Birthday kids: Sharon, Grace, Dwight - 2 days between each birthday

 

Happy New Year from Dwight and Sharon Blackstock

 

Yes, we missed the deadline for calling this a Christmas letter, so … Happy New Year! 2016 adventures included family visits and time with grandchildren, a variety of travels, and adjusting to full-time retirement for both of us. We’re finding that even though we have the time to do just about anything we want to do, we don’t have the resources to PAY for everything on the list! Nonetheless, our lives are very full and we are very grateful.

 

In March, Sharon’s sister, Kathy, and husband Tom spent a couple of days with us. We took advantage of the visit to remember the life of our mother who would have turned 100 that month had she lived that long. We shared pictures, stories and a meal of her favorite foods with son Steve and his family. The following day they all took Kathy & Tom hiking (see picture). In June, we traveled to Portland, Oregon, for the biennial Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly. We flew out a couple days early in order to visit some dear friends in Seattle, and Sharon’s cousin, John, in Corvallis. Both visits were delightful and Sharon thoroughly enjoyed her experience as a GA Commissioner from Denver Presbytery. In July, we enjoyed a week at Ghost Ranch (NM), and in August we drove to Wisconsin so Sharon could meet with her high school class of 1967 50^th reunion committee, plus visit with sister Kathy and brother Richard and families. While in Madison, Dwight connecter with a long-time friend he’s known since seminary, and on the way to and from Madison we stopped for visits with friends in Omaha and family in Kearney.

 

Grandchildren – We enjoy frequent visits and family gatherings with Steve’s girls, Grace (10) and Ava (8), including taking them to school a few mornings every week.  We get together several times a year with grandkids Jordan (16) & Jaden (age 11) who live near Colorado Springs. We also get to see grandsons Caleb (age 14, Kearney NE), and Kaelan (age 12, Albuquerque) once or twice a year, and we enjoy holiday visits each year with granddaughter Hannah (age 15, Highlands Ranch) and grandsons Trae (age 13) and Tegan (age 7) in Commerce City.

 

Our oldest granddaughter, Kyra (age 18), graduated from high school in May in Boulder, became a mother in November and thus we are now great-grandparents to a beautiful baby boy named Olliver (“Ollie”). Following a tradition started when Kyra was a baby, we enjoyed an evening with Kyra, Ollie, boyfriend Gabe and Kyra’s family at Denver Zoolights just before Christmas.

 

Sadly, our relationship with our oldest son, Marcus, remains broken, but we are comforted by the grandparent relationships we have with so many of his children. Marc will be forever in our prayers even if he can’t be in our life.

 

Dwight continues to preach and teach occasionally at various churches and will complete his term on Denver Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry in 2017. During 2016, he traveled east twice as a member of the alumni board for Princeton Theological Seminary and is looking forward to the annual reunion in May. Dwight also traveled to California twice to connect with sisters Donna and Marcia and friend Tom (best man at our wedding 45 years ago!). Donna’s health continues to be a challenge. Dwight’s health is also a challenge. He has accepted that the 20-year struggle with chronic back pain will continue to plague him, but decided he might be able to do something about his excruciatingly painful right knee. Knee replacement surgery is planned for February 28.

 

By the time you read this, Sharon will have accomplished surprising Dwight on December 29^th for his 70^th birthday by hosting a small party with family and a few close friends (people he was not expecting to show up for dinner). It was a lot of fun!

 

Sharon continues as a member of session and sings in the choir of Green Mountain Presbyterian Church, Lakewood. She also serves on the planning team for an annual multi-church women’s retreat, and the planning team for her 50^th high school class reunion to be held in 2017. Last September, she attended a meeting for persons interested in serving as election judges for Denver County, thinking she’d get a few days’ work. Instead, she was hired for a 6-week full time stint as a front counter customer service rep for the elections division. It was a great experience – crazy busy, interesting, exhausting and frustrating all at the same time. Like the rest of the world, she was relieved when November 8 finally came and went, then spent several days recovering!

 

Son Steve changed jobs in 2016, deciding to take his M.S.W. (Master’s, Social Work) out for a spin and is working for the Aurora Housing Authority, providing services for seniors in two residential facilities. He continues to be active as a minister member of Denver Presbytery, serving as moderator of the Committee on Preparation for Ministry.  His wife, Beth, is manager of administration and communications for Denver Presbytery. They live just 10 minutes from us with daughters Grace and Ava, who bring much joy and activity to our lives.

 

Plans for 2017 include a cruise to Alaska (leaving from Seattle) in June with friends, and a wedding (our niece) in California in July. Not sure about Ghost Ranch – depends on the date of the wedding. We will travel to Madison for Sharon’s 50^th H.S. reunion in August. Also planning some cosmetic upgrades to our 18-year-old house. And some naps! And reading books! And sight-seeing!

 

Our prayer for 2017 is that the Prince of Peace will bring peace to our world and that you will experience God’s blessings all year long.

 

 

GA Commissioners from Denver Presbytery - June 2016, Portland, Oregon

Sharon & Dwight with Hannah - December 2016

Jordan (top right) & Jaden with sister Julia and cousins Grace & Ava

Kaelan visited us in Littleton, here with Grace, Ava and Ana

 

Caleb with Dwight - December 2016



Kyra at baby shower - October 2016



Great grandson Ollie - 1 month old - December 2016

Siblings - Kathy, Sharon, Richard - August 2016

Steve, Beth, Grace, Ava - December 2016

Dwight with Trae & Tegan - December 2016

Steve and family take Aunt Kathy & Uncle Tom hiking - March 2016

 

 



Merry Christmas 2015 from Dwight and Sharon Blackstock

Biggest news this year – Sharon retired! We celebrated with a road trip through Wyoming, Utah and Colorado just prior to her last day of work (late September). We stopped along the way to reconnect with friends in Laramie (Patty Butler, Paul Botkin), Rock Springs (Chris and Kathy Schutz), and Gypsum (Tom and Ruth Powers, Sandy Smith). We continued the celebration with a California coastal cruise in early November and were joined on that cruise with long-time friends Jeff and Judy Mague, Tom Kruschke and his brother Collin.  The six of us had cruised together in 2014 and after this year’s cruise we are already dreaming about the next time. Just before the cruise we visited with sister Donna and wife Annie, “old” pastor friends Steve Ranney and Kim Skilling, and one of Sharon’s high school classmates, Jane Salinger and husband Bob. One of our excursions included a day in San Francisco so we rented a car and drove to Muir Woods and met sister Marcia and husband Calvin. Both trips were fun, fun, fun!

 

 

 

Dead Horse Point, near Moab UT (Sept 2015)

 

View from our balcony - California Coastal Cruise (Nov 2015)

More – In April, the entire Blackstock clan gathered in Claremont for a weekend to celebrate Dwight’s mom’s 100^th birthday. Dicksie died in 1998, but it sure felt like she was with us.  There were 19(?) of us, ranging in age from three months old to 80+. The youngins climbed up to the Hollywood sign and spent a day at Disneyland while the oldins visited, reminisced, and ate!

Prayers – Cousins Bill and Steffani Blackstock called in early October after son Connor, a sophomore at Colorado State, fell and suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). He was in a medically induced coma for a week and spent more than a month in rehab, now being done on an outpatient basis. His recovery has been remarkable, and he is anxious to get back to school. The family is very grateful for the prayers and support of literally thousands of extended friends and family.

Grandchildren – We enjoy frequent visits and family gatherings with Steve’s girls, Grace (almost 9) and Ava (7). Every January we go to a National Western Pro Rodeo event with Steve, Beth, Grace, Ava and our oldest granddaughter, Kyra (17) and her mom. Kyra traveled with us again in July to Ghost Ranch and is looking forward to a gap year following graduation from high school next year. We get together several times a year with granddaughter Jordan (almost 15), her mom, dad and brother Jaden (age 10). We also get to see grandsons Caleb (age 13, Kearney NE), and Kaelan (age 11, Albuquerque) once or twice a year, and we enjoy holiday visits each year with granddaughter Hannah (age 14) and grandson Trae (age 12), and Trae’s little brother, Tegan (age 6).

Dwight retired end of 2011 and still enjoys preaching whenever and wherever invited. He serves on two presbytery committees (COM, PJC). He continues to struggle with chronic back and other pain issues but refuses to be beaten. Recently he was invited to be an alumni board member for Princeton Theological Seminary and is looking forward to a couple of visits to Princeton next year, including a reunion weekend.

Sharon is happily adjusting to retirement after 18+ years with the City of Lakewood. She continues as a member of session and sings in the choir of Green Mountain Presbyterian Church, Lakewood. She also serves on the planning team for an annual multi-church women’s retreat. Last July she enjoyed a fun reunion lunch with about 10 Gamma Phi Beta sisters from her Colorado State chapter. New this year – she’s now on the organizing committee for her 50^th high school class reunion scheduled for August 2017 in Madison. She was recently elected a commissioner from Denver Presbytery to the PCUSA General Assembly in June 2016 in Portland OR.

 

 

Steve, Beth, Grace, Ava - December 2015

 

Son Steve is Associate Pastor at Central Christian Church in Denver. His wife, Beth, started a new job in October as manager of administration and communications for Denver Presbytery. They live just 10 minutes away with daughters Grace and Ava and bring much joy and activity to our lives. We took the girls on a 3 day get-away just before Christmas to a Presbyterian camp near Estes Park. All of us, with Beth’s mom, will enjoy The Nutcracker at the Denver Performing Arts Center after Christmas.
 

Merry Christmas! This year we celebrated with two Christmas Eve services – one at Green Mountain Presbyterian, Lakewood, and then an hour later at Grace Presbyterian, Littleton, where we reconnected with some dear friends. Precious moments in both services. Our prayer again this year is that the Prince of Peace will bring peace to our world and that you will experience God’s blessings at Christmas and in 2016. 
 

Dwight, Beth, Steve and girls with Sharon's cousin, Paul

 

Kyra - Ghost Ranch

 

Jordan and Jaden

 

Hannah

 

 Caleb

 

 Kaelan

 

 Trae andTegan

 

 Ava and Grace

 

 Ana

 

Merry Christmas 2014 from the Blackstocks

 

Yup, that's us - the trip of a life time, the Panama Canal - a 14-day cruise from California to Florida in February.  We were joined by long-time friends and had a wonderful time. And just in case you're wondering, no we didn't get out our Christmas letter last year - the year just got away from us, but we enjoyed all your letters!

 

2013:

• February - Drove to Phoenix area for a weekend of Colorado Rockies spring training.
• April - Son Steve started a new job as associate pastor of Central Christian Church in Denver. He and Beth and the girls (Grace and Ava) moved to a home just 10 minutes from ours and we love having them close.
• July - Ghost Ranch, of course, singing in the Ghost Ranch Chorale (Sharon), and R and R (Dwight). Granddaughter Kyra still enjoys coming with us.
• October - Dwight's sister Donna married her long-time partner Annie in California. All the family came for a wonderful and celebratory weekend.

2014:

• February - Panama Canal cruise
• March - Emergency gall bladder surgery for Sharon; sure glad we were home from Central America!
• July - Ghost Ranch with Kyra, and a visit with grandson Kaelan in Albuquerque
• July - Our beloved Great Dane, Kirk, died at the age of 10. Two weeks later we adopted two Miniature Schnauzers, Maggie (5yrs) and Ana (5mos)

 Kirk (2004-2014)

 

 Maggie and Ana (August) 

 

• August - grandson Caleb and his mom came for their annual visit from Kearney, NE
• September - Dwight's 3 Duarte (CA) High School bud's arrived for a private 50th HS reunion
• October - Dwight had surgery on his right elbow to "un-entrap" the ulnar nerve, which had caused muscle wasting in some of his fingers; hopefully this will at least stop the deterioration
• October - After spending several weeks trying to control the barking of our new dogs, we contacted friends who had a lot of experience with and love for mini schnauzers and asked if they would adopt Maggie. They did and now she is in a wonderful new home and we are once again a one-dog family. Puppy Ana, 10 months, is a hoot, lots of energy and loves to sit on our laps and chase toys.
• November/December - Sharon spent 6 weeks trying to get over a miserable cold and persistent cough, ugh, and thus missed out on all the Christmas music her church choir performed.
• December 19 - Sharon was involved in a 6-car accident coming home from work. Long story, but suffice it to say, God was really watching after her and everyone else that night. Only injury for her was a sprained wrist. The car is a wreck. Don't know yet if it's repairable.
• December 25 - we will enjoy gift exchanging and dinner with Steve's family, including Beth's parents who are visiting here from Indiana.
• December 27 - The Nutcracker!

 

Grace and Ava with Ana (November)

 

The grandchildren: We have the most wonderful grandchildren on the planet (smart, gorgeous, you get the picture)! We enjoy frequent visits and family gatherings with Steve's girls, Grace (almost 8) and Ava (6). Every January we go to a National Western Pro Rodeo event with Steve, Beth, Grace, Ava and our oldest granddaughter, Kyra, and her mom. Kyra turned 16 in September (yikes!) and is becoming a great driver (will get her license in July). We get together several times a year with granddaughter Jordan (almost 14) and her family. Jordan lives in Fountain (near Colorado Springs) with her mom, dad and brother Jaden (age 9). We also get to see grandsons Caleb (age 12, Kearney NE), and Kaelan (age 10, Albuquerque) once or twice a year, and we enjoy holiday visits each year with granddaughter Hannah (age 13) and grandson Trae (age 11), along with Trae's little brother, Tegan (age 5).

 

Dwight has done a lot of preaching this year, which he loves. He serves on two presbytery committees (COM, PJC) and he continues to struggle with chronic back and other pain, but refuses to be beaten. He had hoped to pull together a group to go on a "Footsteps of Paul" cruise and tour to Greece and Turkey in the spring of 2015, but got a late start on recruiting and then was set back by his elbow surgery. May try to do it again at some point.

 

Sharon is happily preparing for retirement in September after 18 years with the City of Lakewood and hopes to continue working on a very part-time basis after that, doing records-related projects. She serves on session and sings in the choir of Green Mountain Presbyterian Church, Lakewood. She continues to serve on an annual church women's retreat planning committee and says she never met a retreat she didn't like!

 

2015 plans include a Blackstock family reunion in southern California in April to celebrate Dwight's mother's 100th birthday. Dicksie died in 1998, but she was much loved by all of us, so why not??! And, of course, Ghost Ranch in July.

 

Merry Christmas! Our prayer is that the Prince of Peace will bring peace to our world and that you will experience God's blessings at Christmas and in 2015. We love your holiday letters, even the ones that don't arrive until Easter!

 

Merry Christmas 2012 from the Blackstocks!

We write this letter with broken hearts, less than a week since the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. Colorado has suffered its own tragedies (again) in 2012. Please God, help us work together to end this torture.

The grandchildren: Son Steve and Beth live in Byers, about an hour’s drive from us. Having them and their daughters, Grace (almost 6, kindergarten) and Ava (4, preschool) so close has enriched our lives immeasurably. We see our two oldest granddaughters often, Kyra (age 14, Lafayette CO – 9th grade) and Jordan (she’ll turn 12 in January, Fountain CO – 6th grade), plus Jordan’s brother, Jaden (age 7½ - 2nd grade). And we continue to have wonderful communication and occasional visits with grandsons Caleb (age 10, Kearney NE – 4th grade), and Kaelan (age 8, Albuquerque – 3rdgrade). We enjoy holiday visits each year with granddaughter Hannah (age 11, Englewood CO – 6th grade) and grandsonTrae (age 9, Commerce City CO – 3rd grade), along with Trae’s little brother, Tegan (age 3).

[See photo gallery below]

2012 travel/visits:

• February – Sharon’s brother, Richard (Milwaukee) traveled to Denver for an overnight meeting and treated us and Steve to dinner at Elway’s (wow!!)
• April – Annual women’s retreat (Sharon and Beth), Highlands Presbyterian Camp.
• Spring, summer, fall – Go Rockies! Yes we still love them and are looking forward to a better season next year!
• June – surprised Dwight’s sister, Donna, for her 70th birthday. Dwight, Sharon, Steve, Beth, Grace, Ava, plus Dwight’s younger sister, Marcia, and family all traveled to Claremont CA to celebrate. Sharon enjoyed a day at Disneyland with Steve, Beth and the girls during the trip. Granddaughter Kyra and her mom were visiting in Pasadena at the same time and came out briefly for the festivities, too – great family time!
• June – spent another wonderful week at Ghost Ranch (New Mexico) with Kyra (8th year she’s gone with us?) The trip included spending a day with grandson Kaelan in Albuquerque.
• July – Dwight and Sharon traveled to Wisconsin for Sharon’s 45th H.S. reunion (a blast!) plus a delightful Sunday afternoon visit with brother Richard & Ann, and sister Kathy & Tom at Richard’s lake house in Oconomowoc.
• July – Caleb and his mom came from Kearney for a weekend visit; along with Steve and family, we all got to see the wonderful new elephant venue at the Denver Zoo.
• August – weekend trip to the mountains with Steve for a presbytery meeting in Avon; spent an overnight with friends Tom and Ruth – thank you!
• September – Georgetown Loop Railroad with Steve and family, plus Jordan and her family (beautiful day!)
• October – Dwight traveled to L.A. for a 4-day reunion with his 3 high school buddies (another blast!); they haven’t all been together since our wedding in 1971. He also spent a couple of days visiting with sisters Donna, Marcia and Annie.
• November – our anniversary (41 years) was celebrated over a weekend with friends Jon and Danny, at their cabin near Fairplay – thank you
• November – Thanksgiving at our house with Steve and family and a DU friend of Steve’s from Ghana, plus Kyra and her mom and other grandparents (they live in Boulder) and a cousin who flew in from Australia that afternoon – an international event right in our family room!
• December – We hosted our annual neighborhood holiday party on a Friday evening and enjoyed visiting with about 20 of our neighbors.
• December – Enjoyed dinner with friends Phil and Nancy at Windcrest, a retirement community in Highlands Ranch. They are letting us use their cabin near Winter Park after Christmas (thank you!) Steve and family will join us.

Dwight will celebrate his 66th birthday on December 29th and officially retire as far as Social Security is concerned. He was honorably retired by Denver Presbytery in March, which included a very touching overview of his career and well-wishes from many friends and colleagues. He still preaches and teaches occasionally and serves on presbytery committees (COM, PJC). Last year we reported a “miracle” in terms of reduced back pain. That has continued for the most part, but new health issues have made life very frustrating. His health problems aren’t life-threatening, just misery-producing. This makes planning for just about anything very difficult. Nonetheless he refuses to be beaten, continues to take photography classes at the local community college and has signed up for a sociology class next semester (wants see if anything has changed since he got his sociology degree in 1968 … ya think??!!??)

Sharon continues to work for the City of Lakewood (almost 16 years), got a promotion in 2012 to Central Records Manager in the City Clerk’s Office, and plans to work until age 66 (2 more years). She stumbled on new carpet at work in January (duh … ), damaged her left shoulder and had rotator cuff surgery in March, but has recovered well (not perfectly, but well enough). In July she made the difficult decision that she needed to find a new church home, resigned from the session of Genesis Presbyterian (Littleton) and went “church shopping”. She joined Green Mountain Presbyterian (Lakewood) in December and plans to get back into choir singing after the first of the year. She continues to serve on an annual church women’s retreat planning committee and hopes to entice the women of her new church home to participate.

Marc: We haven’t spoken with son Marcus since he was released from jail last February and we refused to put him up in a hotel for a month while he looked for work. We know he’s still in Colorado Springs, but have no idea if he’s still married or if he’s found a way of supporting himself and his family. We have no contact with his two youngest children: Jaellynne (age 5½), who we presume is in kindergarten, and Ayden (1½).

Steve: Son Steve is finishing up the MSW (Master’s Social Work) program at the University of Denver and will graduate in May. He was inducted into the Social Work honor society, Phi Alpha in March, and is doing an internship at Family Tree, a non-profit family services agency. He continues to serve as part-time pastor at the Presbyterian Church in Byers. Beth works part-time for the local school district.

Kirk: Our lovable Great Dane is doing well at 8½ years old and 150 lbs, but suffered a spinal stroke over the summer (“FCE”),which was treated with anti-inflammatory medication and regular walking. He’s slowing down a bit, but is still very vital. The biggest challenge is getting him in the car, which we don’t do very often.

Merry Christmas! Our prayer is that the Prince of Peace will bring peace to our world and that you will experience God’s blessings at Christmas and in 2013. We love your holiday letters, even the ones that don’t arrive until Easter!

P.S. We’re looking forward to the Broncos winning the Super Bowl!

Photo Gallery - 2012

Happy Birthday, Steve (with Ava & Grace) - Rockies game July 2012

Duarte Calif HS Class of 1964 - Ed, Tom, Dwight, John - October 2012

Cousins Kyra, Grace and Ava - June 2012

Half-siblings Kyra and Kaelan - June 2012 - Albuquerque

Kyra at Ghost Ranch - June 2012

Dwight and Sharon - Ghost Ranch - June 2012

Caleb and Kirk - July 2012

Cousins Grace and Caleb - Denver Zoo - July 2012

Granddad with Grace - Denver Zoo - July 2012

Sharon, Grace, Mickey, Ava, Steve, Beth - Disneyland, June 2012 

Blackstocks gather in Calif for Donna's 70th - June 2012

Jordan, Ava, Kristi, Grace, Jaden, Steve - Georgetown Loop RR - Sept 2012

Kyra, Ava, Beth, Grace, Steve - National Western Stock Show - January 2012

Ava, Kyra, Grace - National Western Stock Show - January 2012

Ava & Grace - Sledding - February 2012

Off to school! Grace and Ava - August 2012

Kyra and Sharon - High Tea - May 2012

Kristi, Jordan, Jaden, Grace, Steve, Ava, Beth - Grace's BD Jan 2012

Trae - September 2012

Sharon's 45th HS Reunion - July 2012

Hannah with Dwight and Sharon - December 2011

Blackstocks gather to celebrate Dwight's sister's 70th!

The Blackstock clan gathered together at Donna and Annie's home in Claremont, California last weekend. Donna is Dwight's sister and her 70th birthday was June 5. Dwight, Sharon, Steve, Beth, Grace and Ava came from Colorado. Dwight's other sister, Marcia, and her family came from the Bay Area - our niece Dawn and her daughter Jordan; and our nephew Justin, his wife Jenny and their 2-month-old Juliana. Donna was expecting some of us but not all - a surprise orchestrated by Marcia and Annie - and it was great fun. Even our granddaughter, Kyra, and her mom, stopped by for a little while because they were in southern California for a graduation. Sharon, Steve, Beth, Grace and Ava spent a very full and very fun day at Disneyland. Enjoy the pictures!

Family gathered - Pilgrim Place - Claremont CA - June 2012

Grace and Ava at Donna's party

Beth and Jenny, with Juliana

Marcia, Dawn, Justin

Donna opening her gifts

Justin and Annie

Kyra (sitting on floor)

The food ...

Grace and cousin Jordan

Beth and Ava

Steve, Justin, Dwight

Steve and Sharon

Grace and Ava on Dumbo - Disneyland

Ava with Fairy Godmother (Cinderella)

Beth, Grace, Ava, Steve - Jungle Cruise!

Teacup ride!

Waiting in line for the submarine - looking for Nemo!

Grace and Ava at the water ball