2023 Christmas Letter

 

2023 Christmas Letter  

December 5, 2023

Friends, another year has nearly come to its completion. I don’t know about you, but it seems that the calendar pages have flipped more quickly than ever before. Here it is with Christmas so near, and it feels like summer had only finished the day before yesterday. But it is December and once again Jackie and I reach out to you.

Where to begin, that always seems to be the hardest part in describing a busy year. Let’s start at the beginning, or near the beginning. For March 7^th was the date for the release

of my third novel, With the Sun’s Rising. I felt compelled to pick that date for it was my father’s 98^th birthday. I sometimes wonder what he would think of my writing. He was a man that had always made his way by sweat and toil, and might not understand the whys I push so hard in this endeavor. Yet I believe he would see the importance of these stories I tell.

Jumping ahead I go to April and our first getaway of the year. Our first choice of road

Lower Falls, Hocking Hills State Park

trips unraveled even before we got the suitcases out of storage. So instead, we directed our eyes and feet in a totally different direction. Jackie and I had promised ourselves that this was the year we would go to Hocking Hills State Park, Logan, Ohio. After seeing pictures of the park, we longed to see for ourselves. Though it rained, and rained, and rained, we donned our rain gear, our hiking boots, and poles, and ventured the trails of the park with care.

Though the weather was less than perfect, particularly for the photographer in me, the rain fed the streams. The trees and foliage were bright with what Mom called, “new green,” and waterfalls were fantastic. We spent three days wandering six trails and saw many of the wonders of the area. If you love the outdoors and like hiking among rocky cliffs and flowing water, go to Hocking Hills.

In June Jackie and I set our sights northward to one of our favorite areas. We planned another four-day escape with Holland, Michigan, as our temporary base. Stopping in St. Joseph on our way north for some shopping and a walk along the Lake Michigan shore. The following day we visited Saugatuck and several of the interesting shops in that artsy community. That afternoon found us hiking out to the Saugatuck Dunes on an intensely hot day, but the views of the lake were incredible.

Of course we went to Windmill Island on this trip. I find many reminders of my family’s culture there. Perhaps it had rained while we were in Ohio, but the weather at Lake Michigan’s shoreline may have been a bit warm, but in every other aspect it was fantastic. We drove up to Grand Haven and wandered about among other tourists through the quaint downtown. The trip concluded with a stop at South Haven as we headed southward, another one of our favorite places. We would have taken more time, but our precious wonder dog, wasn’t feeling the best when we left. We had entrusted her to some dear friends that loved her nearly as much as Jackie and I, but all the same we felt the four days enough of a parting.

A short time after our return from Michigan, Cloey, a dog that was so much more than a pet, took a turn for the worse. It should not have surprised us, for our small dear friend had not been well for at least 2 years. But she had recovered each bout in the past, and we had hoped that she would rebound once again. But though she rallied a few times and we were certain the crisis had passed; the end came quite suddenly during August’s closing days.

Even now I am not certain we will ever fully recover from the separation. I still want to call out her name as I enter what had been her domain. But we feel so fortunate that we were able to share those 13 and a half years with the small dog with a large heart.

It was mid-September before we ventured down the road once again. Another hiking

vacation was the plan. We drove down to Turkey Run State Park, near Crawfordsville, Indiana. Though the leaves were changing it was a little too early for fall’s color peak. None the less, Jackie and I dared to hike trail three, one of the more rugged trails. Our intentions were to tackle a trail or two in Shades State Park the following day, except the rains began during the night. We had walked a bit in that park before and it did not seem wise to clumber along slippery stony trails along cliffs, so we postponed those hikes for another trip. Instead, we took in the Park County Indiana Covered Bridge Festival.

Rain did little to dampen the spirits of those that took festivals seriously.  We don’t, you understand, but it was interesting to see the thousands that seemed to have no problem slugging through muddy parking lots and going from tent to tent to tent. The festival is spread between 10 communities, we visited three. I consider the Mill in Mansfield the high point to our day.

Ogle Lake, Brown County State Park

That pretty well covers our out of time adventures.

Jackie continues to help at the pharmacy, as a fill in when needed. She says those obligations will likely cease in the coming year. Time alone will tell.

Nick remains in the Denver, Colorado area. He continues to work for ConMed, as an engineer in the research and development department of the surgical device company. He so enjoys the city and its location. Our son has fallen in love with the mountains and hikes as well as other outside activities (read golf).

As for me, I give all the time I can to my writing. I am working on the fourth book of the Misty Creek Series. Time at the keyboard and a wide variety of Author’s Events fills nearly every moment I can spare, and more than I should allow. 

So, that gives you just a taste of our lives this past year. I leave you with these few words: know that you remain in our thoughts and prayers. It is our hope that this coming season fills you with all the joy and light it can, for Christmas is a very special time. And as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior, we are reminded just how much God loves us. For God is revealed in love and love is the greatest force in the universe. It is our hope that you tap into that love, that you share it with those you care about, as well as your friends and neighbors.

Have a blessed Christmas,

The Vander Veldens