Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Macfarlane News 2008

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It feels good to connect once again with friends and family and reminisce over all the events of 2008. Once again, so much has happened and we have so much to be thankful for!!

ABIGAIL GRACE DUNCAN - Our first grandchild

The first wonderful news we received in early February was that Tyler and Susan were expecting!! Yes, we now carry the proud name of 'Grandparents' and we love it!! Abigail Grace (Abby) was born on September 3rd, one whole month earlier than expected!! She weighed in at 5.5 lbs. She was very well looked after in the neo-natal ward at Lethbridge Hospital for 8 days before being allowed home. I was blessed to fly to Lethbridge the day after her birth and stay for a couple of weeks helping wherever I could and of course enjoying holding Abby as much as possible! She is so adorable! Tyler, Susan and Abby were here visiting the first week of December - their Christmas visit. It was lovely for the rest of my family to make their acquaintance with Abby.

DAVID

David once again travelled a good portion of 2008 speaking at conferences, giving seminars and talking in churches across Canada. The highlight of the year for him is always our summer trip to Florida where we spent a couple of weeks at a friend's condo in Venice Beach - always a relaxing time. The latest news is that he has taken on a new job starting in January as the Director of National Initiatives with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada.

DIANA

I continue to enjoy my job at the church looking after the database. Learning the software has been a stretching and fulfilling time. It's good to know that I can still learn the latest technology of 'online' registrations, payments, etc. I took some days to visit with Tyler and Susan earlier in the year as well as my visit when Abby was born. My fitness routine has not been very consistent this year, so we finally purchased a treadmill which allows me to continue to walk, even during our long Ontario winter, right from the comfort of our own home which I'm very thankful for.

TORY


Tory is half way through her second year of Global Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University. At the same time she continues to work in construction (drywalling, sanding and painting). She is involved in teaching dance as well as taking dance lessons herself. When she has some spare time, she makes time for her art (painting with temperas).

She also enjoyed dancing in New York Times Square with her dance team. Also managed to take in a show "Hairspray".


TYLER AND SUSAN

They continue to run their many businesses which doesn't leave them too much time off. Now with Abby around, Susan has more time to be at home. They did spend some time in White Fish and Arizona with Tyler's parents and came to visit us just a couple of weeks ago to show Abby off to family and friends! Abby is so cute! She is a true delight! You can be sure David and I will make some 'extra' trips to Lethbridge whenever we can!

MATTHEW AND HEATHER

Matthew continues to expand his barbecue and fireplace business (they run 3 stores). Heather has been working at our local city hospital floating between the ER and Oncology departments. She has taken on a full-time job in ER starting in January. She loves the hussle and bussle of ER. She has a ton of stories to tell, some funny and some very sad. They bought a dog early in the year (Ella - a miniature dashund). She keeps them quite busy. They are very excited to go to Mexico in January for a week's holiday that they both very much deserve.

My mum turned 88 in September. She continues to enjoy helping people in her retirement complex whenever she can. She did give up her driving this year after a minor accident in the church parking lot which was very sad for her - she misses her independence!

Each of us wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy 2009!

Blessings,

David, Diana, Tory

My Bible verse for you for 2009: John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

No comments: