12-21-2025 A Christmas Letter

MERRY CHRISTMAS

This year, Sue did as promised last year and started making Christmas cards in July, with more than sixty ready to go by mid-November. She fought the gloom of November and December fog with lots of Christmas lights, beginning in mid-November and finishing everything she wanted to do by early December so that we could relax and enjoy the season.

Dan with his sister Sharon (Mo)

December, however, was sadly colored by the passing of Mo’s younger brother Dan, after a courageous battle with cancer. Dan was an amazing person, a wonderful and caring brother who was incredibly generous with his time and energy and helped us so many times over the years. He could do anything and fix anything. He was also a kind and devoted father, husband, and brother, and the world is less bright without him. We miss him deeply.

The Colorado arm of Mo's Family:  From left, Niece Marcie, her husband Jon, Kallie's husband Josh, Baby Colson, Great-Nephew Danny, Great-Niece Kallie, Great-Nephew David, Niece Susan, hidden in the blankie is baby Klein Joseph, Great-Nephew Phillip, Mo's sister Edna, Phillip's wife Amanda, and Susan's guy E.J.

Mo’s extended family continues to grow, with new little ones born to her great-niece Kallie and her husband Josh, and to great-nephew Philip and his wife Amanda in Colorado. Her great-niece Ashli and her husband Evan, living in Illinois, welcomed a baby girl in October. While we enjoyed many extended family visits in 2024, this year we stayed closer to home and shared family life long-distance, through emails, phone calls, and joyful baby announcements.

Two of Sue's grandkids, Axel and Xavier

Sue was able to see two of her grandchildren while visiting Melody in Brownsville, and her grandson Matthew lives just across the street from us, so we enjoy seeing him often. It is especially wonderful knowing he’ll come over at a moment’s notice if something needs fixing.

2024 Christmas of Sue's Great Grandkid, Orion, Tearany, and Theron (new Christmas Jammies Photo will come on Christmas eve)

Sue's grandson Steven with wife Stormi and son Theron

Sue will see her grandson Steven and his wife Stormi, along with her great-grandchildren Orion, Tearany, and Theron, in Washington State next year, when great-grandson Orion graduates from high school. We’ll be traveling north in June for the celebration.

This past year was filled with many of our usual happy pursuits, traveling in the MoHo, camping trips to the mountains, kayaking some of our favorite lakes and rivers, and visiting local wineries for a break from gardening and keeping up with our sweet little acre here in Grants Pass.

A look back at the year

The view of Mt San Jacinto from Catalina Spa and RV Resort

In what has become a winter ritual, we left in January for California and our favorite spot in Desert Hot Springs at Catalina Spa and RV Resort. This year, we were joined by friends Phil and Joanne from Eugene, and Nickie and Jimmy from Nevada City, California. Our days were filled with swimming, hikes, Palm Springs dining, and visits to the Living Desert’s world-class zoo.

Camping with our friends Phil and Joanne in the middle of nowhere

After saying goodbye to Phil and Joanne, we continued south to Tucson to visit Wes and Gayle, then headed east toward Wilcox, Arizona. One of the highlights of our winter travels was spending time at Chiricahua National Monument, a truly spectacular national treasure.

Hiking in the Chiricahua National Monument

We stopped in Wickenburg to visit long-distance friends Mike and Janna, who have a winter home there, and once again enjoyed Janna’s wonderful cooking. Mattie had plenty of doggie playtime with their pup, Kayce, as well.

Mo and Sue on the American Pride with Mt Hood in the distance

Another highlight of the year was Mo’s annual birthday adventure. This time she chose a cruise on the Columbia River. We spent several days aboard the American Pride paddle-wheel riverboat, enjoying views of familiar Oregon landscapes from the water rather than from the highway above. It was a completely different and delightful perspective.

Jeanne enjoyed our back deck in the warm spring sunshine

In April, we were treated to a visit from our friend Jeanne, from Vermont.  It wasn't a long visit, but we had some good times visiting and eating out a bit.  We will be enjoying more time with Jeanne and her husband Alan when they join us for some desert time in winter Southern California in the coming year. 

Deb and Mo kayaking on Lost Creek Lake

In May, we camped at Lost Lake, just an hour from home, with daughter Deborah, celebrating Mother’s Day together with kayaking, hiking, and discovering waterfalls we had somehow missed over the years.

Sue and Mo on Mother's Day

Deb treated us to a wonderful Mother's Day dinner at an iconic restaurant in nearby Shady Cove.

Camping at East Lake in June can be chilly

In June, we returned to East Lake in the Newberry Caldera for a few days of camping in snow, rain, and just a little sunshine. As always, the kayaking was spectacular.

Our great July 4th campsite at Fish Lake

For the Fourth of July, we camped with daughter Deborah at Fish Lake in the Cascades. The weather was gorgeous, the night was silent with no fireworks allowed, and we enjoyed good food, campfires, and another wonderful kayak day on Recreation Creek nearby. On the way home, we stopped to visit friends Jim and Mata Rust in Rocky Point.

The Board Shanty Fire was much too close for comfort

Mid-July brought a bit of a scare when a forest fire came close enough that we were placed under a Level 2 evacuation order for several days. Level 1 is easy; you prepare mentally. Level 3 is easy because it means Go Now. Level 2, however, is the in-between space of wandering around the house, wondering what goes in the motorhome and what stays behind. Thankfully, we were spared further drama, though it was still unsettling.

All three of Sue's daughters seem to have inherited her love of growing flowers

Later in July, we traveled east to Klamath Falls for a magnificent air show, and Sue went north for a few days to visit daughter Melody in Brownsville. 

Sue and Mo happy with the new truck

In late July, we purchased a new-to-us Chevy Colorado pickup and drove to Portland to pick it up, enjoying a lovely early dinner near the airport with Mo’s brother Dan and his wife Chere.

Hiking, campfires, and kayaking are the best parts of visiting Medicine Lake

We ended the summer camping season in August with four incredible days at Medicine Lake, California, one of our favorite places on earth. This time we shared it with daughter Deborah, enjoying time together and watching the moon set over the lake. It was a precious time.

My favorite photo from our 3 days at the Ocean,  from left, Deborah, Mo, Deanna, Sue, and Melody

Another huge highlight of the year was Sue’s 80th birthday celebration at a beautiful beach house in Rockaway Beach on the Oregon coast. Daughters Deborah, Deanna, and Melody joined us for great food, beach walks, and plenty of girl time filled with laughter, conversation, and shared memories. The girls planned this for more than a year, and it was even better than imagined, a memory never to be forgotten.

With the fall color comes the leaf raking season

The rains arrived early this year, beginning in early October. Flowers responded to the cooling air, and the lower pasture turned green nearly six weeks earlier than usual. The rain seemed to revive the trees, and we were treated to absolutely brilliant fall color.

Many of the lower branches of our old fir now gone

By fall, our insurance company decided our area was too high a fire risk and canceled our homeowners' insurance. Finding new coverage and meeting the requirements to obtain it became another challenge. A considerable amount of tree trimming was required, but everything worked out in the end. Someone joked last month that we now have a 200-year-old palm tree instead of a Douglas-fir.

Thursday Thanksgiving from left, Matthew, Katty, Sue, and Mo

Friday Thanksgiving at Deb's from left, Robert, Melody, Sue, and Mo

The cook who made it all happen, Deborah

Deborah hosted Thanksgiving twice this year, once on Thursday for Sue, Mo, grandson Matthew, and his girlfriend Katty, and again on Friday for Sue, Mo, and Melody and Robert, who drove down from Brownsville to spend a few days with us at Sunset House.

Deb, Sue, and Mo at the Bear Hotel

December has been spent decorating both the yard and the house, with Sue happily cooking and baking in the cooler weather. We finally managed a visit with Deborah to the “Bear Hotel,” a Grants Pass venue that houses the art bears when they’re not lining the sidewalks in summer, along with the Christmas light panels and giant nutcrackers that appear in winter.

We also made our annual December trip to Harris Beach, camping and visiting the over-the-top Nature’s Coastal Holiday light show at Azalea Park in Brookings. Despite forecasts of heavy rain, we were lucky enough to enjoy one full day of brilliant sunshine, perfect for walking the beach with Mattie and taking in the lights.

There’s still a bit more to come as the year winds down: a holiday party at friends Maryruth and Gerald’s home, Christmas Eve here with our traditional chowder, and Christmas breakfast with Deborah, Matthew, and Katty.

Mo remains in excellent health, and Sue is doing well too. We are deeply grateful for the love surrounding us. We are sad to lose those we love and recognize that this is part of living into our 80s. Sue now laughs that she can finally say it out loud: “We are in our 80s.”

I will end this Christmas Card with some photos of the member of our family who seems to be a favorite of everyone who reads this blog and most of our friends and relatives.  Mattie is 11 years old now and is only slowing down a little bit.