Another year has gone by and it seems quicker than the last.  Must be old age setting in.  

I’m still finding my way in retirement, it’s been a long adjustment for me.  I’ve been volunteering at Brookdale Assisted Living, where Mom lived, creating weekly craft activities for the residents.  I totally enjoy visiting and putting smiles on their faces and joy in their lives.  Being job free there is now time to attend the ladies bible study at church along with ample opportunity to get down and dirty with the never ending yard work. Daily walks are now part of our daily routine. This time of year we get to see the neighborhood deer herd along the way.  Speaking of wildlife, our backyard critter friends – rabbits, squirrels, ducks, assorted birds, provide us much entertainment. Greg’s retirement continues to revolve around his bicycle wheels.  Ha ha pun intended.  If the roads are clear, clean and dry he will ride even in the winter months.  If outside conditions don’t cooperate he is on the stationary bike.  He continues to patiently help a few frustrated seniors with their computer and printer issues in addition to providing IT and website support for our church.  

We were able to visit Collin’s family three times this year.  The grandkids are growing up too fast.  Emily is 9, a third grader and enjoys school.   She’s a fish in water and is now on the YMCA swim team.  She continues to water ski the distance of the lake they live on.  Soccer, basketball and marimba are her extracurricular activities keeping her busy.  Luke is 4 years old, a typical little boy.  He loves bugging his big sister.  He is busy riding his bike, driving his range rover, playing magna tiles, trucks, etc.   He loves helping grandma baking and is right in there with his apron and stand to make cookies or whatever we have planned.  Grandma misses her little helpers.

Collin launched Neu Aviation, LLC in March to provide flight training as a means to obtain the 1500 hours required to apply for pilot positions.  Since its inception there has been an unanticipated abundance of students. So much so the business now comprises two Cessna 172’s and 2-3 contract instructors. Currently, paperwork is in motion to buy an A&P shop (aircraft maintenance and repair facility). Definitely his Louisiana roots are growing deeper.  Greg and I are very proud of what he has accomplished so far, he’s becoming quite the entrepreneur.  Molly is a busy working mom able to work remotely from home and keeps up with the kids’ activities.  In early December she participated in a marathon in Honolulu, amazing!

In April we drove to Aptos, California near Santa Cruz to join Greg’s cousin and family at a beautiful house on the beach for a week.  Temperatures were seasonally cool but the ocean was still beautiful.  I enjoyed twice daily walks along the beach amassing quite a sea shell collection on the strolls.  One morning I found over 20 perfect sand dollars.  I met a woman while walking one morning that had the most amazing succulent garden in her front parking area, she brought me the pieces she was throwing away, I was thrilled.

September found me on a jet for Alaska to visit our niece Melissa.  and spent almost two weeks with her.  We did a lot of walking and seeing as much as possible as time permitted.  She is a busy mom with three kids.  I enjoyed  perfect weather except the last weekend when we drove to Seward.  It was rainy but we still had an amazing visit. 

Thanksgiving was spent with Greg’s dad, who turned 95 in September, along with the rest of Dan’s kids.  Christmas was with my dad in the mountains at Crouch.  My brother Scott came down to celebrate dads 87th birthday on the 30th along with the New Year.
Wishing you Peace, Good Health and Love in 2024!