Marino 2024 Natale

Merry Christmas! Here are a few highlights from this past year:

Deb hosted her youngest siblings at the barn and put them to work, then gave them a chance to ride Gypsy. She is still with CCF as a Medic and enjoys her job. She has been trail riding a lot, travelling and competing with her horse Gypsy, and branched out in her costume making hobby to make a Medieval costume for a friend's horse. The biggest change in Deb's life this past year is the addition of a cat named Toby!

Lewis and Kaitlynn are enjoying their home and and yard. Kaitlynn is working as a legal secretary and has made a beautiful home for them both. When not working, Kaitlynn loves to make candles and bread, including sourdough. She is enjoying building their home library with more classics than she can shelve (be still, my heart), reading, and playing piano. Lewis built two beautiful bookcases for their growing library. He works hard to keep the highway safe and has won some awards, including Trooper of the Year for his post. They really appreciate their Anglican church, which is a supportive and encouraging parish.

Margie and James make their home in Arizona. Margie has really taken charge of her health and is enjoying hiking and gardening. James works hard to provide for them both as a bathroom remodeler and with side construction jobs, but still has time to spoil their 5 cats.

Jared graduated from Tri-C and enrolled in their Massage Therapy program, where he received a full scholarship! He continues to write and create and is looking forward to graduation and possibly taking a trip to Italy before settling down to look for work and move out on his own. Meanwhile, he is coming up on 4 years employed at the service station.

Edith is in her second year at Tri C, enjoying her studies in history, math and geology, and making good enough grades to be granted a partial scholarship. She continues to enjoy working at Talbot's, where she has been for almost two years. In her spare time, she loves running, hiking and visiting the Cleveland Museum of Art. She travelled with her youth group as a adult leader to Columbia, SC this past summer. She is considering a career in land conservation/management.

Nathanael, aka Nate, ran cross country this fall. He lettered and was MVP. He is now a Cadet Master Sgt in his Civil Air Patrol unit, and attended the D-day reenactment for the second time this past summer, providing security and crowd control with other CAP cadets. He loves reading historical books, especially military history books, and hiking with his dad and sisters. He, too, travelled with his youth group to Columbia SC this past summer. When he wasn't travelling, he worked as a lifeguard at a local city pool.

Ellie continues to enjoy ballet and piano and excels in Latin, French and creative writing. She also went on the mission trip to SC- her first time! She really enjoyed serving there and is looking forward to next summer's trip. She swam for the local city swim team this summer and performed in two piano recitals, doing well in all. She also continues to assist with the children's Sunday School at our church. 

 

The kids have strived to become friends lately. 

The kids all pitched in when Deb and Lew delivered a LOT of horse manure in their trucks, carting it to Jay's garden as a birthday present this past March.

I had the joy of voting with two of my adult children and taking the two younger ones along. It was a beautiful sunny day, and I thoroughly enjoyed the hour wait with my kids! As you can see, though, there were mixed emotions with those younger ones.

Our dear sweet pup, Mattis continues to provide snuggles and companionship to us all, but to me most especially. 

Jay and I celebrated 32 years of marriage this year, and I am so grateful for his love, support and encouragement. 

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We hope you can bask in the love that God has poured out on us through his Son! Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given- rejoice!

With love, The Marinos