Joe and Frances

Dominic, Jeremy, Frances, Joe, Timothy

We started off the year  with a get together out by the pool with about 30 people enjoying socialising, swimming and an assortment of food from 'All across Asia'

Halfway through January we all packed up and flew to Brisbane where we boarded the Pacific Sky cruise ship for a 7 day cruise to New Caledonia.  There were theme nights and excellent food, trivia contests and cocktails.  Frances and I featured in the onboard entertainment with our line dancing talents.  The boys enjoyed the freedom of the ship and found their own friendship groups but still managed to get together with us at mealtimes and other occasions. 

We stopped in Noumea where we spent the day sightseeing and shopping.  Our second stop was in the Isle of Pines where swimming, snorkelling and sightseeing were the order of the day.  Unfortunately, we were unable to stop at Daydream Island for an island barbecue but we had a wonderful time nevertheless. 

Then it was back to reality as we all went back to work and school.  An early Easter gave us a bit of a break from the term and, two weeks later when the actual school holidays began, we travelled up to the Central Coast where we spent a week in a cottage just across the street from the beach.

In May I celebrated my 50th birthday by hosting 42 people for a sit-down dinner and trivia night. By the end of the night, I could hardly remember my name but everyone said they enjoyed themselves.


Joe's 50th

In July, during the next school holidays, Jeremy and I took a little trip to Canberra, Australia's capital.  We visited with friends, went to the War Memorial where Jeremy reminisced about the days of the Vietnam war.  We visited Parliament house, the Australian museum, learned about the history of Canberra and visited the science museum, Questicon. 

The end of September brought together two milestone events.  Dominic and Timothy's 18th birthday and their High School Graduation.  These events were celebrated with a Graduation Mass and a Graduation Dinner. We also celebrated the event with a party at home.  I gave the following speech to commemorate the events -

Graduation/18th Birthday Speech

Ever since our children could understand us we told them that it was our job as parents and it was also the job of teachers to teach them how to be adults.  And we only had 18 years to do it.  I recall on time when Timothy was about 6 he was rocking back on his chair.  I asked him “How many times have I told you not to rock back on the chair?” to which he replied, “about 4”.  I then reminded him of what my job was and explained to him that if I had to keep repeating myself, I may not have time to fit in all the important stuff. I don’t believe that Timothy ever rocked back on his chair again.

Frances and I, as most parents, took our role very seriously. When we were deciding when to have children we both agreed that it was a big commitment and the next 20 years of our lives would have to be dedicated to them.

What a shock it was to Frances to learn that she was going to have twins, she says she doesn’t remember this but when she found out she didn’t say anything for 4 days.  

Frances suffered tremendously with morning sickness and I suffered as well, sympathetically of course.  But I can honestly say that was the only suffering we ever had in raising the boys.

Dominic has been blessed with all of his mother’s best qualities; he has always been fairly serious and very sensible, he is dedicated, organised and pragmatic.  He knows how to have a good time, but is always considerate of other people.  Dominic always tries to do the right thing. He also shares some of my better qualities, like being a good driver, and listening politely when speeches are made. 

Timothy has been blessed with some of my best qualities and many of his mother’s. He has always been quite inquisitive, creative and a lateral thinker. Timothy is caring and organised. He takes on each new task with as a challenge and can see that there are many options to consider when making decisions.  Timothy puts in 110% effort and is always thinking of ways to improve things.  

We are very lucky that neither of the boys has any of my bad qualities.  I’m sure that they wouldn’t have any of Frances’ bad qualities either if she had any.  Both boys are intelligent and, more and more, I find myself learning new things from them and fascinated by their knowledge.  They have good outlooks on life and I trust that the decisions they make will be well thought out and sensible.

I have been lucky to have spent as much time as I have with my children.  I was able to work at their primary school when they were small and spend time after school and on school holidays with them.

When we attended their graduation ceremony the other night, my thoughts were constantly switching from our first association with St. Patrick’s College to the present moment.  My thoughts flashed back to 8 years earlier, sitting at the welcome Mass when they were in year 5 listening to the sweet angelic choir of 10 year old soprano voices greeting us.

I was brought back to the present as the boys processed into the chapel, singing once again but this time with booming baritone voices.

When the headmaster gave his speech at the graduation, I remembered sitting at the year 5 orientation day when he stood on the stage with the college prefects and asked us to entrust our little boys to St. Patrick’s and in 8 years time he would return to us fine young men like these.  In his speech, he recalled his words and kept his promise.

I am excited for them to move forward and become who God intends them to be, yet melancholy to say good-by to a part of my life.

Time goes so fast, doesn't it? I was watching the boys studying for their exams just a few weeks ago; all I could still see were my little 8 year old boys sitting there. Sometimes I long for just a moment from them to be little again. I'll see young children when I'm out and so wish I could be there again. Time went so fast....and I knew then I would feel like I do now. I savored every minute I could, so I have no regrets, just not enough time.

However, if they were still little, I would not know the wonderful mature people they have grown up to be.  I truly believe that there is no force in the world greater than the love of a parent for their children.

Well, the 18 years that we had to do our job is up, the teachers have done their part and Frances and I have done our best.  I suppose that we now take on the role of consultants.

God has given us the greatest present we could ask for in our children and now Frances and I would like to give our present back to society, these two fine young men.

So would everyone please be upstanding and charge your glasses to Dominic and Timothy.

The end of school brought recognition of years of hard work.  Dominic and Timothy both featured their software designs at the school display evening.  Dominic received the first place prize for the year in Software Design and Development, narrowly beating out his nearest competitor, Timothy.  They both reached marks in the 90's which got their names in the paper and both ranked highly in the State.

Dominic and Timothy also enjoyed their formal as they and 8 others shared a limousine and enjoyed a night of music and festivities and the party afterward.  They told us all about it when we picked them up at 6:30 a.m.

In October, Matilda had to have surgery to remove a tumor which turned out to be malignant.  They removed it all but expect it to return some day.  So far it has not and she is doing well.

In November, within a day of each other, Dominic and Timothy got part time jobs.  Timothy now works at Woolworths - a major grocery store, and Dominic works at Dan Murphy's - a liquor store.

Frances' firm - Sothertons will be merging with another company - Moore Stephens from the first of January which will more than double the size of the firm.

David and Sharen

HAVE A VERY BLESSED CHRISTMAS

 

OUR CHRISTMAS PRAYER FOR YOU IS THAT YOU ENJOY YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON. KEEP THEM CLOSE TO YOUR HEART, IF NOT IN PERSON, THEN IN SPIRIT.

 

JAN.-JUN. WAS SPENT CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS, SHOVELING SNOW AND TRYING TO KEEP WARM.  THEN TRYING TO KEEP COOL. 

JULY I TRAVELED TO OHIO FOR THE GURTO FAMILY REUNION. IT WAS GOOD SEEING THE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT COULD MAKE TO CONNEAUT AND CATCHING UP ON ALL THE FAMILY NEWS.  I ALSO HAD TO CLEAR OUT AUNT SUE'S CONDO.  I SPENT SEVERAL WEEKS THERE.  IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO LEAVE THE CONDO FOR THE LAST TIME. 

SEPT.  DAVID AND I WENT ON VACATION TO LAS VEGAS. WE DID A GOOD JOB THROWING OUR MONEY AWAY.  WE DID GET TICKETS TO THE CELIN DION SHOW.  WE HAD GREAT SEATS AND THE SHOW WAS EXCELLENT.  WHEN WE CAME BACK WE CELEBRATED MORE BIRTHDAYS.

OCT.  DAVID AND I WENT TO THE WALK/RUN IN MEMORY OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE DIED WAY TOO SOON.  DAVID WALKED, I TOOK PHOTOS. 

NOV. WE MET DIANE AND BARRY AT BLACK RIVER FALLS, WI.  WE HAD A VERY NICE VISIT. WE HELPED FEED THE INDIANS.  WE CELEBRATED THANKSGIVING WITH DAVID'S SISTER CHRIS.  GREG AND AMANDA STAYED IN MADISON SINCE THEY BOTH HAD TO WORK ON FRI.  LATER IN THE EVENING WE WENT TO A FRIEND'S HOME FOR PIE. ON THE 5TH DAVID AND I WENT TO HOLY HILL TO LIGHT CANDLES IN MEMORY OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT HAVE PASSED AWAY. 

DEC.  SO FAR IT HAS BEEN BUSY.  WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE HOUSE READY FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY.  NOT HAVING MUCH LUCK.  I MAKE A TO DO LIST EACH MORNING IT IS A WHOLE PAGE LONG.  I DO ABOUT TWO THINGS IF I AM LUCKY.  IT IS LIKE GOING ONE STEP AHEAD TWO BACK.  ON DEC.11TH AT 7PM IS THE ANNUAL COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS LIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD. SO PLEASE LIGHT A CANDLE FOR A CHILD THAT WAS CALLED HOME TOO SOON.  IF YOU COULD LIGHT A CANDLE FOR PAM ALSO WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT. GREG AND AMANDA WILL BE HERE FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR.   THEY ARE DOING WELL.  GREG HAS STARTED HIS OWN BUSINESS SO HE HAS BEEN REALLY BUSY.  HE WORKS AT UW THEN GOES HOME AND WORKS ON HIS PROJECT.  AMANDA IS WORKING AS A PHARMACIST ASSISTANT.  SHE HAS DECIDED TO HOLD OFF ON GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.  THE COMPANY DAVID WORKS FOR WILL BE CLOSING THEIR OPERATION IN MILWAUKEE APRIL 2006.  SO HE HAS STARTED LOOKING FOR OTHER JOBS. HE DID HAVE ONE OFFER YESTERDAY.  WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT CONDOS.  WE WILL MAKE A DECISION IN THE SPRING.  I AM ENJOYING MY NEW POSITION AS RESIDENT RETIRED PERSON.  I HAVE BEEN TAKING A TON OF PHOTOS. I JUST LOVE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY.  I ENTERED A PHOTO CONTEST.  I FOUND OUT A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT I WAS SELECTED AS A FINALIST.  I AM SITTING LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AT THE SNOW. IT HAS BEEN REALLY COLD AND WE HAVE STARTED TO GET SOME SNOW.  LAST WINTER WE DIDN'T GET SNOW UNTIL JAN.  I GUESS WE WILL HAVE A WHITE CHRISTMAS.  

LOVE TO ALL DAVE AND SHAREN    
 

Sherry, Kyle and Karl

Hello,

There has been a lot going on with us, so I thought that I would give you an update on everything.

In April, I had to take a leave of absence from working at Bruce's.  I had 3 tumors in my stomach and the big on was 8 lbs.

In May, I had surgery.  I had to have a hysterectomy and also that's when she found the other tumors.  Karl ran track and broke two school records and he was invited to Painesville to the Invitational to run there.  He ended up with 3 ribbons.

In June, Kyle made the All Stars.  He was the catcher.  Kyle and Karl went to 2 basketball camps.  One was at Youngstown State and Ashland University. 

In July, Kyle and Karl played in 2 basketball summer leagues at Conneaut Township Park.

In August, Kyle and Karl started school at the High School.  They are freshmen.  They both played on the High School Varsity Soccer Team  They both lettered in Soccer.  They played soccer in August, September and October.

In October, I started working for the Conneaut Area City Schools.   Kyle and Karl started basketball.  They both made the JV and Varsity Basketball Team.  In November, we all moved into a house.

Ad now, it's December and I'm late getting my Christmas cards out.  I just got the Christmas tree up and starting wrapping presents.

Merry Christmas

Sherry, Kyle and Karl

Happy Holidays from Michele, Michael and family

December 2005

In September we celebrated our 1^st year of being a family.  We had to brave two hurricanes last year when we got married and this year was a repeat with two more hurricanes coming through the area.   We had minor roof damage after we had replaced the roof from last year, but overall everyone and everything was fine.  The kids missed two weeks of school and were a little stir crazy.  Michele’s office was closed for a week, and Mike was on duty 12 hour days to protect our community.

We have settled into the life of having a police officer in the family even though that means not having him home during hurricanes.  We are all healthy and looking forward to the holidays. 

Mike is working on finishing his Bachelor’s degree, so that when he is ready to retire from the Sheriff’s department he can teach at the Police Academy at the Community College.  He has been working on getting some flying time under his belt after being away from flying for a few years. Of course, he would love to get his own plane. More toys. 

Steven is a junior in high school and getting ready for college.  He took his SAT college entrance exam and would like to study architecture at the University of Florida.  We took him to see the college and he attended his first college football game – a  win over Vandy in double overtime.  Needless to say he was hooked on UF.  At his high school he has joined the Building Construction magnet program.  They are going to building the new concession stand at their school.  Since he has started driving he is more interested in the beach so he won’t be leaving Florida to attend college.

Lauren is beyond active.  She did Pop Warner Cheerleading for the 3^rd year.  They finished first in the local competition, third in regionals in Jacksonville, & then went to National competition in Orlando and placed 4^th.  She is on the middle school cheerleading squad too and student government council, plus her 5^th year of Girl Scouts.  All with keeping A & B’s.  Her energy level is off the charts.

Mike’s son Jared joined the Air Force and leaves in February. He was in Air Force ROTC in high school.   Please pray that he is stationed in a non combat location.  James is working and discovering how tough it is to make a living in Palm Beach County, so we are encouraging him to go to a trade school.  He love s the beach too much to leave this area.

As for Mike & I, we are looking forward to moving away from South Florida.  It is growing too fast and is being overbuilt.  We purchased a townhome near Daytona Beach for a get away for holidays & summer and possibly to retire to.  It is located in a fly-in community with a nice club and golf course.  So it has the aero club for Mike and the country club for me.

Besides my full time work for a wonderful private foundation I am enjoying my community involvement on three boards.  But family comes first and so I try to balance family, work, volunteerism, & playtime.

In May, we plan on returning to Italy for another family visit.  My sister Diane and the kids may join us.  It will be a wonderful family experience.

Hope this year has been full of fun, good health and happiness for you and your family.  Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a happy 2006!

Brenda and Doug
 

Dear Family,

            Just a quick note to update all on The Wards. 

Luke:    15 years old already!  Driving in 5 months!!  Pleasantly enjoying the 9^th grade and acting every bit like freshmen in high school.  Luke played baseball in the spring, football this fall, and is into varsity wrestling. He competes against mature 18 yr.olds that have a lot more muscle mass, but he never gives up.  As a freshman, he’s doing great!  He’s taking honors geometry and honors English.  He’s doing great in school, but complains every day about the work load. Oh well…  I tell him it will make him a better person. He’s maintaining a 3.82 GPA, so I guess I could back off  a little.  We’re at the same school and I teach him

phys. ed..  That’s been ok.  A few times he had to be put in his place, but all in all, it’s great to be at the same school!

Toni:     As I said in my previous note, she’s studying abroad this

spring semester.  She’ll be going to The University of Sunshine Coast in Brisbane, Australia. She leaves

Feb. 8^th and returns June 20^th.  We will miss her so much, but what an opportunity!  She’s in her 2^nd year at Baldwin-Wallace College and studying to be a middle childhood education teacher.  Her two concentrations are math and science.  She played volleyball again and did extremely well.  Not sure if she’ll continue volleyball next year because of missing the spring season due to Australia and her studies next year will be more in difficult.

Doug:   Working hard at his business.   Taking longer trips now because of the season, but is working and that’s always good. 

Me:      Working hard, but not coaching middle school basketball!!! Last year was terrible!  Too much!!  I still coach volleyball in the fall and probably will continue because I do love it!  I went to the Bahamas last spring and made two trips to South Carolina last summer.  I hurt my knee in August (torn MCL) but it’s healing.  I’m not bouncing back like I usually did!!  Skiing is put on hold this year, but I’m still in charge of our school ski club.  I’ll go up, supervise, sit by the fire, and relax.  That actually sounds nice!! New schools are being built so we have a very short Christmas break and no spring break.  I hope we all make it…especially teaching adolescents!!!

I’m sure there’s more to share, but this is enough for this year.  I wish everyone a great Christmas and HEALTHY New Year.

Love to all,

xxxooo,

Brenda

Jim and B-Ann

Brandy and Rocky

In the quiet moments of the holidays, may you find peace and joy
Love Rocky, Brandy and Family

Aunt Effie

May you enjoy the beauty of nature's gifts this holiday season and always.
Love Aunt Effie and Johnny