2000

GREETINGS FRIENDS,

It is that time of year again when you get all sorts of letters which begin “It’s that time of year again”. This is good for me because it is my queue that Christmas is near and it is time to put off writing the Christmas letter. Of course we have been really lazy busy this year with little time for such luxuries.

The big news this year is that all three boys are getting married. Derrick is engaged to get married June 30. Joseph is engaged to get married in 5.5 years, Michael has been engaged since Seventh grade but just isn’t fully aware of his situation yet.

Nicole, 12, in seventh grade and still single. She’s getting a little tired of people telling her she looks just like her dad, so her standard reply is “except for the gray hair.” She has a big heart, is very creative and personable, and loves animals. She’s convinced she wants to become a vet. I’m not sure if a vet’s job includes putting dresses and hats on dogs laughing at them, teasing them, and then taking silly pictures. I think you might get bit a lot. I’m trying to convince her to join the army because she will not have to deal with a bunch of smelly animals, won’t get bit, its cheaper, and one day every year the whole country honors you.

After two years of no concussions in football, Joseph finally achieved his B average, immediately got his driver’s license, and then went out and bought a car. He wanted to get something special, so he spent a little extra and bought a car with the dents already installed. It can be dangerous installing dents yourself. Joseph is definitely taking after his mom by learning magic tricks; he can make a dollar disappear faster than anyone I know. He was fortunate to fine Katie, a girl who is frugal, smart, friendly, and can beat the tar out of him.

Michael handed in his last homework assignment an hour before graduation, and then applied to college one day before the deadline. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised to see him graduated and accepted to college. A real fan of his dad, he is taking up the family trade (kind of) and majoring in aviation. He spends most of his time buying and selling junk over the internet, fixing cars and computers, hanging out with his girlfriend, or spouting out his wisdom the philosophy of life he gained from 19 years of growing up with excellent parenting. Michael also takes after his mother’s magical abilities and can make “stuff” just appear out of nowhere. Between the two of them, they have filled the garage and three rooms with priceless stuff.

Derrick graduated from college this year and shortly after started an internship as a campus pastor. After spending thousands of hours contemplating marriage, analyzing every every angle, interviewing married couples, and dissecting every habit, tendency, like, dislike, potential, and possibility, he finally decided it is safe to marry Elizabeth Greene (Biz). (However, in the process of watching this I figured out it was a mistake for Bobette and I to get married. Our marriage probably should not have lasted more than a year or two.) So, he developed and executed an intricate plan to ask Biz to marry him. He used garbage bags to spell “Biz marry me” at the bottom of a lake, then hiked to the top of a mountain where they could clearly see the proposal. After she said yes, they were greeted with a gourmet three course lunch with linen table clothes and all the trimmings complements of his brothers and sister. I think he was already engaged, but was just trying to get a free lunch in the woods.

After 25 years of marriage, I finally figured out Bobette doesn’t really volunteer for a million different things. She’s actually the boss, the one who runs everything. She is a living, one woman charitable foundation. With the Homeless Stocking program, Coast Guard Spouses Club President, Youth Fundraisers, car wash, garage sales, letter writing campaigns, Christmas wrapping in the mall, Women’s club crafts, Craft bazaar, Bizarre crafts, Sunday School crafts, and church administrator, her mornings are pretty full. In the afternoon she has additional projects. Bobette will do almost anything as long as you promise not to pay her. Regardless, I am proud of her. In fact, I always look forward to seeing her succeed with her craft projects - although I usually have to stand in line for the privilege.

I’m starting to feel my age now that I turned 50. I took a spill on my bike and broke my collar bone over the summer. The pain was bad enough, but the worst part was doctor’s order not to do the dishes, vacuum, or take out the garbage for at least one year.(some advice: always get doctor’s orders like these in writing just in case your marriage lacks trust). Recently, Bobette and I decided to quit our jobs at the church. I lucked out and immediately got a job as executive Vice President in a local small company. The work is great, but the president of the company is a younger attractive woman and I think she has a crush on me. Moreover, she is very demanding and expects me to clean the house, drive the kids, clean up the crafts, do the dishes, and take out the garbage(despite what the doctor ordered). Working for your wife does have it’s disadvantages. But then romance in the work place is not only allowed, but encouraged.

God bless you all and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts and the word of God dwell richly within you.

The Washington State SCHEIDS,2000