Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.Okay, we are a bit late with our Christmas letter this year. But don’t we need to keep Christmas in our hearts all year long? And since the New Year is less than a month old, isn’t it still new? Well, at the end of 2008 our family was busier than normal. So this letter is later than normal.
So how are we? Well, Todd maintained a relatively stable health with minimal back, and sinus problems. Megan developed a hyper-active thyroid which was radioactively treated; talk about serious isolation during treatment. Well, She 
is now on medicine (most likely the rest of her life) for her thyroid but she is doing okay. LoriAnn battled her bad back all year long and then this December was found to have breast cancer. After 3 lumpectomy surgeries in 13 days, the Doctor believes he has removed the invasive cancer. LoriAnn meets with the Oncologists in January to determine what course of treatment she’ll need.
is now on medicine (most likely the rest of her life) for her thyroid but she is doing okay. LoriAnn battled her bad back all year long and then this December was found to have breast cancer. After 3 lumpectomy surgeries in 13 days, the Doctor believes he has removed the invasive cancer. LoriAnn meets with the Oncologists in January to determine what course of treatment she’ll need. Both of the companies that Todd and LoriAnn work for have faced some economic challenges. Despite rumors and speculations of layoff, both Todd and LoriAnn feel blessed to still have a job. Todd is still at Boston Scientific working as a Software Developer. He has been busy configuring and customizing the same web based application that he worked on in 2007. This was Todd’s last year supporting only one group on the application, in 2009 he joins a pool supporting all users. LoriAnn is still at IBM working as a Technical Writer / Trainer supporting numerous customers and their associated applications. She still enjoys working out of the home. This year she got to meet her manager face to face. As for Megan, she still works as a barista but switched companies from a coffee shop to a different coffee shop / Deli. She makes a pretty good latte, smoothie or just a plain old cup of coffee.
In 2008 we were blessed with many opportunities. There was cake decorating; salmon fishing, Prom, exchange students, politics, high school band concerts, hail and tornados, more politics, making beer, visiting a friend’s cabin, a dinner train ride, an apple orchard, but most of all a chance to travel:
· Mar - Megan went to Spain for a week with her school’s Spanish class.
· Apr - Todd and LoriAnn spent a week in California visiting LoriAnn’s relatives in Los Angeles and stopping by Todd’s relatives in San Diego.
· May - Todd and his brother got their kicks riding motorcycles along route 66 from Springfield Illinois to Oklahoma City where they met LoriAnn who was vacationing.
· May - LoriAnn and our neighbor friend visited LoriAnn’s sister in Sioux Falls.
· Jun – Todd went to northern Wisconsin Salmon fishing with the Guys With No Lives.
· Jul - The Family spent a week in Gatlinburg, TN, and visited Dollywood Park.
· Aug - Todd and his brother again traveled by motorcycle, this time throughout Wyoming and Colorado.
· Sep for work - LoriAnn went to Oklahoma City and Todd went to Lake Tahoe.
· Nov - Todd and LoriAnn visited St Louis for a funeral.
· Nov – Todd and LoriAnn visited LoriAnn’s sister in Sioux Falls for Thanksgiving.
How are our animals? Well, Izzy (our dog) had her good knee cap rebuilt in the winter, but has been recovering and getting along pretty good. Cassie (Cat) has been her sassy self and loves to sit on Todd’s lap.
In 2008 we were blessed with many opportunities. There was cake decorating; salmon fishing, Prom, exchange students, politics, high school band concerts, hail and tornados, more politics, making beer, visiting a friend’s cabin, a dinner train ride, an apple orchard, but most of all a chance to travel:
· Mar - Megan went to Spain for a week with her school’s Spanish class.
· Apr - Todd and LoriAnn spent a week in California visiting LoriAnn’s relatives in Los Angeles and stopping by Todd’s relatives in San Diego.
· May - Todd and his brother got their kicks riding motorcycles along route 66 from Springfield Illinois to Oklahoma City where they met LoriAnn who was vacationing.
· May - LoriAnn and our neighbor friend visited LoriAnn’s sister in Sioux Falls.
· Jun – Todd went to northern Wisconsin Salmon fishing with the Guys With No Lives.
· Jul - The Family spent a week in Gatlinburg, TN, and visited Dollywood Park.
· Aug - Todd and his brother again traveled by motorcycle, this time throughout Wyoming and Colorado.
· Sep for work - LoriAnn went to Oklahoma City and Todd went to Lake Tahoe.
· Nov - Todd and LoriAnn visited St Louis for a funeral.
· Nov – Todd and LoriAnn visited LoriAnn’s sister in Sioux Falls for Thanksgiving.
How are our animals? Well, Izzy (our dog) had her good knee cap rebuilt in the winter, but has been recovering and getting along pretty good. Cassie (Cat) has been her sassy self and loves to sit on Todd’s lap. What is new around the home? Not much. We took a bunch of time off and enjoyed the work done on our home from the last few years. However, late this fall, we got a wild nerve and managed to get two sides of the house painted before the first snow fall.
So what are our plans for 2009? Megan has been accepted by a couple of different colleges with hopes of starting her work on a degree in Athletic Training this fall at MSU Morehead. LoriAnn is dreaming of good health, getting rooms inside the house painted, as well as the rest of the house outside. Todd is praying for a year of healthy family members, that LoriAnn’s cancer treatment is minimal for her and that we all remain steadily employed.
And finally, The whole family is wishing you a very merry new year! God bless us everyone.
LoriAnn, Megan and Todd Holmes
Comments