The Wattmans at Muckross Abbey, in Killarney National Park, Ireland.
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It will grow only as time is available to devote to it. (Sadly limited, to be sure!)
The year 2024 once again represented growth. Our hearts grew; our bodies grew in new ways; our garden grew; even our peach tree grew. The hardy peach tree we planted last year blessed us with still more peaches. Some of them even survived Judy’s and John’s sampling them as they ripened. (You have to test them for flavor, don’t you know.) We had enough for snacking, and for peach ice cream.
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The artwork is a painting by our daughter Anna.
The year 2023 represented growth. Our family grew; our faith grew; our garden grew; even our peach tree grew. What? You heard correctly. We planted a hardy peach variety and were blessed with a basketful of peaches in its first year.
The family grew through both birth and weddings. Anna and Alex were blessed with the healthy arrival of Theodora Jeanne Bauer, on June 27. Her older brother John is very gentle and attentive, though it is undoubtedly an adjustment to have a baby sister. Anna stayed home with Thea while Alex went back to work as a teacher. In December, Anna returned to work as a school counselor, and Alex began his period of paternity leave until Thea is old enough to begin childcare in the spring.
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[Dateline 2023, reporting on 2022.]
If there was anything normal about life in 2022, it was that our family gatherings began to resemble pre-COVID regularity and comfort. We did not hesitate to get together, but we still asked about everybody’s health, and took precautions. Who knows whether hanging out with family and friends will ever again not be a big deal.
Judy’s branches got a little bit longer this year. She again visited her mom and Byron in San Diego (Jan. and Mar.). She also traveled to attend work conferences in Arizona and Duluth. In a spontaneous mood, she also helped Elise move with her earthly belongings to Vancouver, BC, then later to visit her there. (Elise reported doing a Google® search for mountains, kayak, and ocean when choosing her destination.) Vaccine adaptation allowed for the resumption of the women’s drumming circle, participation in the community band (and an opportunity to perform on tympani!), and visits to her mom on Saturdays in her Chisago City summer home.
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