Merry Christmas for 2017

This has been a very good year for us. Judy and I are slowing down, but continue to enjoy good health. Bill has continued to serve in FamilySearch Support, and we serve together in the Edmonton Riverbend Family History Centre on Thursday evenings and in the Edmonton Alberta Temple on Saturdays. And during the summer, we have enjoyed our garden. Our potato harvest was less remarkable than last year, but the other vegetables made up for it. We enjoy fresh home-grown food. We had harvesting activities where family members helped us harvest and returned home with bags of fresh vegetables.

But it has been a hard year for my mother, with the death of her sister Vi, and her own declining health. A year ago, we could have a good conversation with her. Sometimes now she doesn’t recognize us.

Rob and Rachel’s baby Lillyanna is a welcome addition to our family. She is beautiful! Rachel’s parents came from Vietnam and stayed to help her for 6 months.

Evelyn remarried, this summer. She and Gary had been dating for over a year, so we were hopeful! Gary is a wonderful guy. We got to know him as we worked together on some upgrade projects on Evelyn’s home. Gary has two grown daughters and a teen-aged son. Evelyn’s family are in St Albert now, and her home in Spruce Grove is up for sale. It is now one of the nicest homes in its neighborhood. Good work Evelyn!

We finally had new family photos taken. Yes, it had been a while, and the old photos are missing some of the newer members.      

Family history research has found some ancestors we had not been aware of, including Judy's Constable line in Yorkshire, and Bill's Ings in Buckinghamshire.

Tananda and Nathan are expecting a baby, Charlotte, in February. This will be our first GREAT grandchild, although we think that each of the grandchildren is great in their own way!

The grandchildren are all growing so fast. There has been so much progress in the past year. We have enjoyed numerous Christmas concerts, band concerts, competitions, school plays and performances. 

On the evening of Dec 22, some of our family members will participate in the 28^th annual Spruce Grove outdoor Nativity pageant. This helps us remember the reason for the season, the promise by the angel of peace through “a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”  Let us remember Him as we celebrate Christmas this year. May God bless you and your loved ones throughout the coming year!

– Bill & Judy Buchanan