Dear Friends,
This year we’ve been hesitant to write our annual Christmas letter. In this season of hope and thoughts of peace, we wonder if either is still available. The thoughts of many are consumed by “IS or ISIS or ISIL or Daesh” depending upon which newsprint or newsvideo you see – to say nothing of our so-called political process. And that process is still a year away from a potential conclusion … “potential conclusion” because whoever is finally nominated and elected will not be acceptable to a lot of Americans and menacing words will still be hurled. The national and international problems of migrating people, justice for all, and security for all will, no doubt, be on-going into the future, or at least until the “end times” finally arrive. Yet, we have to continue to believe that some two thousand years ago, God sent His Son into the world as our Savior. So on this hope and with the celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace, we once more want to let you know what has happened, over the past year, to us and to those we love.
The year has been filled with magnificent, happy events for our family. There have been two marriages this year: our grand-daughter Kirby (see Chris and Kelly) married Stephen Whitworth on 3/14/15, Great Pi Day (3.1415). Pat joyfully officiated at their wedding. (They invited us to their first Thanksgiving Dinner which the bride prepared and the groom carved.)
Jordan (see Ken and Tracey) married Samantha Gatlin on August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption. [So both grooms should have an easy time remembering the dates!] Jordan now manages a restaurant in College Station: “Swamp Tails” which serves a Cajun menu to Aggies! Kirby and Stephen have begun their careers in business in The Woodlands.
A very significant event was on August 8, 2015, when Brantley Andrew was born to Dillon and Carolyn. Brantley, named for a C&W singer (not his great-uncle), is our first great grandchild. We think it’s wonderful to be great grandparents; however we cannot believe that Ken is a grandfather! Tracy is the best-looking grandmother we’ve seen!
There are still unmarried grand-kids … at least for now! … Christina and Thomas are rapidly approaching that stage; Victoria, Olivia, Damien, Joseph and Gabriel are doting aunts and uncles. We can’t omit Kennedy, who is studying nursing at UTMB … University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Christopher and Kelly would now be empty nesters, except her mother, Faye, is living with them.
Deb and Frank Brantley continue to raise dogs and cats on their “farm” in Elmendorf, Tx. She’s still manages a library in the San Antonio system; he continues to teach math in a local community college.
Pat is even more “retired” than previously (at least “officially”). Nevertheless, he enjoys facilitating bible study and other adult religion classes at Eagle’s Trace. Karen has her “day of prayer” events along with “Community of Hope” interactions and choir practice at ET. She is also very involved with tour presentations at Brookwood, a local community for challenged adults. Local trips keep us involved with outside events. Foreign travel, with long flights, has been curtailed due to Karen’s continuing shoulder problems. We’re pleased we had Prague and the Danube in 2012 as our last European trip. Our videos continue to prompt happy memories of all the places visited over the last twenty years.
So in lieu of a foreign vacation this year, we bought a new Honda HRV. It’s red; Pat has lusted after a red car for many decades and finally got one! Karen seems to drive it more frequently than he does. Nothing else is new or worth reporting about.
And so we have again given you, our dear friends, whom we remember and love even if our communication with you is limited, a summary of what has happened in our personal lives during 2015. For us, it has been a “very good year,” as that singer once proclaimed. We wish that the rest of the world could have joined in. We hope, however, that you have had a most acceptable and joy-filled year. Especially in these days of ire, we offer the words of angels: “Peace on Earth to Those of Good Will.”
Build a Manger
Help me to build a manger in my heart, O God,
To hold your child this Christmas.
It need not be a fancy bed.
In truth, no bed, however rich, could deserve your son.
Help me to build a manger, simple and warm –
A bed to hold and cradle Jesus as he sleeps.
My heart is bound for Bethlehem.
A stable is what I seek –
A place to hold the manger that I bear.
Make of it a dwelling place.
I would welcome Mary and Joseph,
Shepherds and magi,
Angels and stars,
But most of all, I would welcome Jesus.
Help me to build a manger in my heart, O God,
To hold your child this Christmas.
Karen Camerino, 2015