December 2019

Dear friends and family,

This year has been one of changes for the Stephenson family. In early January Marc returned from a trip to Finland to meet his god son. Katianna Sjoblom, who lived with us from 1994-5, had a baby son in the fall. She asked “her brother” Marc to take on this role so Marc traveled to meet Bjorn for the first time and spent New Year’s with the Sjoblom family – as I had done in the early 1970’s.

Later that month Jenk and I set off for Australia. We spent 3 amazing days in the spectacular (if HOT) outback before meeting our friends, the Uribes, in Sydney. After a few days visiting the city we boarded a ship for a two-week cruise, first to Melbourne and Tasmania, then on to different ports all around New Zealand. What a beautiful country, with lots of green and sheep! We very much enjoyed our different land adventures as well as the time at sea.

In late March Beth moved to Austin, Texas. She had been promoted by Astin Martin to being a regional marketing director the previous fall, but the job required a relocation. So for Beth’s birthday Jenk, Marc and I all flew to Austin where we spent several days unpacking endless boxes and exploring some of the eateries around the city. We also had the chance to visit with some of Jenk’s cousins nearby. Nathan was still in California at that time, but finally moved to Austin with a great new job in August.

We rented a car in Austin and then we three drove to Lubbock to see Jenk’s sister Carolyn. We visited relatives, watched Texas Tech in the final 4 and ate some delicious BBQ. Marc had to fly home as his spring break was over, but Jenk and I stayed for a few more days. (In July Marc flew back to Texas to visit both his aunt and sister since his time was short on this trip.)

Due to a former colleague’s false accusations and lawsuit, our school decided to put the China Exchange program that I have been running on hold for one year. Nevertheless we had a group of Saugus students ready to go to China so with 4 colleagues we set off for Xi’an in early June. One group only stayed two weeks, while I stayed with the longer group through July. I was blessed to be teamed with Marcus Garrett as chaperones. We spent lots of time with our 14 students, but I flew home before the big travels. (I have decided that 10 times on the Great Wall is enough for me.) While in Xi’an, I once again stayed with Yanli Dong and her family. About 10 days after my return Yanli, her daughter Linda, and Yanli’s mom arrived to spend two weeks with us. We visited San Francisco, the Grand Canyon and local sights of interest before the three ladies headed to Georgia to leave Linda at the University of Georgia.. (But between returning and hosting I flew to Denver to see our dear friend, Margaret Cochran, who had moved there in the spring.)

In August Jenk and I celebrated my Aunt Kathy’s 94 th birthday (my Dad’s sister) and then in September flew up to Bellingham, Washington to visit my Aunt Peggy (my mom’s sister who had just published her first book at age 97!) We also had a good visit with my cousin Laura, before heading to Spokane to visit friends from when I taught at a Christian school before Marc was born. Although we had seen each other a couple of times over the years, we seemingly picked up right where we left off. On the same trip we managed to visit my college friend, Junie, one of Beth’s closest friends, Heather, and met the daughter of one of our Chinese teacher friends. By the time we returned I learned that our China Exchange was permanently closed, so after 14 years of the exchange and 34 years at Saugus I turned in the last of my keys.

In October Jenk and I set off on a road trip visiting many interesting and some very out of the way spots. We also managed to visit 5 presidential libraries. We eventually got to Athens, Georgia where Linda Li is a freshman. We helped her to celebrate her 18 th birthday, met her roommates and explored the University of Georgia and the town of Athens. (We have known Linda since she was 4 years old!) Our 8000-mile trip ended in Texas where we saw Beth and Nathan, Jenk’s sister and brother and my cousin Gary, who had also moved there.

Two days after we returned in November Saugus High School became the latest in the sad list of high school shootings. Marc called me just after the gunshots so I knew he was safe, but it was surreal to watch the place where we all spent so many years as a crime scene. While classes will begin again none of the students, staff or retirees will ever be the same.

We once again celebrated Thanksgiving thinking of our many blessings. Jenk is well, and definitely doesn’t look 74! He continues to enjoy his genealogy research with new discoveries from time to time. He will never run out of leads to follow! As I write we have three Chinese college students with us for the holidays. Two of them I have know for years as the child or niece of former Chinese sisters. It is fun!

We wish you all Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy 2020. While at times it seems that so much is not good in the world we firmly believe that we are blessed with family and friends and hold out hope for a better 2020!

Love,

Jenk and Patty