Rosslyn
Chapel, 2006
Wishing
you exTemplary holidays
and a
fertile 2007!
Rosy
knights to you,
Ron and Grace
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Dear
Friends,
Here we are at the end of 2006. This past summer (including
when Ron and I were sitting in a small caravan in
a horse pasture just before the heat wave hit Holland
in July), I had reached a point where I felt serenely
happy (for the first time since Eden died). Then we
received news of the illnesses of people we love,
and along came the challenge of watching loved ones
suffer. For the most part, though, it has been a sweet
year for Ron and me.
We made several wonderful trips this year: Edinburgh
in May including a day at Rosslyn
Chapel, the Portuguese island of Madeira
in June, a hilariously fun bike
trip in July, a romantically fun trip to Paris
in September, and Rhodes
in October.
Ron and I went off with our laptops for a writing
retreat in July (in the caravan in the horse pasture)
and made great progress on the retreat program we're
designing. In a nutshell, we think it's why we ended
up together; why Paul Solomon walked up to Ron in
a cathedral in Rotterdam in 1989 and said, "Why
don't you come to Virginia Beach." We'll see
where it goes - we're excited.
I'm glad I live in Europe - I'm happy, and I like
the pace, the attitude and the lifestyle. I'm in my
second year as chief editor of a bimonthly magazine
for expatriates living in Holland, and I love the
creativity of it! I'm most grateful for my friends,
who come from more than two-dozen countries. I enjoy
visiting museums, castles and cathedrals, walking
in the Dutch countryside, biking in the woods, dancing
with Ron, coaxing growth from our garden, attending
concerts, wine tastings and art workshops, making
European city-tours and playing mahjong. Plus, I've
fallen in love with the genius of Vincent van Gogh,
including working my way through his Complete
Letters.
I had a fantastic summer because all three boys visited
us in Holland: Joseph
in June, Gabriel
and Krystle in July, and Michael
in August.
Joseph and Holly moved from England to the States
at the end of the summer, to begin anew. So, amazingly,
all three boys are living in the same city (Richmond,
VA) for the first time in many years. And we'll be
spending the holidays together there.
So that's our past year. As for all you cuties, we
wish you the very best year yet in 2007 - peace, happiness,
perfect health, prosperity, and joy in your days and
in your hearts.
Take great care and have happy holidays! And please
remember that you're always welcome in our home.
So come visit!
Love,
Grace
and Ron
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