2010 Christmas Letter

We’ve moved! Vivian and I had hoped to get this letter out to all of you earlier, so that your Christmas cards did not have to stop in Maryland first. Sorry – but change your index cards for next year, because we are now firmly ensconced in Raleigh.

Contact info: 5325 Echo Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27612
919 420 7636

After maintaining two households, one here and the other in Maryland, Vivian had the unenviable task of figuring out how two sets of furniture, china and pictures could fit into one place. She worked miracles. We have definitely downsized (ha). A few, and I emphasize “few,” things were donated, what we really downsized was the open space between things. Couches rub up next to couches, books are piled up on other books, and pictures hang above pictures. But, we did it; and the overall affect is warm and cozy – ready for you to visit.

Vivian and I hated leaving all our friends at our respective schools in DC. To compensate, we are now on facebook where we have been enjoying the numerous photo albums. Great fun.

After spending much of the summer organizing the 3000+ books in the library, little did Jay know that he would have to draw on his collection so quickly. Shortly after midnight mid-October, we visited the emergency room. There Jay was diagnosed with a perforated appendix. After a ten-inch incision, bags of antibiotics, two weeks in the hospital, and more weeks on a wound pump at home, he finally was declared good to go – go to the gym that is; suddenly he is really eager to work out.

Trish and Joseph visited in the hospital; we are now experts at Go Fish and Old Maid. They even paraded the hospital hall in their Halloween costumes. For the Christmas Pageant at the church in their new home town of Burgaw, NC, Joseph played Joseph and Trish was Mary. Both have become excellent readers, and as modern kids, they are also addicted to play station. Joseph played soccer (goalie) in the fall and looks foreword to another year of T-ball this spring. Trish joined the local troop of Brownies.


The best part of our whole year were two weeks this summer when Joseph and Trish stayed with us while their parents moved their furnishings to their new house. We visited the North Carolina Zoo, sloshed down shoots at a water park, whacked balls at miniature golf, bowled in the high fifties, tried new foods at restaurants and even played trivia. What fun we had – though the best parts of all were playing in our community pool and reading to them in the evening.

All our kids will be here for the Christmas Season. We wish all our friends similar joys with family and friends. The holidays are a reminder that God’s love shines daily helping us remember all that we have, all that we love, and all that we can do to repair the world.
Love to all of you from


Jay and Vivian Dewey and Teddy