Christmas Letter 2025

 

Snow when I visited in Illinois

December, 2025

 To those whom I love,

 We head into the busiest time of year when actually we should slow down and remember the reason we celebrate. Please take some time to put Christ back in Christmas.

 Les and I have had a tough year. His mom turned 101, but not without issues. Les was in Florida to be with her three times between July and October. I accompanied him twice. They were longer stays than usual to help her during her health issues. In October, she passed away and we attended her funeral.

 I enjoy visiting with Les’ sisters. As you may be aware, when the family loses its lynchpin, it’s harder to get together. I hope we will still find reasons to do that.

 

My mother turned 99 this year. She would prefer not to turn 100, so I’ve made an effort to visit when I can. I went to Illinois for three weeks in April and two weeks in November.

 Our daughter Angela is a bright spot in my life. I wish we didn’t live so far apart. She is sometimes my driver going to or from my mother’s house. If anyone would like to invent a transporter beam, it would make me very happy.

 Les is active in various groups: city council, pastors’ meetings, Bible studies, and as a leader in grief share groups.

 I keep up with the house and the garden, as well as crocheting prayer shawls for hospice and people with special needs.

 I pray for all of you God’s best blessings for this Christmas season and the coming New Year.

 Love,

Kathi

2019 Christmas Letter

To those whom I love:

Les started the year with a new job. He likes it much better than his previous position. He is also the worship leader at a church that would have no music without him. He gets to preach there on a regular basis and enjoys that very much. He helps with GriefShare and a local recovery program.

I’m still at the library. It keeps my brain active trying to keep up with all the technology, and answering the patrons’ questions feeds my teacher soul.

John graciously came to babysit my dogs while I went to Florida in July for my mother-in-law’s 95^th birthday celebration. We had a wonderful time and ate our way through numerous restaurants in Sarasota and on Siesta Key. I got to meet the pastor whom I had only seen online before that trip.

         

John also came to visit for Oktoberfest. We walked many miles and had a grand visit. It turns out that both of us bought each other the same t-shirt, except in different colors. He offered to stay an extra day so Les and I could go north for a brief visit with my mother.

       

Angela visited over Thanksgiving and we celebrated Christmas with her the same day. She is planning to marry Cody Lamberg, but hasn’t set a date as yet.

May your holidays be full of joy and God’s best blessings.

Thanks for visiting with me, Kathi

2015 Christmas Letter

To those whom I love,                                        Christmas 2015

I decided to show you my year in pictures. Other people had to build my garden for me, because I broke my left arm near the shoulder. It couldn’t even be casted since the break was high on the bone. I did manage to plant everything with only one hand.

Broken arm in March

Angels built my garden. This was a week after I broke my arm. It was an great gift.

Two new keyhole gardens

Gardens in June

Several summer storms

 

Walking the dogs   

                                          

Counting the fogs in August

Canning salsa in August

My article was #1 bestseller in its category for over a month.

John visiting during Oktoberfest. Sorry, it’s fuzzy.   

Photography date with Les.

Thanksgiving with Angela                    

Hoar frost in December (three of 150 pictures)

The Lord has been good to us in 2015. The year has been interesting in a few large ways and many small ones. I’ve enjoyed them all as they happened and recorded as many as possible with my camera, It’s hard to believe that I will qualify for Medicare in a few months. I’m learning that I can still do almost everything I’ve ever been able to do – it just costs me more than it used to.

This year I lost my uncle Paul and attended a few funerals for friends. I’ve experimented with photography, writing, and gardening. Some experiments succeeded better than others, but I’ve learned quite a lot from all of it. I eagerly await the new year and what all I will learn in the future.

I pray God’s best blessings for you in the coming holiday season and the coming year.