Towncrier
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 23, 1999
Rather than try to address 30,000 envelopes, I just thought that I would post our annual Christmas letter here on the CB
Happy Holidays from the Hayes Family 2001
Can it already be time to write another letter? It seems like only yesterday we were spreading the news of 2000 to family and friends.
James is now 14 years old. He is a percussionist in the concert band, jazz band, and was picked to be part of a regional honors band. While John and Sarah were away for a weekend this summer, James talked Sue into taking him to the music store where he purchased a drum set. John wishes that James would have taken up a quieter instrument (is there such a thing?). James played soccer again this year. He is a member of the 8th grade Science Olympiad team. At church James is active in the youth group and plays hand bells. James holds the rank of Star Scout and is currently serving as Senior Patrol Leader of his Boy Scout troop. He was elected to the Order of the Arrow this year by his fellow scouts. He spends many weekends roughing it at various scout camps. This past summer he attended Beaumont Boy Scout Camp and traveled to Canada for a 60 mile canoe trip. Not getting enough of a good thing, James also attended church camp with his cousin Joshua. James Kenpo (martial arts) instructor moved out of state this summer, so he has taken some time off from his training. He plans to resume Kenpo classes after Christmas break.
Sarah is now 12 years old. She takes piano and clarinet lessons. She plays clarinet in the 6th grade band. Sarah is very active in our church. She is the music teacher for the Sunday School, plays handchimes and occasionally substitutes in the hand bell group, helps with the Sonshine Kids club, and is a member of both the Pre-teen Ministry and Young Christian Actors Guild groups. Sarah is a member of the Girl Scouts. This summer she attended church camp twice. Sarah auditioned for a role as one of Peter Pans lost boys in the high school play which will be presented in the spring. Sarah got the role and couldnt be more excited (nor we more proud). Well tell you all about it in next years letter.
The companies that Sue and John work for were both sold to new owners this year. Alexanders Floral Designs was sold in May and relocated to a new building in Solon about a half a mile away from the previous location. Marconi Medical Systems (formerly Picker International) was recently sold to Royal Philips Electronics (headquartered in The Netherlands) and merged with Philips Medical Systems.
In addition to her part-time job at Alexanders, Sue still does wedding flowers and custom orders from our home. She is a member of the Worship Committee and Altar Guild at The United Methodist Church of Macedonia. We celebrated Sues 40th birthday in June with a combination cookout and birthday party. She received many nice cards and gifts (and a few cards and gag gifts that had us all laughing). We all had a great time celebrating this milestone event.
John is still a member of the Mens Chorale, Chancel Choir, Staff/Parish Committee, and is responsible for recording the church services and duplicating the tapes which are distributed to those members who cannot make it to church on Sunday morning. His latest obsession is with his new found friends on the DIS (which stands for Disney Information Station), a group of people on the internet who share their passion for all things Disney. James likes to refer to these people as Dads Loser Friends. We have had several get-togethers here in Ohio. We threw our own DIS party on Memorial Day. On another weekend, the family drove to Chicago to see the sights of the Windy City and to meet some of the Chicago DISers. John and Sarah even went so far as to drive to DISmeets in Cape Cod and Indianapolis (on back to back weekends no less). During our annual summer vacation to Walt Disney World, the family endured meeting some more of Johns friends. Johns screen name on the DIS is Towncrier. John took his very first solo vacation to Walt Disney World during the last week of November to attend the First Annual DIS-con (A Gathering of Friends) where he opened the ceremonies dressed in his Town Crier costume from Yankee Peddler. Sue, Sarah, and James have learned to live with dads new hobby.
Sues mom Marge, the other member of our family, still lives in Dalton. She is a frequent visitor to our house and accompanied us to Florida on vacation this past summer. Johns parents Maxine and Dwight celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year.
With the events of this past September still fresh in our minds, it is more important than ever to hold the phrase Peace on Earth in our hearts. Please take the time to hug your family and friends and tell them just how much they mean to you. We are blessed to live in a nation of everyday heroes and caring individuals.
God bless you
John, Sue, James, and Sarah
Happy Holidays from the Hayes Family 2001
Can it already be time to write another letter? It seems like only yesterday we were spreading the news of 2000 to family and friends.
James is now 14 years old. He is a percussionist in the concert band, jazz band, and was picked to be part of a regional honors band. While John and Sarah were away for a weekend this summer, James talked Sue into taking him to the music store where he purchased a drum set. John wishes that James would have taken up a quieter instrument (is there such a thing?). James played soccer again this year. He is a member of the 8th grade Science Olympiad team. At church James is active in the youth group and plays hand bells. James holds the rank of Star Scout and is currently serving as Senior Patrol Leader of his Boy Scout troop. He was elected to the Order of the Arrow this year by his fellow scouts. He spends many weekends roughing it at various scout camps. This past summer he attended Beaumont Boy Scout Camp and traveled to Canada for a 60 mile canoe trip. Not getting enough of a good thing, James also attended church camp with his cousin Joshua. James Kenpo (martial arts) instructor moved out of state this summer, so he has taken some time off from his training. He plans to resume Kenpo classes after Christmas break.
Sarah is now 12 years old. She takes piano and clarinet lessons. She plays clarinet in the 6th grade band. Sarah is very active in our church. She is the music teacher for the Sunday School, plays handchimes and occasionally substitutes in the hand bell group, helps with the Sonshine Kids club, and is a member of both the Pre-teen Ministry and Young Christian Actors Guild groups. Sarah is a member of the Girl Scouts. This summer she attended church camp twice. Sarah auditioned for a role as one of Peter Pans lost boys in the high school play which will be presented in the spring. Sarah got the role and couldnt be more excited (nor we more proud). Well tell you all about it in next years letter.
The companies that Sue and John work for were both sold to new owners this year. Alexanders Floral Designs was sold in May and relocated to a new building in Solon about a half a mile away from the previous location. Marconi Medical Systems (formerly Picker International) was recently sold to Royal Philips Electronics (headquartered in The Netherlands) and merged with Philips Medical Systems.
In addition to her part-time job at Alexanders, Sue still does wedding flowers and custom orders from our home. She is a member of the Worship Committee and Altar Guild at The United Methodist Church of Macedonia. We celebrated Sues 40th birthday in June with a combination cookout and birthday party. She received many nice cards and gifts (and a few cards and gag gifts that had us all laughing). We all had a great time celebrating this milestone event.
John is still a member of the Mens Chorale, Chancel Choir, Staff/Parish Committee, and is responsible for recording the church services and duplicating the tapes which are distributed to those members who cannot make it to church on Sunday morning. His latest obsession is with his new found friends on the DIS (which stands for Disney Information Station), a group of people on the internet who share their passion for all things Disney. James likes to refer to these people as Dads Loser Friends. We have had several get-togethers here in Ohio. We threw our own DIS party on Memorial Day. On another weekend, the family drove to Chicago to see the sights of the Windy City and to meet some of the Chicago DISers. John and Sarah even went so far as to drive to DISmeets in Cape Cod and Indianapolis (on back to back weekends no less). During our annual summer vacation to Walt Disney World, the family endured meeting some more of Johns friends. Johns screen name on the DIS is Towncrier. John took his very first solo vacation to Walt Disney World during the last week of November to attend the First Annual DIS-con (A Gathering of Friends) where he opened the ceremonies dressed in his Town Crier costume from Yankee Peddler. Sue, Sarah, and James have learned to live with dads new hobby.
Sues mom Marge, the other member of our family, still lives in Dalton. She is a frequent visitor to our house and accompanied us to Florida on vacation this past summer. Johns parents Maxine and Dwight celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year.
With the events of this past September still fresh in our minds, it is more important than ever to hold the phrase Peace on Earth in our hearts. Please take the time to hug your family and friends and tell them just how much they mean to you. We are blessed to live in a nation of everyday heroes and caring individuals.
God bless you
John, Sue, James, and Sarah
Thanks Towncrier. Ah, that is so nice of you to distribute church tapes to the shut-ins! You're a blessing to your community!
