calgbest
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 94 Location: PA
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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:32 pm Post subject: Christmas Letter from Tom and Liz Ryder |
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Tis the season to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Its also time to catch up on friends and loved ones. So, here goes:
Its been a busy year. January found us working on two projects in India, one in Jamkhed and one in Mumbai. Do love India. After all that hard work we needed a break so it was off to Hawaii for three weeks. We rode down Haleakala on bikes in the rain, swam with the turtles and enjoyed the company of old friends. In April, we were home (still shoveling snow) getting ready for the big day in May.
Now the big day was Petes wedding. He and Anna tied the knot in a wonderful weekend wedding celebration in the north Georgia mountains on May 8. After honeymooning in Greece, Crete and Rhodes, they settled into their house in Smyrna, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. May they do the happy ever aftering for many years. Welcome Anna to our family.
After all that excitement it was time to get ready for Toms big 70th birthday party which we celebrated in grand style. We celebrated after Paul and a group of old (and I do mean old) swimming buddies from Baltimore competed in the 12 mile Trans-Tahoe Relay Race. They finished 14th in a field of over 150 teams! The lake temperature that day was a cool 68 degrees. Good on them.
August and early September found us revisiting Hilton Head. We rode bicycles, swam in the sea, ate lots of shrimp and kayaked miles. What a place.
Thanksgiving we visited the Duck and the Mouse who seemed to be doing well in Orlando. We let Publix , the local grocery store, do the cooking while we visited with more old friends. Pete and Anna stopped by on their way to spend Thanksgiving with her folks in St. Augustine.
Now Christmas is upon us. We celebrate with Tony and Paul and long time friends, Tshamala and Alisha. There will be 3 dogs and 2 cats in the mix as well.
How do we spend our down time? Tom and I both sing in the Truckee-Tahoe Community Chorus. Tom will be working on the building project at the church for the next couple of months. LI continue to work with Hospice, American Red Cross and Soroptomist.
In January Tom and I will be in Lesotho, Tom for two weeks and Liz for 6. Well be doing construction and teaching of ESL and Community Based Health Care.
It is always good to remember good friends and good times this time of year. May we all pray for peace in the world, justice for those who are hungry or homeless and for opportunities to practice random acts of kindness.
Again, the best of the season,
Liz and Tom _________________ Cal |
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