Merry Christmas to one and all! It has been a very very busy year for our family. This has been a year of transitions of moving into elder care. You always know it is coming but have little understanding of how it will impact you and your family. For us it was just like an express train traveling at high speed and it hit us with a bang of reality. Joe and I took it on head first and things are running smoothly now more like a choo choo train saying "I know I can, I know I can".
Joe's Family: Marye took a couple of falls this year with two trips to the hospital with minimal fractures and a short stay in a nursing home for two weeks, before Marye stated emphatically "I'm going home!" Deb worked diligently to return her to her beloved home and she is very happy to be back there. She has a great team of personal care givers that provide about 16 hours of care for her each week. Deb spends an hour each evening with her having tea and conversation.It helps in keeping her mind active and updated on the family and current events. This is in addition to cooking for her and Fred three, or more,times a week. We had a special Thanksgiving, including family movies dedicated especially for her,which she fully enjoyed. Fred is still at home with her and we are blessed to have him there. Marye turns 94 next March.

Deb's Family: Rose, Deb's mom has had some health issues recently but takes them in stride and with some assistance from Deb she is on the road to recovery and getting back to her independent energetic self. Stomie, Deb's Dad just trucks along and doesn't miss a beat. When the car starts,he is in it, no matter where it is going. He still dresses in a suit and bow tie everyday! He will turn 96 in February! Daily trips to McDonald's are his favorite time of the day. He has taken to singing hymns aloud. It is fun to hear him burst into song!

Our Family: James unbeknownst to his parents, registered and started back to school at Boise State University working towards finishing his degree in Education. We couldn't be more proud of him. He still works part time at the Flying Pie Pizzeria and will be celebrating his 10 year anniversary there next year. He recently traveled to Eugene to visit Mackie. It is a wonder to watch the closeness of our children as they mature into adulthood.

Mackie took a year off to rest the brain from Boston, and now has returned to Graduate School at the University of Oregon. She adopted and took the final two cats, Finn and Mama, we had been fostering with her. Both Joe and I hate to admit it, but we do miss them. As much as she dislikes the rain, she is adjusting to life in Eugene.

Joe and I keep plugging along in our jobs looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. It is getting brighter and we are confident we will enjoy it once we reach it! In today's turmoil in our world one needs to stay optimistic. Deb continues in her job in worker's Compensation working with the catastrophically injured doing case management, (part of the reason she may be so good with elder care).


When prodded Joe will only describe his year as "interesting....an emotional roller coaster" He is serving on a Judicial Committee concerning volunteer lawyer services and has written a chapter on adoption for a Judge's handbook, at the request of the Idaho Supreme Court. He will close out the year by finalizing five adoptions in three different towns on December 23. He will move into a new office on January 1, 2011. He whines retirement is just a figment of his imagination!

Overall, it was a year that sped by. To those of you whom who haven't heard much from the Welches this year we apologize. We will try and do better. We want to with you and yours a very Merry Christmas!