2011 put Mike's mom, Dotti, on a roller coaster ride. She began it in an assisted living facility. (Thank you, chemotherapy.) In the spring she moved into my brother Dennis and Katie's place (and many thanks to them). By fall she returned to her home, where she orchestrated the culling of the oceans of stuff she and dad had amassed over the decades. With incredible support from her loyal friends and—again—Dennis, she had a garage sale and put her house on the market. Anybody know a buyer? But what goes up must come down. A week ago she tripped and fell, breaking her knee cap. It was a sharp emotional blow as well. Yet she has already started P.T. and has regained her determination. She is a model of faith and guts for many.
Sam and Laura at LaDaToCa, our family camp in Wisconsin
With Hobbes (the cat, not the philosopher). Note the IU shirt. Did we mention IU beat Kentucky?
Last year we wrote we did not know how to refer to Laura's significant other, Sam. This year we do: fiance. They will get married July 1 in Minocqua, Wisconsin where both families have summer places. Laura will complete her master's in elementary education this May at Marion University. She student teaches in the 2nd grade. Next semester she will teach the 4th grade. She continues to work at the Orchard Park Presbyterian church in youth ministries. She leads a high school girls' Bible study. Sam has graduated and started work at Deloitte. They have adopted two cats, Hobbes and Lucy.
Dan doing vital research on the effect of gravitational forces on petri dishes
With Nicole, his girlfriend
Dan will soon enter his final semester at Kenyon College. His post-concussion syndrome prevented him from running, yet as captain of the cross-country team he provided leadership to his friends. We respect how doggedly he fought through his headaches and dizzy spells. His studies in microbiology continued to go well. Last summer he did research under the supervision of his mentor professor as a science intern. He presented his results as part of his honors project, and next June he will travel with her to give a paper at the American Society of Microbiology in San Francisco.
During a ride to Miner's Castle in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Linda and I celebrated our 30th anniversary on June 20. We hiked and cycled and took the boat tour to Pictured Rocks in the Upper Peninsula. Linda ran the Bayshore half-marathon and has had a good year with her business. After four years I finally sought medical advice about my chronic leg pain. After consulting with three orthodedic/sports medicine doctors and getting excellent guidance from an athletic trainer/physical therapist, I started running again. Our new goal: to run a marathon together, possibly even by late 2012.
At "our" beach (more below)
Our church has turned a corner. We have seen growth, especially among families with young children. We have added a staff position to lead ministries to this group. Worship has grown increasingly spirited. God is good.
The best news of all came last spring, when we purchased a lot five miles north of Traverse City. With it we also purchased the right to use about 250 feet of shoreline on Grand Traverse Bay. (The lot is about 200 yards uphill from the water.) We hope to build there in 2013. We have named the place “Ideal Grace” after a line in the Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem How Do I Love Thee. It is only by the grace of God and the faithful stewardship of Linda's parents that we could do this.
We have much to be thankful for, and to look forward to. Praise God! Have a blessed Christmas.
