1999

December 13, 1999

Dear ________,

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is
Christ the Lord" - our prayer is that you have a blessed Christmas!

So many are saying the year has passed so quickly, and we agreel Our year has been filled
with happy times:

- the wedding in Morris, IL of Vince's great niece, Tara Zylla to Jim Walke - it was beautiful, and so good to see Lanita (Vince's niece) and Brian and Candice and their little girl, and of course, Steve and Kathy.
- the Johnson Cousin reunion in Decorah at Nordic Fest time. There were about 80 at the Saturday evening picnic, and nearly that many at the Sunday noon dinner. Florida and California and places in between were represented. Steve and Kathy flew in from Denver and stayed with us a night at our little "get-away" apartment.
- the 90th birthday celebration for my Mom in August. Most of her descendants were at a picnic in Mankato - 50 or so. She has 15 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and even now this month is awaiting the arrival of her first great great grandchild. My brother thinks it's worse that he is going to be a great grandpa. All 4 of our children with spouses and children spent the week prior to the Party with us. That was really neat! It's not often the 4 are home at the same time.
- my high school class reunion in Windom, MN - 50 years. Uffda! Some hadn't changed much,
some had. It was fun.

Our children's lives are much the same. However, Bob has a new tour of duty so Dawn and
Bob, Heather and Andy moved from Centreville VA to St. Leonard MD last spring. We were out to see them in their new house when they were barely settled. Andy went fishing with his grandpa; Heather and I did a sewing project, besides the sight seeing and visiting.

Mark has just moved from Carson City to Stateline, NV. He says he has a beautiful view of
Lake Tahoe on one side and the Carson valley on the other. He will be teaching voice, musical
theater, whatever at Lake Tahoe C.C. He and another faculty member have written a musical which they will be doing next June - we hope to go out and see it.

Arik is at the same job in Portland - he has gotten a boat and with his special friend, Stacie, has gotten into fishing. He was thrilled to have caught a 7 foot sturgeon. Wow!

Jene and John are still in Traer, IA, both teaching. BrandiAnne and IT. keep them on the move when they're not working. IT. just turned 2, andis into trucks, big, little and in between. BrandiAnne has her dolls - she loves her nativity set and talks with Mary, 'Dofus' and baby Jesus.

Vince was asked to come back as a prosthodontic consultant, so he spends Wednesday mornings at the Dental College. He enjoys the interaction with the senior students and the camaraderie with his colleagues.

I just keep busy. I continue to lead a Bible study at the church, 12 weeks in the fall session, and 12 weeks in the spring. That keeps me studying!

picture i.d.: Bob Boyd, Mark, Arik, Vince, Stacie, John Daub holding J.T.
Heather, Dawn, Andy, Verla, Jene holding BrandiAnne

Mom

1998

15 December 1998

Dear __________

Merry Christmas and all the Blessings of the Season!

The picture on the card is of Brandi Anne, Jene and Verla in Decorah in July for the Nordic Fest. We were in the Bunad (costumes) shows.

That was one of our outings. Others were:

To Chicago for an annual Dental Meeting.

To Traer, Iowa, home of Jene and John for the baptism of J.T. in April and again in July for BrandiAnne's birthday. J.T. is now one, almost walking, happy, energetic. By looking, you'd never guess he was a preemie. BrandiAnne is three, inquisitive, curious, imaginative. It's fun to watch her at play, listen to her chatter, hear her say, "I love you."

To Virginia the end of May to be with Heather on her Confirmation Day. It's always fun to visit Dawn and Bob, Heather and Andy.

And the end of October we drove to Denver. Mom rode along with us and first we visited brother Gordon and family. Saw several of his 'kids' and some of his grandchildren. Vince and I then visited his nephew, Steve and Kathy. They live in the south of Denver. It was a good visit! They visited us at our Decorah apartment Memorial Day weekend. Steve and Vince fished for trout, caught some and fried them up for a trout dinner.

We had a good time at the lake in Northern Minnesota in June when our 'kids' and grandchildren gathered for a week. It had been three years since we'd all been together (for a similar week) but this time not quite all - the Navy had other plans for Bob, a trip to Australia no less.

The kids are all in the same places doing the same thing as last year. Dawn and Bob are anticipating a move, perhaps in January - perhaps to Maryland (not very far). Jene and John remain in Traer, though Jene is teaching full time this year (second grade). Right now, John is busy coaching wrestling, as well as his teaching.

Arik is still in Portland, OR. and Mark in Carson City, NV - no major changes there.

Mom made some major changes this year: she moved to an apartment in Mankato in July. She decided to give up her car in September.

We had a fun time helping her celebrate her 89th birthday in August. We went out for lunch and by the time we finished, Mom had about 11 balloons tied to her wrists and her chair - the waitresses and waiters all entered into the festivity of the day! All 11 brought her a Sundae, topping it with every imaginable topping and then proceeded to eat it themselves. They did bring another one for her to eat!

Another fun event - niece Jessica's wedding to Brady Town in July.

And a sad event - the funeral in Decorah of dear friend, Willis.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior...."

Best greetings,

1997

When Christmas morn is dawning I wish that I could be
There by the manger cradle God's Son, newborn, to see.
How kind of you, our Savior, For us to come to earth
Oh, may we not by sinning Despise your lowly birth.
We need you, 0 Lord Jesus, to be our dearest friend
Your love will guard and guide us and keep us to life's end.
--Abel Burckhardt (19th c.)

14 December 1997

Merry Christmas!

It gets harder each year to remember just exactly what happened during the year. There were some momentous times to remember, I think.

We did have a trip or two: In February a usual dental trip into Chicago, and an unusual trip (for us) for Iowa dental alumni to Scottsdale, AZ. Vince's class also made it a 40th class reunion and that was fun.

In June we went on an 18 day trip with my sister and brother-in-law (Sharon and Dalen) to the northwest. We saw, sometimes briefly, Glacier, Lake Louise, Banff, Vancouver, Victoria, Portland, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Big Horns, Spearfish-Passion Play, Black Hills, the Corn Palace, and a few places in between. We traveled in Dalen's RV - now that's togetherness!

It was fun to see Annie (my friend of old) and Bob in July - they stopped in for an overnight - we visited and visited. Annie wanted to see the Medical Museum at the University - that was interesting and we had never seen it. We also went to the Amanas a little bit. Annie and I roomed together at LBI, & I was her maid of honor, she was my matron of honor.

Vince took early retirement the end of August - he was given a nice retirement party - such plaudits! I've been told that retirement is twice the husband at half the pay. And the very next week we drove to Centreville, VA to visit Dawn and her family. (Any time we see any of our kids is a treat - it isn't nearly often enough.) Dawn's kids are growing up, too fast we think. Heather is 13, a sweet young lady, and Andy is 9 (nearly 10). Andy is going to be a proficient fisherman - Grandpa showed him how to cast.

Since October we have been trying to be as much help as we could to Jené - she had a high risk pregnancy and had to go on bed rest. The day before Thanksgiving she gave birth to John William Daub, III. He was a preemie and had to spend about 10 days in Intensive Care, but is now home and doing well. He seems so small - how soon we forget how tiny newborns are. BrandiAnne is 2 and is getting used to have a little brother around. John got a teaching position in Traer, IA and so they moved there in August. It is different not to have them in Iowa City, but it is only an hour and half away.

Mark is still in Carson City, teaching and doing some performing. Arik is still in Portland, helping to manage a rental company. We haven't seen them this year except for a brief stop in Portland when we were on our RV trip.

1996

"For unto you is born this day
in the city of David
a Savior who is CHRIST the LORD!"

16 December 1996

Dear __________

We wish you God's richest blessing in this Christmas season!

There have been events and changes in our lives this year just closing. Our children are all in the same places, and we have been able to visit them briefly. We tacked March's Spring Break onto a Dental trip to San Francisco, and visited Mark in Carson City, NV and Arik in Portland, OR. We took a day trip while in Portland to visit our good friends, the Molines in Philomath, OR.

We spent some time in Centreville, VA with Dawn and her family the first part of July. We decided to watch the Fourth of July festivities of D.C. on the television, rather than brave the crowds and traffic. Dawn took us to Gettysburg, PA one day - that was an interesting historical trip. Jené, John and BrandiAnne are here in Iowa City, and we enjoy seeing them more frequently.

The first weekend in August we went back to Carson City, to see Mark as Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man. That was at an outdoor theatre on the north end of Lake Tahoe, and gets chilly (cold?) in the evenings in August. But it was a fun production to see!

I had one day home from that, when I drove to Minneapolis to accompany Mom on a flight to Denver to visit my brother and his families. (Five of his kids live in the Denver area.) His daughter and family from Texas were there and Mom thought it was a good chance to see some great grandchildren she hadn't yet seen. We had a good time visiting all of them.

My dad died in July, a couple of months shy of his 94th birthday, and a month shy of his and Mom's 69th wedding anniversary. He said several times in the last couple of years that life was getting harder to live - the body just didn't work as well. But they were able to stay on the farm until just a year ago August, when they moved to an apartment. Mom is happy to be there and keeps busy. The apartment complex offers assisted living for those who need it. Mom, however, still drives her car and maintains her independence.

Vince and I are both well. Vince is now on phased retirement, and works 3 days a week. He enjoys his Mondays and Fridays off. He is hoping to take early retirement the end of next year.

Merry Christmas!

1995

December 1995

Dear ones,

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Isn't it great to hear the Christmas carols on the radio, on the TV, or even in the shopping malls? It helps remind us of the miraculous birth of the Son of God which is the whole reason for the season.

This is the annual report for some of you who usually only hear from us this once-a-year:

We haven't made any really long trips. Going to San Antonio for the annual dental research meeting in March was fun. We walked the River Walk, toured the Alamo, and ate the good Mexican food. And to Centreville, VA to see Dawn and her family over New Year's was a good time. Dawn had arranged for us an invitation to a plantation for a party - that was neat. Other than that, we have mostly traveled to Decorah or to Windom.

We still have the apartment in Decorah and Vince loves to go up there and catch those trout. He also cooks them and they are really good. We went up in October to see the King and Queen of Norway - we even had dinner with them. They didn't know we were there, of course. But it was a lot of fun. The King in his greeting at the convocation at Luther College said he heard that that area of Iowa is called Little Switzerland, and that is all right - Switzerland is a beautiful country; but he thought it could also be properly called Little Norway. He received a resounding round of applause.

My parents decided it was time to get off the farm and into town. They couldn't find an apartment in Windom, so they moved to one in Jackson. They were born, raised, married in Jackson County, so it wasn't a "foreign" move. They are liking it, though Dad says it isn't home.

We had a good vacation at a resort in northern Minnesota which we have been to every now and then as our children were growing up. And they all joined us for that week in June - there were 15 of us (my sister Pam and Ryan and Joshua were with us) and such a gathering around the table that was. We took turns preparing the meals. The week was really hot so was good to be at a lake. Dalen and Sharon stopped by for a day with Dalen's boat; so a lot of water skiing was done that day. One day we rented a jet ski, and most everyone had fun on that! And of course, we had to go to Paul Bunyanland one day - the kids (big and little) had a good time, riding all the rides. It was the first time that we were all together in six years. We are told the kids want to do it again, only maybe in three years, so they must have enjoyed it, too.

BrandiAnne Daub joined our family in July being born to Jené and John. It is such fun to have them living so close - we get a chance to spoil her properly. Now we look forward to having my sisters and families and Mom and Dad visit us over Christmas!

Season's Greetings,

1994

It gets harder to remember what happened as the year speeds by. It's a good thing I have a calendar. It reminds me we took a few trips - some long, some short. Vince's annual March dental meeting was in Seattle - that was fun for me. Annie, my matron of honor at our wedding lives there and entertained me royally. Such gabbing! Vince took off one day from the meeting and Annie and Bob took us to Leavenworth, a beautiful little town SE of Seattle that looks like Bavaria in S. Germany.

Spring break is also in March and we flew out to visit Arik and Miranda in L.A. We felt a 5.3 aftershock from their big quake in January. Whew! Our short trips were mostly to Windom to visit my folks (or my 45th (Uffda) high school class reunion), or to Decorah. Vince has what he calls his "fishing shack" - we rent a 1-bedroom apartment in Decorah. And he has caught, and we have eaten, some trout this summer and fall. They are good!

This has been a year of changes for our children, excepting Mark. He is still in Carson City, NV, teaching voice and doing some performing.

Arik and Miranda decided to get out of LA and moved to Portland, Oregon, the first of September. We have yet to visit there. They were back here for a weekend in September for the wedding of his friend, Marty.

Dawn, Bob, Heather and Andy moved back from Guam, and now live in Centreville, VA (near Dulles airport). They stopped here for 3 weeks enroute the end of June and first part of July. What fun!

Jené and John also moved back from Guam, arriving about the same time as Dawn - they had vacationed in Hawaii and LA (with A & M) on their way. They are presently living in Iowa City where Jene is a Special Ed teacher - John is substitute teaching and works most every day. He is still looking for a full-time teaching position, so time will tell where they will be next year. We appreciate having them so close.

Vince still teaches full time but retirement is getting close scrutiny - early retirement if the Univ. would approve at least a phased retirement.

There have been some sad times: Vince's aunt and uncle in Decorah both died - Mable at Christmas last year and Bill in February. And in September his brother Spence died in Tucson. We flew down for the Memorial Service. Vince alone survives in his immediate family.

1993

December 1993

Time does fly when you're having fun (or is it when you're getting old?)! Another year has flown by; there have been no great changes in our lives this past year.

Our "kids" are all still in the same places: Arik and Miranda are in Los Angeles, but are beginning to think abou living some place else. They entertained us royally this past summer when we spent 3-4 days with them - saw the Crystal Cathedral, heard the Los Angeles Symphony in the Hollywood Bowl, and ate at several of Arik's favorite places.

Mark lives in Carson City, NV and really likes the area. He is back to teaching voice and doing some performing. We were lucky enough to see him in Pirates of Penzance at an outdoor theater at Lake Tahoe - it was cool enough so we huddled under blankets to keep warm. He also took us to Virginia City to see the old silver mining town!

Dawn and Jené are still in Guam, both getting anxious to live in the states again. And by next summer, they will. Jené and John are in their fifth year of teaching - whoever thought they would stay there that long? John enjoys being head wrestling coach at George Washington High School in addition to his teaching, and Jené is a special ed. coordinator (I think) spending time at 2 different schools.

Dawn and Bob are in their final year of the tour of duty on Guam. Bob became CO of his squadron in June - so his parents, Vince and I, and Jan, (a real good friend of Dawn's) all journeyed to Guam for the ceremony. It was really neat! To see the entire squadron in their dress whites standing at attention, to hear those who were to be on the platform being piped "aboard" and to hear a Navy band playing - Wow!

Vince had an especially good time - Dawn arranged for Bob, Bob's dad, and Vince a deep sea fishing trip as a Father's Day gift. Vince caught a 50-pound, 56-inch mahi mahi - he said it took an half hour to get it in, and his arms hurt for three days. But he also had a smile on his face for at least three days. Fun!

Dawn, Heather and Andy visited here in September - Dawn wanted to surprise her dad on his 60th birthday; but we aren't sure he was really surprised. My folks, my sisters Pam and Sharon, and their families came down to spend Labor Day weekend.

We have a new tourist attraction here: the erosion done by the flood waters going over the spillway at the Coralville Dam has created a geological masterpiece, eroding down to rock bed, revealing fossils from years ago. We had no personal flood damage; some had flood waters in their homes for weeks, basement walls caving in, or appliances, carpets, furniture, walls all destroyed. Horrible!

May your observance of the birth of the Christ Child bring you much peace and joy!

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!

1991

December, 1991

It's time to catch up with those we see or hear from once or twice a year. It's rather a paradox - some of the events seem to have been a long time ago, and yet the months have gone by so quickly.

We have had a couple of trips: in March we visited our 2 daughters, our 2 sons-in-law, and our 2 grandchildren for 10 days who then were living in Guam. What a lo-o-ong flight! We broke it up a little by staying with Arik in LA a couple of days on each end of the trip. Guam is a nice, warm, interesting place to visit. We spent time on the beach, saw WWII historical sites, and played with the kids. (Actually, Dawn's husband, Bob wasn't there - the Navy was still in the Persian Gulf and he was over there.) Dawn and Bob, Heather and Andy moved to northern Japan last summer but will move back to Guam the first part of June (as orders stand now).

Jené and John are still teaching in Guam and will most likely stay for one more year. But they are beginning to get lonesome for the States. They are in their 3rd year of teaching over there. Last summer they visited Hong Kong. I think next summer they hope to get to Australia. And they are trying to get up to Japan for Christmas.

Towards the end of April we went to Acapulco for a dental meeting. It was interesting, very hot, fun to see people only seen at such meetings.

Dawn, Bob and the kids were here on leave the first part of June. When Bob found out that housing in Japan wasn't immediately available, he decided to go on ahead - Dawn and the kids stayed here through July. What fun we had! I guess I really spoiled Andy - he wouldn't let anyone else do anything for him. Heather is a neat little lady - she reads to me now. Dawn home-schooled her first 2 years, but this year she's enrolled in second grade and having a good time.

Arik and Miranda popped in for a visit in September. I knew they were coming but it was a surprise for Vince for his birthday. He was surprised!

Mark lives the closest, still teaching in Decatur, IL. so we get to see him oftener. He probably thinks it's up to him to keep us from getting too lonesome.

We didn't go to any genealogical-type meetings this year, so to meet any 3rd or 4th cousins; but I did meet Helene Furst with whom I have been corresponding, at the Nordic Fest in Decorah (she's a 4th cousin on my mom's side). And one day I got a phone call from a 3rd or 4th cousin (in-law) who was visiting relatives in Iowa City so I got a chance to meet her. I have also been writing to her. Another phone call led to meeting a second cousin on my dad's side, (they were going through Iowa City on their way home). That's one of the most fun results of doing family history!

1990

December 1990

Merry Christmas!

The Christmas greetings are beginning to arrive and we enjoy them all - it is so good to keep in touch.

In fact, this past year could be summarized by our various 'visits':

In January, Willis and Norma Wangsness came to visit and it was like old times in Decorah - we or they going across the street for a cup of coffee and chatter.

In February, and again in May, we made the trip to Decorah, visiting with relatives as we attended the funerals of cousins Fred Rosenthal and Arnold Hexom.

March was Vince's dental trip to Cincinnati - that gave me a chance to visit with Charlotte Lee, who drove down from Dayton (What a friend!) each day to help me sight see, and to talk. It was so much fun!

Vince took his annual fishing trip in May, so I trekked off to Windom to visit my folks, and other relatives. That's getting to be a tradition and fun to have more time than just a weekend.

Jené and John came from Guam in June for a 6-week visit. Trying to see both parents, all their friends, and other relatives kept them on the run. It was good to see them and to hear about their teaching experiences. While they were up at John's folks, sis Sharon and her family and we drove a rented RV out to the East Coast. My, what visiting went on day and night. We were typical tourists trying to see way too much in too short a time. We glimpsed D.C., Phillie, Cape Cod, Boston, some of the Maine coastline, upper N.H., Vermont, N.Y., through Niagara Falls and back home, in some less than 2 weeks.

Jené and John had met Arik and Miranda at the airport, so they were all at the house when we got back (this was July 5). We repacked, and loaded 2 cars and headed for a few days at the Minnesota resort we have gone to since the kids were little. There we had time to lay around, fish a little, swim a little, read a little, and visit through it all. But Arik and Miranda only had a week, so it was back to L.A. for them.

We went to the Nordic Fest the end of July - that's a given - but this time we went via Minneapolis. John and Jené flew out from there back to Guam on Saturday morning, so we saw them off before going to Decorah.

Mark spent the summer in a little town in the mountains near Denver doing theater. He loved the mountain scenery and showed us around when Sharon and I flew out for a weekend. We also got to see all three of the plays he was in, a different one each night. And we included in the visit a few hours with brother Gordon and Shirley and some of their family.

I also went to Windom in August, this time to share in Mom's birthday observance. Both my sisters were there, as well as cousins, so it was a good visit. (I forgot a weekend in June when we went to Windom for the All-Class Reunion. Over 30 from my class were there!)

Vince's brother Spence came to visit in September. He was here a few days, visited his daughter Lanita in Joliet, 1L. and his grandchildren, and spent time in Decorah, Calmar, Mason City. He even got to see the Iowa State (he grad. from there) Iowa football game while he was here. We made a trip to La Crosse, Wis. in September for the Romerike Stevne (a convention of descendants of immigrants from Romerike, Norway) and while there met and visited with Bob Moe, a 2nd cousin of Vince's who now lives in California but grew up in the Fort Dodge area. Doing family history brings new connections, and that is fun.

October brought some other visitors - Dawn, Heather and Andy came from Guam (Bob was too busy to get away). It had been over a year since we had seen them so we really enjoyed it. The kids have grown and changed: Andy talks a blue streak, giggles and laughs and enjoys life. Heather is getting to be a little lady, looks upon herself as Andy's protector (if he needs it). Dawn is 'home-schooling' her, so the daily lessons came along. They went out to PA to see Bob's folks, too; I'm sure the time was too short for them, too. They even got to see a bit of snow before they flew out of the Minneapolis airport the first part of November.

Now we are into Advent and eagerly listen for the telling of the visits of the Angels, the Shepherds, and the Wise Men as they and we worship and adore the Child whose birth we celebrate!