Christmas newsletter!

Well, this is my Christmas Newletter.  I usually try to write to each person, but my excuse is I am getting old.  It works alot.
I hope this letter finds you all in good health and happy.  Myself, I have had quite the year. Lots of ups and downs.  The second half of the year has not been good for my health. I had to have surgery to have a fistula put into my arm to prepare me for Kidney Dialysis.  I am not sure when it will start. I've been in the hospital quite a bit with pneumonia, dehydration, bad medication reactions, and an irregular heartbeat. Right now I am retaining water and look like a water balloon. I think it is slowly coming off. I am just sick of being sick.  My girls have been wonderful to me.  Lois and her family moved back to Kingston to the old homestead from Yakima several months ago and I love having her near.
I lost several dear friends this year. I guess that is the price of getting old. I miss them very much.
On a lighter note I moved in April to Poulsbo to a senior apartment building. I love it here. I have a beautiful view of the mountains, it is a safe and secure building and the people are so nice here.
I've had some visitors this year.  My niece June came out from South Dakota. Nephew Larry brought her over and we had a nice visit.  Then her mother (my sister, Lorraine) came for a week with her grand daughter, Lindsey.  She is a very nice girl.  It was a precious and sweet time with my sister. We started out with an annual picnic at Bob and Linda's with the DeLay side of the family. Lanny and Joyce took me again this year and we brought Lorraine back to my place.  It was a very nice time with good food.  Besides the DeLays, Rick and Connie, and Don, Lois and Denise came to the potluck! Lorraine's grandson, Landon and his wife Erica, drove up from Portland for the day. Sweet couple. Most of Lorraine's visit we stayed in my apartment all week and ate, napped and played cards. Joyce and Lindsey played with us too. When it was time for them to leave, Larry took us all out to a nice lunch.
Mother's Day was nice... I had dinner at Joyce and Lanny's with them and grandson Kevon and wife Meghan.
Another grandson came to visit me twice this year from North Carolina. He is my great-grandson Justin with his bride Denika! Our marine just finished active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are proud of him and very happy the good Lord brought him back safely. They are going to be having my first great-great grandchild in the Spring! I am so happy for them. They will have a beautiful baby.
I went and saw great grandson, Andrew, get baptized. That was really nice. We went to Dairy Queen after the baptism.
Vicky and Rita came over a couple times and took me to the casino for a meal and a bit of gambling. I didn't strike it rich yet.
The kids had a nice birthday party at my place for me. We started out having it downstairs in the garden but as soon as we opened the food the yellow jackets arrived.  We quickly moved it up to the sun room (right next to my apartment). It was so hot in there but the Dairy Queen cake was sure good.
Lanny, Joyce and Lois came and watched the July 3rd fireworks with me from my apartment. It was so beautiful and such a great view. Didn't even have to leave my home!
We had a wonderful time at Libby's cookie and ornament exchange.  It is just for girls and we had a nice brunch and exchange. It is something we look forward to every year.  The plan is to spend Christmas at Don and Lois's. It will be so nice. Don has got the yard looking so nice. Dad would be proud of him.
Well, that is my year or as near as I remember. Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2011.