Christmas Letter 2014

We have been reading some of the Christmas Greetings and we are just sort of taking them in and enjoying the updates.  It would be nice to send out something that has all good news.  And to some measure we have had some of that this year. We live at a different place now. We have more experience at being Grandparents than we did a year ago.  We are pretty good at it I think. It is one of the easier tasks in our lives so far. Our cars are running pretty good. I took a job driving school bus for our local school system.  That one has been a little more challenging than I might have thought but it still has been interesting.  We sold our place up north so we do not have to worry about the bears anymore.  Anyway lots of changes and challenges of a new nature.

We have had adventures on the health front with our parents.  On Jan. 11 my Dad died.  He suffered a stroke that took his life.  I recall walking down the hall after we got the call from Mom and he was waving at me. I thought he was going to be OK but soon learned that the wave was involuntary and within three days my Dad was gone from this life.  He was my best friend in so many ways.  Not a day goes by without some memory.  At the same time his friendship, his thinking, his love and his thoughts stay with me in a special way.  I know how sad it is (as many have experienced) but at the same time the wonderful feeling of a life well lived and an investment in life that reached many of us, ring in our hearts in a special way. My Mother lives here in town at Freedom Village.  She is very happy there and we see her often.  It was a real blessing for all of us that they moved there before Dad passed away and it has been a joy to see her enjoy her new home. She broke her wrist a few months ago in a fall but has the cast off now.  She does not complain and enjoys the many friendships she has gained there.  She invites us often to the fine dining facility there.

Deb's Dad survived a heart bypass surgery late this past summer.  He is a man of high energy but became increasingly concerned that his energy level had gone down and after some tests they found the blockages that required the surgery.  I think his "return to action" has been a little slower that he might have desired. Slowly but surely though we all see improvement and we are just glad to have him around. Deb's Mom continues to do well with her pacemaker and frequent Coumadin checks. She has become a good caretaker.  They invited Deb and her sister Krista to vacation with them in Florida in February of 2015.  Deb is hoping that she feels well enough for this. It will be a 60th birthday present for them.  

Every one of our friends ask about how we are dealing with Deb’s cancer.  Well, that has been somewhat remarkable.  We have had a few events this past year of fever and hospitalizations but the overall picture has been that life has progressed at a higher level than could be expected. Come to think of it, life has progressed for over three years now beyond an original diagnosis.  Many comment on the fact that Deb looks good.  I would be remiss however in not saying the challenges of late have been strong .  Recently Deb has endured a series of tests to determine the best chemo treatment. Turns out that the testing and determinations that need to be made for the best  outcome are both complicated and concerning.   It is true that recent times have brought on periods of not feeling good and increasing concern. It seems that the doctors are having more difficulty matching the treatment to the difficulty of the disease.

We recently made the decision to sell our place up north and to put our home in Holland up for sale.  We moved to a condo at 551 Winter Oak Court right here in Holland less than 2 miles from our home.  (same zip 49424)  

Mieke teaches 4th grade in the Hudsonville system. She and Aaron live about 2 miles away from us and they have a dog named Lambeau.  Aaron is a Packer fan. He took a new job this year that requires some international travel. Both of them seem to be happy.  I do say however, that anyone who names a dog after a football field still needs some refinement.   I am sort of hoping the Lions can somehow have a year that would make him think twice about the name of that dog. They are both doing well and we enjoy living close to them.

Alden works for Great Lakes Brewing and lives in the GR area.  Alden and Mary have a daughter named Ainsley. Ainsley has sort of taken on star status around here and now that she is 1 1/2 she is getting this figured out pretty good.  I am not sure you often hear "this is a little more fun than I thought it was going to be" but somehow these words fit as they relate to our joy in having her around.  Mary is working in design at Steelcase.  Mary's mom writes books about strong fathers and mothers and we do not have to look all that far to see that these kids must be reading these every now and then.

Ross and his bride Rumy started a new position in the California in the San Jose area with a church  as directors of music. Ross was home for a few days recently and things seems to be going well for them. He directs the choir and the music program and Rumy has added to her keyboard skills and plays both the organ and piano for their church.  I think when they lived here the snow never met real well with them and Ross mentioned that 81 degrees is the daily expectation out there. They are feeling no pain.

Can it be better? Yep, a few things different would be OK.  This morning at my second stop to pick up kids, a blind girl, (about 6th grade) got on the bus.  She waved her white cane in the entrance door, then on the steps, and then she climbed on and went back to her seat unassisted.   I found the nerve to ask her if she had ever been able to see.  Yep she said "I could see a little up till when I was three so I know what people look like".  About three stops later she told me that I had gone a block beyond my turn and I had. (I am still learning the route).  I thought about that a little as I have been writing this.  It was evident to me that she could summon a sense that goes beyond any Garmin or GPS that we might imagine.  (She could tell by the bumps in the road.)  So yes, we have had a few bumps. But the lumps and the bumps are still outweighed by some fine things and some things to look forward to. So we know here what people look like. It seems as though when we and our friends get a little older the bumps get a little closer together though.  Allow me to end with a poem.

As the wheels on the bus go round and round

Let these greetings somehow resound.  

May this season bring you not one more pound.  

May your  children be happy and all come around 

May your logic and reasoning all be sound

Let your emotions glow and your hearts be found

In closing let me say that it is going to be all right

If this year my Christmas is not all that white.

So no snow a warm glow and a feeling we all know

Is what we wish for all as we go on with the show.

Stan and Deb

(It has been so long since we did this, we can't hardly remember how to "blog" anymore. We will post some new pictures when we figure it out again. Deb)

A few pics from Christmas 2014