Dear family and friends,

Uh-Oh - it’s that time of the year A-g-a-i-n! This is where we share a bit of our lives, exciting events, major life changes and all those newsy notes of life in the White House. Martha Stewart and the x-perts say… “ Holiday letters should be written in one page or a page and a half at most; just the highlights and don’t be boring with too much detail”. Well, that shouldn’t be tough in 2005, ‘cause nothing much has happened, changed or MOVED. Oh yes indeed… we continue to reside on Danielle Drive , in Fredericksburg ; which is still in the State of Virginia . My family is seriously suffering from being in one place for 4+ years! Oh drat… I guess I should start at the beginning!

In our 2004 Christmas autobiographical-historic-epic-novelette… Den had switched jobs, Bridget was experiencing rough waters her first semester as a Biomedical Engineering student at VCU… Jenny was a homemaker in training, historic seamstress and web mistress and I was resigned to being 50 something and simplifying my life! Well, all of that is still true, but perhaps I exaggerated that little has happened since then.

In March 2005 (over Bridget’s spring break), the girls took some time out for a much needed R&R in San Diego to visit friends. When they returned we experienced another first for us… we saw the play Mr. Roberts at The Kennedy Center! I always wanted to do that… go to a play at The Kennedy Center. Then, it was the parents’ turn to travel… Den had a class to attend in none other than Colorado Springs , CO … whoopee! We extended our trip a few days and stayed at the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park … so named for its founder (and only stay there in the off season folks!). The name Stanley is perhaps not so famous as a hotel owner as he is for the invention of the Stanley Steamer or inventing a film processing system, which he sold to a guy named Kodak. We really enjoyed our two night’s R&R in the mountains… there is a good reason it’s called “the door to Rocky Mountain National Park .” Later, on our way south to Colo Spgs, we visited a few favorite sights, munched at memorable eateries, grabbed some See’s Candy (of course) and finally on Sunday…visited RMCC, Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel! It was great visiting with friends after church and later that day spent time with Den’s family in Pueblo .

While Den was in class all week, I spent blissfully uneventful days reading, swimming and cross-stitching. Our view of Pikes Peak was beautiful and the weather was always entertaining … sometimes warm with balmy breezes, or with biting 40-50 mph spring winds, an April shower and of course snow flurries… a typical spring week in Colorado!

The day after we arrived home from Colorado , we attended my brother’s wedding. With family and close friends in the bride’s home, it was small and very intimate. I haven’t seen either Jim or Jane beam that much before or since. It was a great opportunity to have most of the Blair clan together, including grandchildren.

This has been our second year of Home Improvement Projects. We started the process in April, and it has taken all summer to <almost> finish, and even so there are walls and trim that will have to wait till 2006 to be freshly painted. It use’ta be that we three girls together as a team could knock out a room, including trim, in a day! No more that scenario… now it’s just me, painters tape, my trusty paint brush, can and roller. But you know… if you can’t m-o-v-e and change the scenery, then add lots’a color and paint scenery on the walls.

I tried my hand at faux painting in the foyer (which now looks like an Italian villa or an Egyptian pyramid, depending on how you feel that day!) After several false starts, we finally agree… we like it! I still have several details that I’ve been procrastinating finishing, but even those will be done before Thanksgiving Christmas or die in the attempt! We have gotten rid of well loved, move-injured couches and replaced them with second hand comfortable chairs… till we get the kitties well trained and the kiddies moved on... at least that’s the plan! We finally replaced the ugly shelving in the TV room and rearranged… though sadly…we didn’t get the painting done there either. Oh well, next year!

Our yearly Fourth of July picnic was replaced this year…by home improvement project #2 (# 1 was replacing rotten floor and hand railings on front porch and redesigning the front flower garden with perennials - forget that annual stuff!). Together Den and I ripped up the old linoleum, baseboard and under wood in the kitchen. Replaced nails with screws to get rid of the squeaks; laid backboard and light colored tile, with black grout. (Now that was scary!)…But it looks great… we see the imperfections, but it’s not bad for a first try! The biggest challenge was that Den did it while ill with a “moderate” case of food poisoning (I’d hate to see what they call ‘severe’).

We still have way too many kitties… When our feral kitten Boots (see 2004 letter) went into heat in January, we trapped her, had her fixed and she remains an indoor kitty. A more cuddly cat we’ve yet to see. (So far, she only cuddles me, but what can I say?) I love every minute of her company.

In June we acquired one more kitty… another Alpha female and bless her… half-starved, she came complete with a host of health issues that it took us months to sort out! She was left, dropped off or whatever, till she found our house. Having no desire to add to our already bursting household, we put her on a waiting list with the SPCA to find her a home. Several months later and still no word from the animal shelter… she has since recovered from mouth infections and surgery, and has been given a clean bill of health.

Together with the vet, we speculate young Mocha was abandoned sometime after she was fixed, when her owner discovered, as we did, that Mo had a mouth injury and infected gum issues that could be fixed, but would be expensive. As a result, she was unadoptable. When she arrived, she had a bit of a chip on her shoulder (or wherever cats put their chip), disliked being inside and had some behavioral problems. Oh, Mocha loves her Daddy; and she is such a neat little girl that, although her attitude has improved (especially now that we allow her to go outside), it appears she still is not a good fit for us…she just doesn’t fit into our pride of cats. So, we are once again trying to find her a good home!! All interested parties now raise their hands! 

The three male ferals (background in 2004 letter) now come just inside the door for treats and to play with a mouse that squeaks… Mr. Red comes in and makes himself at home for up to 20 minutes some days. Mama, the alpha female that started this whole multiple cat thing… stays on the top step while you put her food down… then will wink her eyes when I talk to her (a behavior of affection for cats). We are making progress! They are certainly the most spoiled feral cats ever! 10 cats, I can’t believe it! I have had the most bizarre conversations in the Walmart cat food aisle… there are so many others doing just what we do… s-o-o we are not alone in our number of rescued kitties! I just hope our neighbors continue to be tolerant!

So what’s new in each of our lives these days? Well, Bridget is a senior at VCU (but will need another year to finish), struggling under a heavy class schedule of 23 credits. She is a top 4.0 student, but she is still trying to play catch-up, coming into a new program as a transfer student, and preparing herself for her first 3-point something semester. Apparently it’s not that unusual for biomedical engineer transfer students to be taking senior engineering classes while taking the prerequisite class at the same time. T-h-i-s is… so not… a good thing! Her favorite class of those 23 credits is her EMT class, which will qualify her as a basic EMT when she takes her VA State Test in January. She is currently volunteering at the rescue Squad here in Spotsylvania .

However her more than valiant effort to do it all is beginning to show. Bridget struggles with knowing this is her life for the next 5 years… as she prepares to get into med school knowing that only the cream off the top are accepted. She has precious little fun time (usually catching up on sleeping) and feels guilty when she’s not studying. Plus for those who know Bridget, know that she works so hard, that even when she thinks she’s done it all, she goes one step further just to be sure she’s tried hard enough. All prayers, postcards and notes of encouragement accepted (especially those that make her laugh…it’s a great stress reliever).

The best part of all this ‘stuff’ is, Bridge realizes she isn’t on this path all by herself - She knows she is supported by her family in lots of ways - including cooking and freezing all her meals so she doesn’t have to eat junk food. She also knows that, by grace, she is suspended in the hands of a loving and powerful God, who has led her to where she is today, in order to prepare her for what He has for her tomorrow. This knowledge allows Bridge to lean on Him and it’s just part of the process to prepare her for rougher times ahead. Too many days it’s just lonely for her, and sometimes uncomfortable living a life of faith (sigh… Me too!). J

Jenny Rose is still active in the baby quilt ministry, mid-week worship team, web servant, and various other interests at church. Last spring she took her historic fashion interest a step further and became active in a local 18th century dance group. She is currently working on a red wool cape and creating a Lady Pirate costume for her sister … as well as planning their annual twelfth night party themed ‘An Old English Tavern’ this year! All those plans and sewing were necessarily pushed back this summer, somewhat, as Jenny has embarked on a career.

Ta-Da - she is now an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay (Mary Kay is a family run company with a Christian world view, featuring a wide variety of skin care, color and pampering products). Jen is enjoying the training, the enrichment of a whole new lifestyle, and she has been top sales woman in her unit several times this year! It’s been fun to watch our girl finally find her niche, to enhance and grow in her willingness to obey the Lords guiding hand in all this. Den and I love being there when she needs an encouraging word or to bounce an idea off of someone. As parents it is exciting watching a lovely handmaiden of the Lord blossom before our eyes! This is an awesome blessing of having our grown daughter still living with us.

Jenny attended a Mary Kay conferance in Myrtle Beach , SC., by special invitation in October. I know she was disappointed that she had to miss the annual colonial dress ball, but said that she gained some valuable perspective on the trip. Jenny’s desire is to work her business to the Directorship level, so she can share her gifts; encouragement and her Christian testimony with other women… Kinda COOL huh? I’m the Mom here, but I’ll admit I am a little in awe of this new facet of my daughter. Home teached, Whoohoo!

Den is… oh-my-goodness… Den is amazing. After 27 years of marriage, he still manages to surprise me! He really likes the challenge of his job… though it’s a bummer he can’t tell us much about it (gubbermint stuff). Meanwhile, he swims twice a week now with a swim club (His training diary says…4, 029 laps (125 miles) so far this year). He was running up to 5 miles 3 days a week … ‘till last May that is. It was then that he sought out an orthopedic surgeon to answer his questions about the pain in his knees. He wasn’t prepared to except his diagnosis however... Never Run Again… after all, it was just a bit of pain!

A second opinion from another ortho surgeon, a runner himself, was the same…s-o-o-o, discouraged and searching for an alternative aerobic activity, he purchased a road bike that very same week and began riding 2-3 times a week, sometimes with a local bike club (now over 1,400 miles since May). He was a competitive bicyclist in the earliest days of our marriage. (ask us about our living room and the bike story!). Den rode intermittently till he hurt his back in 1990. Folks he has lost over 10 inches off his waist (from 46+ to 36 pants), from a jacket size 50 to 44, 2x shirts to Large or Medium and is still shrinkin’. He’s so healthy… I’m impressed and he looks great! …(want a good laugh, see Den in the tux we bought to go on the cruise in 2003, it is a riot!

Okay, so what about DJ? Well life is sorta evolving for me. This side of 50 looks and feels different than the first 49. I don’t have an empty nest, (doubt I ever will… Den and I have decided we will need Dr. Bridget to support us in our old age and need Jenny to drive us around when we are blind and wobbly and to also replace our corroded and missing memory chip…oh golly, we do that now!). Still it’s not like they are kids anymore - they are in fact, independent young 20 somethings with their own agendas and ideas of how things should be! In other words, 4 adults living in close quarters with 6 indoor and 4 outdoor cats and three very used cars, it makes for interesting weekends, especially when everyone needs to go in a different direction! J

I meant it last year when I said I was simplifying my life. I’ve learned I have a gift for organizing stuff, but eventually it becomes clutter and it takes over your life. I do love the Lord’s sense of humor… you see… He allowed me to pack this stuff in boxes and bins and then…put it in a U-Haul truck and a trailer, and to drive the car across country…(watching that truck list to the right cause I’d packed too many books on one side!). The next move we packed a 26-foot U-Haul truck and a 17-foot truck to drive from the west coast to Colorado; and eventually two 25-foot trucks on the next move (I drove a 25 foot truck through Denver, at the end of rush hour traffic… Those people are crazy when they get on the road!). Hold on there’s more… The day after arriving, I got to help take it off the truck into a new house. I eventually would unpack it, organize it and find a place for everything - so even Den could find it.

4 times in 4 years… each time with more ‘stuff’ and larger U-Haul trucks… only to find that when we returned to VA, we didn’t fit in our house anymore! I got the idea, Lord; one sore back and 2 injured feet (complete with physical therapy, 2002) and just for good measure a period of enforced rest (see 2002) and the joys of “the change of life”. It’s been quite a journey I must admit! I think I see a glimmer of the Son rise at the end of this long desert night… I can now say that and so much more… with a smile! (50+ years and I’am having my teeth straightened with invisiline appliances, amazing!)

Like Den, I too am having knee problems, and will have seen the Ortho by the time you read this. Most aerobic and weight training have ceased; though I still go inconsistently to aquatic aerobic classes a few times a week and I wish I could say that my weight decreases were as significant as Den’s…however...

For my birthday this year, my darlin’ hubby gave me a gift certificate to Ballroom Dance lessons. We are now in our 3rd rotation, having learned beginning Cha-Cha, Waltz, and currently the Rumba. We have decided we like dancing and we do try to practice at least 3-4 nights a week. We’ve run out of floor space at home, so we sometimes practice in the exercise room at the gym when it is not in use! Some Saturdays on our date nite, we go to the studio for a quick 1-hour lesson, and then with lights dimmed, we dance the night away, Sigh! (It’s a great way to practice dance steps we have already learned). We will be so ready to “rock and roll” on our next cruise, (Which is how we got the idea in the first place).

I am currently practicing with a local Messiah Community Choir to perform the 1st weekend in December. I haven’t sung in a choir in years… I am so in over my head with the music (bet I have to lip-sync some of those tough reaches!), but I’m learning and loving everything about it! I haven’t done a community Messiah since Christmas of 1975. Gosh, some members of this choir have sung in it for 15, 20, 30 years, I can’t see why they even need the book! My awesome family decided they would give up the Williamsburg Grand Illumination (same date conflict). We hope to go to Williamsburg later in the season after Bridget’s finals are over - for us it’s a new tradition, and it’s so much fun!

Well… that’s the highlights, (intermingled with a complementary Mom commentary of course)…of life (such as it is) in the White House 2005.

Since it’s a dim possibility that anyone on our Christmas Card List is likely to receive an invitation to the “other” White House in the area, please do Come ‘on Inn, you’ll be welcomed to visit, taste and experience southern (California) hospitality like no other!

We all hope that this Christmas Season the twinkle of lights, the soft carols, fellowship and exchanging of gifts will remind you … that without the Son of God coming to earth as a tiny, helpless baby… to rescue you and I from death, there would be no Season of hope, light and joy. All the best things of this world and in Heaven are wished you all this day, and in the New Year!

Dennis, DJ, Jenny & Bridget