December 14, 2025
Today is a blessedly cold and sunny day that began with the temperature at negative 13 degrees Fahrenheit. We considered our thirty-degree warm up by one p.m. to be quite balmy. The wind still had a bit of sting to it as I let out our little furball to do his thing. It was after our arrival home from the afternoon outing that I decided it was high time to update our entire correspondence list on all of the happenings in our family.
This afternoon we had the pleasure of attending the performance of a local Community Theatre’s production of “The Christmas Carol.” Our daughter Lennea’s husband Garret was the lead character Ebenezer Scrooge. It was a very enjoyable outing. Garret is the town’s High School Band director and has participated in a number of community theatre productions. Lennea is the Director of Equalization for our local county. She still plays her cello for various groups when invited and we were blessed to watch the musical at the university fine arts theatre with the production of “Bright Star.” They also participate in a local church hand bell choir. And this year for extra enjoyment they purchased an old church building to renovate.
Yoland and Joshua have added to family’s number with the birth of little Joseph in August. He is such a good little baby, and we all fight over getting to hold him. Noelle will be two years old before the week is out. She seems to emit the Joy of Christmas every day in her little life. Her laughter and greeting are so bubbly! Melody is now four years old and quite the little artist. She loves drawing, coloring, painting, and using markers any chance she gets. Isaac is now five years old and the best little helper. He is always willing to jump up and retrieve any item. Isaac’s love for golfing increased much this summer with a first golf camp experience. He is just such a natural. Isabelle is now 7 1/2 and just recovered from her tonsil’s being removed. She is a busy little girl, and no one can seem to keep up with her. She just loves learning and trying new things and really enjoys being the BIG sister.
Joshua continues to work in the security world. He also loves to mentor other young men and enjoys taking his kids with him golfing. They took a small army of help to move to a new house the month before new baby was born. Yolanda is a busy mom of five now and continues to home school the elementary age children. We all think she is the family’s ”Super Mom” and are grateful that God qualifies her for this calling of motherhood. Oma (myself) tries to help and support once a week to fold laundry. And Opa (Gavin) lends his aid when called upon
Our life has been much occupied the last few years with caring for aging parents. It started off two years ago with my mother Sharon having a stroke that changed her life and ours much. After helping empty the house to sell it we really thought life could not be more complicated. Then Gavin’s dad and mom seemed to be aging by decades instead of days right before our eyes. Dad Jay passed away after suffering a fall in October of 24. We spent the next four months watching Mom Cleos’ broken heart crush the juice out of our spunky, happy lady. Meanwhile, my dad Wayne had decided that he did not want to go through more cancer treatments. Mom Cleo passed away in February. And just four months later Wayne passed on also.
Our wounded hearts are beginning to heal, maybe. It’s pretty hard to see the winter come and these first holidays without parents and find that in reality, it finally feels less like winter than it looks. Seasons of the heart rarely match the actual season of the year. And yes, we do not mourn as those who have no hope, for each of these three losses are full of the hope of one day reuniting in glory. It’s just hard to believe that we would say goodbye to three parents in just eight months’ time. Truthfully speaking, Sharon is not quite the same either. So, this growing old is rough.
Our focus has not been all gloomy for the past two years or more but trying to write Merry messages from the midst of grief is not easy. I have still kept up with my blog writings every once in a while and many have kept up with our family that way. However, I know some people do not follow me there, so I though perhaps, it was time to make my husband address some envelopes once again and let everyone know we still live in the same place! (No address change here.)
Gavin is still working out of the Sioux Falls warehouse / manufacturing facility that he has been at for eighteen years now. He is now in his fourth or fifth position or “title” since the first one and also about that many company name changes. Haha. His quality of service and leadership only continues to grow. And I am always proud of his work ethic.
I remain at home and quite occupied with keeping up with all the families’ happenings. I still love to crochet, tend the greenhouse, and take care of my menagerie of pets. We have a very independent guard dog Charlie outdoors, a hand full of mousers (cats) and a little black doggie Kona that helps me stay active.
We sat down to watch a movie the other night and were pleasantly surprised by the depth of the content. The story behind the song “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” is about rising from the ashes literally. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow lost his wife in a house fire and nearly lost his son in the Civil War. Yet it was their strong faith in Christ that carried them through their bitter grief. The Hope of Christ rings out true and clear every time they hear the church bells ringing. Oh, that your hearts would find such hope in Christ.
We have enjoyed hearing from our faithful friends over the last few years around the holidays. Blessings to all of you who did not give up on us and still send cards and letters. We pray that you are able to say along with us that though seasons change when we least expect it and time marches on even after our loved ones cross the divide before us, we will still say, “It is well with my soul.”