about August 1989 when we got a computer and printer and I wrote my weekly-or-so letter to the kids, sending each of them a copy. I found files of those copies I had made for me, too, the other day. I've started reading through them - wow! I think they go through 1998. Uffda! So that must have been when we started using e-mail.

Something I have done is made a computer file of the letters I wrote from Norway the semester Vince spent there doing research. My sister Sharon had shared them with others but asked for them back and saved them for me. And just the other day, I found the diary I kept the summer the family spent on Anguilla, where Vince did some dentistry. There was no dentist on the island. Maybe I should publish?

Anyway, have a blessed Christmas!

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

Sunday, December 30, 2012

2012

December, 2012

It might be possible to copy last year's letter and you wouldn't know the difference. It seems we keep doing the same things year after year. Vince is still the prosthodontics consultant one day a week at the College; I still have Bible Study and LWR Quilting spring and fall. We go to concerts by the Cedar Rapids Symphony (now calling themselves Orchestra Iowa) about once a month, and also Bank bus tours a couple of times a year. We saw the musical Miracle on 34th Street in the Quad Cities earlier and also The Nutcracker last week at the restored Paramount Theater in Cedar Rapids. It had been badly damaged in the 2008 flood.

We went out to see Dawn, Bob, and Andrew part of spring break in March, partly to celebrate with Andy his graduation from college and obtaining a good job. I don't know what he does - he's a computer scientist. Way beyond my understanding. We also got to see Heather and Xav - yes, they are back in the states. Heather is stationed at Fort Belvoir, VA so lives only about an hour from her folks. We 'helped' them get settled in their apartment - the shipment from Japan had arrived. Well, I mostly sat up in the loft holding their small dog, to keep the dog from getting stepped on and getting squashed.

And in August we took a short trip to Oregon to see Arik and Stacie, Kaelyn, Amaya and Lauren. My, how they grow up with each passing year.

We didn't make it out to Nevada this year, but we have skyped with Roslyn. She is SO excited because she is in the performance by a children's theater group of The Little Mermaid Jr. They performed for three weekends. Is it like father, like daughter?

We do see the Daubs oftener- sometimes for a cross country meet, or a track and field meet, or even a foot ball game. BrandiAnne is a senior this year, J. T. will be a sophomore, active in football and wrestling.

The Blakey "girls" try to get together in Decorah once a year and we did that in August, too. And we also try to have a family reunion in June and at Christmas time. The one in June has been at Decorah, also - it is sort of central.

We are both well- walk a little slower, sit a little longer, but still manage the upkeep on the house and the yard. I heard a fellow the other day say he belongs to the useta club - I don't know how many usetas one needs to join - he useta ride bike, he useta golf.

Oh yeah, the kids all thought they should come home the last weekend in April. It was a surprise to me! Dawn and Bob come every once in a while, so that was okay. But when Mark walked in, then I knew some planning had been done behind my back. And I got suspicious and asked if Arik was coming, too. Dawn couldn't lie, and said he was - the next day. (He was disappointed that he wasn't a surprise, too). Jene had me faked out because they had been with us the previous weekend (part of the ruse). It was something about a significant milestone in my life. We had a good time - Dawn plans well.

God's blessing be yours as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!

Saturday, December 31, 2011

2011

December, 2011

It doesn't seem possible that it could be December already - time just seems to go faster and faster, and I go slower and slower.

We do much the same things month after month: Vince still works one day a week, (he is already being asked to work next year), I still have Bible Study and LWR quilting spring and fall. We like to go to the concerts by the Cedar Rapids Symphony and also on Bank bus tours (we went to both "Simply Sinatra" and the "Nuncrackers" earlier this month).

We get up to Traer for Track or Cross Country meets a couple of times to watch BrandiAnne run. She is a long-distance runner and good at it. We were with the Daubs for Thanksgiving - helped JT celebrate his 14th birthday - time does fly, doesn't it?

There were also a couple of longer trips. We spent part of Holy Week and Easter with Dawn and Bob and Andy in the spring; and a week with Arik and Stacie and girls in August at a rented house on Priest Lake in northern Idaho. It is always fun to visit each of them.

There was also a couple of weekend when we had visitors - Steve (Vince's nephew) and Kathy one weekend, and my sisters, Sharon and Pam and their spouses, another weekend. That's fun, too!

And just last month, we flew out to Carson City to visit Mark and Junel and Roslyn, and incidentally to see Phantom of the Opera with Mark having the lead role. My sister Sharon and our daughter Dawn joined us for that long weekend. It was fun and Mark did a great job.

Heather and Xav will be coming back to the states in February - she ends her tour of duty in Japan. It will be so much easier to visit them.

We did just finish a little upgrading in our house. The floor covering in the laundry room was the old rubber backed carpet that was used 35 years ago - we had it replaced with sheet vinyl. And this past week, the carpet in the kitchen was replaced with oak flooring, plus a new counter top and sink. Now, we will enjoy it for awhile until we decide that it's time to downsize, and then it will probably be more sellable.

We are both well- just a little more creaking and cracking in the joints and bones. But we are thankful for good health.

May the blessings of Christ's birth be yours this Christmas season!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

2010

December 2010

There was a car ad on the radio the other day where the announcer was extolling all the good things about this season – the parties, the decorations, the family gatherings, etc. and I was thinking I should give him a call when he said “But the most important thing about this season is celebrating the Birth of a Little Baby Boy!” Hurrah!

We got an introduction to the season when in November we went out to Carson City to visit Mark and Junel and Roslyn, and to see Mark in the musical White Christmas. Even Roslyn was singing "Happy Holidays." Dawn also was there at the same time – it was fun!

Dawn also came here when Arik, Stacie, Kaelyn, Amaya and Lauren came to visit us the first two weeks in August (the hottest and most humid 2 weeks of the summer). There were trips to the nice sandy beach at the reservoir or to the ice rink in the Mall. And of course, our Iowa family – Jené, John, BrandiAnne and J.T. came to visit with Arik’s family, too. Our Anguillan Luther College “daughter” Ele, and her husband came to visit the families, also.

In July we spent a weekend in San Antonio visiting with Heather and meeting her husband, Xavier – they were back from Japan on leave. She still has a little over a year on her tour over there. And we saw Dawn and Bob and Andy then, too .

There were some shorter visits – to Mpls. to see Sharon and Dalen; (Pam and Tom joined us) to see the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit; a couple of times to watch BrandiAnne run in Cross Country and/or Track and Field; and a few times to Decorah to scare the trout.

The first half of the year was maybe more traumatic – discovery of breast cancer by a mammogram in January, a lumpectomy in February, three weeks of radiation in April, no chemo, and a good report – the cancer was entirely removed, and the nodes weren’t infected. Thanks be to God! (I advise annual mammograms!) Vince was the steady “rock” of strength and support through it all and Dawn came more than once to help wherever she could.

Vince and I are doing fine – there is enough to do around the house and yard to keep us as busy as we want to be. Vince still teaches one day a week at the Dental College, and is much appreciated by both his peers and the students.


“May the love of the Christ Child fill your heart and home at
Christmas time and always.”



Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

2009


Verla Williams, Christmas letter (2009). Image courtesy of Mark D. Williams.

Dear __________,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

For a little while, I thought we hadn't done enough this year to write a letter about, but then I checked our calendar and changed my mind.

January - a short visit from Dawn and Heather before Heather left for her tour of duty in the Navy in Japan.

February - a weekend visit in Denver for the funeral of our sister-in-law, Shirley and a couple of days with nephew Steve and Kathy.

March - a long weekend along with Dawn in Carson City to surprise Mark on his 50th birthday; he said he was surprised.

April - a couple days in Madison, WI for a genealogical meeting.

May - a "sisters" weekend in Decorah.

June - the "Blakey" gathering in Decorah - Pam and families, Sharon and family, and Vince and I.

July - the Nordic Fest the last Saturday, followed by a drive to Jackson, MN the next day to visit cousin Elaine, cousin Roland and Mari, and brother Gordon from Denver.

August - the last week at a resort in northern Idaho with Arik and his family.

September - my high school class reunion in Windom, MN - the 60th - who were those old people that were there?

November- Jene, John, BrandiAnne and J.T. here with us for Thanksgiving.

December - we are looking forward to a visit from Mark, Junel and Roslyn - it will be fun to have a 2 year old around again.

Nothing new with our 'kids' - they are still in the same places doing the same things. Dawn and Bob in St. Leonard, MD; Andrew is a junior at U. of Maryland, Salisbury, and Heather a physical therapist in Japan. Mark, Junel and Roslyn in Carson City but will visit us over Christmas. Arik and Stacie, Kaelyn, Amaya, and Lauren in Portland, OR and the Daubs in Traer, IA.

That's it, besides our day to day activities. Vince still goes in as an adjunct professor one day a week. They seem to need him, and he enjoys it. The upkeep of our house and a large lawn takes up a lot of his time.

Norse Club, Bible Class and Lutheran World Relief quilting keeps me busy.

We still go up to Decorah now and then during the warmer months. Have to try to catch those wary trout.

Hope this finds you in good health as we anticipate the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Dad and Mom
[Handwritten note: This is all old news - older news on the back. (On the back is a photocopy of the Christmas letter from 1964).]

Monday, April 25, 2011

2008

December 17, 2008

Dear __________,

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go – is that a song? Anyway, trees and houses are decorated, snow is on the ground and a chill is in the air. We ended last year and began the new one with a trip out west. We spent Christmas week with Mark and Junel and Roslyn in Carson City. It was fun to watch Roslyn enjoying the tree, the gifts, the books! And then we went to Oregon to spend New Year’s week with Arik and his family. His girls are each at a fun age. And then we came home to all that snow! What a winter – we had a grand total of 59 inches of snow around here. Uffda!

We’ve had some trips this year, too. In June, we spent a couple of weeks with Dawn, Bob and Andy. Dawn had invited her dad out for Father’s Day and to bring his bass guitar along, so he could play with the praise band at their church. He figured one Sunday wasn’t enough, so we stayed for two.

In August we spent a week with Arik and his family, and Dawn and Bob at a resort on Priest Lake in northern Idaho. (That is only a 1 day drive for Arik, instead of 3 days to come to Minnesota.) It is a beautiful place, but was a little chilly the week we were there.

In September we took a long weekend (Wednesday to Monday) and flew out to visit Mark and Junel and Roslyn. Mark sang a couple of songs in a production up at the restored opera house in Virginia City – it was fun to hear him again.

We do see Jené and John and family every once in a while. Their schedules keep them busy – Jené with her teaching, John in teaching and coaching. We saw BrandiAnne run in Track and Field last spring and this fall in Cross Country – she is really doing well!

We took a couple of courses in what is called Senior College –for retired persons, a 4-week course, a couple of hours a week. Last spring the class was on parts of Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes taught by a retired professor in the Religion Department. This Fall we took a class on the Brain taught by Nancy Andreason.

As for health, we are doing well. I had my second cataract removed in October – that is an amazing surgery. Waiting for the eye to heal so I could get my new prescription was the hardest part.

Vince still teaches – down to one day a week this year. Each year he says it might be his last. The Bible Class and LWR quilting still keep me busy.

May the blessings of this season be yours as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

Merry Christmas!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

2007

December 11, 2007

Dear ________,

We are in the midst of another freezing rain/ice storm, so this will be a good day to start on the Christmas letter. I chopped the ice off from the front sidewalk from the previous 2 or 3 ice storms, so there won't be so much to do the next time. Vince did make it up the driveway this morning and went in to work. It's those 4 studded snow tires!

Yes, Vince is still working, though only 2 days a week this year. Since his Dental Class celebrated their 50th year this fall, he is thinking that this may be his last year of working. He does enjoy the teaching and he hears good reports, both from other faculty and from the students. The 2007 Senior Class voted him Adjunct Professor of the Year!

There were a couple/three fun trips on our calendar this year. In July, we spent a week at the resort in Minnesota with our entire family with the exception of Heather, our oldest granddaughter. But Jene, John, BrandiAnne and J.T., Arik, Stacie, Kaelyn, Amaya and Lauren, Mark, Junel and Roslyn (yes, our youngest granddaughter born March 1) and Dawn, Bob and Andrew all were able to attend. It was a fun week, and the cousins all got to know each other a little bit more.

We went to Carson City, to get acquainted with Roslyn in June. We wanted Mark and Junel to get adjusted to being new parents, so we didn't rush out when she was born. She is so smiley and happy!

And in February we went to Maryland for the graduation of Heather from Arcadia University in Philadelphia earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. We didn't make it out for her commissioning into the Navy as a Lt. I teased her: do we call her Dr. or Lt. or Lt. Dr? She has been stationed at Quantico, VA. Her adventures are just beginning and she makes us proud.

It is with thankful hearts to our gracious God for continuing good health as each year passes. Our small group Bible class studied Proverbs this fall. There are so many thought provoking proverbs - one I like is 17:6 "Children's children are a crown to the aged." Isn't that the truth? But maybe more important is 1:7 and 9:10 - "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom/knowledge."

May the blessings of this season be yours as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

Merry Christmas