Christmas Letter 2009

Happy Holidays to All!

Here we are once again looking back over the past couple of years and contemplating whether or not to do a letter. The past couple of years have been difficult, but we have many things to celebrate and give thanks for.

We have mourned several passings, including Aaron’s father in October and our sweet dog Brandy, last November. We miss them both terribly. We were very blessed to have the support of family and friends.

Our orange cat Buddy came into our lives a couple of days before Brandy passed, so he runs the house now. He is very talkative and quite a character! It’s so different having a cat again instead of a dog.

Aaron is still working under contract with OSU and is in Grad school! He has just another year and a half to graduate with a Master’s degree. We can’t wait!

Minetta is still doing interior design and painting, but is in the process of changing careers. She will be doing mortgage protection, life insurance and annuities. A big change for her, but is feeling very optimistic about the future.

We took pleasure trips to learn, see friends and family, and made new friends along the way in Madison, WI; Bloomington, IN; San Antonio, TX; Chicago, and Sacramento, CA.

We saw a few concerts and attended several celebrations including a 40th Anniversary, an 80th Birthday, and two 40th birthday’s (including Aaron’s!). We went canoeing, attended art exhibits, saw frogs, butterflies, and wildflowers at our local Metro Parks, volunteered, rode our bikes, and Minetta learned to crochet.

Aaron was in a chili cook-off, but didn’t place this year. Many people came by and said he should have won. The judges this year chose people in the professional and amateur divisions that had a bbq flavor. Not at all like actual chili. Go figure!

Minetta worked the voting polls and we celebrated a victory for our country in the election of our first African-American president! We held our annual game night and look forward to the next one in January. We did a lot of entertaining at the house with friends and good food. We love being connected through Facebook and look forward to 2010!

We wish everyone a prosperous and healthy new year!

Aaron and Minetta

It's been a busy few months with many trips to Indiana where my father in-law was gravely ill. He made a peaceful passing in October surrounded by family. A memorial service was held on a beautiful Fall day. This is their driveway down to their house, which is back in the woods. A pretty setting with lots of wildlife.

Since the room re-arrangement my work has sure picked up. Must have done the right Feng Shui to the room in order to get things flowing. The energy seems to move better and isn't as stagnat. I think that has to do with the sofa being on an angle now as to everything being very squared off as before.

We also changed my in-home office (which has had many incarnations) to a den/office. We removed the tv from the living room and added to the new "den" along with a small love seat. It's so much better now! My husband and I sit in there and watch tv, use the computer and I crochet.

We use the living room for reading and conversations while entertaining friends.

re-arranged room

After contemplating a room re-arrangement we FINALLY did it! We started by adding a love seat to my in-home office and moved the tv from the living room into the office/den. It has made that space wonderful, cozy and intimate. We love it.

Then my husband helped me move the living room pieces around even making suggestions on angles. The living room now feels bigger, it flows better, and is better suited for conversations. The room is now used for listening to soft music, reading, enjoying the fireplace, and great conversations.

We are thrilled with the results!