Hello family & friends! Another year has come and gone too quickly. I can vaguely remember what happened this year (another sign of old age), so I will relate what my calendar tells me.
Dirk is in 8th grade at Carmichael Middle School. He has all men teachers this year and is getting really good grades. He likes to play tennis & Xbox. He has set a goal to be an exchange student in New Zealand his Jr. year of high school. Anybody have any connections? He went to Camp Ghormley again for summer camp and recently went to his first school dance. We didn't hear any details, though.....
Alex's life has been much busier. The first half of the year he graduated from Richland High School, taught skateboarding, turned 18, worked at Dream Dinners, and he has an ongoing "small group" at church.
He entered the High School Senior Art competition where they displayed his glass at Columbia Basin College (CBC). It went on to the state level and was on display at the state capital building in Olympia. Then he also showed & sold at the Allied Arts Gallery in Richland. 2 weeks ago he participated in his first holiday bazaar. It was VERY profitable for a one day sale, so I think he'll do it again next year.
During the summer, a local journalist from the Tri-City Herald came out and interviewed him and printed a full page article about Alex & his glass in the Sunday paper. See his blog to read the whole thing. Here is a link to the Herald with extra photos, too.
That article has produced many blessings for him. But the biggest blessing came from a guy that works up in North Richland at PNNL (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) with Battelle in their glass lab. He emailed Alex and asked if he'd like to intern there while he's in college. Well, long story short, he's just finished his 1st semester at CBC and started working at Battelle yesterday! He even got to mix up some chemicals to make glass! They told him to wait to take his college chemistry classes until after they train him- that it would make his classes much easier to understand. So, this job will work around his school schedule and he can work more during the holidays and summer. Hopefully it will lead to a long career path. Not bad for a kid that did not know what he wanted to major in!
Alex also bought his first car and her name is Veronika the Volvo. He will be throwing his snowboard & gear in the back and heading to the slopes with his friends.
Gayle is busy with her 3 part-time jobs; Tapteil Winery & Vineyards, Alexandria Nicole Cellars, and Dream Dinners. She also runs the Willowbrook Community Club and Women Who Wine (WWW) group. See those blogs to the right. Last January the WWW blended and bottled their own Super Tuscan Blend. This January it will be a Bordeaux Blend.
Gayle's parents and grandma are doing well. They've had LOTS of family & friends come visit. We've taken a few days trips around the area with them. Gayle takes her Grandma to her Thursday Prayer meeting & her Dad to Weight Watchers. Jack & Jimee are still in the Wed. Wood Carving Club. The three of them get together weekly with their church small group, too.
Gayle is still involved with Central Church's Women's Ministry, Scrapbook Club, Women's Bible Studies, and volunteers at the Welcome Center once a month.
Paine is still golfing in his free time. Labor Day week this year was in Austin, Texas. He'd like to do more, I'm sure, but he's pretty busy with his job and our church. He volunteers every week to greet at the front door, set up the band, cooks for the men's breakfasts, helps with the Men's Advance (Retreat), Share Fest, Raise Your Tents, and Walk With Christ events. His brother Bob has been very ill, so he's been going to SanFrancisco often to visit and lend a hand. Please keep him in your prayers.
Our summer vacation this year was in Orcas Island. What a beautiful spot.We did a little hiking, shopping, skateboarding, played cards, had a full day of fishing, did a day trip to Friday Harbor, and mostly marveled at the beautiful views. The house we rented had a resident deer that hung out right by the deck. On the way home, we stopped in Stanwood to tour the Pilchuck Glass School. We also went to the zoo and Chateau St. Michelle. Fun trip for all!!!
Dec. 1st, Paine & Gayle had their 20 year Anniversary. Seems like yesterday......
Well, I think that's the end of 2010. We wish you and your loved ones a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/09/26/1186149/teen-a-glass-act.html#ixzz130LhfnDE
ReplyDelete