Christmas Letter 2009

Family Fun Night frosting Christmas Cookies


MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!

Well, I almost talked myself into doing this the old fashioned way and sending it snail mail, and it almost happened. I got such wonderful cards and Christmas letters hanging on my wall that it was a real temptation. But I think its always best to know your strengths and weaknesses, considering the assessment of my abilities, I have accepted the fact that the process of typing, printing, stuffing, buying stamps, stamping, and taking them to the post office requires too much focused attention for me. In the past ,pre-internet, I managed to do all that, but I would have to rename it Valentines letter, some years It was Happy summer. I have discovered that I suffer from age induced ADD, or as my son Mitch puts it ADOS…….Attention defecit ooooo shiny. Therefore you are receiving an online version of what I would have sent. Instructions: highlight, press print, place in your mail box, and pretend you’re delighted to receive this. After the technical delays Im experiencing today, I might have to go back to the old way.
Quick Recap. All our children are in the area, Mike and Mark on the eastside, both are still working on settling into a permanent career. Melodee is working hard at getting a degree from Mt Marys, she’s chosen Occupational Therapy and has about two years left. Matt and Sarah are expecting their first child in January, We are both excited about being Grandparents. Joe is still at GE, it will be 30 years this Summer. We will celebrate 32 years of marriage in June as well. It seems like only yesterday, that we were young parents with a bunch of little kids. Now were old parents with a couple of little kids. I would wax eloquently here about aging and not feeling like you’re that old in your head, but if you’re our age, you know what I’m talking about already and if you are much younger you have no idea, its all relative, so I will refrain. Chris, I am homeschooling Mari, we are doing ok, I struggle with trying to keep her on task and still keeping it fun and educational. She likes being home, so I think we will make it to summer. Mari is on the very outgoing social end of the Glatzel scale so we have to schedule enough activities with friends. Mitch started HighSchool this year and is in the Engineering program at South. When you spend your life on the computer, or playing some sort of video game you get good at stuff. Here’s where I could go on about having to call my 10 yr old to turn on my tv. but again, you know what Im talking about.
There is a bit more news, but for those ADOS folks like me you can stop here. If you would like to read on feel free. Blessings, Hope your holidays are Joy filled with the love of the one who became flesh and dwelt among us.

Kita, the wonder dog Joe and I the kids: Mike, Mark Mel, Matt, Mari and Mitchell
Some other news events this year, My Grandma Whittaker died this summer at 99 ½. She would have been 100 this January. a lot of family relationships were mended and we got to see relatives we hadn’t in years. Funerals are always a bitter sweet time.
Last July 3rd My Dad, (Doug Whittaker), two friends and my brother in law made national news when they were lost on Lake Erie for 26 hours. They were fishing and had a load of fish in the front and were overturned by waves. I had just been home for my Grandmas funeral and my sister called to tell me that my Dad and Roy were missing. I was gearing up for two more funerals, but a couple of off duty guys in a helicopter decided to take one more sweep of the vast area and found them on the other side of where they were headed. They are calling it the Miracle on Lake Erie. My dad said it’s a shame that it takes an event like this to make you pray that long and that intensely.
Mike has been training for the Boston Marathon and this year he took part in the Lakefront Marathon and did very well. Hes becoming quite the competitive athlete.
Mark and Matt are still in a band together called “Im not a pilot” . You can check out their facebook page and hear bits of their music. They have a 4 people, Mark who writes the songs, plays keyboards and sings, Matt “the unofficial manager plays bass, Peter plays cello, writes some parts and adds a whole new dimension to the mix. And Steve is on drums.
On the same front, Mitchell has been taking drum lessons for a few months, his teacher says hes doing well. Is it just my kids who always want to be in a band? Joe doesn’t seem to think it at all unusual. Mitch and his other 9th grade friends, Jacob and Cameron are a band, they are looking for cover songs they can all play. I think its called NINJA something, or maybe that’s their Youtube videos. Mari just informed us that shes in a band too, with Emily and Elise . With a little smobbery in her voice she let us know that they are writing their own music. Marianna is taking the violin and making very good progress
So if you made it this far, I commend you, your focus is amazing. Have a great New Year.
Blessings from our house to your house.
The Glatzels