Christmas Letter

Below I have put up my moms annual Christmas letter. So if you are just reading this you will know lots of info about my family. Happy reading!

Dear Family and Friends

You may think it is funny to receive a Christmas letter in February-but, isn’t a nice surprise. As most of you know, Ed and I spent Christmas in China with Ryan. Ryan, the child that held on to me around the knees when I left for work, decided to go to Qingdao, China to teach English for a year. Needless to say, it was a very different Christmas.

Before we left for China, we did manage to have Christmas and Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Day with all the other kids. (Contrary to what my friends said, I still got to cook!!) The weather was so beautiful we managed to have a wiener roast, bonfire and several walks and scary rides on the golf cart at Lefty’s Lake during the long weekend.

As we arrived in China on Christmas Eve we found a country of paradoxes-High rises and hutongs (old town), cars and bicycles, Open-air markets and Walmart. We got to see both the old and new by visiting Beijing, Qingdao and Shanghai. Beijing is the capital of China and we visited Tiananmen Square, climbed (and rode up) the Great Wall, saw the Peking acrobats and got to help make Chinese dumplings in a real Chinese home.

In Qingdao, we visited Ryan’s school. One adorable, young girl thought we could understand Chinese and told me a whole story in Chinese. I had a blast leading them in Heads, Shoulder, Knees and Toes. We also went to a Chinese Christian/Lutheran Church and witnessed Christianity in a different language but still feeling Christ’s love. Right afterwards, we visited the beer factory. (Can you tell the Germans occupied Qingdao at one time?)

In Shanghai, the New York of China, we shopped in the old market while sipping on our Starbucks, visited the Shanghai Museum, the Yu Garden and saw thousands of bicycles. We visited the Water Villages, where people still live on the canals much like they did for thousands of years.

Other highlights of the trip were me putting soy sauce on my pancakes, Ed trying to trade jokes (half Chinese, half English) with tour guides, Ryan surprising every shop owner when he spoke Chinese and getting me some good buys and some very crazy taxi rides. Of course, Ryan choosing a very wonderful restaurant to spend my birthday atop the city and giving me a beautiful tea set was very special. However, the best part of the trip was getting to see Ryan, sharing his new world and meeting all his many friends.

Don’t worry-our celebrations are not over. Ian is engaged as of New Year’s 06 to a beautiful smart young lady named Jessica and the wedding is scheduled for July 21^st 2007. (Mark your calendar.) They are living in the beautiful, quaint town of St. Charles, MO. Ian just received a promotion with his company, Quilogy and Jessica is enrolled in Lindenwood Univeristy. Ms. Ryan (2) got her own bed but still has Ian wrapped around her finger. (and the rest of us, too) We love them both. We are so excited about the wedding and I hope all of you plan to attend.

Eric is still working on the basement (much to Michelle’s dismay) but is making great progress. He has been a bit distracted because he has decided to go into business with his dad. I am hoping Eric learns the insurance business fast, so Ed can retire! Michelle is busy being a cheerleader mom as Erica finished her second year as a middle school cheerleader. Erica is a true teenager with a cell phone and lots of friends. However, she still finds time for shopping with her mom.

Leigh, Grant and kids are loving living in Norwalk, Iowa. Taylor fell in love with Leigh Middleton dolls and grandma got to buy her one for Christmas. Just like in the commercials, the look on her face was priceless Will fell in love, too. He has fallen in love with Ms. Ryan. He hugs her (around the neck) every chance he gets and Ms. Ryan does not seem to mind if the hugs get a bit rough. She is in love, too.

Steph and Rick are in Wichita Falls, TX and Rick just received a promotion and is officially a squadron commander. We drove to Texas in October and got to see Brian play Texas football and dress up in his ROTC uniform, eat at Chase’s school on Halloween with all the kids dressed up and listened to both play their guitars. Grandpa is working on purchasing a tank or retro fitting the golf cart so all the kids do not get hurt at the lake. It is scary to watch them drive across the dam like it is motocross!!

As most of you are aware, my dad died unexpectedly in December of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. I honestly cannot explain in words the pain of his death. However, I do know there will be plenty of well-built mansions in heaven with Daddy there to help God out. (That is IF God has the right tools!) A special thanks to all of you for your continuing thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.

When we were in China, we visited many shrines, tombs and temples. Each had a stone, tree, statue or something to rub, pat, or give money to bring us good luck, long life and/or prosperity. I am so thankful to feel the love of Christ without ever having to do anything other than ask him to be apart of my life. We are so blessed to live in America and know God.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Valentines,

Love Tricia and Ed