How great the beauty, how vast the art
To live each day with a grateful heart
Happy New Year …….. Happy Valentine’s Day …….. Grateful Every Day
It was wonderful being together at Black Butte Ranch for niece Kassie’s October wedding to Bradley Buckmister. A fun week in the forest was topped off with a Solar Eclipse, son-in-law Jonathan performing the beautiful marriage ceremony and a VERY FUN party!
January 2023 found us in Arizona: Scottsdale/Cave Creek with friends, then Tucson and Chandler to visit cousins and see Penny’s college roommate. In February Penny flew to Chile to babysit Julián so Rachel and Héctor could work while their daycare center closed for summer vacation. Kevin stayed home to oversee the continued construction of our pool/guest house. It was ready for company in May, behind schedule but definitely worth the wait. Come visit!
While Penny was in the Southern Hemisphere, a nagging ache in Kevin’s back grew to debilitating pain: no sitting, meals and TV standing up, no golf. Surgery in April provided 80% relief and a return to golf. Despite shoulder and back issues and another surgery (for skin cancer) Kevin clocked his 14th Southern Oregon Golf Championship title on Labor Day. Aging does bring aches and pains, but at least it’s easier to “shoot your age” which he did five times in 2023.
The day after Labor Day Penny had successful skin cancer surgery. While her facial scar will take a year to heal, she recovered enough for our trip to Wisconsin two weeks later. We spent six blissful days exploring a new (to us) state and visiting many Frank Lloyd Wright sites, including Taliesen. Penny’s flight home overlapped friend Brad Bills’ arrival for a two-man golf adventure.
Grammie and GramPA had a lot of 2023 fun with Arden, Julián and their parents. Rachel and Juli came to Medford in May and stayed three weeks since she was able to work remotely. Becky and Arden made a quick trip in July for Kassie’s bridal shower and they returned with Jonathan two weeks later for some summer fun. We have cared for Arden almost every year to give Becky & Jonathan a little anniversary getaway. This year Arden was old enough for an adventure! After B&J left: a trip to Crater Lake, pool time, arcade games and overnight in a caboose at Dunsmuir’s Railroad Resort. All three of them returning to Medford for Christmas eclipsed anything under the tree!
After the wedding in October, it was time to pack up Penny’s mom for her return to Medford. On the appointed day she came down with Covid, traveled by ambulance to the ER, received two prescriptions and slept most of the car drive home. The Covid abated but pneumonia ensued, requiring a week in the hospital and 24-hour supplemental oxygen when she went home. Penny moved in for a month to care for Mom. Miraculously she was weaned from oxygen by Christmas, decided to move to a retirement community and we sold her house. The three months from Covid to moving day on January 8th were mighty intense, but mission accomplished! Mom is happily settled and recently celebrated her 93rd birthday in her new home.
We’re hoping for fewer health issues in the new year, but whatever comes, we have grateful hearts,
Penny and Kevin