A Very Merry Christmas from our Home to yours!!

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Christmas 2008

Dear Loved Ones,

Many of you probably were wondering what happened to the Tindells in 2007. Well, we are alive and well, but timing last year got away from us and we didn’t have time to send out Christmas greetings. We were able to send out a few e-mails, but just ran out of time. This year is busy also and a lot has happened.

We started the year with Chuck turning 50. As usual, he didn’t want a lot of fanfare, so we celebrated quietly at home. Because he has been with the Sheriff’s department for 20 years, he could have retired this year, but due to the state of the economy and the fact that he has a steady job, he declined for now. He has kept busy with his many adventurous activities such as biking, caving, and rock climbing. Thankfully, there were no fractures to report for this year, but he did feel every inch of his age this fall with some serious back pain. Starting the first of November he was home for a month, flat on his back and went back to light duty the first of December. He will be back at his regular job after the first of the year and is almost back to normal.

Catie also had many changes in her life this year as she graduated from Wheaton College in May with a degree in Biology and a minor in Music. We enjoyed having her so close to home and were able to attend all of her concerts in the three years she was at Wheaton. Last year, she lived in the “Hearth House” with 7 other girls, which is located very close to the science building and the chapel, where she spent so much of her time. She actually graduated in June because she took her last class at the Au Sable Institute in Florida. She learned about growing food and providing sustainable resources for people around the world. In August, she moved to John’s Island, South Carolina to St. Christopher camp and is teaching environmental science to school aged children. This is a new experience for her and she regularly interacts with crabs, fish, dolphins, and other kinds of shoreline creatures. She was able to come home for Thanksgiving and will be home for Christmas.

2008 was a year of many new and exciting experiences for Candice. She is now a junior at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. This year she has a car, so we have been able to see her fairly regularly. Even though she no longer is a theater major, she has had the privilege of being in two main stage productions. Last spring, she was Babe in Crimes of the Heart and this fall she was Ginger Brooks in 1940’s Radio Hour, and she stole the show as far as we were concerned.

She was able to attend the Hope Vienna School for 7 weeks this past summer and has been infected with the travel bug. Candice’s quick wit keeps us in stitches continually.

Chuck isn’t the only one in the family with a notable birthday; I also turned 50 last week. I feel good, my health is good, but man, I can’t believe I am this old!!! I still work in ICU at a local hospital on the night shift. Nights work out really well for the stage in life we are in and I only work 3 shifts per week. All my hobbies keep me very busy and I am often found sewing or crafting away. Last winter, I bought a new sewing machine and it has made my quilting hobby that much easier. I have started to venture into machine quilting on a small scale and with practice, may even attempt a larger piece. Scrapbooking, stamping and card making round out my activities. I am still leading a ladies small group Bible Study in our home.

This year, my mom went to heaven. After 3 years of cancer treatment, and almost continual chemotherapy, the decision was made in April to put her in hospice care. We celebrated her 80^th birthday on April 20^th with an open house. In May, my sister and I took leave of absences from our jobs and lived with mom and dad for 7 weeks. Mom left us on June 20^th. We celebrated her life on June 28^th and all of us were there, except for my youngest niece. I was privileged to have her as my mom and miss her every day, but I am grateful for the assurance that she is now whole and worshipping at the feet of Jesus.

This Christmas season, may your days be filled with the wonder and glory of our Savior.

With love,

Chris for the Tindells

Check out the Tindells on the web:

katanachuck.blogspot.com

threadsandscraps.blogspot.com

catietindell.blogspot.com