Merry Christmas friends!
Oh wait, it isn’t even the Christmas season anymore! Ah well, consider this simply a mid January update on the P-D’s (or a Valentine’s update for those of you reading this on the blog). Yes, we had every good intention of sending out this update during the Christmas season but instead we found ourselves enjoying a nice break, hosting an open house for our congregation, watching movies, playin WII and catching up on some well-deserved rest.
We love receiving updates from our friends and family and hope this update doesn’t bore you to tears. Most of you are receiving this via email in the hopes of reducing waste and what-not. Some of you lucky folks actually received a hand printed envelope! We did have to dig for stamps.
2009 was filled with great adventures. One of the highlights was attending the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America. We hope you can look beyond any partisan feelings and truly celebrate the momentous occasion. We met a crew of our friends from seminary days and froze ourselves silly. The spirit of community enveloped the crowd. Sure, there were plenty of people, very little sleep, incredibly cold temperatures and long lines but it was a gift to share in this event with people from all over the country. If we could only find a way to continue to live in hope rather than through rancor and fear…
Katie is in third grade and her life is filled with great friends, a love of reading (just like Mom), a sense of humor (like her Dad) and a gentle sense of justice. She has a real passion for history.
She is fascinated by the Underground Railroad and Martin Luther King, Jr. This year Katie celebrated turning 9 with a 3 day trip to Disneyland (thank you Mamaw!). Unfortunately, Kerri’s mom came down with pneumonia while we were at Disneyland. Katie is learning how to play golf, strums her guitar with abandon, beats her mom and dad in WII bowling while lying updside down on the couch and reminds us to enjoy each moment.
Katie and Kerri enjoying an afternoon drink on the day of Katie’s 9th birthday at the Disneyland pool. Kerri dreamed of swimming in this pool when she was little. Dreams do come true!
Katie at the Cozad-Bates house in Universtiy Circle, Cleveland. Katie and Kerri walked with Joan Southgate for Restore Cleveland Hope.
The latest edition to the P-D house is Molly, the wonder dog (second only to Clarence Dill, the wonder dog). Molly is a 2 year old black lab we rescued. She is great dog – full of energy but not overly hyper. She even comes when called! She loves to give big kisses, snuggles, lopes through the snow, and, drinks wine – NOT! Molly has fit right into our family and loves visitors! 
Jeff and Kerri celebrated 20 years of marriage (go figure!) with a night at the Ritz and seeing Billy Joel and Elton John in concert. We could get used to being spoiled like that! We feel pretty darn lucky to be married to each other.
Life at Pioneer Memorial Presbyterian Church remains fulfilling and challenging. We truly can’t imagine being anywhere else. The community is stimulating, the opportunities are full and the snow is – fun! We really do enjoy the change of seasons and snowball fights.
As we enter in 2010 it is our hope that we continue to seek ways to live together in community, seeking what is best for our neighbors and serving the One who has called us into this amazing adventure. Merry Christmas, friends!
Jeff, Kerri, Katie and Molly
January 2010
