December 2021

Dear Friends and Family,

Another pandemic year is coming to an end, and for us it was a good year, in spite of some losses. To start with the BIG news: Marc and Leslie got engaged in October, and will marry in 2022. In the meantime they have bought a home and are busily organizing a new life together which will include her 3 children. The second BIG event was the birth of our grandson, Julian Jordan Blake, on November 22. He was born early but is healthy and he is bringing joy to the whole family. I was able to fly to Austin for a week right after Thanksgiving but am looking forward to more time with him as Jenk and I will drive back to Texas for Christmas.

The early part of the year was a continuation of 2019, meaning that like everyone we stayed home. We were able to host Easter with our usual crowd – but at separate tables in the back yard. In June Beth flew out for a business meeting and we were able to see her for the first time in a year. In July we were able to celebrate Marc’s 40 th birthday inside! In July we celebrated our friend Evelyn’s 101 st birthday but sadly lost her in October. In August our close friend Lisa was diagnosed with cancer and tragically died a few days after her first grandchild was born. We miss her daily. Luckily we still get to be a part of little Lucas’s life.

After more than 18 months at home we set out for Texas in September to help care for Jenk’s sister as she got her new knee. We also had a couple of days with Beth and Nathan, Jenk’s brother and other Texas friends. It seemed strange to be traveling again, but we were very careful about only being with vaccinated people as I have been on continuous oxygen since the spring.

Although the pandemic has changed our lives, we have found ways to connect virtually. We haven’t missed one Sunday “at” church because we can worship from home. I meet with a group of ladies twice per week, to share and study, and also “attend” a Bible Study. We have twice weekly “Happy Hours” with our travel friends in Dallas and this year we actually got to physically spend time together twice – once in Dallas, and once here is our home. Our friendship has grown due to the many conversations we have had.

Jenk is well, and has been helping Marc to do repairs on his new home, and his condo so that he can rent it. He continues to serve on two boards, but has decided to resign as Finance Chair at church after 12 years. We are hoping/planning to do some pleasure travel in 2022.

We are thankful for you, who enrich our lives, even when we don’t get to see each other as we did before. But I think we have learned to simplify life and to recognize how lucky we are to have the technology that has kept us in touch. We have learned to play games on line, to FaceTime and to Zoom. In some ways I get to “do” more things now because I don’t have to leave home to do them.

Our hopes for 2022 are for a healthier world where we can all accept each other and work together for better tomorrows.