Christmas 2019

Christmas 2019

I was going to try to write a clever Christmas letter this year. I had something in mind like, “When does 1+1=6?” and then talk about Kyle and Macey’s engagement. It’s really a beautiful story, but time got away from me, and I accidentally put the cards in the mail before I could write something. I didn’t want to let this year pass without a letter, even if it is only to myself and future generations, so here goes…

The phone rang at 3 a.m. my time Dec. 27 of last year. It always freaks me out whenever that happened. Kyle was on the other end, calling from Bali, Indonesia.

“Mom,” he said, “I’m so nervous! I’m gonna ask her tonight but I don’t know how. Do you have any suggestions???”

As my heart rate slowed, and I pulled myself out of my fog, I couldn’t help but smile. My son was calling me from Bali for advice on how to ask the love of his life to marry him.

“What are you thinking?” I said.

Kyle is a man of grand gestures and wanted to make this proposal a big deal. There was a dinner for two option on a secluded beach that he was thinking about, but that cost a ton of money, and he didn’t have it. 

“You know Macey wouldn’t want you to spend that much money,” I said. “What else?”

“Well, I could do it on the beach at sunset, “ he said.

“Great idea,” I replied, and we talked about how he could make a proposal on the beach at sunset even more meaningful and romantic.

I wasn’t sure why he was so nervous. There was no doubt in my mind that Macey would say yes. She had picked out the ring. Kyle had ordered it and had it shipped to our house since he couldn’t have it shipped to Laos. After it got delivered to the wrong address and went missing for several days, I handed it off to Macey’s mom, Amy, who was flying to Bali to spend Christmas with them. Amy passed the ring to Kyle, and he arranged for Amy and Meredith, Macey’s sister, to be hanging out in the shadows when he proposed. Meredith was able to take some amazing photos of them as Kyle got on his knee to propose. 

Of course, Macey said, ‘Yes,” and we are so happy to add her to our family!

The girls are doing great. Claire became one of 10 Gaines Fellows at UK this year. It is quite an honor to be selected! She has an internship at the Special Collections library, where she is researching and cataloging the creation of Red River Gorge. She also works at the rock wall at the rec center and climbs whenever she gets the chance. We are so proud of all she has accomplished so far.

Emily continues to ply the boards. She was in West Side Story, All Shook Up, And Then There Were None, and Oklahoma! this past year. She teaches dance at JoAnn Fryrear’s, works at Graeter’s, and volunteers for StageOne. She was awarded the Ursuline Education Network Service Award this spring for all of her volunteer work and has made it to the state level for consideration for the Prudential Community Service Award. She’s currently trying to decide on a college, hoping to get a BFA in Musical Theatre.

Kirk and I are eyeing an empty nest and wondering what we will do next. It’s pretty daunting in my mind, but I’m sure that wherever life takes us, it will continue to be a great adventure!