THE END OF THE YEAR

It's the end of 2010. The end of the first decade of the second millennium. The year has been a fun, challenging, frightening yet encouraging one.

Just a few things that happened at our house in 2010...

Jaime & Shawn outgrew their old house and hoped to build a new one to house them and the kids. The plan was to sell the house...move in with us...while they built their new, bigger house. After 18 months and a lousy housing market, the house finally sold this spring. Unfortunately, it's been a lousy job market too. Shawn ran out of work...and so they will stay with us until that changes. But that ain't all bad. Shawn has been here to oversee the kids to and from school...and be a great help to me around the house doing things that I don't have time to do or don't know how to do. For now, Cindy & I are enjoying them all being here. Although...for Shawn's psyche...we hope he'll find work in 2011 to get them on the road to their goals.

Julie had a successful year as manager of her place of work. She has done a great job there. This summer Julie met Eric. As the new year begins...Julie will move to Florida and start a new life there with Eric. If all goes as Julie & Eric hope...Mason will join them this summer.

Joni & Ryan decided they had lived long enough in Chicago, and moved back to Lafayette this summer. Taking a chance...they left their jobs in Chicago...without jobs to move to in Lafayette. But with hard work, persistence and some luck...they both found jobs they like. They will begin the new year...moving into their new home they bought.

The entire family...all 10 of us...enjoyed a fun summer vacation to Disney World. It will be difficult to find a more fun vacation.

Late this summer...I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After surgery this fall...all indications are the cancer was successfully removed. Shortly after the start of the new year, I will have my first of many tests to make sure the cancer is gone...and stays gone.

It has been a fun...challenging...frightening...but good year. We'll hope that the new year...2011...will be a good year too.

Happy New Year to all of you.


Dan