Gladys' 2008 family Christmas was celebrated at our house.
As we near the end of 2008 and look over these wonderful pictures of our family and friends and think about all the good times that we have had, we know that we have been blessed for another year. However, we also have to recognize that in some ways this was a difficult year for us and for some of our family and friends. The end of December 2007, and the beginning of 2008 brought with it the tragic news that our dear friend Misty’s breast cancer had returned to her brain, bone and other areas. As you now know, Misty passed away in November, right after turning 39 years old. She fought hard for a almost a year. She was brave till the end and left unafraid of death. I know that her memory will live on in the lives of all those she touched. I miss her every day.
Scott’s job with Dell was transferred to India, after he had made a visit there to train some people. After working at Dell for 8 years he had to start afresh. He was able to find a job with a company here in College Station. Consequently, he does not have to travel to Austin weekly, which makes the weeks easier on the whole Babineaux family.
One of the greatest accomplishments in our family this year was Lindsay Jennings, our niece, graduating from Vet school at Texas A&M University. She is vetenarian in Midlothian, TX now. Even getting into Vet school is an accomplishment, much less successfully completing the course work and training.
Joe Jennings, Darelyn’s husband, continues to fight cancer and has been going through another round of chemo. Joe has continued to remain strong and has continued to work through this ordeal. We are proud of him and his fight.
Anita, one of Judy’s long time Grand Prairie friends, was diagnosed with breast cancer in the fall. After a double masectomy she is continuing to do well. Her prognosis is great so we are counting on her for a lot more laughs. Both Phil Hart and Sandra Hudson, also Grand Prairie friends, have experienced cancer but both are doing well. Sandra has been fighting ovarian cancer for years, but she has fought hard and lives a normal life. She was Judy’s mentor in high school and continues to show that Judy chose her mentor well.
Judy had some health issues in the early part of the year, a pinched cervical nerve, which she has had before, but which caused a great deal of pain and remained with her much longer this time. During this ordeal, she suffered from a seizure in early May which scared all of us, but it was simply caused by a medicine that she had been taking which lowered her seizure threshold. Judy is fine now but has been cautioned to no longer try and throw four year old, 50 pound, Gabe over her head five times in a row, no matter how strong she thinks she is.
We have also just learned from Peggy Thrall in CA. that Ashley and Cliff’s friend that they met in Galveston who had the lung transplant,Cindy Ramsey, is now in the hospital in Houston with kidney failure and pneumonia. We will keep her in our prayers.
The dramatic 2008 stock market decline declined in value a lot of our retirement savings that had been accumulated for many years. We’ll see if, or how long, it will take for those values to return, but in the meantime, we keep smiling, and if we can stay healthy and able to care for Ashley our prayers will be answered.
In 2008 we have used Sunday late mornings for lunches at Jose’s with the Babineaux’s or movies with Ashley. Clifford started going to an early service at the Covenant Family Church here in College Station, but we’ll see how we adjust our Sunday mornings in 2009.
We pray that 2009 is a good year for all of us.
THAT IS IT, FOLKS. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
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