Christmas Letter 2010

Guest Writer: Zeek the Wonder Dog

What we have here are glimpses of the future. The past year has been filled with snapshots of what is to come in the household of the Old Guy, the Princess, and myself, Zeek the dog. They were also known by some other names in several states, such as Map Beaters, that strange guy with the dog, the lady with funny hair. (The Princess had way too much fun with Crazy Hair day at work.) It's been an interesting year.

Nick the youngest graduated from high school this year, the last of the boys to do so. Always the one his parents felt might cause the least trouble, Nick moved through that time without fanfare. After a summer of making pizzas, he landed the job of his dreams. Nick is now working as an “IT” guy. Information Technology for the corporate headquarters of a regional business; he goes to work smiling and is still smiling when he returns. We don't see much of him in the evenings as his social calendar is very full. His job has included a few interesting side-lines, such as being in some holiday commercials for the store. A plaid flannel shirt tucked into Wranglers isn't his normal attire, but he looked good, especially with the girls dancing around him and the Santa hat on his head! He gave his mother a DVD of the commercials, and she would love to show them to you if you stop by!

Eric continues to thrill audiences with music and anti-comedy. I don't really understand anti- humor very well but Eric says it is something he enjoys. He hasn't given up his day job just yet, working as a gasoline dispenser for a local gas station. Remember Oregon has specialists that fill your tanks for you. Not because Oregonians are unable to pump their own gas, but it keeps anti-humor comedians and musicians from starving to death. (My attempt at anti-humor.) Eric recently became the proud owner of a labra-doodle puppy named Kawzmaux. No, it's not mis-spelled. I asked. I thought it was Cosmos. Eric brings him over to play with me sometimes.

Craig the oldest is now a full time student of the Culinary Arts at our community college. He is also a musician and his band keeps busy playing locally. Glimpses of the future I tell you. Someday you will be able to eat something prepared by a young man who has beaten a drum over and around your meal. I am thinking this might be either a very exciting experience or something that might happen as a religious experience. His parents love it when he cooks dinner. His mom keeps trying to assist him, but there seems to be some conflict between the French method and the Mennonite method of cooking. I think I saw the Old Guy and the Princess dancing in the street earlier this evening, singing something about Craig moving out. Seems kind of crass to me. I liked the kid, he was always telling me stuff that I didn't understand. Most dogs only hear one or two words, not complete sentences. And of course, dogs that can type are very unusual.

The Princess continues to make the lives of everyone around her better, both at school where she is the office manager, at church where she sings on the worship team, women's retreat where she often is called on to be master of ceremony and at home where she is responsible for so much. Very talented she is, humble too, but often much more fun to watch than anyone in the entertainment field. She is known to have done some very interesting things this past year, and there is photographic evidence to support these claims if anyone should try to dispute them. She has been seen in the back yard in her bathrobe photographing flowers in the snow, sitting in a ditch next to the road in a national park photographing flowers, standing on the edge of a cliff photographing flowers, and at the edge of a fast moving stream that could easily carry her over a waterfall, photographing flowers. The Old Guy was also able to take some pictures of the Princess taking pictures of flowers. Really, you should see some of those pictures.

Not nearly so entertaining, the Old Guy in this house continues to be unemployed and not looking for work. He was able to do a little landscaping around the house this year, built a few walls around the patio, camped for over 100 days, and walked the wonder dog most every morning, rain or shine. He is most excited about a new purchase that might keep him a little closer to home this next year. After bending to the Princess's urging, he bought a Jet Sled to run the rivers and fish. He told me it was her idea after he mentioned to her he would be home more often if he had a boat. Do you think he was working an angle? I know he is no angel, but she is very shrewd. Surely she wasn't taken in by such a lame excuse.

Zeek the wonder dog, I could go on and on but it is so hard to type without thumbs.

Glimpses of the future you ask, where are those. Well this year has seen a lot of evenings that found LeAnn and Will at home without boys. They traveled far and alone just the two of them (well, I was sleeping in the back seat) for three weeks in July. While pulling the 5th wheel up I-70 in Colorado they were able to avoid a retread in the road, followed by a hay bale, then drive over 500 miles late into the evening because the Old Guy was too cheap to pay $70 for a camp site and the Princess couldn't take another day of 110 degree weather. They were able to enjoy the company of friends and relatives and plan the next big trip to Canada in the summer of 2011. Most of all, they get along so well and seem to genuinely like each other. I think there will be some pretty cool things in store for them if they will just continue to feed me on time and stop stepping on me when they go out the back door in a hurry.

All of us hope this next year will be kind to you. We know the last year has sure been kind to us. Some times when I am laying in the sun watching the Old Guy, I know he must be thinking just how lucky he is to have so many blessings. I know when they pray they talk about it to Jesus and I am convinced they are living examples of the grace of God. Of course it helps to have such a great dog.

So here's hoping your holidays and the year ahead are filled with days that are merry and bright!

Love, Will, LeAnn and family