2010 – A Big Year!

No longer forward nor behind 

I look in hope or fear;

But, grateful, take the good I find,

The best of now and here.                             John Greenleaf Whittier 

Last New Year’s Eve found us in Chile, donning silly wigs, bumping shoulders with street revelers, ooohing and ahhhing the largest fireworks display in South America.  A pretty beach town, Viña del Mar (Vineyard of the Sea), was Rachel’s home for her junior year of study.  We loved meeting “Mamita” and Rachel’s Chilean family…we also loved summer in January!

Chilean wine to toast the new year!

On vacation until March, Rachel made the most of travel opportunities, first with Becky and Jonathan in Buenos Aires and then on her own revisiting Peru. Her parents were relieved when the solo travel concluded in Ecuador where she joined a month-long medical team.  Visiting rainforest clinics, observing surgeries and witnessing a birth made a big impression!  Back in “Viña” for her second semester, Rachel forsook travel to focus on becoming an everyday Chilean: school, nightclubs and…falling in love.  When it was time to return to the US in July, leaving Hector made the departure extra difficult.

Rachel and Hector in Chile last spring, which was autumn for them.

Thirty-five years ago, Kevin and Penny knew something about long-distance romance.  While Skype and the Internet may make it easier, Chile is SO far away! Missing Hector has been woven into Rachel’s busy senior year at Lewis and Clark College in Portland.  Happy News: Hector arrived in Oregon December 23rd for a five-week visit!

The bride and groom at Lake Anna Winery, Spotsylvania, Virginia

On the other side of the country, the happy news and the biggest event of our year was Becky and Jonathan’s marriage on August 7th!  If wedding events foretell the future, the bride and groom will never lack for supportive family and loyal friends.  The rained-out rehearsal picnic signified life’s challenges, the triple digit temperatures and high humidity taught patience and the 85-degree, low humidity wedding day forecast wedded bliss!

Becky wanted both of us to walk her down the aisle!

It was a beautiful, meaningful ceremony at a Virginia winery followed by a REALLY FUN reception.  Rachel was both the maid of honor and the violinist!  Eighteen friends and family members flew out from the west coast…sightseeing beforehand and a reunion with east coast family at the wedding…it couldn’t have been better! 

Rachel playing the processional.

After a honeymoon in Montreal and Quebec, the newlyweds are happily settled in Washington DC.  Jonathan continues his work as a computer programmer.  Becky is loving her new job as a preschool teacher.  She’s also taking classes toward an eventual master’s degree in early childhood education.  (Like mother, like daughter…who would have thought?)

Becky and Jonathan Klabunde Tomer!

Kevin and Penny keep the home fires burning…same fourth-grade teaching job for her, same church finances, high school coaching and golf passion for him.  He won the Senior Southern Oregon Golf Championship again this year:  extra sweet with Rachel as his caddy!  We painted, redecorated, gardened and generally “spiffed up” this spring, then threw a fun engagement party for Becky and Jonathan in June.  Before the wedding we had four fabulous days in New York City…four Broadway plays, the Staten Island Ferry, Birdland Jazz Club, Coney Island and great food!

A fall hike in beautiful Southern Oregon

2010 has been a big year of blessing and thankfulness.  Christmas was a joy with all four “kids” here in the house.  And now, as the new year dawns, we will, grateful, take the good we find, the best of now and here.

Wishing you a year of gratitude,

Penny and Kevin

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