gustafson christmas newsletter

Christmas 2011Dear family and friends,

ChristmasgreetingstoyouandyourfamilyfromMacon,Georgia!

WearespendingtimeinMaconasNancyisemployedonashort-termbasisasanurseanesthetist.Westartedhereinmid-October,andafterasix-weekbreakstartinginJanuary,wewillbebackhere,offandon,untilmid-Spring.SheisworkingatCentralGeorgiaMedicalCenter,andisenjoyingtheworkandrelationshipswithherco-workers.

Oneofthewonderfulaspectsoftheareaisthatwespendmostweek-endswithNancy’ssis-terandhusband,Drs.DebbieandMikeWilkowski,wholiveabout3hoursaway.TheyhaveopenedtheirSavannahhomeandTybeeIslandbeachhousetousandithasbeengreatfunspendingqualitytimewiththem--includingtennismatchesandfishingonthebaysofftheAtlantic.Nancy’smom,Betty-Nan,isjoiningallofusforChristmasinSavannah.

MaconhasbeenourRetirementPlan2.1.Wespentthefirstfourmonthsof2011onamedi-calshort-termassignmentinDesMoinesandwenthometoMooseLakeforthemajorityoftheyear.

WeworkedonthehouseandenjoyedthelakeinNorthernMinnesota.Wehavebeenabletocreateastrongerrelationshipwiththechurchthere,andbeganourretirementatournewhomebase.Ournewkitchenisin,wehavefinishedthemainfloor,plantedasmallgarden,andcontinuedtheprocessofsortinganddisposingofthosethingswhicharen’tsoimportantafterall.

Lastsummer,IspentafewveryenjoyabledaysintheBoundaryWaterscanoeingandfishingwithfriends.IthasbeenyearssinceIspenttimeintheBWCA.NancyspenttimewithhermomatherplaceonnumerousoccasionsandhadaquicktriptoWinnipegfortheWheelergatheringafterthetragicdeathofacousin.Wealsospentsometimewithourkidsandtheirfamilies-verypre-cioustimestousintheirbusylives.

DanandElishamovedtoMooseLakejustaswewereleavingforGeorgiathisFall.Theycontinuetobeinvolvedine-commerceandrealestate.Danalsofreelanceshiscreativeskillsforclientsandthelocalpaper--photography,writing,internetdevelopmentandmore.

Itiswonderfultobeinthegrandparentingphaseoflife,andtheirdaughterNicoleisanadorablecutieanddelight.Elishaisdoingafantasticjob

raisingher.Nicolejusthadherfirstbirthdayandwelookforwardtothedaysaheadwithher.

PeteandTracyareintheKalamazooareawherePeteteachesatWesternMichiganUniver-sity.Hehasagrowingreputationasanexcellentteacherandresearcher,andgetstotraveltomajorconferences.Tracyisbacktoassistingtroubledyouthasacounselorandistakingclassestoteachattheelementarylevel.TheyspenttwoweeksintheUnitedKingdom/Ireland,andverymuchenjoytheirlakehome,boating,andtheirtwoLabradordogs.

Janettehasgraduatedagain!Afterreceiv-ingherdegreeinpsychology,shewentbacktoschoolforherB.S.innursing.Shehaslivedthecomplicatedlifeofafull-timestudentandpart-timeemployeeasanurse’said.Shehasbeensharinganiceapartmentwithafellowstudentin

Dan, Elisha & Nicole visit the UP in Michigan.

Pete & Tracy in Ireland.

Janette receives her B.S in Nursing.

Minnetonka,MN,butlooksforwardtoajobwithgreaterresponsibility,higherchallenge,andmorepay.Withsomanyoptions,thefutureisexcitingandbright.Shehastakenupgolf,andhitsherdrivesamile.Shespendstheoccasionalmini-va-cationinMooseLake,andwelovesamplingherlatestdinnercreation. WithsomanyoptionsandfewtiestoMinnesota,thefutureisexcitingandbright.Shehastakenupgolf,andhitsherdrivesamile.Shespendstheoccasionalmini-vacationinMooseLake,andwelovesamplingherlat-estdinnercreation.

MymomwenthometobewithherLordinApril,andwemissherverymuch.Herintelligenceandmemorywassharpasatackrightuptotheend.Livingintoher90’s,shefeltsoblessedbyherlonglifeandabilitytoseesomanyofthegrandchildrenandgreatgrandchildren.Shegrewupasanonlychildandlostherownparentsbeforeshewas16.Wesoappreciatedherloveandcareforherfamily,kindnesstoall,andherministryanddedicationtoChristandHischurch.

Wehavefoundoursemi-retirementtobeagoodlifesofar....farlesspressuresandtimeforthesomeofthebestthingsoflife:

•dinnerswithlovedones •ourchildrenandtheirfamilies •lunchoverlookingthelake,sparkling withamillionsdiamonds •aneveningboatride •theloonsdivingandcallingnear-by •newadventuresanddiscoveriesin newplaces •and servicetoJesusChrist,bothlarge and small NancyandIfeelfortunateandgratefultobeabletostartretirementingoodhealthwitheachother.

AversefromGod’sWordthatisillus-tratedbytheeaglesoverourlake,andsus-tainsus:

WewishyouandyourfamilytheverybestforChristmasandthecomingyear,

DickandNancyGustafson

(218)330-3848Dickmobile

dickgustafson22@gmail.comemail

(608)358-8429Nancymobile npgustaf@wisc.eduemail

Stopbyanytime!The guest bedroom is ready, the kitchen com-plete. We are just a couple miles off I-35 be-tween Duluth and Minneapolis. You are most welcome!

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in (wait upon) the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”

TheBible-Isaiah40:30-31

Nicole with Grandma & Grandpa.