December 27, 2011

Greetings. Once again I turn to the new media to send out greetings and felicitations to one and all. I never use words like that in my daily rants, but somehow they sneak into my letters, so unexpectedly.

Tim and I were talking over the Christmas break, about this last year. We got to thinking about what we had done, where we had gone, and I realized that it had been a full year in many ways. I think in terms of the seasons. Even now I’m eagerly awaiting springtime. I love the flowers and the change in the weather. Winter time we don’t spend much time outside. Skiing is readily available, but though I have enjoyed it when I have participated, I am really a fair weather outdoor person. So I look forward to the spring and summer.

This past year I started getting up at 5:30 in the morning, just so I could be there for the sunrise and spend some waking hours at home before heading off to 9 hours at the office. That turned out to be a really enjoyable thing to do. I discovered the “google night sky” app on my phone, so I would point it up at the early morning and start identifying the stars and planets that I saw. I read a series of books this year, written by Bodie and Brock Thoene. They are stories based on Bible stories during the time of Jesus being on the earth. They are great story tellers and I really enjoyed this series. They had some extensive details about the star alignments during the time the Magi were seeking out the Christ child. That got me interested in the sky and the alignment of the planets.

Kerry attended YWAM this past spring in Hawaii. She left in April for DTS and we got lots of emails and messages about how she was enjoying it. It was a real faith trip for her and she persevered and was rewarded with being able to go on the outreach as well. She was in the Performing Arts group. They traveled to Japan, and then later to South Korea. Japan had their big earthquake and tsunami in March, right before she left for Hawaii. So their group visited the devastated areas while in Japan. She loved both those countries very much. It was a wonderful opportunity for her to get out and stretch her wings and figure out who she is and who God is and how they can relate together.








In June, Tim and I flew to Austin, Texas, and met up with Jamie, our son-in-law. The three of us drove to Hattiesburg, Mississippi and met up with Elizabeth.We were there to attend the wedding of Hannah Shetler and Christopher Napier. It was a fun trip. I enjoy driving through this country and I had never spent any time in the South.

 We made sure we ate lots of Southern fare. We found a restaurant in Hattiesburg that was long on hospitality, and the food was exceptional too. I especially liked the bread pudding, topped with melted white chocolate with a raspberry swirl on the side. The main items were great, but this bread pudding was really exceptional. 
Flo enjoying a different desert.

I had planned to get out to Oregon and see Mother, but when this wedding came up, I really wanted to go. I did get to see Mother, though, because she and Marvin flew to Mississippi to attend.



My mother and some of her great grandchildren.
 
It was a very enjoyable trip, going and coming. We drove back to Austin and spent some time there with Jamie and Elizabeth. We drove around looking at the eclectic houses in southern Austin. They live near downtown, and it is a very groovy town. The weather is pretty nice too.



Meanwhile, Tim has been hard at it learning all about the oil business. He has been developing some remediation products that can be used to clean air, water, and contaminated soil. I suppose I should elaborate a bit. He has come across new products that he in turn has been testing and introducing into this market. Some of them can be used in other venues, ie helping clean up the odors of hog farms etc, but we happen to have a lot of natural gas drilling in our area, so he has been able to develop relationships with some of the companies etc etc. He says it is like getting a college education. And indeed it has, but graduation has just taken place and he now is part of a bona-fide business.

 Mollie, who graduated from George Fox University, has resettled here in the Roaring Fork Valley. She is doing what she loves, working in the public library in Carbondale, where she has some awesome co-workers. I say that deliberately, because I think it is a special thing when you actually have co-workers who get along well and are pleasant to be around. She works part-time there, by choice. This way she also has time to coach volleyball, basketball and track. She has been coaching middle school girls in vb and bb, and high school track. She works with the sprinters and hurdlers. This year she branched out and coached 7th grade boys basketball as well. To top her time off, she rescued the middle school library from closure and works there two days a week. The teachers are grateful and they do love her down there.

I continue to keep the Town of Carbondale from folding. At least that’s how I like to think of my role. I have spent 6 years at the back of the copy room, slowly taking it over, ever expanding my work space and wall décor. I had just gotten happily situated with a table and a desk, when they decided that we could use new carpet in the building, after 10 or more years of -- well just use your imagination -- dogs were free to come in, the vacuum cleaners are the type that just transfer dust from spot to spot and -- you get it I’m sure.

Well, after the move, instead of putting me back in the little nest I’d created, they moved me into an actual office. Attrition had diminished our numbers and there were now empty office spaces. So now I have an office, with a window, the best part. And I will be having an office mate starting next week. A new gal who will be coming into the finance department. That will be different for me, as I’m used to having my own area. But I’m excited. I like change and this will definitely be all that.

In October, I took a trip to Georgia, all by myself. I’ve been involved with a ministry based in Thomaston, Georgia, though I’d never actually been there before. I thought at the time that I might be putting in my resignation at work by the end of the year, so I started thinking about using up my vacation time. It wasn’t a planned trip, just sort of came up and Tim encouraged me to go. I’ve wanted to attend one of their week long seminars and just never had gone.

So off I went. It was sort of exciting. I drove to Denver and flew to Atlanta. I picked up a rental car and with my trusty phone navigator, made my way south about 60 miles to a little area in the Georgia foothills. It was one of the best weeks I’ve ever spent. I attended a conference called “For My Life”. I stayed at their retreat center in one of the houses they have to rent. It was like a cabin. There were 3 other gals staying there too. We got to be friends through the week, as we shared a kitchen, cooking our breakfast and dinners together. It was a wonderful week of Bible teaching and ministry.

That was October. In November, Tim celebrated his 60th birthday. We did it up big.

We all went to Austin and gathered with friends and family in an “upper room” location in the heart of downtown, not far from the Capitol. Elizabeth and Jamie had organized the affair on that end and Mollie and Kerry and other dear ones helped out when we arrived in town. It was just a lot of fun. We decided we definitely need to do that kind of gathering more often.

Earlier in the year I decided to dust off the old guitar and start participating in worship at church again. That was really fun, playing and singing again. I got strep throat when we got back from Austin, so that did my voice in for a while. Thanksgiving came and went and then it was time for Christmas. So I took a break from the worship team till after the new year starts up.

December 1st came and I started getting into the spirit of the season. I don’t usually, but this year I did. I was playing Christmas music at work and then a couple came in to get a sales tax license so they could sell Christmas trees. As I was getting them set up, I asked where the trees were coming from. He said they were noble fir from Oregon, just cut a couple days earlier. Well I bought one then and there. I get homesick for the smell of fir trees. He set a real nice one aside for me to pick up later that week. Good thing I had gotten one, cause I’d forgotten that we had gotten rid of our fake tree after last Christmas.

So that brings us up to now. I’ve left out the health issues, though it has been a tough year for Elizabeth. She’s spent more time in the hospital than any year I can remember, and she has been awfully tired of lot of the year. But she is quite a trooper and I don’t really remember her ever whining or complaining.
Myself, I spent some time doing physical therapy on my shoulder and neck and thumbs. I’ve had to learn how to pace myself, and take breaks at work, and how to make my work station more ergonomic. And how to not get stressed out, or anxious or numerous other things. Needless to say, these have been learning curves for me. My body has been talking to me and I am listening.

Well, I will wrap this up. I am attaching a few pictures and a link to a “movie” Kerry made for Tim’s 60th birthday party. It was so funny, cause she spent several months making it, along with Mollie and my input, and Tim had no idea. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMcnV2tZRIk

Thank you all for the cards and letters and pictures you sent at Christmas time. And thanks too for your prayers and friendships. We do appreciate each and everyone of you.

Ruby, Tim, Mollie and Kerry Honan