Happy New Year 2009!

As 2007 closed, we were about to have Christmas. With Christmas being on a Tuesday, Katy, Wes and Ashleigh came for the weekend before. We had 13 around the table for Christmas dinner on Sunday. It was glorious to have all our children and our closest friends with us. The Leifer family gathering was back at Fred’s in Manahawkin, NJ. Fred rented a tent with a heater to make sure there was room for everyone. The head count was close to 40 with 7 of them being under the age of 5.

In February we began the 6-week process of remodeling THE bathroom. Dad stayed with Fred and then Paul during this time so I did not have to share a bathroom with him. We have enjoyed the whirlpool jets in the new tub and not having to share a sink.

Ed is still with Aramark and continuing the commute to Philadelphia. His church council position of the last 4 years ended on December 31 with a little dance. A new senior pastor was in place by September and FBC is now fully staffed. It has been a long journey to this point. Ed will remain on Pastoral Relations, but he will not be the chair.

I am still with the Bethlehem Area School District at the same school as last year. I still enjoy the work. The Christmas Boutique had its 23^rd show in 2008. In spite of the down turn in the economy, the attendance was better than it has been in several years. I continue to create new things with beads and gather with others who do the same.

Easter morning Lucy was not willing to walk or move. Ed and Ted carried her to the car for the trip to the emergency vet hospital. She had a sprained knee. By the time I got her to our regular vet a week later (as instructed) her ACL was torn. For a dog this is emergency surgery. I went home without her and she had surgery the next day and came home the following. The cast was on for a month. No stairs, which meant she lived downstairs with Dad so the back door was the same level. She was good about not chewing on the cast. I cannot say that about the knee and foot once the cast came off and the stitches were removed. By mid June she had chewed the top of her foot badly enough we went back to the vet. I had found a lump on her other rear leg. The vet did not like the feel of the lump. Went home without her again. She came home that night. Surgery to remove the mass did not take long and he could fit her in that afternoon. The foot on the other side was bandaged to help it heal and to get her to stop chewing it. The mass was fatty tissue. Yippee. She still hops down stairs with the rear legs together, but there are days that she is very playful. Since spring of 2007 she has lost 15 lbs which weighs her in at a mere 70 lbs. This has helped her recovery from the ACL surgery.

It was about this time that Katy and Wes shared that Grandbaby #2 was due in January.

We went to Mystic Seaport in June with friends. We had a wonderful and relaxing time and came home to a surprise. Ted moved out! I spoke to him 4 times on the phone after we arrived on Friday afternoon. Not a word. His excuse was that he did not know how to tell us over the phone, so he waited until Ed and I were in our bed nearly asleep Sunday night to come home for his bed. That was MUCH better! He is in Bethlehem near Lehigh University. The house is a 5 bedroom twin so he has 4 room mates. He comes home occasionally to be fed and to “shop at Grandpa’s Store”. That is what we started calling Dad’s stash in the basement when Katy would come home.

Father’s Day it self was quiet. About 3 weeks later Ted finally presented Ed with his gift. Ted told Ed it was supposed to be a birthday present (February), but it arrived late (so Father’s Day needed to be as well??). Ted had been able to get 2 tickets to the very last home game in Yankee stadium. The very last. Ed was speechless. Ed had been there for the first game in the remodeled Yankee Stadium in 1976. It was a night game so they were able to get there early enough to walk through Monument Park off left field. They were in line for 4 hours. It was a Father/Son day to remember. The Yankees even won!

Dad threw himself an 80^th birthday party in July. It was catered and not here so I got to enjoy the party and the family too.

Ashleigh came for 2 visits this summer. This time she asked to go to the Fish Hatchery. We saw a Blue Heron for the first time. Ed took a day off and we went to the Crayola Factory and the Canal Museum. We also found a Pez “Museum”. It was really a candy store with a few displays of vintage Pez dispensers. We got several packages of Model Magic that Crayola makes and Ashleigh and I spent the next day making beads. She still doesn’t talk to Uncle Ted, but she has decided that when she turns 4 that she will talk to him.

We took Ashleigh with us to Williamsburg, VA for the long weekend in October. She enjoyed the farm animals, but not so much the history. She walked everywhere with no complaints.

The kids came up on Thanksgiving and went home on Saturday. Katy did not enjoy the car ride. Christmas was the 4 of us plus the same couple who is usually with us. Their daughter did not come home either. Ted spent the night so we could get an early start on Friday for Baltimore to see Katy, Wes and Ashleigh. We spent the night. Saturday we drove to Manahawkin NJ for the Leifer Family celebration. Lucy was very good in the car. It was a light crowd. I think the head count was around 30. We left Dad at Fred’s and he will be staying with Fred for a few weeks.

As we start the New Year, Grandbaby #2 is less than 2 weeks away from making a grand entrance. Katy feels great, but tires easily. Ashleigh talks to her sibling all the time (well, she talks all the time so it only follows). Both houses installed Skype so we can see Ashleigh when we talk to her. Usually she is a pink blur.

We wish wonderful things for you and your families in 2009. May you experience financial stability and good health. May God’s love and peace be a part of your every day and a new kind of generosity be part of your life.

Holly, Ed, Dad and Lucy