The snow is falling (and falling and falling) and mom and dad say that means its time to say Hi and Wish a Merry Christmas to all our friends. It’s kind of good that Christmas and letter writing happens in the winter, cuz you have more time inside to write.

This has been a year of big changes for me. In March, I learned how to walk and a whole new world of fun began. Mom had to childproof the house all over again and she’s also learned to be more fast on her feet. Close behind walking was running and my favourite CLIMBING. I’ve even learned to move things over so I can climb on them to get what I want. Mom keeps telling me to be careful or I’ll go “Boom” but she’s always there to kiss it better so I don’t understand the problem.

Words are the most wonderful invention. One of my first word was “hockey” much to mom’s delight. I was at Grandma Boyle’s one day early this year and when the sports came on, I stopped & looked at the TV and told mom “hockey”. I put together sentences now and repeat everything I hear (so watch what you say). When I was in Reno in October, I was a big hit going through the casinos saying “Big Money”, and “Spend Money”. On the last day we were taking our suitcases down the elevator and people asked if we were going and I piped up with “Money Gone” and they all laughed. My favourite words are long ones – like dalmatian and enormous.

Summer was lots of fun. I really love being outside and would scream and cry whenever I had to come in. The glass sunporch that we added to the house, allowed me to be “outside” when it was raining or cold. I even got to swim in my wading pool and out at the beach. Once I figured out my life jacket, I had no fear at all (even when it wasn’t on). I learned to eat raspberries, peas and strawberries right out of the garden, and even helped feed the chickens. One day mom and I went for a walk and we picked up a caterpillar. He climbed all over me, my baby doll and the carriage all the way down and back. We even found a flat snake on the road and I look for him every time we walk that way. I also really like grasshoppers and cried in the fall when mom told me they all died.

Dad put a bicycle seat on the tractor so I could ride with him when he mowed the lawn and now when he plows snow. Mom was doubtful at first, but now really appreciates it when we need to plow the snow when dad’s away.

I had my first temper tantrum when I was exactly 18 months old. Mom and I were at Moyie lake to help dad and Uncle Frankie hammer nails. When we got there mom’s hands were full and she wanted to go up the hill to the trailer. I wanted to go to the beach to see the boats. I yelled and screamed and kicked and flailed and cried while mom struggled to carry me up the hill under one arm. She let me go as soon as she got to the top and still seemed to have a sense of humour about it. We’ll see how she does next year as I really enter my terrible twos.

Well, it’s time for me to go. I will leave some space for me to write my name (with mom’s help), and just want to wish you all a “Ho o o Merry kissmas”.

This has been a year of changes for us as well (aside from Mick). Late last year we took over a home based business called Coffee News. Its a weekly newsletter that we buy the ‘news’ and sell and design the advertising. The first few weeks were very hairy as Deb tried to learn a thing or two about the computer. There were some very late nights and long days but by Feb. it was at manageable proportions. However, Deb discovered that “cold sales” as they are called, are not her best skill and much to her surprise, she did not have the knack of selling refrigerators to eskimos. She did struggle along and the paper began to make a small profit.

In late spring, Pat began supervising a new regional resource unit which meant full time work in Cranbrook. This has been a rewarding job for Pat and he’s done a great job. However, it meant that he was only home on weekends and that’s when Deb was busy putting the paper together. When we began to forget each others names it was time to make some changes. We put our house and business up for sale and began looking around Cranbrook. We haven’t sold the house yet but the Coffee News sold in August so we are feeling a bit less stressed on weekends.

Pat’s work is going through major changes now. The Ministry of Social Services has divided with financial services (welfare) going to stand alone and Child Welfare joining with parts of Education, Alcohol and Drugs, Mental Health, Health, and Attorney General to create a new super Ministry for Children and Families. The philosophy is great and will end the ‘its not our mandate’ fights and pool the moneys available to create more coordinated and cooperative services. The problem is that they are trying to do it in six months and the bureaucrats have started fighting over turf. Part of the motivation has been some bad press about child welfare services and some staff have been hung out to dry for political purposes. This dramatically increased the stress and decreased motivation for staff. Recently one of the staff (who Pat respects) was reinstated with apologies and back pay so this has helped him a bit. It looks like he will lose his direct boss and this will be a real loss for him as they have a great working relationship. Needless to say, he’s under a great deal of stress but continues working to make things better and at the same time as checking out options in the private sector.

Deb continues to work part time and that suits her fine – a nice combination of Mommyhood and Adulthood. Her work also went through a stressful time when her agency got into philosophical and practical disagreements with the administrator of the hospital who was the governing agency. It culminated when administrator’s parting gesture was to let Deb’s boss go and hire a new person who did not fit well into the agency. It was very tense for a few months but the new administrator has repaired most of the damage, Deb’s boss is back and her agency will move out from under the hospital to a new society so that the problem can never recur.

 

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope that 1997 find you healthy and ready for the challenges that it brings.

 

Love Deb, Pat and Mick.