2011 CHRISTmas greetings to our family and friends! With all my good intentions of the past years, I think I will actually get this news letter completed! We have finished our Christmas gift giving for 160 children in our community and have one more activity tonight when we have a Christmas party for the 30+ children in our Family Bible Club! We are very grateful for all the help of others making it possible for our small church group to do more than we could ever imagine! That’s just the way God does it! When God is in it little is much!
My extended family got together on the 17th for Family Christmas. I should say that as many as possible were here! We had another VERY EXCITING family event occurring. Our oldest niece—Mom’s oldest grand daughter Shannon gave birth to twins that day! We were ‘watching’ on the sidelines via text messages keeping us updated! Both little girls arrived safe and sound. Nana Mary is delighted and is retiring to help care for them! I have pictures on my face book site.
We are getting together at our home Christmas Eve for our traditional Jamaican Christmas dinner with Calypso Christmas Music and all! We are expecting most of Richard’s extended family who still live in the area, our nephew Cameron who flew in from college in California
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| Our New York Family: Deborah, Danielle, Raquel, Ayanna, Jay |
Our daughter Deborah, her husband Jay and daughters Raquel (15), Ayanna (13) and Danielle (11) are back settled in their home on Long Island , NY Washington DC and an even shorter time in Baltimore Baltimore Seattle
Mom will be celebrating her 98th birthday this February! She is still bowling on two teams. She lives with Martha and Jack. Martha bowls with her on one of the teams. Jim and Kathy take her to their home whenever they can as we do too. She is so grateful for children who love and care for her so much! We are blessed to have Mom with us! We’re all planning on helping her celebrate her 100th Bd. in a couple years! 
Which is in keeping with their health and fitness focus. Both Rebekah and Keith have competed in figure and physique contests and have each place 1st! The children are doing well in school, and with their sports. Football, Basketball, Soccer, track, ….Isaiah is a super soccer player while Justin absolutely loves football---ran in a 93 yard touch down as well as many other TD’s this year! Kya is dancing queen & AJ just being his charming self! Rebekah has blessed me by updating my wardrobe and helping me coordinate everything! Now she’s helping her Papa! He doesn’t know yet that she wiped out all his size 36 and 38/ XL baggy saggy slacks/shirts! However, she has replaced them with some very nice ones that fit so well AND are still comfortable too! Comfort is a priority to Rich!!
Richard is keeping fit and healthy doing his elliptical every day. On top of that our big yard and garden are another source of exercise. We continue to pastor Seattle International Christian Fellowship, with Family Bible Club, Sunday services, Saturday nursing home Bible Studies and food bank 3 times a week. There are lots of opportunities to share His love! One of Richard’s favorite pastimes is watching the Soccer channel! He’s up on all that’s happening around the world of Soccer! He will be quite blown away by the quantity of packages under the tree for him this year! But with his closet wiped out, he was long over due for a new wardrobe! His argument that he already had too many clothes, no longer applies thanks to Rebekah!! (He really did have too many clothes he couldn't or shall I say shouldn't even wear!!Over the past year and a half I have stepped out of my comfort zone with a quantum leap! Having become tired of carrying around a lot of excess baggage----on my body----I joined a boot camp September 2010! I go for 45 minutes of very intense exercise at 5:45 AM before anything else can railroad my plans! All my efforts and humorous challenges are recorded in another outside my box site---my blog: http://babyboomergrandmagettinfitandhealthy.blogspot.com/ All that I could do when I started was a plank from the knees, holding it 3 seconds before I dropped to the floor exhausted! I have come a long way in that time, including losing 70 lbs! It is great to have more energy, stamina, and strength! I still have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming! Especially when Rebekah brings some of her clothes over and they FIT ME!!! I love playing outside with the kids. I can run, jump, play basket ball with them and wrestle the big boys down to the ground! I know that will be short lived with how they are growing in both size and strength!
I was determined to enter Medicare this September in my best health in years! I’m considering that the new 65 is the old 45 and I’m going to live like it! Rich and another friend whose wife goes to boot camp with me came to watch us recently. He was impressed—also noting that I was the oldest there and my 10 year ‘junior’ friend was next in line for that honor! I love to encourage those who are struggling as I was. I love to challenge the younger ones not to let MOM beat them. Now my challenge is to maintain what has been lost!! Boot camp 4 times a week and spinning class for cardio on the other two helps. Sunday is my day of ‘rest’!! At least I’m not working out at the gym.
Wishing you all the joy of knowing Jesus as we celebrate His birth which is the Reason for the Season! We cherish the relationships carried through the years and trust this New Year of 2012 will be everything you hope and pray.
Love and hugs to all,
Richard & Susan
Thanks to my baby boomer grandma friends for letting me share this with all my family and friends not usually on my blog. I will Be back on with more posts soon!-----
BBG Susan
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