From Mom:
The news continues to be good, though not as good or as quickly as I would prefer. I have been Christmas shopping by catalog orders, made one trip to the mall with two friends and have been wrapping the orders when delivered to our home. This week, we will be mailing and sending to out of town family that we do not expect to see for the holidays.
This past weekend, I was able to attend a basketball game by Shea's JV team and attend the Skeele Agency Christmas party for owners and staff. The social events for the holidays are coming along every week now and I am glad to be able to attend most of them.
I am still using the finger extender/braces every day to try and extend/stretch the fingers of my left hand, hoping that piano playing becomes an easy possibility in the not too distant future. Win and Mike moved the "health rider" apparatus up to the bedroom, so I am trying to do about 80 cycles on it every day.
Your prayers for both me and my husband are still very much desired and needed. Thank you all for your faithfulness in prayer in past months. It is what has made the big difference. I am sure. Win finally finished his Veggie Boutique harvest and selling season and our two sons are selling Chirstmas trees right now up at the V/B building.
To all of you, may it be a blessed and happy holiday season! It is for out family, especially as we look back a year and think where and what things were then.
Love and thanks to all,
Connie
*******************************************************************************************************************************
From Dad:
She is "getting in shape" and staying well while doing it.
Work-out on the health rider is 4 different positions with hands, 20 each. Not only rem strengthening, but both shoulders, especially the badly injured left. Also, it helps straighting of the fingers and of course increasing endurance. More piano playing may be around the corner!!
Endurance was really needed by all for the Skeele Agency party gathering. Eight hours was the Saturday evening event. We chartered a bus through the "Lights on the Lake(in it's 15th year) and then on to Sherwood Inn at Skaneateles. The return home had two stops for one of the participants feeling ill. Nancy, we hope you're feeling better.
The evening before involved climbing the bleachers(without rail, but cane) to the top bench with better back support and viewing for 3 1/2 hours of local HS basketball watching. Connie slept well and long Sunday morning. My youngest son Shea is in his 2nd year of coaching the JV team. The oldest son, Mike, just finished somewhere around his 19th year of coaching HS soccer team. They made the final sectional game. Connie did attend some of those games.
Finger extending with braces on her left hand is about 20 minures at a time, theree times a day. She does word and logic puzles at those times and other times of the day. She is gradually getting back into the infamous NY Times Crossword.
We have really become a very well trained and efficient team. Getting into and loading the vehicle(each separately has their assignments), grocery shopping, shower procedure, starting the day and breakfast, on and on!!
"