Joe, Frances, Dominic, Timothy, and Jeremy,

 

I received your Christmas card/ pictures.  How wonderful!!  You certainly had fun when you were here in the states last Christmas.  The year has passed and many changes have occurred.  Aunt Sue's death was a shock and although she fought at the end she was very sick.  She's resting now.

I did a cruise last March and then went to North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Atlantic City, NJ all last summer.  We had fun traveling.  Toni went off to Baldwin-Wallace College and I thought I had lost my best friend.  After the three phone calls a day stopped, things got better.  (I was doing all the calling!!)  She played volleyball and plans to stay with it next year.  That took up much of the semester until Mid-Nov.)  I went to many of her tournaments,( mostly in Ohio) but some I missed due to my coaching schedule at work.  Grades will be out in a few weeks so hopefully she did fine.  She says so, but we'll see . She did end up graduating with honors from high school and graduating 6th in her class with a 3.998 GPA.  We'll see if she used her brains in college.  She ended up in a dorm room with three other girls so I think there was lots of socializing!!

Luke is in 8th grade this year and maintaining straight A's.  He's in high school math so he has a challenge there.  He played 8th grade football and absolutely loved it.  The team wasn't very good, but he played hard and learned a lot.  He then went right into wrestling.  He loves this too.  Sure sounds like he loves physical, violent sports!!  It scares me to death, but knock on wood) he hasn't been seriously injured.  He also plays the French horn in the band.  He was selected for an honors band concert and it was a great sounding concert.  He has been on a kick to get an electric guitar (you know the rock star syndrome we all went through), but we'll see about this. 

Doug is working and feeling better.  He became ill a week before Thanksgiving and spent 5 days in the hospital.  He had a blocked vein and started filling up with fluid.  It's under control now and he is back to work.

I have been busy, after all of our summer travels, teaching, going to the kids' events and coaching.  I finished my 10th year of high school volleyball and decided to coach 8th grade girls' basketball.  Someone should have shot me!!!!!! It has been total hell because I started off with ten players and because of injuries and eligibility I'm down to 7.  Out of these 7 about 2 or 3 know how to play.  They won no games last year.  We've won one so far , so I guess we're a winner, but it's been a long season and it's not over until Jan. 15th!!! I'm also head advisor for our ski club.  I've been doing this for 18 years and we go every Friday.  It's snowing today, so our first trip will be this Friday.  I changed jobs this year.  After 20 years of waiting to be a Phys. Ed. teacher, I finally got a position that opened.  Usually when gym teachers are in the system, they never leave.  When they have left, the system doesn't replace them.  I am loving my job.  Sweat pants, shorts, t-shirts, or sweatshirts and TENNIS SHOES!!!  I have died and gone to heaven! 

 

We are heading out to San Diego on Dec. 19th for a week.  We have no one to visit.  Doug Toni, Luke and I are just going out to California for Christmas .  We'll be back on Dec.26th. We're staying in a condo on the beach and just enjoying the weather. Hopefully we'll visit Mexico, Hollywood, and LA.  We all need a break and it will be nice to spend time together.

 

The tree is half up and the Christmas cards are getting finished. Not much shopping is done, but the trip is our present to each other.  Oh well..  I had everyone here for Thanksgiving so it was nice to see the family. Oh, Joe, I thought about you as I saw the pumpkin pie filling in the grocery store. )   Steve, Jack, and Sheila didn't make it.  Hopefully I can catch up with them over Christmas. 

 

Well, Merry Christmas to all and have a joyous New Year. 

 

Love to all,

Brenda , Doug, Toni, and Luke