Pati’s Christmas Letter 2024

Hello Friend,

How will you be celebrating Christmas this year? What’s new with you this past year? What are you looking forward to in 2025? I hope you make wonderful new memories and enjoy this season in whatever capacity you can.

My heart and prayers are with those of you missing someone this Christmas.

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Thank you for sharing this past year with me! This is my fourth Christmas season without Ken, and each year, I continue to marvel at God’s hand and provision through this season in my life.

I have continued to adjust and flourish in this new season and the abundance of life in NW Arkansas. I have absolute confidence that God has a plan for me now, just as he did so many years before and since Ken left this world. I have had many opportunities to experience some things new, renewed, rediscovered, or realized for the first time this year.

Reading God’s word alone and with ladies, learning and growing, marveling at God’s power, creativity, and love for us. So very grateful to live in a space and time where I can worship God, read His word and share with others.

Enjoying the Journey doing life with nearby Grandkiddos. Making new friends. Spending time with ladies who love Jesus. Laughing with friends. Praying for others. Taking walks. Writing my blog. Connecting with loved ones. Enjoying my housemate; Kippy! And trying new things!

Some surprises this year came with the intense tornados and storms, one of which damaged our complex, but we were safe. Besides my $7,000 insurance-covered hail-damaged Subaru, all is well now. My bones are creaking, and there is some other age-related health ‘stuff,’ but they won’t stop me from getting up and moving! Kippy won’t let me sit around, that’s for sure! And you know that I don’t sit still for long anyway.

New to me, I joined a ladies bowling league. Before you fall off your chair laughing, I am not that good, but I am learning and having a blast! Got my own shoes, ball, and bag in a psychedelic pattern, a bit silly like me. My average is low, but occasionally I bowl over 140. Woohoo! I also went to a paint night and have had fun painting and being creative. Stepped out in a line dance class, had a hoot of a time!

Stretching my vocal cords and memory to sing again, something I enjoyed for many years in CA. I shared a medley of Broadway tunes at the senior center variety show, accompanied by a dear friend, a very talented pianist also in her golden years. We presented a Christmas program at an apartment community as well. So many of these songs are embedded into my memory from singing as a youth and then the years of “Mistletones.” And a good thing because learning new stuff is not as smooth as years ago.

I have new memories of a special day on November 14, which would have been our 37^th anniversary and my 4^th without Ken. I wanted to do something different and memorable this year, and this variety show happened on the 14^th. Ken had always encouraged me to sing. Seeing him stand at the back of the auditorium often gave me what I needed when I felt like I wanted to literally ‘exit stage left.’ Well, this year, I was singing and enjoying this day with new friends in a new place, celebrating and thanking God for the years behind me and the time I have now and before me.

Going for it’…  I was thrilled to see a local theater audition announcement for a musical I did in High School over 50 years ago! I watched the movie and was having so much fun laughing, smiling, and singing along that I decided to go for it and audition, with no real hopes of landing a part; just being in the ensemble would be fantastic (at my age!). The audition was fun and exhilarating, and I met some very nice folks. I was somewhat surprised to be selected for the ensemble and a small role of Mrs. Rose, an older woman who sells vegetables and encourages her old friend Dolly, a widow. The musical “Hello Dolly” opens in late February. Yippee!!!

Putting myself together for this audition had me updating my theatrical resume (listing shows from long, long ago!), and I needed a new picture (headshot). I was not at all concerned about my new age or features; just having fun was my plan, and it was!

Fun Training for Kippy included recovering from some not-so-pleasant interactions this past year. He is doing great! He learned new things, which led to him earning his AKC Novice Trick Title. Yup I am that proud dog mama!

And there’s more, but that’s enough for now… I just wanted to give you a little insight into what’s been happening in my life, new opportunities, choices, and how God is encouraging and leading me through this new season.

May God bless and encourage you in whatever season you are living in now and grant you peace and hope in the new year.

Pati

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:2