The Tyree Family Christmas Letter
Christmas 2010
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.” II Chronicles 29:11
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you, our dear Family and Friends! For us, 2010 has been a year of both joys and sorrows. Yet our faithful God has proved true to His many promises in scripture, and we marvel at His goodness to us.
Glenn completed his twelfth year with Clariant and continues to enjoy the challenges of being National Sales Director for the paper chemicals division. He travels quite a bit, but it just makes us treasure the times even more when we’re both at home. Running is one of his passions, and he completed 2 5K’s this year. His goal is to do a 10K next spring across the Cooper River Bridge in Charleston. Glenn fishes and golfs when his schedule permits and has gotten back into woodworking, recently building a bookcase for Rowan. At church, Glenn teaches S.S. for the 4th and 5th graders and leads our Bible study group.
I still work part-time with breast cancer patients as a Nurse Navigator at Gaston Memorial Hospital. Reading books (especially on the beach!) has become one of my favorite pastimes along with cooking, baking, and traveling.
I wrote and taught two women’s Bible studies this year and am leading a mentoring group of seven younger women at church.
When we’re at home on Saturdays during growing season, you will find us at the Gastonia Farmers Market where we buy lots of local produce and eat fresh and healthy meals all weekend. Charleston, SC has become our new favorite place for an overnight getaway. At just three hours away, we can be on the beach in no time! Our love of the Charleston area led to the rental of a house on Folly Beach for a week in September where all the kids and grandkids were able to join us. It was the perfect vacation!
Scott and Jana welcomed Liam Jacob into their Noblesville, Indiana home in March. Big brother Rowan and the grandpups have adjusted well to this handsome new addition to the family. When not working at his sales and marketing job at Financial Forms and Systems, Scott played on two church sports teams, did some home remodeling, and put in a huge vegetable garden. Jana has loved being a mom to her boys, and she also enjoys decorating their home and trying new recipes (she’s a great cook!). In November, she ran a mini-marathon after training with Scott for several months.
Rowan, 2 ½, loves going to preschool at his church one day a week (and we have artwork to prove it!). He enjoys playing with trains and trucks and “helping” Daddy in the garden. Liam’s smile melts your heart, and he has been a joy for us to hold and spoil. We love being “Nana” and “Deetz” (Rowan’s name for Glenn) to these two precious grandsons.
Matt and Leah, still in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, had their own new addition to the family this year. Her name is Molly, and she is a Portuguese Water Dog. Koa, their Bengal cat, was not too sure about having a new sister, but he is “teaching her the ropes” so that he isn’t always the one in trouble. Leah is taking her to obedience classes, but Molly is already a wonderful pet. Matt and Leah love to fish and camp whenever they get a chance, and Molly may soon join them for one of the trips. Matt has also done a lot of renovations to their historic home when he hasn’t been studying.
Matt worked as a fish biologist on a short-term contract for Fisheries and Oceans Canada earlier this year. When his term was up, he began his master’s degree in Fish Biology through the University of Nebraska. Many of his classes are on-line which is a blessing considering his distance from the University. Leah began her second year as an RN in the progressive care unit at St. Paul’s Hospital. (Any of us would be thrilled to have her as our nurse-- she is so caring and competent.) Leah made the decision this year to participate in believers baptism at their church. We wish we could have been there to witness that step of obedience to the Lord, but are thrilled for her nevertheless.
On a sadder note, we lost Glenn’s stepmother this year shortly after she and Dad relocated to Dayton, Ohio. A few months later, he moved back to Michigan to live with Glenn’s sister and her family. He is content and well cared for, and we are so grateful for their provision for him. Our dear brother-in-law Skip died suddenly in June of complications from renal failure, just three weeks before I was scheduled to give him one of my kidneys at Indiana University Hospital. Even though both deaths were unexpected, we know the Lord orders each of our steps according to His perfect will.
Lord willing, we will have all the kids, both grandsons, and two grandpups with us for Christmas this year. We trust that you, too, will have the joy of being with family and friends at this special time. May we all rejoice in our wonderful Savior and His great gifts to us!
Love, Donna (for all of us)
