| The Giese Christmas Letter 2006 1 |
Dear family and friends
Advent/Christmas greetings to you all!
It’s been another busy year for the Giese households. Yes, I
did write “households.” Jo and Bob must face the fact that
Rachel has left the nest. Before this year she came “home”
frequently and spent at least a good part of the summer with
us (at home or on trips). The trips still happened this year,
but the “home” visits were much fewer.
We ended 2005 by actually spending Christmas Day with
Bob’s sister Deb and family (Kevin & Steve). Bob’s Dad,
Walt was there along with Rachel and her boyfriend, Joe.
It’d been many years since we’d spent Christmas together
We started off 2006 by sending Rachel (then a Junior at
Luther College) off on another one of her “world adventure
trips.” This time she went to the England, Wales, Scotland
and Ireland for an Art History course.
Advent/Christmas greetings to you all!
It’s been another busy year for the Giese households. Yes, I
did write “households.” Jo and Bob must face the fact that
Rachel has left the nest. Before this year she came “home”
frequently and spent at least a good part of the summer with
us (at home or on trips). The trips still happened this year,
but the “home” visits were much fewer.
We ended 2005 by actually spending Christmas Day with
Bob’s sister Deb and family (Kevin & Steve). Bob’s Dad,
Walt was there along with Rachel and her boyfriend, Joe.
It’d been many years since we’d spent Christmas together
We started off 2006 by sending Rachel (then a Junior at
Luther College) off on another one of her “world adventure
trips.” This time she went to the England, Wales, Scotland
and Ireland for an Art History course.
Then in February Pastor Bob began supervising an intern - Craig Nehring - who is serving a
two year internship from Luther Seminary essentially as the pastor of two neighboring
Lutheran congregations - Bethany, Catawba and Bethel, Hawkins. This has worked out great
so far.
In March we made our annual pilgrimage to Milwaukee for the “Blessing of the Bock,” a beer
festival run by Jo’s brother John as a benefit to Viet Nam veterans and to help build libraries
in Southeast Asia.
two year internship from Luther Seminary essentially as the pastor of two neighboring
Lutheran congregations - Bethany, Catawba and Bethel, Hawkins. This has worked out great
so far.
In March we made our annual pilgrimage to Milwaukee for the “Blessing of the Bock,” a beer
festival run by Jo’s brother John as a benefit to Viet Nam veterans and to help build libraries
in Southeast Asia.
In May Jo & Bob traveled to Belle
Fourche, South Dakota, for our niece,
Emily Stiller’s high school graduation.
She won many awards and received
great scholarships. We are proud to be
her sponsors.
Fourche, South Dakota, for our niece,
Emily Stiller’s high school graduation.
She won many awards and received
great scholarships. We are proud to be
her sponsors.
In March we also made a trip to Texas and New
Mexico with Rachel and her boyfriend, Joe
Kellogg, an Iowa native. On the trip Rachel and
Joe announced their engagement to us. More
than a week of traveling together in a small car
and all in one motel room did not drive him
away, so it looks serious. We hiked together in
the mountains of Guadalupe National Park,
walked deep into Carlsbad Caverns, and walked
out on the dunes of White Sands National
Monument before heading to McIntosh, NM to
visit our foster daughter Jamie Nielsen and her
three daughters still living with her. While there
we found out she and her ex Jon were planning
on getting back together. (That finally happened
this fall as Jon returned to the USA from his
native England.)
Mexico with Rachel and her boyfriend, Joe
Kellogg, an Iowa native. On the trip Rachel and
Joe announced their engagement to us. More
than a week of traveling together in a small car
and all in one motel room did not drive him
away, so it looks serious. We hiked together in
the mountains of Guadalupe National Park,
walked deep into Carlsbad Caverns, and walked
out on the dunes of White Sands National
Monument before heading to McIntosh, NM to
visit our foster daughter Jamie Nielsen and her
three daughters still living with her. While there
we found out she and her ex Jon were planning
on getting back together. (That finally happened
this fall as Jon returned to the USA from his
native England.)
In June, after selling our condo in Illinois in
April, we bought a 13 acre parcel of land a mile
east of Ogema. On this land are an old mobile
home, which we intend to rehab, a leaning barn,
which we have dreams about turning into
something exotic, and three deer stands. (That
doesn’t mean either of us got our buck this year.)
The best part of the switch from condo owner to
future “trailer trash” is we end up mortgage-free.
April, we bought a 13 acre parcel of land a mile
east of Ogema. On this land are an old mobile
home, which we intend to rehab, a leaning barn,
which we have dreams about turning into
something exotic, and three deer stands. (That
doesn’t mean either of us got our buck this year.)
The best part of the switch from condo owner to
future “trailer trash” is we end up mortgage-free.
In July we made our annual trip to Iowa for
RAGBRAI—the (Des Moines) Register’s
Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa). This
year 15 people from 5 states participated
with “Team Toe Tyred” and joined the many
thousands of others pedaling across one of
the hilliest routes ever. Bob rode his new
recumbent tricycle 460+ miles on the Iowa
ride this year. It’s nice to ride long distances
on a “riding lawn chair.” He’s not even
embarrassed anymore when people walk
their bikes up the hills faster than he’s
pedaling. (He still has not walked up a hill
when bike-riding since he was a little kid.)
RAGBRAI—the (Des Moines) Register’s
Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa). This
year 15 people from 5 states participated
with “Team Toe Tyred” and joined the many
thousands of others pedaling across one of
the hilliest routes ever. Bob rode his new
recumbent tricycle 460+ miles on the Iowa
ride this year. It’s nice to ride long distances
on a “riding lawn chair.” He’s not even
embarrassed anymore when people walk
their bikes up the hills faster than he’s
pedaling. (He still has not walked up a hill
when bike-riding since he was a little kid.)
As the school year kicked off, Jo finally started a new job - as after school librarian at Medford
High School. She’s also now registered as a substitute teacher and has taught numerous different
subjects (even Chemistry) already. She’s also been called in to sub at the Rib Lake Public
Library. She’s enjoying being at work again.
High School. She’s also now registered as a substitute teacher and has taught numerous different
subjects (even Chemistry) already. She’s also been called in to sub at the Rib Lake Public
Library. She’s enjoying being at work again.
 |  |  |
| | |
| All Photos in this letter copyright 2006 Bob Giese |
| Move mouse over photos and wait for additional photos to appear! |