I was once known for my hilarious Christmas letters. Or at least I thought they were funny. But life got busy, not to mention less than rosy all the time, and hilarity sometimes turned into the mundane. It can be hard to muster the energy to put out a Christmas letter, much less one with humor.
This year, I stepped back from the brink of seriousness and added a few light touches of humor. Nothing that will cause a belly laugh … but certainly not as serious as in the recent past. I hope you enjoy it.
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Dear Friends and Family,
D’Aun asked me to write the first of these Christmas letters thirty years ago. I rolled my eyes because it sounded so corny – only boring people write Christmas letters! We finally compromised: I’d write the letter but I could say whatever I wanted. Thus began a tradition of completely making stuff up, wild exaggeration, self-promotion, and all the other things that we hoped for in a Christmas letter.
First, yes indeed, D’Aun and I celebrated our 30th anniversary this year. I’d say I never thought I’d see this day, but that would be untrue; I knew D’Aun was the love of my life forever. A corny thing to say? Well, yes, but it’s a Christmas letter and 30 years of D’Aun’s influence is making a difference.
We raised two great kids together – or at least we think they are great. You might disagree, but I don’t want to hear about it. So let me begin with a recap of their year.
Jedd started his film business (called Two Story Films) and has been shooting a lot of weddings. He has been busy with a documentary in San Francisco, and he keeps making great contacts for future work. One of his films (that he did for his sister’s organization) was an award winner at the Bay Area Professional Videographers Association in 2010 (it was announced too late for me to include the news in last year’s Christmas letter!).
Rachel and Kevin returned home in March after a year in Thailand. Kevin started working at our church, scoring films, and teaching music. Rachel continues to run an anti-trafficking program (The SOLD Project) and opened an art studio (Studio Unfiltered) with Kevin and others. As I write this they are in Egypt enjoying the sights (including Tahir Square from a distance…I hope). Their Cavalier King Charles, Berkeley, had a “culturally confused” year as he transitioned from Thailand to Livermore.
D’Aun pulled a lot of weeds in her D’Oliva Olive Oil grove. It paid off with a larger than expected harvest for such young trees (the oldest are just two years old). The effort is a labor of love and usually involves the entire family (even Sadie, our adorable Golden Retriever). D’Aun visited Belize with me to attend the first PathLight graduation ceremony; it was touching to see the students overcome long odds and get their degrees! D’Aun and I also spent a week in Napa for our anniversary, which included memorable dinners and winery visits. Always one for wanting to get her hands in the soil, D’Aun also expanded her incredible raised vegetable garden. She spends a lot of time wearing gardening gloves and worrying about the weather!
I’m the boring one in the family, never doing much. I visited Rachel and Kevin in Thailand at the beginning of the year, which ended with a short stay in Hong Kong. I dieted enough to lose 30-pounds before our 30th anniversary. There were the trips to Belize and Napa, and we attended a conference in Hawaii. I continue to run Goble Properties and put a lot of time into PathLight. I bought a barrel of wine, created our own label, and had fun sharing the process with friends. I took Jedd and Kevin to England, visited the church where my Puritan ancestors were married in 1619, watched Jedd join the paparazzi around Rupert Murdoch, listened to Kevin play Amazing Grace on a piano in the shadow of St. Paul’s, and worshiped with friends in Oxford. And remember, I’m the boring one in the family!
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Roy (with help from D’Aun, Jedd, Rachel and Kevin)
