Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

GRADUATES!!! I graduated from Kansas State University in 1980 and Steve in 1987 and 1989. Peter graduated from Southwestern College in 2009. And this year, Ruth graduated from Kansas State University in May with a degree in Human Resource Management with an emphasis in International Business and Spanish. To accent her graduation gown she wore hot pink heels and a string of beads. We went to Manhattan and watched her graduate and then had a family and friends gathering at our home in Winfield. It was a wonderful weekend watching her walk across the stage to receive her diploma.

HOMES!!! Steve and I have lived in our house for the past 15 years. We are getting ready to do improvement to our house by changing out our plumbing. Peter has been living in our basement for the last 1 ½ years until he figures out his next step. Ruth moved into her first apartment in Columbus, Nebraska over Memorial Day weekend. She will end this year with a move into another apartment with a friend from church.

WORK!!! Steve continues to work at Southwestern College. He has completed his 16th year. I am beginning my 2nd year as a Para at Irving in the Winfield School system working with 4 years old. Peter continues to work as a driver for a Winfield Pharmacy. Ruth began working for Cargill Meat Solutions in one of their beef processing facilities as a Human Resource Associate in June. The plant is in Schuyler, Nebraska. During her first months working for Cargill she spent time training in each department in the plant, learning the business and the individual jobs that are done. Ruth had the opportunity to try several jobs on the floor, including knife jobs, and really enjoyed them but is very thankful that her job is in an office. She is able to use the Spanish she learned in school daily and continues learning more.

TRAVELING!!! Steve and I began Spring Break in Nebraska helping Ruth find a place to live, then went out to Hoxie to visit my folks while Ruth went to Chicago to spend her last spring break with a friend. I also spent a week with Ruth to help her settle in her apartment and then they traveled to Hoxie the first part of June. In the middle of June, Steve, Peter and I flew to Virginia to watch Steve's nephew, Ty King, graduate from high school. We spent several days in Williamsburg and Virginia Beach with Steve's folks, sisters, and their families. We found a new car for Ruth while we were out there and she was able to fly to Virginia over the 4th of July and spend a short amount of time with Steve's sister and her family before making the long drive home with a friend.

In July, Steve and I traveled to Newton to attend the Scherer's Sister and Brother Reunion which is my mother's family. The end of July, Steve, Peter and I traveled out to Colby for the Adams' Reunion. My parents, brother and sister's family all came together to spend a fun time together. Ruth met us there coming from Nebraska. We have lots of young great- nephews and nieces running around.

The second weekend in August Steve and I headed east to Ohio to visit friends, Russ and Melody Wight. We traveled to the Creation Museum by Cincinnati Trip. We also picked up 8 half gallons of "Ruggles Ice Cream" to take to the Ruggles Reunion in Kentucky. It was fun seeing the Ruggles cousins in Kentucky.

In September, Steve and I took a trip up to visit Ruth. Steve built her some shelves for her closet and I painted them. One of the highlights was the tour she gave us of the plant she works in. It was very interesting to see the process that beef goes through to get to the store. It is a lot of individuals doing a specific job working together to make it a smooth and productive process.

Thanksgiving was spent with the Adams' in Colby without Peter and Ruth, which was a first for us. Peter and Ruth both had to work Wednesday and Friday so they weren't able to travel with us. Peter ended up spending Thanksgiving with Steve's folks and Ruth meet up with friends in Lincoln for the day. For the last few days of Thanksgiving break, Steve and I went to visit Ruth and helped her finish moving into her new apartment.

Both kids will be in Winfield for Christmas. Peter will end the year going on a trip for three weeks to England and surrounding countries with a friend of his, John Wilkos.