We’ve had some very joyful events in the past year, along with a few surprises that changed our lives and lifestyle. All in all, we are extremely grateful for God’s grace and care, his provision and his love. We feel all of that through our family and the friends that also feel like family.

We love to travel, and we love to visit in the homes of our daughters’ families. We are grateful to each of them for welcoming us and for the opportunities to grow closer to the grandkids.

We have been fortunate to travel to Arizona (Kim and family), to Ohio (Karla and family), to Kansas (where we reconnect with Rita’s mother and family) and here in Ontario to both Rhonda’s family and in Manitoba with Robyn’s family.

Last June, we celebrated the first wedding among our grandkids when Robyn’s daughter was married. This coming July, we look forward to another granddaughter’s wedding, Rhonda’s oldest. That makes us feel a bit older, no doubt. We’re very thankful for the people joining our family by marriage.

Other travels included connecting with both our families of origin, attending a Nisly reunion in Ohio, and spending a week with Rita’s mother and family in Kansas.

Our love for travel and birding included a week in Belize last February. We loved the break from the Red Lake winter, and we loved the experience of being in a new country. We plan to return there in a couple of months.

We were surprised in early October when a light stroke changed my (Merle) life somewhat. We are very grateful for the mobility and strength I enjoy, but there is hopefully more recovery coming.

Thank you for sharing life with us, and for making our lives fulfilling and joyful through your friendship and love. We wish you a very good New Year in 2023!

Merle and Rita

  “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” –The Apostle Paul