The 2013 Christmas Letter...

December 2013

Friends and Family:
The older I get the faster time seems to fly. Hence, this year has been a great big blur!!! Since I am writing this on Christmas morning, this is a Happy New Year letter. I hope you all cheerful and rested from all the Holiday craze and ready to ring in 2014 with reckless abandon! And I can’t wait to see the challenges a new year will bring!

Emily is still in Nebraska… half a world away… studying mechanical engineering at UNL… Yea Cornhuskers!!!! She completed her first marathon in May and did a magnificent job!!! She then came home and helped me complete my marathon training! Yea she is that amazing!!! Currently she works at the Lincoln Children’s Museum while attending rigorous engineering and math classes. One more semester and she will be half way to graduation!

Bob is still employed and we still have health insurance! In his spare time he is a member of the Willamette Valley Woodcarver’s Guild and the Water Fowl Carving Guild. His work is amazing! And of course the woodcarvers keep us busy with social events and dinners.

Meanwhile, I have gained employment in the local school district as a one-on-one instructional assistant. It is challenging at times but the kids seem to make it all worth it in the end. I have also continued to run… more of a sanity check at times!! I ran my first marathon in 25+ years and although I didn’t get the time I was shooting for, I finished and yes I will probably run another one! Meanwhile, it is relays and mud runs… yeah, because who doesn’t like to get all dirty and live out of port-a-potties!!!

Hugs and New Year Wishes,
The Oregon Curtis Clan

Reflections on Family

This Christmas season brought with it family moments, as most holiday seasons are inclined to do. However, this year two dramatically different events have played out on social media. The first is the wedding of my cousin to her spouse and the second, coincidentally in the same family and both occurred on the same day, is my cousin's daughter fighting a very serious brain issue in ICU. Neither of which I would be aware of if it hadn't been for Facebook.

 Obviously, the wedding was a very happy event. Joining the two was actually a whirlwind decision made possible by the federal court system granting same-sex couples the right to marry in Utah. Even though Jes and Anita have been a couple for years and have an amazing son who is almost 5, their union hasn't been recognized officially until now. So, congratulations to the happy couple, I love you both and wish you a beautiful life of love and happiness.

On the other hand, the same day, Jes's older sister, Rickie, received a phone call that one of her daughters was rushed to the ICU with a brain bleed and the prognosis wasn't good. So for that branch of the family, the stress of having to secure last minute plane tickets and accommodations, became the priority. Over the past week we have received daily updates that Rachel is doing well, but still has a long road ahead toward a full recovery, however, baby steps in a positive direction are a good thing and I firmly believe in the power of prayer!

So... my point... from the high points to the low points in our lives, sometimes takes only seconds, and in today's world, it is often played out on a virtual stage. That doesn't minimize the emotional flow and the happiness or worry that we feel for our family.

Jes, Anita, and Dane... I love you and miss you and we will celebrate next time we meet.

Rickie, Kimball, and Rachel... I love you too and I pray daily for peace and your full recovery. At some point, Rachel, I really want to meet you and all your siblings, because family shouldn't be separated for so long without face-to-face contact.