Christmas Letter 2010
This year our Christmas greeting and our gratitude for the abundance in our lives has an extra special significance as this letter comes right after our trip to Guatemala. We were in the central highlands working on a stove project; all this through the Hearts and Hands Foundation of Canmore Alberta. There we witnessed what life is like when you have little and live on a survival basis. The Mayan people are a wonderful people oppressed by political suffrage and are reemerging as a culture with the help of such organizations as Hearts and Hands.
The rest of the year has been full of all the things that you can have fun doing when you are retired.
We spent the first part of the year wandering in southern Arizona and California out on the desert or in Yuma. Bought a newer motor home and then we had a “his and hers” to bring home. That did not go over particularly well as Beth had never driven “her” motorhome. and It really really did not go well one morning in northern Nevada when we lost each other for a tension filled hour one morning as she was out on the freeway by herself and I was circling the town looking for her. Fortunately all ended well and I healed the wounds at the local Starbucks. Her motor home is now sold and we will head south again in January. Anyone want to join us?
This was our last planned summer of boat cruising. We have had great time exploring the coast of BC over the last 14 years but the grandchildren and the garden has been ignored for a month or more each summer. Our plan is to sell the boat this year and concentrate on the motor home, short trips and the local fishing.
Beth continues as the book keeper, financial watchdog of our local Habitat affiliate. It is a part time job with big time headaches but she is committed. I am not so involved right now but continue to try and organize a building project. I have been doing part time handy man type jobs so I can justify the gas for the motor home. Some of the jobs actually pay money but most of them are “grandpa can you do this”, type of jobs.
The big news for the fall was Meghan getting a promotion to Bank Manager with the Royal Bank. Unfortunately that meant she had to move down the island and she and her family are now in Lake Cowichan. This is a small community much like the size of Carman but sitting on the edge of a huge lake with a huge summer draw of tourists. She is excited and determined to leave her mark. They bought a big house there and Mom and Dad have been busy painting.
Matt and family are well anchored here in town and busy with his engineering job and their involvement in their church. Right now they are building a sound studio in their basement and have a goal of recording and producing Christian music. Some of it is a bit too hard and loud for us but they are really enjoying this as a family.
The Christmas baking is starting and some of the decorations are laid out around the house. The Christmas tree is waiting to come in and the turkey is in the freezer. All the family will be at our house for Christmas dinner including a few close friends. It is a wonderful time to stop and give thanks for the bounty that we enjoy. We enjoy good health, a wealth of friends and happiness, and an ability to help others by sharing our time and skills.
Merry Christmas and all the best of this holiday season to you and your family.
Beth and Peter and Charlie.
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