The Philip & Ellen's Family Newsletter 2009
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As usual we are a little late with getting out our family
news update.
Our update on Village Victorian has already been posted but
this family version is a bit more tardy than usual….
Each year… when we write our updates… we think, " My
goodness… it was a very full year"….. this past year has been no
different….. very full!
It certainly was once again…another year of the family… if
it was anything…. It seemed like almost every month, there was some family
member or friend visiting. Matt was up looking at tractors… Lorin and Ben
made it up on one of the coldest days of the year… followed by Carla and
Steve the next month and then…. to celebrate spring at the Cottage.. Janet
and her group of girl friends came up to the Lake… then Ellen's sister
Jeanne followed close on their heels… once again falling in love with Shadow
Lake and the cottage…. and in between family… there was a parade of old
friends…of course Nicki .. (Philip's mom), who just turned 95 and is as
sharp as ever, just loved seeing all the kids, grandkids and great
grandkids.
Philip and Ellen even took a vacation of their own last
April and drove to South Carolina… visiting family and friends along the
way. Carla and Steve let us use their condo near Myrtle Beach and we
actually took a carriage ride tour of Charleston… just loved it all…. It was
nice to take a break and relax.
As we drove back home… we took the long way … went into NC
and shocked several old friends… Ellen's old friend Beverly has a daughter
in NC…Philip's old friends the Krauses are there… what fun! We even made it
out to Kentucky to see Kathy and Philip II who recently moved there… then
swung over to PA stopping at more old friends' houses until we finally
arrived back in Vermont. We haven't done something like that in years…. like
15 of them… it was 1994 last time!
During the summer our daughter Jennifer, Dano, Lian and Anna
arrived in Vermont on their way to Rwanda, Africa where they are planning on
living for the next 5 years. Since they had already sold their house in
Seattle they settled into our Lake Cottage for 6 weeks… while they waited
for our son Jonathan's wedding.
During that time Philip's brother Marc and his family came
to stay at their lake house and then his brother Bruno and Maureen came in
from Wisconsin with one of their grandkids…. and 12 of Philip's
grandchildren came up to use the cottage for their "2nd annual Cousin's
weekend" and even our nephew Ben came up from DC for a few days visit.
…..Busy summer.
Jonathan
and Amy were married September 19th… on an absolutely gorgeous fall day. It
was a wonderful celebration held in the Burlington area and we are thrilled
to have Amy as our newest daughter-in-law. Of course… once again we got to
see some family members…. and a bunch of old friends that came up for the
wedding. Jon and Amy are now living in Burlington. Nice to have them close
by.
December came and Lorin and Carla made their annual trek up
here to chop down a Christmas tree with their father. Just when we thought
that ended the year of family members visiting… Ellen's sister Jeanne was
able to come up over her Christmas vacation…. she used the Lake Cottage.
Since she lives in Florida we weren't sure how that would work out… but she
absolutely loved it and is more certain than ever that she would like to
move up here to Vermont someday…. Doesn't everybody?
While
Jen and Dano were here they began the process to adopt a son from Rwanda. He
should be joining their family very soon… just in time for Ellen's visit over
there this April for 3 weeks. She is not toooo excited!
During all this the B&B was the busiest it has ever been…
setting records once again. It is wonderful to have the same people visit us
year after year. There are more and more that have become great friends.
Once again the Hickory Golf group came to play at
Copley Country Club in the
Hickory Open … getting reservations for this year already… June 18-19-20.
Just love their old outfits.
The Wallaces and Wildes came again at foliage and missed
seeing Pete and Linda from Texas. None of these people knew each other
before coming to the B&B. So they all arranged to do it at the same time
this coming year. We love it.
Our friend Bill, who comes up for business, made his 100th
trip and we celebrated with his bringing his wife with him this time and
going out to dinner together. Cheryl and Van are right on Bill's heels with
their number of stays and we have great fun teasing about it.
And we can't forget the Sim's , who hold the record for
reserving at the B&B the farthest in advance… reserved in October '07 for
January '09! This summer they rented the cottage and had us up for a
barbeque. We could go on and on with so many friends we have met through the
B&B over all these years…. we are doing this for 11 years now …lovin' it… we
enjoy every minute of what we do here….
Each year we make more and more new friends. Our health
amazes us… we live very thankful for the lord's protection all these years…
we may even become the energizer bunnies of the B&B industry….
Ellen dipped into the second garage (she already stole the
3rd garage) to make an extra room for her gift shop. Between the B&B, gift
shop, tea parties, gardens and the cottage….. she does stay busy!
Philip has been enjoying his golfing… fitness routine…
his blog…and the interplay of that with
Facebook. He has had a few health
concerns that we are hoping are settled as of the other day when the doctor
"zapped" his heart to bring it back into rhythm. He has that story on
his blog…. at Philip' Musings.
We continue to be excited as we experience the Lord's hand
on our lives… our family… our friends… and everything that He runs across
our path each day. What a great way to live.
We look forward to 2010 being another great year ….as we
walk through our great adventure together.
Philip & Ellen
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