Landry Family Christmas Letter, 2022
You just never know what’s around the corner.
Just around the corner from last year’s Christmas letter was an amazing event. Sparky and his brother sold their business and retired. As in RE-TI-RED. As in, Sparky gets to spend time (so much time) on his beloved tractor.
There are some things even more beloved than the tractor and now he has more time to pour his heart into those things, too. Mainly his family. Sparky has always been a man to put his family before all else. But now there is so much family! He needed to retire just to keep up his desire to do and share and spend time and make things beautiful.
The first thing we rushed out to do after said retirement was drive across the country. Woohoo. It was very long. We heard it was long. Flat in some places and rocky in others, but we had to find out for ourselves. Sparky enjoyed it so much that he did it a second time two months later. It was long the second time too. Maybe even longer in some places. But he and Huck had some bonding time so it was all worth it.
Our little family that lived next door has moved on, as their latest edition (addition) has made the cottage a little squishy. We’re so happy for their move, but we miss the quiet knocks on the lower half of our front door, followed by, “Mamie (grandmother, in our household), do you have time for a little wisit?” Borrowing a cup of sugar or a garlic clove has become more challenging, too. I wept when I saw all the boxes piled up on the front porch.
Little darling’s arrival (the newest B) will be followed this Spring by the 2023 edition (addition) another G baby in the world. Shawnigan Lake may not be big enough to handle all the creative energy this family has!
The professor got engaged. WHAT? Not even kidding. We are delighted to welcome his sweet lady into our world, and her whole family with her. Their knot will be tied this coming June.
Silas did some serious travelling this year, traversing the country and then off to Australia and New Zealand on his own, mate. Huckleberry is off doing his third year Uni. And let’s be honest, I don’t really know what he’s studying.
It was a busy summer, with the world opening up. We held a floral training camp for a week, a beautiful experience for all, but most especially for me to spend time and get to know such lovely and creative young women.
On the heels of that event our Ottawa family came out for a month to soak up some family and some summer. The Ottawa grandkids work tirelessly alongside us when we’re in the garden, some of the finest bean pickers we’ve ever known. Our leisurely visits with them when they come out are a lovely way to spend time. It’s like cramming for an exam, except much more pleasant.
The garden is the focus of our time in the nice weather. And in the crappy weather, too actually. We spend untold hours watching things grow. And a fair bit of time shovelling and weeding. And congratulating ourselves for making beauty.
Well, I didn’t get to retire this year, but because I mostly sit around and eat bonbons, it’s okay. Except I have to share the bonbons now. I hate that. On the upside, happy hour starts at 4 p.m. these days. Some of my personal highlights this year (besides the full time husband) were watching small people grow - attending a soccer game, a hockey practice and several ballet practices and a lovely winter weekend away in Barry’s Bay and again in Qualicum.
Rosebud, Sparky and myself returned from Europe recently, and that was a fairly big deal, too, because we could come home whenever we want. Or not at all. But we did want to and we did come home because we missed all the people. Sparky burned all over Central Italy, tackling streets of unknown direction and driving through the occasional pedestrian-only area, to the astonishment of sidewalk diners. He received his first international parking ticket. Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all.
So retired life has been non stop fun so far. Perhaps we’ll have an idle year some time soon. But I doubt it.
Rosebud continues her homeschool journey. She’s at the tail end of her high school years, and that means that I am too. Soon I will have even more time for bonbons. She continues to feed us very well. She can translate Latin with her eyes closed; I see some promising career options on her horizon.
Love, peace, joy and abundant blessings to all our family and friends.
I miss you every day, Mom; pray for us.
"The true way to advance in holy virtues,
is to persevere in a holy cheerfulness."
- St. Philip Neri