WOW! What a year!

It has been a year with tragedy and sorrow, celebration and excitement (what year hasn't?!)- and God has been good all the time (and when is He NOT?!)
There has been much sadness...with the tragic loss of a relative (my cousin's young son), 5 church family members loosing parents, one lost her husband and 2 lost grandparents....but God's strength can sustain and strengthen and bring PEACE.

There were the celebrations!

Marah graduated from SUNY Canton in May with a AA degree in Early Childhood Education. She had the top average in her major! Was pretty amazing, considering some of the things she has had to deal with since college started! She and I are watching children at our house. It is a pretty revolving schedule! But we are enjoying it!

Luke is a senior this year! He has already been accepted at SUNY Canton and will find out in the spring if he has a spot in the nursing program. He wants to be a nurse like his dad! He has even shadowed Kevin in the ER. He is still working everyday after school and weekends at the same farm, and still manages to be in the top 10 of his class. He no longer has the Bronco....now has our truck, as well as 2 motorcycles. He is still with the same young lady, Talitha. They celebrated a year together in August!


The biggest Celebration of this year!.....an engagement in July and a wedding in October!

Rachel and Thomas are happily married. October 8th was a BEAUTIFUL day in so many ways! The weather was perfect, everything went off without any major hitches. Many family and friends were able to join us. We missed those of you who couldn't! You can read the wedding announcement at the following link http://northcountrynow.com/weddings/rachel-jean-thompson-and-thomas-anthony-ramsdell. Rachel got a full time job in September! She is housekeeping/maintenance staff at LBSH Housing, an elderly independent living facility right in our town. It is a place that the girls from our church go once a month to fellowship with some of the residents. So some of them were familiar with Rachel already. They love her there! The pay isn't bad and the benefits are great! Thomas started as an auto technician at a local dealership back in early summer. Their apartment is nice and cute and centrally located to both jobs! God has truly blessed them! You can see more wedding pictures at

http://www.susanjhawkphotography.com/ramsdell.html (all photos have a copywrite)

As for Kevin, I usually say, "Kevin who?". He is working a lot, always need nurses! He has changed shifts, now working 7 pm to 7 am. He also works per diem at another local hospital. Always in the ER, still his favorite spot in the hospital. Emergency medicine is his passion! He actually completed and was certified in a Wilderness Emergency Medicine course he went to Maine to take. He has also been asked to sit in on a committee for making changes in the emergency department. He is also helping a local Children's Christian Camp develop a program to take campers on hikes in the Adirondacks. He will be the guide, and I believe they want it up and running by next summer camp season! He did find the time to aquire 26 more acres; connected to our property, land locked and DEC protected wetlands (in other words (my words) we are proud owners of more swamp! The Swamp King and I will be celebrating 25 years of marriage in May and are planning to go away for a week! Last anniversary was 2 nights away...a first in 24 years...so a whole week!!!!!!! AND NO IT WILL NOT BE A HIKE!! (that was the 23rd)

Me....what can I say, nothing much! I watch kids here with Marah, I managed to substitute teach one day so far this year. My 9 passenger vehicle still manages to be a taxi, school bus and work truck! Still teaching Sunday School and involved in many other things at church, as is the whole family.

My folks are doing well. Leah is still cancer free and doing GREAT! and little (we really won't be able to call him that too much longer!) Allan is growing and growing. He turned 2 the day Rachel and Thomas got married!













Kevin's family is doing well. Uncle Allan had knee replacement surgery in early December. Is in rehab as this is being written. Lots of work ahead! Bobby Jo has built the most beautiful little cabin! Snug little place big enough for 1 (and a few fuzzy creatures!)

We are all enjoying the lack of snow plowing and shoveling so far! First snow to stay December 10th! (and it didn't stay!)

I pray that this season finds you happy and healthy! And that you can say God is Good in all things! Blessings on you and yours this season and throughout the year!

ps. I must add this postscript....this was finished and ready to post, when I realized (for the first time since I have been writing Christmas letters!) I forgot to mention Marah's health! (PRAISE GOD!) because there have been no passing out spells, except for a few in the spring, when they were adjusting her pacemaker. We consider the pacemaker to be doing it's job and keeping her heart beating so she does not pass out! No driving yet...the doctor wants her to be further out from the spells she had in the spring. We are guessing next March or April she will get the clearance to drive! Dizzy spells still happen and she still has the other affects from the Allgrove Syndrome.....but as you can see not passing out on a regular basis has made a huge difference and none of the other symptoms seem to be progressing! GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME!

my love to all!