Dear friends and family,
I can’t believe that it’s almost Christmas. Our trips around the sun seem to blur faster every year. I have to say this has been a pretty good one for our family.
Allen only had 26 nights on the road this year. In 2022 he was away 75 nights, so a big improvement (and 75 was a big improvement over 2021). I look back to when we were first married and laugh that I cried when he had to go to a conference. The house seemed so lonely. Honestly, it’s been strange (in a good way) to have him home so much this year. There was a rhythm to his travel, and I hate to say that I got used to it. It’s been wonderful to have a more normal life again. He’s still working at Tinker and enjoying his job. This year he injured his foot. It’s feeling much better, but it kept him from playing as much golf. After saving for a long time, he bought a new set of clubs. He’s itching to take them out and break them in!
Amy had a visit from a dear friend this year. They enjoyed catching up in person. She also went to see the Broadway traveling productions of Six and Hamilton this year. Musicals are still her jam, so that was a big deal for her. It looks like her Bartonella is possibly going into remission. This would be a much anticipated improvement. Bartonella is possibly what is keeping her from Lyme remission. Fingers crossed. Her Lyme doc said not to get sick with anything this winter to cause a setback. So, she’s being very careful. Her mast cell dysfunction is under better control with dietary modifications. She hates the restrictions, but she feels so much better. We are still seeing doctors in Texas for many of her issues, but we do a lot of the consults online these days. One good outcome of the pandemic, I guess.
My Bible study group has never started meeting regularly again, since the pandemic. We do get together more regularly to visit and catch up. I’ve been doing my Bible studies alone. I’m now 22 years cancer free. I can’t believe how blessed I am. I challenged myself to scrap 365 pages this year. It didn’t happen. I kind of stalled out at just over 200 pages, but I still count that a win. Jacque and I went to the scrapbook convention in Tulsa this year. It was so much fun! I fell last fall and twisted my ankle. I kept hoping it would heal, because I felt like they’d put me in a boot. I was chauffer for Mom and Amy’s doctor appointments, as well as my own. I finally gave in and saw a doctor in the summer. An MRI showed a torn ligament. Yay. They put me in a boot. But they did agree to me driving if I’d put the boot on again before I walked. The boot and PT healed the tear, but the scar tissue was still causing pain and swelling. They suggested I try shock wave therapy, which was a game changer. It was like magic. I’m now in orthotics to support my arch and doing so much better. I’m still taking infusions for my Psoriatic Arthritis. It makes my immune system less able to recover if I get sick but helps keep my body from attacking itself. I’m very careful about getting exposed to anything. As I write this I’m recovering from a procedure on my back to kill a couple of nerves. My spondylitis was causing a lot of lower back pain, so they decided to see if this would give me some relief. I’m in the days immediately following the ablation so I’m dealing with inflammation. Fingers crossed that it’ll be much better.
David accepted a tenure track Assistant Professorship at Austin College in Sherman, TX. He’d been teaching there for several years, semester to semester. He’s thrilled with the new job. This prompted their family to plan a move to Grapevine. They’ll be moving over the Christmas break. He’ll still have quite a drive to Sherman, but Courtney works in Fort Worth, so they’re splitting the difference.
Courtney was promoted to Principal at Oak Hill Advisors and has taken several trips this year for her job. She tripped and broke her foot in the spring or summer. We were in boots at the same time. She finally needed surgery to fix it. So glad she’s finally doing better, too.
Hannah is in 4th grade. She placed at the district science fair. Nana and Pawpaw were so proud! She also joined a local swim team and is loving it. She’s following in her Daddy’s footsteps, I guess.
Joseph is in kindergarten. He’s enjoying being a “big kid”. He played flag football this year. His team made it to round 2 of the playoffs. He’s really into football and hopes to play for the Sooners someday. This thrills and terrifies his Nana. He and David came up to attend two games with Pawpaw this year, and Allen is going down to attend the Armed Forces Bowl with them in December.
Mom Schones had her 90th birthday. She would not let us throw a party for her, so instead we collected birthday cards. We also had a small family dinner to celebrate. She is active with Bible study, drumming and her work with the women’s auxiliary at Concordia.
Mom Bibens has had a healthy year. No new strokes. Her doctor recently cleared her to have salt again, which was a lovely surprise. Her eyesight has improved considerably. She still has a blind spot in one eye but has been cleared to drive again. She had been without a car for over a year. Hers burned the summer of 2022. She finally got a replacement in November and is thrilled to have wheels again. Thank you to all who helped get her to church and Bible study while she waited to get a car. She lost her boyfriend Ted in the spring. Now one of her dogs, Bitsy, has developed bladder cancer. It’s been a tough year for her.
We still have a zoo. The cats are Figaro 18, Bagheera 13 and Thomas 6. Ro is very thin and frail. He’s in kidney failure, but still happy. Baghee is grouchy and trying to assert that he’s the new boss. Nobody really cares. Thomas is very sweet. He’s a little timid but is learning to hold his own. The dogs are Lucy 12 and Minnie almost 6. Lucy has lost so many pug teeth that her little tongue hangs out almost all the time. She sleeps and snores the day away unless she’s bossing Minnie or the cats. Minnie is a big cuddle bug. She loves to snuggle and kiss. We’ve had Mary the parakeet for 8 years now. She likes to “talk” to us, but she’s less social since she lost her partner Burt. She likes listening to music and looking in her little mirror.
I better wrap this up. We need to get this uploaded. I pray that all of you will have a blessed Christmas and a healthy and happy new year. Don’t be strangers. We enjoy hearing from you. Love to all of you.
Much love,
Missy, Allen and Amy Schones
Schones Family Website 