2013
Season's Greetings to all our family and friends around the world.
Where has the year gone... and so fast? Our schedule moves at a relaxed pace here at altitude of Colorado. We are receiving all of your holiday updates and now outline our year in review.
Since last Christmas we continue hiking and snowshoeing in our local mountains. In May we did an awesome guided hike in the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland and visited friends in England. Throughout the summer we tended our solar dome greenhouse and enjoyed a large number of travel club guests. September started uneventful and then Jim experienced chest pains while climbing. Before we knew it, we were in Colorado Springs where he underwent robotic cardiac bypass surgery. Since then he has been doing remarkably well and we are now back to hiking and snowshoeing. Barbara had to make a quick trip back to Chicago in October to see her brother, whose health is declining, but it also brought the three Schultz sisters together.
The September floods in Boulder, CO left Kelly and family forced to, while not higher ground, at least better climate! They relocated to the San Diego area in November for both school and better training conditions. We flew out to see them for an early Christmas celebration. Catching up with fast-growing Lachlan, Peyton and Kingston was wonderful. Kurt continues to work in Alaska as a law-enforcement ranger and pilot for U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Sabrina, his wife of one year, moved back to San Francisco for work.
So, while our year was filled with changes, much remains the same. We cherish times with loved ones and visits with dear friends like you. Our elderly canine girls, aka Nina and Gracie, live the good life walking the property and occasionally spotting wildlife... deer, coyotes and mountain lions, but mostly just living to eat!
May the Joy of the Christ Child's birth warm your heart and home this season and may we see you sometime soon.
Season's Greetings to all our family and friends around the world.
Where has the year gone... and so fast? Our schedule moves at a relaxed pace here at altitude of Colorado. We are receiving all of your holiday updates and now outline our year in review.
Since last Christmas we continue hiking and snowshoeing in our local mountains. In May we did an awesome guided hike in the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland and visited friends in England. Throughout the summer we tended our solar dome greenhouse and enjoyed a large number of travel club guests. September started uneventful and then Jim experienced chest pains while climbing. Before we knew it, we were in Colorado Springs where he underwent robotic cardiac bypass surgery. Since then he has been doing remarkably well and we are now back to hiking and snowshoeing. Barbara had to make a quick trip back to Chicago in October to see her brother, whose health is declining, but it also brought the three Schultz sisters together.
The September floods in Boulder, CO left Kelly and family forced to, while not higher ground, at least better climate! They relocated to the San Diego area in November for both school and better training conditions. We flew out to see them for an early Christmas celebration. Catching up with fast-growing Lachlan, Peyton and Kingston was wonderful. Kurt continues to work in Alaska as a law-enforcement ranger and pilot for U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Sabrina, his wife of one year, moved back to San Francisco for work.
So, while our year was filled with changes, much remains the same. We cherish times with loved ones and visits with dear friends like you. Our elderly canine girls, aka Nina and Gracie, live the good life walking the property and occasionally spotting wildlife... deer, coyotes and mountain lions, but mostly just living to eat!
May the Joy of the Christ Child's birth warm your heart and home this season and may we see you sometime soon.
James and Barbara Schultz Rees
_____________________________
Just a few items as greetings for the season:
What do they call Santa's elves in English class?
Subordinate Clauses, of course.
Please remember to sing the Christmas Carol about the subway strike in Chicago -
"The first No-el"
Then there's the "Seasons's Greetings" from the signboard down at the gym -
"Merry Fitness and a Happy New Rear!"
And don't emulate Sven Jr. He wanted to ask God for a bike for Christmas, but he knew God doesn't work that way, so he stole a bike and asked God for forgiveness.
Here's a wonderful Christmas story...
Many Decembers ago, the Red Viking Clan's aging leader, Rudolph, was feeling unable to adequately lead the sea commerce raids that were the clan’s lifeblood. He had no sons, so he appointed his nephew Olaf as his successor.
Olaf planned his first big raid, but when the day dawned, the clouds looked more threatening than he had ever seen. He voiced uncertainty to Olga, his wife– if he cancelled the raid he might appear to be weak, but if the raid got caught in a serious storm, they could lose many ships and lives.
Olga suggested he consult quietly with his predecessor and benefit from his experience. Olaf first didn’t believe Rudolph could help, but Olga persisted. Rudolph said the weather looked frightful and the safest choice was to cancel the raid.
Olaf called a quick meeting and said “As your new leader, I, Olaf the Red, am cancelling today’s raid so that our strength is not squandered in rough seas.” The clan was disappointed, but accepted his decision.
Later that day, the wind and seas were so rough that, had they been at sea, there surely would have been disaster. So everyone complimented Olaf on his decision, and his leadership of the clan was strengthened.
That evening, Olaf thanked Olga for suggesting he consult Rudolph, but was very curious why she had been so sure Rudolph would know the right thing to do. To which Olga replied, “Why, everyone knows Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear.” ;-)
OK, so maybe that wasn’t the best Christmas story ever. In fact, the real, first Christmas story is still the best ever. We hope all the trappings of the season as it now has become, have not spoiled the real meaning of Christmas for you. May these feeble attempts at humor add a little to your joys this Christmas. And remember, Christ is the Reason for the season.
We wish you a joyous and merry Christmas.
Susan and Allen Carlson MPHS Jan 66
Merry Christmas, Ho Ho Ho,
Happy Holidays
We are now very green, and put our Christmas letter on a blog. And also cheap - costs very little.
Beth and Craig Hullinger MPHS Jan 66
_________
Send us your holiday greetings and we will post them to this blog.
morganparkhigh@gmail.com
Burl Ives
No comments:
Post a Comment