Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours - 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas - 2009!

This year we have decided to send out our holiday greetings through email because we want to give the money we would have used to buy cards and postage to World Vision. We have been challenged this past year to look at what we have and to do things differently. This is not for everyone, but this is where we find ourselves.

2009 has been a year of many changes, challenges, and experiences. This is the year that Al finally retired and has his evenings free from correcting homework or making lesson plans. Ev has been retired since 2007. Al finds himself busy babysitting our youngest grandchild (11 months), Liam, David and Quan’s son, and Ev finds herself busy babysitting our only granddaughter, Isabel (2 years old), Ryan and Siska’s daughter. Caden, David and Quan’s 2 3/4 year-old is thriving in daycare where we hear from his teachers his often hilarious view of the world. We enjoyed being parents and now we get to enjoy being grandparents as well.

Caden Ko (David & Quan's Son)

Liam (David & Quan's Son)

Isabel (Ryan & Siska's Daughter)

This past year also found us moving from Sammamish to Newcastle to be closer to family and to find a one level home. (Please note the change in address and phone number at the bottom of this letter) The amazing thing was that we sold our home in one day and bought our Newcastle home three days later! As we reach those golden years, stairs become more of a challenge. Living in Sammamish was great when we both worked there but now that we are retired, being closer to family seemed more important. We are definitely “closer” to our oldest son, David, and his family since they will be living with us until the middle of February. Their newly purchased home will not be available until then. So far living together has not been bad at all.

Our last “extravagance” before retiring was to take a cruise to Mexico along Baja California and another one to Alaska. Both were wonderful but nothing was as great as canoeing on Lake Mendenhall with small icebergs floating by, and getting close and personal to a glacier’s face and a bald eagle. It was beautiful.

In a canoe facing Mendenhall Glacier

Dinner on board our cruiseship

This summer we also had a first all family event. In July, our whole family, sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and we rented a home in Manzanita, OR for a weekend. The weather wasn’t perfect but we still had fun on the beach, and in Seaside, Tillamook and Cannon Beach.

Ryan, Isabel & Siska at Seaside, OR

Ryan & Isabel on Manzanita beach

Quan, David, Caden & Liam in the rented house in Manzanita

Braving the wind on Manzanita's Beach

Another exciting event this year was the Santa Train Ride to Snoqualmie to the Train Museum and Depot which has been decorated for Christmas. It was great fun for young and old alike.

We still attend Lighthouse Christian Church, which meets at Phantom Lake Elementary School and continue to be encouraged and challenged there. Al still helps with the sound team, strike team (taking the church equipment down and packing it back up after service), choir, and a couples’ small group. Ev enjoys serving in children’s ministry, helping in a couple’s small group with Al, choir, and hospitality/welcome center. Our church family is wonderfully supportive and we enjoy the fellowship.

As this year closes and a new year opens with more opportunities, our prayer and wish for you and your family is to experience fullness of life, peace that passes all understanding, and a hope that never ends.

“..but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Luke 2:10-14

Have a Joyous Christmas!
Al and Ev

New Address: 7626 111th Place SE, Newcastle, WA 98056
New home phone: 425-572-5677