The Hoyt Epistles
- Harry Hoyt
- Nov 12
- 24 min read
2013-12 Hoyt Epistle
THE HOYT EPISTLE FOR 2013
To our friends and family,
This letter has turned out to be a New Year’s Epistle. The days leading up to Christmas turned out to be as busy as the rest of 2013 and we changed computers so had to find a program to assemble the family photos.
This year began with a scare that the cancer Gay had in her lungs had metastasized to her liver. We went to Iowa City for a needle biopsy. After hours on the table the physicians were unable to extract a sample of anything that was not normal liver tissue. The radiologist were still very concerned. The next step was a very long laparoscopy procedure. The surgeon was unable to find the spots that had shown up on the earlier scans and ended up removing about 10% of her liver with the result being that no cancer was found. The result was gratifying but the process was not. That focused our attention for the first quarter of 2013.
Gay continued her participation in PEO, Bible Study and Book Club. Harry has continued his work with churches that are in conflict. This work has increased in intensity since many congregations are shrinking and with the loss of members so are the finances to keep the churches viable. This has resulted in a lot of driving and a lot of consulting.
We had a marvelous time at the wedding of our granddaughter, Cambri Kelley to Scott Wyman on 2 November. We danced a lot as did on our first date. We enjoyed it then and still do.
In November we spent about three weeks in Florida and had several very nice visits with old friends, Jim and Kathie Walsh. It was also a chance to relax a bit. We have been enjoying the winter weather ever since arrived back home.
We received other pieces of joyous news during the year; the birth of three great grandchildren:
Dani Kelley to Katie and Jacob Kelley,
Madelyn Kelley to Wayne and Sarah Kelley,
Amelia Santiesteban to Jennifer and Ted Santiesteban.
We wish that all of you have a great 2014.
Harry and Gay
2015-12 Hoyt Epistle
The Hoyt Epistle
December 2015
I have continued full time with my work with the Presbytery of East Iowa. It takes me from North to South in the eastern part of the state. My main contribution is working with churches that have a conflict. That conflict is usually between the pastor and the governing body of the church, the session. These conflicts sometimes result in the dissolution of the pastoral relationship between the pastor and the congregation. I take this very seriously because it affects the self-esteem and lively hood of the pastor and the health of the church. The job also entails administration of the Commission on Ministry and developing policy along with others. This year I attended a course to sharpen my skills at mediation. So, the job keeps my mind and body active, along with my car. That is a good thing.
I was privileged so see Gracie Lamb in “The Wizard of Oz” and “You’re a Good Man, Charley Brown” and “Oliver.” Most entertaining. I also caught one of Sydney Lamb’s basketball games. In other sporting events I watched Gabriel, Caleb and Isaac Hoyt play in different football games. One of the games was played in pouring rain and we sat in open stand getting soaked. What you won’t do for your grandchildren. I do have a treasury of photos from each event. Some of them inevitably have ended up on Face Book.
During Spring break Shannon and family joined me for a few days at the condo in Punta Gorda, FL. The girls exhibit an amazing amount of energy in whatever activity we engage.
Cameron and Roberta were licensed as lay pastors in their church…quite an achievement. Another amazing achievement, Chris Lamb was named by his peers of as being in the top ten of Division One Women’s Volleyball coaches for his coaching ability and proficiency in running the program; number 6 to be precise.
LaBria and Anthony became Mr and Mrs Anthony Hoyt on 27 June in Cameron and Roberta’s back yard. That was another marvelous camera event. LaBria is pregnant…a happy continuation of the life cycle.
David (Gay’s brother) and Janie Isaacson celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. A happy occasion.
In October I drove to see Andy and his special friend, Susan, in North Augusta, SC and then to see Matt and his partner, Connie, in Cumming, GA. Matt arranged for visits with my granddaughters, Jennifer and Kristin and their families and grandsons, Channing and Joshua. I also met Connie’s daughters, Brittany and Ashley. I saw a lot of family on that trip and ate a lot of good food. I was a marvelous visit with both boys and families.
I spent Thanksgiving with Matt, Connie and the combined families and then a quick two days at the condo. It was a relaxing visit.
There were several times when I got together with Erin and her/my family for a party at my house. Those gatherings are always punctuated with a lot of food, conversation and plenty of laughter. Included were Cambri, Scott, Mikki, Westin, Wayne, Sarah, Jake, Katie and their families.
You may have gotten the impression that I spent a lot of time with my family and you would be right.
My hope is that all of you have a wonderful holiday season and that 2016 brings you all that you wish. I also pray that the world finds itself in a much better place next year.
Harry
Dad
Grandpa
HOYT 2015 Family Photos
(This has been a good day)
2016-12 Hoyt Epistle
The Hoyt Epistle
December 2016
The end of 2015 was punctuated by a wonderful Christmas in Wichita with Shannon, Chris, Gracie and Sydney. Paige and her friend, David Bloyd drove up from Dallas to join in the fun.
The most memorable event of 2016 took place between the middle of January and the middle of February. This was a trip to Italy, India and Nepal with my three daughters, Erin, Paige, and Shannon. None of my three sons were able to make the trip. The story of how this trip came to be is far too long for this Epistle but in summary it was a trip of a lifetime. Going on an excursion such as this with these three women was an absolute “hoot.” During this trip, I took just under 5,000 photographs. When we got back home I decided to document this fantastic excursion by creating a two-volume, 514 page book containing a description of the trip and many of the photographs. Each daughter contributed to the final product. It took a lot longer to create the book and even longer to have it published then it did to actually take the trip.
I’ve continued to be active in my work in the Presbytery of East Iowa. The most important part of that work, and the most interesting, is working with churches that for one reason or another are in conflict. This activity keeps me busy full-time.
I continue to gain strength since the open-heart surgery to replace the aortic valve on 28 March, Words fail me in expressing what an unbelievable support Shannon, Paige and Erin were during this period. Shannon was with me during the surgery and hospital stay. Paige took over from here when I got home and Erin with me in between her teaching classes. I am not completely back where I want to be. That will take time and the expenditure of discipline, time and energy. It will happen.
I have regained my interest in taking photos, working with them and then printing those I think will look good in a frame. I have taken several individual family members and family portraits. Some are in the accompanying group of photos. Some are on mantles and shelves in family member’s homes.
The end of August and beginning of September saw me on an automobile excursion that took me to Bloomington to see David and Janie Isaacson, Matt and family in Cumming, GA, Mikki and Westin in the Orlando, FL area, the condo in Punta Gorda with Matt, Connie and Brittany, and back to Matt’s where another major event took place, the joining of Matt and Connie Huelsman in marriage on 6 September. The ceremony took place in a park like setting on beautiful sunny day. You can bet that I took a lot of photos to document the event. I have included the one I like the best. It is the “You may kiss the bride” moment in the attached set of photos. I understand this photo is on display on their mantle in the living room in Cumming, GA. I had a wonderful family experience with each visit.
I spent my birthday in a happy visit to Shannon, Chris, Gracie and Sydney in Wichita. Paige and her friend, David Bloyd, joined us for two days. I relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed myself.
I was able to watch my grandsons Caleb and Gabe Hoyt play football and Caleb win three wrestling matches in Des Moines. That was a real treat.
Erin’s daughters, Cambri and Mikki, are pregnant. That is wonderful for both of them and their husbands, Scott and Westin respectively. Trying to achieve something can be fun. Succeeding is better. I guested as much before each announced it because they had both politely refused a glass of wine when I offered. That never happens so it seemed to be good guess, but I said nothing. You just don’t ask a woman if she is pregnant. Looks can be deceiving; she might not be.
Thanksgiving was a memorable holiday. When you watch or read the news from around the world it becomes painfully clear how fortunate we are compared to many peoples in other countries. I had 20 family members including my children. grandchildren and great grandchildren. Just before settling in for an magnificent Thanksgiving meal, I asked for a moment of quiet to reflect on the significance of the day when one grandson remarked, “This is just as I remember this house when I was a kid.” I immediately mentally review the preceding couple of hours with the happy chattering of young children, mothers monitoring the youthful exuberant activity, constant, purposeful activity in the kitchen, the delicious aroma of the morsels that would soon be on the tables and others telling stories, some of them were actually true, and a lot of laughter. It brought a tear to my eye and a catch in my voice…he was right and it felt so good.
I plan to spend Christmas in Punta Gorda, Florida. At this point I expect Erin, Mannon,; Mikki, Weston; Matt, Connie, Ashley; Andy, Susan; and Shannon, Chris, Gracie and Sydney to be there at one point or another. Most should converge around the 23rd and 24th so it will be a lot of family reuniting. Andy and Susan Gilliam plan to take advantage of the multitude of family to be married overlooking the water from the fourth floor.
My wish is that all of you have a very merry Christmas and that this world become a lot more tolerant and peaceful.
Signing with all my titles:
Dad, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, Harry, Demi
Hoyt Family Photos 2016
2017-12 Hoyt Epistle
The Hoyt Epistle
December 2017
The end of 2016 was quite eventful. I spent Christmas at the condo in Punta Gorda, FL I own with David, Gay’s brother, and Janie Isaacson. Several of my children and theirs were there as you can see from the photos. It was a wonderful family time together. It is very challenging for my children to arrange the time and travel to be together at Christmas, or any other time during the year, so this was a special treat.
After Christmas Andy and his fiancé’, Susan Gilliam, were married, also documented on the photo pages. That was plenty of excitement for one Christmas.
I was back at the condo in July for a few days. The day before I was scheduled to leave for home I received a notice from Mikki (Erin’s and Wayne’s daughter) Schmidt’s husband, Westin, that Mikki was in labor. They live in the Orlando area, about a three-hour drive from the condo. When Mikki found she was pregnant she had invited me to be in the delivery room for the birth, what a marvelous gift, so when this news came I finished packing the car and three hours later I arrived at the hospital. I love GPS. The story is a fun and heart-warming one but too long for this Epistle. In summary, she had not given birth when I arrived. I entered the delivery room, sat in the empty chair beside her bed and took her hand. We talked quietly for a while, but when she had a contraction, I thought she might break my hand, what a grip. The labor took 31 hours. That is an extreme athletic event…giving new meaning the word “exhaustion.” Where did we get this, “Women are the weaker sex?” When I got home I found a four-panel frame and put three 8 x 10 and two 4 x 10 post Jackson’s birth photos in it and sent it to them. They are on the photo pages with captions.
Prior to notification of Mikki’s labor I had agreed to meeting Matt, Connie and their kids and their kids, Kristen Sickles and son, Patrick and daughter, Cecelia; Jennifer Santiesteban and daughter, Amelia, and Channing Hoyt, precisely at 4:00 PM at the Olive Garden Restaurant at exit 7 on GA 400, about 9 hours away from the hospital. I left the hospital and drove across Florida, overnighted in a motel and then headed north for this very pleasant connection with the Georgia Hoyts. We had a delightful catch up and then I headed for home, some 800 miles away, to fulfill other obligations. More photos on the photo pages.
There were two other births in the family. On 7 April Cambri (Mikki’s sister) Wyman gave birth to Caius. She also had a long deliver, 18 hours, but that’s not the kind of event for which you want to compete with your sister.
The third is Seth Alexander Hoyt, born to Cameron and Berta on 11 October. Berta stated that she was relieved to find that this would be their 6th boy, because she had no idea how to raise a girl, but she knew a lot about raising boys.
At the end of September, Angela Isaacson, David and Janie Isaacson’s daughter-in-law, Todd’s wife, died after a long, debilitating illness. David, Janie and Todd handled this sad occasion with grace and dignity. David and Janie, mostly Janie, hosted one family gathering after another as the opportunity presented itself. It brought family members together from as far away as Florida. I was pleased that so many people came to honor Angela and be with Todd.
Early in the summer Andy’s wife, Susan, was diagnosed as having a blood clot. Symptoms developed in early fall that sent her to intensive care where it was discovered that she had experienced at least one stroke, and perhaps more. When the immediate danger had passed she was discharged to a rehabilitation facility, then back to the hospital with pneumonia, and then readmitted to the rehab center where she has worked very hard to retrain her brain to carry on the functions that had been done by parts of her brain that had been affected by the stroke. She has made substantial progress. She was released to outpatient rehabilitation.in early December. I drove to North Augusta, SC to spend some quality time with them in October and meet members of Susan’s family and some of the professionals at the facility.
I am continuing to work with the Presbytery of East Iowa, especially with churches that are experiencing conflict between the governing body of the church and its pastor. I find the work challenging, sometimes rewarding, sometimes disappointing, but always keeping my mind and car active.
I have learned many things in my life and have forgotten most of them. One thing that has stuck with me is that “status quo” is a myth. Things may seem to remain the same for a few iterations but that soon dissolves into one new reality after another as marriages involve spouses, spouses’ families, children are born, children and siblings move away, and new traditions are born. If you are wise and able, you will hold tight to family relationships at all levels while acknowledging and honoring new traditions. Family is precious; disregard it at you’re peril, embrace it to give and gain love.
I wish all a very Merry Christmas and a great 2018. This world could use a good year.
Harry, Demi, Dad, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, etc.
NEW LIFE AMOUNG US
THE SISTERS GIVE BIRTH
2022-12 Hoyt Epistle
The Hoyt Epistle
December 2022
This year has seen quite a few significant events in the life of our family, and in my life particularly. The list would be far too long for this letter, but six happenings come to mind as being especially important.
New life has come into our family and into the world:
Gabriel and Jessica Hoyt became parents for the first time on 6 September 2022 with the birth of River. Grandmother Berta states “She is a beaty.”
Brittany and Nick Yearwood also became first-time parents with the birth of Larson on 1 November 2022. His mother says the same about Larson.
This has made a great grandfather very happy. Great grandchildren are a work in progress.
A life well lived left our family and the world:
Dave Isaacson left our family and the world at age 82 on 12 February of this year. Dave was not only my brother-in-law and partner in our condo in Punta Gorda, Florida but my very close personal friend. I miss him.
The condo in Florida also left our family, but not the world:
With the certainty that with Dave’s death the condo would not be used again, Janie Isaacson, and I put the condo on the market. Brian Lowery, Matt and Connie Hoyt and I converged on the condo to clear it of personal items. Matt and Connie returned after we had accepted an offer, to supervise the packing of the artwork, that did not go with the sale, into a U box for transport to our homes. The sale of the condo closed on 23 March 2022. Not long after the sale the eye of a massive storm passed over Punta Gorda. Also, interest rates on mortgages began a very rapid rise resulting in a slowing of the real estate market. Good timing.
Visit to Washington DC
Gracie Lamb became eligible to participate in the 2022 NCFL Grand National Tournament, a national speech contest, in Washington DC. Participation was a prestigious honor, and I wanted to be there to support Gracie. As it turned out, spectators were not allowed, so Shannon, Sidney and I spent the time while Gracie was performing making good use of Uber rides to see the city.
Being in Washington DC presented us with the opportunity to visit as many of my deceased brother, Mike’s family as we could. We were fortunate to have an evening with Evanne, Mike’s wife, and daughter Amy and her family. It was a marvelous evening, and I was very pleased we were able to spend time with them.
Family Reunion
About mid-April, Shannon called me and said, “I’ve been talking to my siblings, and we decided we should have a family reunion… At your house.” That family reunion did happen in mid-June when approximately 52 family members from as far away as California, South Carolina, Florida, and all points in between spent a long weekend renewing acquaintances and enjoying one another’s company and in some cases meeting cousins for the first time. I overheard more than one person labeling it as “epic.” I would have to agree. Two photos were taken with my camera, unknown to me. I was emotionally impacted when I viewed my camera’s SD card on the computer and found the two photos. The first one was of me seated at the head of a long table in the front yard with the family in front of me and my six children standing behind me. The second is of an empty table in front of me and my entire family behind me. I have reproduced those two photos here. I wrote a Journal about the Reunion with photos and commentary. For those interested I have included a link below to that Journal. It was an event I will not forget.
Trip to Ancient Egypt
In early November, Lois Boyer and I flew to Cairo and participated in a three-week tour of ancient Egypt, including seven days on the Nile River. Other tours I’ve taken have been learning about life in the current time. This tour of ancient Egypt explored the people, religious beliefs, and practices that took place 3000 to 4500 years ago. We visited, on the surface and underground, temples, pyramids, tombs, statues, mummies, obliques, stories of the accomplishments of the owners of the tombs, such as the pharaohs, chiseled into stone walls and ceilings. I wrote a Journal of what we saw and learned. For those of you who would have an interest I have included a link to the Journal (about 310 pages) and to an Executive Summary of the Journal (about 52 pages). Photographs take up the vast majority of the pages, so they are a faster read than it sounds.
Link to Egypt Journal Final Rev: https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ar_Owl6gMFong9hD7Z2ib3sKY9NVUQ?e=nkPaA3
Link to Egypt Journal, Executive Summary: https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ar_Owl6gMFong9hOoYaWXNzF5HqDZA?e=IPStXh
Link to Hoyt Family Reunion Photo Journal Rev draft: https://1drv.ms/w/s!Ar_Owl6gMFong6V1fwbuqsHK-6VMaQ?e=OQuSXf
I wish everyone a happy family holiday and the best in 2023.
Photos for 2022
2023-12 Hoyt Epistle
The Hoyt Epistle
December 2023
This year has consisted of managing chronic health conditions, watching my extended family grow and do remarkable things, participating in bringing the Kelley family home, observing how nice and selfless people can be and making one fantastic trip.
I hesitate to talk about my physical conditions, but since they have been a big element this year, I will summarize. I have discovered that I have two chronic conditions:
I had my prostate removed in 2001, however, the cancer was not completely removed. The objective over the years has been to kill it. That hasn’t happened. The objective now is to delay it spreading. I am taking a new medication that is helping with that objective.
I also have anemia. My bone marrow is not producing enough Hemoglobin to deliver the normal level of oxygen to my muscles. I become short of breath in exertion. There are measures that can be taken if the situation deteriorates. It is a case of careful monitoring.
Enough of that.
Four very nice things happened this year.
During the year Lois Boyer and I visited her condo in Bayfield, Wisconsin 3 times. The purpose was to make improvements in the condo and to relax. It is a 9-hour drive so it is not a regular visit.
The next is a very nice story about people acting to the benefit of others without expecting any thing coming back to them. The sale of the condo in Florida in 2022 included the furniture and art. Among the art were two 2’x3’ Salvador Dali prints. In explaining details of the sale to Paige earlier this year I mentioned that these two prints had gone with the condo. Paige told me that she was sad about that because she really enjoyed them and was hoping she would some day have them. Had I been aware of this the prints would not have gone with the condo.
In an effort to correct this, I took what I saw as a long shot. I explained the situation to my realtor who explained it to the buyer’s realtor who told me I could contacted the buyer, Jill, directly. I did. She wrote that the prints were lovely, and she would hate to part with them. After further email conversation she agreed to part with the print and allow Matt and Connie to pick them up on a date when she would be at the condo. She asked for nothing in return.
I wanted to do something to express my appreciation for her kindness. I had attached a couple of sunset photos I had taken from the condo to the emails. She indicated she liked them. I decided to enlarge two of my exceptional sunset prints to the same size as the Dali prints. I had 2 frames shipped from Amazon to Matt and Connie at their home in Georgia. They put the photographs in the frames and presented them to Jill when they picked up the Dali prints. I learned later from Jill that she put them in the same location as the Dali prints and indicated they would stay there.
Matt and Connie had planned to attend their son’s graduation from the Air Force initial training in Texas and took the Dali prints with them. Arrangements were made for Matt and Connie to visit Paige at her home in Texas along with Shannon and me. When Paige took her dog, Dufus, for a walk after breakfast the second morning we were there we unwrapped the Dali prints and put them on the hearth of the fireplace in direct view of the front door. Paige knew none of this, so when she reentered the house and saw the print, that she thought were gone forever, and realized they were for her, she was a very happy daughter and sister. I think this is a marvelous story about how caring individuals can be. Jill had no obligation to give me the prints for Paige, but she did. Paige has told me several times of the happiness those prints bring her.
Another happy set of events was the Kelley family reuniting. Mikki, Westin and their two boys moved back to Davenport from the Orlando, FL area mid-summer and Cambri, Scott and their two boys moved back to Davenport from Goshen, IN this month. Mannon has remained in Los Angeles after graduation from American Academy of Dramatic Art. Having the families of two of Erin’s daughters living within a few miles of others in the family was a cause for celebration.
This story also includes Paige as a major participant. Paige turned 60 this year and as a birthday gift her husband, Dave, gave her a trip to the Amalfi coast in Italy. Lois and I were invited to join them. The coast is made up of one vertical cliff after another with buildings of all kinds built into the rocks and hanging from the them. We entered our hotel from an elevator that was at level 0, and descended to level -1 to check in at the front desk. The restaurants were on Level -2 and the rooms were on levels -3 to -9. Some of the rooms, including the one for Paige and Dave, had an infinity pool, heated to approximately 87°F and would hold 2 to 3 people. We had an absolutely fascinating and joyful time at the hotel and visiting the various towns perched on the cliffs.
New life is a gift that keeps on giving and is a fantastic addition to our family. Lily Ellen Seyko was born to Bryce and Heather at 1:40 PM on 5 December 2023. Heather and Lily are doing well and Bryce is a very happy and engaged father. Paige is now a grandmother and loving the title and the new role. From Paige: “Lily Ellen is a beautiful baby with a sweet, calm demeanor. I attribute this to her parents, who are parenting pros from day one. It’s been a joy to watch them take care of Lily!”
Regardless of what life has done for you, or to you, we all have much to be thankful for. I suggest that we individually redirect money for gifts, with the possible exception of children, to contributions to help others in need.
I hope every one of you has a wonderful Christmas
and that 2024 is all you wish it to be.
Photos for 2023
2
024-12 Hoyt Epistle
The Hoyt Epistle
Christmas, December 2024
Written in November 2024
I have never been short winded and don’t plan to begin now. 2024 began quickly and has progress in the same fashion. I am writing the Hoyt Epistle at Thanksgiving to ensure it gets done before other events take precedence. I suspect this will not ruin anyone’s day.
The year began with a visit from Andy and Susan who came to celebrate the beginning of 2024. They live in North August, SC so this was a treat. My neighbors, Vickie and Ron, joined us New Years Eve.
Lois and I have done some fun traveling. In February we visited Patty Miller and Bill Schultz in Naples, FL, Patty is Lois’s sister-in law. I had not met them before and found them to be delightful hosts. We visited a beautiful garden, where Lois took a self-powered ride on one of the swings available. We had dinner at a private club on the water. You could only reach it by riding in an electric vehicle over an extensive causeway that wound its way above the marshes to the club. We were treated to a very colorful sunset. We also got a lesson in bird preferences. Blackbirds don’t like larger birds in their territory. We spotted one in a tree across from their house and observed Blackbirds accumulating in and around the same tree. Finally the big bird flew and was immediately attacked by the Blackbirds. They were out of sight before I could confirm the Blackbirds achieved their purpose. Kathie and Bill Walsh drove down from their home in Fort Meyers for lunch and a chance to catch up. Seeing them was a bonus. We have accepted Patty’s invitation for a repeat visit this February 2025.
Also, in February I was elect to the Board of Trustee of the Foundation of the First Presbyterian Church of Davenport. The mission is to raise and invest assets for the purpose of providing resources for the church to conduct its Christian mission. This is challenging work, but important to the successful ministry of the church.
In April, Lois and I went to St Louis on a visit sponsored by Friendship Force. Friendship Force arranges for you to stay in the home of local members. We visited the Missouri Botanical Garden, where we saw a Chihuly exhibit, a butterfly house and two magnificent building, the Cathedral Basilica of St Lois and Saint Louis Union Station. The architecture inside and out was spectacular. We also rode on a Ferris Wheel. That gave us a great view of the city.
I have a lot of trees on my property. They are getting older and less able to sustain the heavy rain and winds we have been experiencing in the last few years. I lost a few trees this July. It appears that a tornado went over a large Pin Oak in the front yard and ripped the top out of it, along with downing several other trees. It takes years to grow a tree and only a few seconds to bring it down. Everything has its life cycle.
One winter storm turned the scene in back of the house into a glittery wonderland. See the photo
The 4th of July was celebrated at Jake and Katie’s home with a grilled steak dinner in their garage. Jake installed an air conditioner, so the considerable heat was not an issue.
In October Lois and I took a Road Scholar tour of New Orleans with emphasis on the French Quater. What appealed to us about this tour is that they provided extensive presentations about the history of the French Quarter and what we were going to see each day. Many of the bars and street corners in the French Quarter have jazz bands playing. One of the highlights was the World War II Museum. The Museum contains many vivid displays and videos that dramatically depict the horrors of war. The main, and most dramatic, feature for me, was a movie featuring videos of actual combat in progress. To further emphasize the terror of war, some of the videos were accompanied by the roar of guns and flashes of the light from explosives. The chairs we sat in vibrated and shook to add emphasis to the images on the screen.
Mannon returned home from Los Angeles for a short visit. That was cause for a Kelley family reunion. The
three sisters were going to have a girls’ night out that turnind into a family event. I took a particularly good photo of the sisters.
Prior to the Road Scholar trip we were hosted for two nights by a friend, Keith Adams and his wife Penny. Penny is a great cook so we eat very well. We went to a wooden boat show where, as you would guess, boats made of wood were displayed by their owners. Some of the finished wood used in the boats was so beautiful, I would hesitate putting the boat in the water.
Shannon arranged a two-day celebration of my 88th birthday on 9 and 10 November at Cameron and Berta’s home in Des Moines. It gave me a marvelous opportunity to catch up on the busy and varied lives of Cameron, Berta and my grandkids and great grandkids. It turned out to be a semi family reunion. Shannon, Lois and I attended Cameron’s and Berta’s church service that included singing led by Berta and a stimulating, thoughtful sermon by Pastor Cam. Unlike some people, I count birthdays as a very good event. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
My pond has had a leak which has limited its use. Earlier this summer I had the leak repaired and decided to stock it with Koi. However, I quickly found I had an issue. I lost some smaller fish. To investigate, I pulled up pre-dawn footage of the security camera that covers the pond and watched an owl in real time, fly to the edge of the pond, survey the waters and fly away without the breakfast he/she was hoping for. The owl could not reach the Koi at the bottom of the pond. I also spotted a hawk eyeing the pond. I now have the pond covered with a see-through, protective net. I have found that sitting by the pond with a glass of wine at the end of the day is very relaxing.
This Thanksgiving Lois and I will travel to North Augusta, SC to visit Andy and Susan for two days and then the four of us will drive to Matt and Connie’s in Cumming, GA. I expect there will be about 25 family members, to see us and celebrate Thanksgiving. It should be a dynamic time to catch up with the members of my extended family. As usual, I will have my camera to document.
This year-end’s message is nearly complete. I hope you will tolerate a couple more sentences of my personal introspection. You may find it useful. As of the date of this message, November 2024, there are two events coming up that speak to our being thankful, and we all have much for which to be thankful, and to reflect on how we have affected our relationships with others, with nature, and with our God, by whatever name. It is an opportunity to reflect on how we have affected lives of others and how life has affected our lives. It is a chance to review where we have been, where we are now, where we want to be, and what steps are needed to get there. That is a pretty heavy assignment for each of us, regardless of age, life experiences, or perceived station in life. If you take this introspection on, I wish you success in discerning your next steps. Regardless, I hope Thanksgiving was good to you and that you have a wonderful, joyful Christmas.
Photos to Illustrate the Hoyt Epistle
New Year’s Eve 2024
Vickie, Ron, Andy, Susan, and me, 2023-2024 New Years Eve
Visit to Naples, February 2024
Visit to Naples, February 2024
Friendship Force Saint Louis, 9 April 2024 Through 12 April 2024
Results of Weather
My Birthday and a Stimulating Church Service
The Pond, the Koi and the Preditors
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