Merry Christmas
We wish you all the very nicest of Holiday seasons!
And wishes for a great New Year.
The final flurry of activity in preparation for the Christmas celebration is here. I'm late this year in writing this letter. It seems that the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas just disappeared! Now, at the last minute, I finally have time to begin writing. So many things happen in a year, that it’s hard to keep track of. It seems like it was just a few weeks ago that I wrote a letter for 1992.
This year will be an especially merry Christmas for us since all of our children now live here or nearby and will be home with us over the holidays. Jessy, Mark and Casey moved to Daytona Beach last fall. They are Bennie's new neighbors!
The excitement began even before Christmas 1992 was over. We addressed our cards and letters for 1992 in our van during a marathon drive to North Dakota for Christmas last year. The family was all together in Fargo at the Nickel's house. Mark had just returned from Somalia and received his discharge from the Navy. They flew in from Philadelphia with Casey to join us. Bennie worked until the last minute in Daytona and flew up Christmas Eve. He left 75 degrees and sunny to land in Fargo in a blizzard with 65 below wind chills! It turned out to be one of our best Christmases ever despite the cold. We also spent a couple of days in Devils Lake with the Kaedings during our visit.
1993 was a very sad year too. Jan's mother was stricken with cancer and passed away last fall. We all continue to miss her very much.
JAN spent most of the summer and fall in Fargo with her mother and her family. She seemed to accomplish the impossible, helping her family in Fargo and maintaining a household here. Crafts occupied all of her spare time. She's been making so many different things, always trying something new. Some of her creations have been sent to some of you as gifts, some have been sold and some are now adorning our home.
BENNIE changed jobs during the year. He is now an assistant manager at a pizza restaurant in a local shopping mall. We see him here often. He also taught Sunday school at our church until his schedule wouldn't allow it. He has been working with the church's youth group as much as he can.
JESSY, as I said, moved here from Texas last fall. Its great to have her nearby again. She is now working in the same office as I do. She likes the job - this is not a dull place to work! MARK also works at the same place for the parent company to CDR Systems, where Jessy and I work. Mark entertains himself sometimes by doing little odd jobs around the house, so I love it! He and Bennie saved me weeks of spare time work when I painted the house last fall. CASEY is up to one-year old stuff, GROWING! He's on his feet now and trying to talk next. Casey spends his days with grandma Jan and Jessy and I come home every day at lunch, so I can teach him a few new things (bouncing on the bed, etc.)
APRIL spends her summers also working where I do and the rest of her time in college. She's at the University of Florida in Gainsville this year. We see a little more of her since Gainsville is a lot closer than Tallahassee. She stays on the go between school and work. After this year, she will have one full year and maybe a little bit more to graduate.
JOY continues to play the violin. She has become very good with it and practices a lot. High school keeps her really busy. She's on the yearbook staff this year and still has friends all over the place. She's not real fond of getting up at 5:30 every morning - but she'll make it (builds character).
NICOLE just about stopped swimming, but she's back at it. Her and Jan still run all over northern Florida to meets. Nicole is now in Middle School and seems to be getting along well over there. Both Joy and Nicole help out with Casey when he's around too.
I still spend a lot of time with my work. It’s a continuous challenge and I'm fortunate in that I really enjoy it. The job provides opportunity for travel still. I have been to Vancouver, BC, Minneapolis, Houston, California and Oklahoma this year. At home, my favorite pastime is still gardening. The yard has another water garden and I harvested two crops off of the vegetable plot this year.
We look forward to hearing from all of you and hope to see many of you again in 1994!
Happy New Year
To you all!
December 21, 1993
(this is Jessy & Mark's letter)
Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells
Jingle all the way
I hope you're dressed really warm.....
because I wore shorts today!!!
Well another year gone.... It has been pretty eventful this year. Last year ended with Mark coming home from the Navy for good and meeting Casey for the very first time. I have to say the two of them get along pretty well. They both love to watch cartoons!!
I could never imagine how fast babies grow up! Casey is a little weed. He can now talk (back), walk (away), self feed (throw food), and drink out of a cup (when he's not tipping it to see how much he can share with the floor!!). He is still lacking in the hair department... and teeth. He has six teeth at 16 months old.
Any way...enough about Casey...
In March Mark and I left Casey with his dad and took our first trip alone to Chicago, IL for Stacey and Tony's wedding. They had the most beautiful wedding I had ever seen. We had a terrific time there. One of our friends that we met while living in Japan came up to visit us and we went to FAO Schwartz..TOYS!!! When it was time to go we were delayed?? in Chicago!! How long??...Long enough to make us miss the last connecting flight out of Dallas to Houston and make a new mother very crazy!!! Needless to say we made it home before morning.
Mark graduated Cadet training at the Gus George Police Academy in the summer. Now he is schooling to become a game warden. He is doing very well in his studies. He passed his first test last week.
In August Mark and I started our own business with Premier Designs Jewelry. We have had a lot of fun with it. Our sponsors David & Julie Miller in Houston have been taking great care of us in the tough times. I took Mark to a meeting in Orlando last month where he learned what jewelry looks good together and he has become a real asset... he even sold a pair of earrings!!
In August Mark, Casey and I also moved to Daytona Beach, Florida to work at Homac and CDR, where my dad works. We live about two blocks from the Daytona 500 Speedway. That could be interesting in February when the races begin!! Our neighbor here at the apartment complex is.....BENNIE!!! and My Parents and sisters only live 15 minutes away. Mom and I started doing crafts together and selling them in a shop by her and at craft shows in the area. I have also been given the opportunity to teach a few fimo classes.
For those of you who had the opportunity to meet my grandmother at our wedding three years ago or when she came to visit us on one of her many trips...in September Cancer took her away from us. We all miss her very much she was a real live angel on earth.
Just a couple of weeks ago Casey and I made a very special trip to Fargo, North Dakota. Tammy Pahl who is a life long best friend got married. (I'd like to say for those of you who know what I am talking about....I behaved a little better at this wedding than Stacey's!!) Tammy married on of the nicest guys around. (I approve!!) Casey and I found everyone in the family hanging in there pretty good. I was able to see everyone while I was there.
To end a year full of good, bad and hard to live with.....CASEY HAS THE CHICKEN POX FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!.....Better luck in 1994!!
We hope that all of you have a terrific holiday season and remember..If you need an inexpensive vacation..come and visit we usually have good weather...and if you feel the need to accessorize and look great...Call us and we will be happy to tell you about our Jewelry!!!!
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