This is the letter being sent out this year. The wife insists this is not the "official" way to do this. For it to be official she says it has to be accompanied by a card, in an envelope, preferably with a stamp, though for some family members she is willing to make the stamp optional. So for the unofficial version continue reading.
Christmas letter 2008
The year started off with a fall. Walking to the post office during the last week of December, Beth slipped on a patch of ice, fell, and broke the bones in her lower left leg. The next Sunday she led her last service as the pastor of the English River Church of the Brethren from a wheelchair. She spent most of the next four months sitting, letting her leg heal and trying to figure out what she should do next. A broken leg, lupus, and crutches do not make for a good combination. We are grateful and friends and family who helped make this time easier.
This year we both turned 50 and we celebrated our 30th anniversary. Since we made it together this long we decided to try something different. In August, Beth moved to Elkhart, Indiana where she began working on an M.Div. at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries. Since I couldn't find work in northern Indiana, I stayed in Iowa where I continue to teach and coach at Iowa Mennonite School. It has been interesting to live by myself for the first time. Once Beth got over the jitters of being an older student she realized she could do the required work and she seems to enjoy her classes and seminary life.
Dirk is in his senior year at Goshen College. He decided to spend the summer in Goshen where he spent most of the time working for the physical plant crew. Erin resigned from her job at the Mennonite Historical Library and moved to Indianapolis where she began working on her Masters in Library Science. It is always breathtaking to hear her discuss the latest intricacies in the world of library cataloguing.
This summer we attended a Peachey reunion in Belleville, Pennsylvania and took Beth's mother along for the ride. From there Beth and I drove to Philadelphia with a stop in Akron, to visit my brother, Ed's family. It was good to spend a couple of days in Philadelphia, visiting with friends, and exploring the city where we lived for ten years.
If all goes well, Beth will be at AMBS for two more years, Dirk will graduate and figure out somthing to do for work or service, Erin will recieve her MLS and find a library position, and as for me, I'll probably just keep plugging along.
Blessings to you all,
Marcus and Beth
