The highlight of 2018 was Rachel and Héctor’s wedding in Chile. We smiled as Arden scattered flower petals ahead of the bride, we beamed as we escorted our lovely daughter down the aisle and we teared up as Jonathan performed and Becky assisted with the ceremony. Chilean celebrations last all night and we are proud to say that we were there for the last dance at 5:30 am!!
Before that
perfect day, we spent a delightful week in cabins on the coast in Viña del Mar. Becky, Jonathan and Arden’s cabin was right next door to Grammie and Grampa’s. Arden loved walking back and forth and because the cabins were identical, he sometimes mixed up where he was!
After the wedding we ventured south to Rachel and Héctor’s family cabin for a week of relaxation. We played tourist in Lican Ray, Villarica and Pucón and toasted Rachel’s 30th birthday on November 5th.
When Rachel and Hector went home, we road tripped with Becky, Jonathan and Arden for two nights at the Huilo Huilo nature preserve and three nights in the city of Valdivia. We celebrated Becky’s 34th birthday on November 10th and flew home the next day.
The Tomers explored for another week before returning to Viña del Mar for more visiting and Thanksgiving with Rachel and Héctor. Arden gets a Gold Medal for Easygoing Traveler. We loved sharing the back seat with our flexible and very good-natured three-year-old traveling companion!
Besides “the grand adventure”, we are thankful for a snowbird getaway to Joshua Tree and Borrego Springs, many visits with
Becky, Jonathan & Arden and our life in Medford:
After assisting for two years, Kevin is head girls’ golf coach at St. Mary’s High School. He led his talented team to district and state championships: three-peat! In June he shot his age (64), then flew to Colorado Springs to volunteer as co-chair of the scoring committee for the USGA Senior Open at the Broadmoor. With “inside the ropes” access, he made new friends and hobnobbed with the pros. He won four late summer tournaments four weekends in a row. Where to put all those
trophies?!?! Winning the Borrego Cup earlier this month capped off the year: golf insanity reigns!
Penny enjoyed six visits to Black Butte Ranch this year, sometimes with Kevin, friends and family, and three times just to spend time with her mom who was there for five months. Penny sits on the committee of a college scholarship and is on the board of the Family Nurturing Center, a child abuse prevention and treatment organization. When Kevin’s golf schedule gets really busy, she takes off for time with the kids. Earlier this month she was in San Jose to visit Becky, Jonathan and Arden. In April, she flew to Chile for a visit with Rachel and Héctor and a mother-daughter getaway to Mendoza, Argentina, for wine tasting and mud baths in the Andean foothills.
We won’t see the newlyweds for Christmas, but after our great time in Chile and Rachel’s two trips to the US this year, we won’t complain. We love celebrating with our Medford family: Kevin’s sister Kelly, her husband Brian
and our two moms. Niece Kassie and her boyfriend Bradley will be here. So will Becky, Jonathan and Arden … who just LOVES Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!
Sending our love to you,
Penny and Kevin
Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. Maya Angelou
