“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory: the glory of an only son coming from the Father, filled with enduring love.” As often as I’ve pondered those words, I still marvel at the goodness of a God who made himself so small for us. It isn’t the nativity I look at but the incarnation. The baby is important, but think of the Word becoming flesh! Think of the beach becoming a grain of sand, the ocean becoming a drop of water, the universe becoming a star – just so we mortals can look and hear and follow and live better lives. That will always be beyond me and yet so much a part of me that without it I couldn’t be myself.” Karen
It’s nearly Christmas again and here we are – letting you know that we love you and that you are important to us. We are sending this letter early, because as you have probably noticed, we have moved! After giving away hundreds of books, much furniture and many possessions hoarded over eighteen years in our previous house, we moved on May 8 to what may well be our final home. We love it! We live in as rural an area as northwest Houston offers; we have trees, cattle, horses, and Texas characters all around us. We have a kitchen with a skylight, a large family room and a master suite which is great. The other rooms are small but adequate and we still have a guest room for anyone who would like to visit (hint, hint).
The “kids” are doing fine. It is a great joy to have them all so close-at-hand. Our librarians, Deb and Joe, are still in San Antonio, but we love that city and visit as often as possible. Ken and Tracey presented us with another grandchild in September, Christina Noel, who charms all of us, including her brothers Jordan and Dillon. Ken is still involved in computer documentation and is doing well; Tracey is a stay-at-home wife and mother – a rarity these days, but a nice one. Chris and Kelly are still teaching high school science and math; Chris still coaches football and basketball. Grand-daughters Kirby and Kennedy are beautiful and wonderful. It’s amazing that we have five such perfect grandchildren! It’s fun when the house is full of eight adults and five children under the age of five. We do understand why young people have babies. (Karen maintains that if she had been Sarah, she’s not sure she could have laughed!)
Pat is still at Baylor College of Medicine. One new aspect of the new housing arrangement is that he works at home and “tele-commutes” to the College about once a week. His home computer is directly linked to the office and what with voice mail, home faxes, etc. there is little disadvantage in the change. (For others who have joined the electronic age, he can be found through “camerino@bcm.tmc.edu”.) We also continue our ordained and non-ordained ministries at Christ the Good Shepherd, now a pleasant 25 minute drive through the country, even though there is a local parish only five minutes away. Karen is still on the staff of the Cenacle Retreat House and is helping with the training program for spiritual directors there. It keeps her pretty busy and yet affords moments for prayer and reflection. Karen spent two weeks in Ohio this past summer, helping her sister Tami in the recovery process following brain surgery. It was an opportunity not only to be of service but also for two sisters to grow even closer together.
With the move to the new house coupled with months of double mortgages and utility bills, we weren’t able to get away for a vacation comparable to the ones we have enjoyed for the last several years. Nevertheless, a week in Galveston in mid-October was a welcomed respite, especially since it was after we had closed on our previous house.
With the birth of grandchildren and the passing on of friends and relatives, it’s a somewhat sobering thought that we are fast becoming the older generation. If serenity is part of the package, we’re all for it. Wisdom wouldn’t hurt either.
We hope your year has been a good one, filled with blessings and joy. Please know that you are in our thoughts and even if our correspondence is limited to this one letter a year, you are special to us.