Dawes Family News February 2006 (Late Posting)
We missed sending out our traditional Christmas letter in 2005 because most of our time in November and December was entirely devoted to caring for Meryl's mother, Beryl back in UK. Doctors expected her to die during the Christmas weekend but she became the hospital's Christmas Miracle! Praise God! She was our miracle too!
Just 5 days after this, on 30 Dec, we were able to move her direct from Minehead hospital into a full care nursing home in Birmingham close to my brother’s home. This turned out to have been the very best decision as between then and mid-February she spent 5 weeks in a local hospital, curiously, the same hospital in which both Charles and Toby had been born. Meryl's brother has been able to see Beryl almost everyday as she is only a short drive away rather than the 160 miles away in Minehead.
At 86 and with deteriorating Parkinson’s, very bad Macular Degeneration, heart valve failure and recurring low blood sodium levels, life is not much fun for Beryl at the moment. After getting back to her new home from hospital a few weeks ago, she is understandably still adjusting to things and has said a number of times she wishes she could have ‘gone’ at Christmas. But Toby and JoAnn’s latest news gave her a big boost.
In mid- January, Toby and JoAnn moved into their own home in Queensbury, NY after 5 years of renting. They soon adopted a puppy dog from the local pound, thus saving it from certain death. He is a German Shepherd whom they have named Oliver Cromwell! As yet their cats, Gibraltar and Megellan, have not welcomed him to their home!
The best news is that they told us last week (early March) that we are to be Grandparents in September this year. We are thrilled with this news, as are they. It looks like Sweet Pea was a ‘made in England’ baby!!! Mind you I wish I was 10 years younger. Noel will be 60 and I will be 59 this April. I also wish I lived closer to them, 560 miles is a long road trip. I don’t think being a long distant Grandma will suit me! We will visit them over Easter to see the new house and meet the dog.
Charles had a great year of sailing last year; his final race was the Fastnet. An amazing experience. He has just had a great ski week in Switzerland. He is always busy at work but makes time to play field hockey each week. He continues to enjoy his job and life in the Netherlands. Sarah is working and living in Newcastle, UK and they spend 2 or 3 weekends together each month. They don’t discuss their future with us except to say they are good friends. Grandma was pleased that both Charles and Sarah visited her recently. This was Sarah’s first visit to a family member for 3 years. We hope to see her this Thanksgiving at Toby’s in November.
Work with Alpha for the Military is so very busy. Last year we did conferences, workshops and meetings. Noel spends hours on the telephone and E-mail. He could do with some help but it’s hard to get volunteers these days. I try to be as supportive and helpful as I can. There of course is a lot more to all our lives than these few words can tell, some of which can been seen on the web sites: www.noel.dawes.net, http://noeldawes.blogspot.com, www.alphausa.org/military and www.accts.org.
Thank you for your Christmas greetings, cards and E-mails we hope to do much better this year to keep in touch with you all. Please keep in touch with us. We value your friendship and your prayers.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
Meryl and Noel
Just 5 days after this, on 30 Dec, we were able to move her direct from Minehead hospital into a full care nursing home in Birmingham close to my brother’s home. This turned out to have been the very best decision as between then and mid-February she spent 5 weeks in a local hospital, curiously, the same hospital in which both Charles and Toby had been born. Meryl's brother has been able to see Beryl almost everyday as she is only a short drive away rather than the 160 miles away in Minehead.
At 86 and with deteriorating Parkinson’s, very bad Macular Degeneration, heart valve failure and recurring low blood sodium levels, life is not much fun for Beryl at the moment. After getting back to her new home from hospital a few weeks ago, she is understandably still adjusting to things and has said a number of times she wishes she could have ‘gone’ at Christmas. But Toby and JoAnn’s latest news gave her a big boost.
In mid- January, Toby and JoAnn moved into their own home in Queensbury, NY after 5 years of renting. They soon adopted a puppy dog from the local pound, thus saving it from certain death. He is a German Shepherd whom they have named Oliver Cromwell! As yet their cats, Gibraltar and Megellan, have not welcomed him to their home!
The best news is that they told us last week (early March) that we are to be Grandparents in September this year. We are thrilled with this news, as are they. It looks like Sweet Pea was a ‘made in England’ baby!!! Mind you I wish I was 10 years younger. Noel will be 60 and I will be 59 this April. I also wish I lived closer to them, 560 miles is a long road trip. I don’t think being a long distant Grandma will suit me! We will visit them over Easter to see the new house and meet the dog.
Charles had a great year of sailing last year; his final race was the Fastnet. An amazing experience. He has just had a great ski week in Switzerland. He is always busy at work but makes time to play field hockey each week. He continues to enjoy his job and life in the Netherlands. Sarah is working and living in Newcastle, UK and they spend 2 or 3 weekends together each month. They don’t discuss their future with us except to say they are good friends. Grandma was pleased that both Charles and Sarah visited her recently. This was Sarah’s first visit to a family member for 3 years. We hope to see her this Thanksgiving at Toby’s in November.
Work with Alpha for the Military is so very busy. Last year we did conferences, workshops and meetings. Noel spends hours on the telephone and E-mail. He could do with some help but it’s hard to get volunteers these days. I try to be as supportive and helpful as I can. There of course is a lot more to all our lives than these few words can tell, some of which can been seen on the web sites: www.noel.dawes.net, http://noeldawes.blogspot.com, www.alphausa.org/military and www.accts.org.
Thank you for your Christmas greetings, cards and E-mails we hope to do much better this year to keep in touch with you all. Please keep in touch with us. We value your friendship and your prayers.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
Meryl and Noel
posted by Noel Dawes | 12:55 PM
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