Kirk's Kingdom: 2015

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.