Christmas Letter, 2002
The Bible is true, and daily we see the consequences of men, women and
children failing to give God due respect. As Christmas approaches hope
is renewed as we again celebrate the birth of Jesus who was born to eventually
take the penalty of our failure in his death.
In addition the season brings us to our annual newsletter, which in turn
reminds us how good our Lord has been to us as we think through our family
events of the last year.
As the years progress it seems there is more happening and more to give
thanks for, if only because there are more of us!
Our parents
At the top of our genealogical tree are our parents.
Elizabeth's mother (now 88) shows us how active and interested in life
we can all be. She keeps in positive spirits allowing some circulation
and eyesight problems to slow her only slightly. Ken's parents (now 91
and 88) are still independent - Dad has just renewed his licence to drive
his sporty little red Honda - and as clear-headed as ever.
Our parents were significant people at two family reunions this year,
one for the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Derwent (Elizabeth's
father's) family in Australia and another for the 75th anniversary of
the Chiswell (Ken's paternal grandmother's) family.
Ken and Elizabeth
At the next branch there is us.
The Professional Computing Centre has continued to dominate Ken's life.
The business continued to grow, there were staff changes, and while the
business is now something to be proud of, it is very demanding. He plays
the piano at church and runs a radio program every other week.
Elizabeth has either been working at the business also, or been baby-sitting
for our daughter Anna when she works there. Liz has recently been doing
part-time work back at her old job, Oncology Nurse at the Nowra Community
Health Centre.
We greatly enjoyed a month's trip in May up through central NSW and Queensland,
visiting Carnarvon Gorge, our friends the Grays in Richmond, Qld, then
to Lorne Hill National Park, and across the top of Qld and NT to Borroloola.
In our few days with Prue and David a highlight was sleeping on the beach
of an uninhabited island in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Crossing the gulf again we went to Undara Lava Tubes, south to Maryborough
to visit niece Ruth and family, then to Bunya Palms National Park and
home. Our Pajero with its roof-top tent worked really well again.
Our children
Next, our children and growing number of grandchildren - now 8! Peter and Virginia continue living in Unanderra, Peter teaching at Illawarra Senior College, active in the radio-controlled model car club, providing articles and photos to the magazines. Their big achievement this year has been the arrival of Ethan in May, a wonderful little boy who takes after his father in physique and grandfather in charm. Virginia has taken leave from nursing to care for Ethan Chris and Brooke did a lot more to their house before their beautiful daughter Laura was born in June. Chris continues to support Ken in the business, and Brooke (who was our office manager) is on stand-by at home when office problems come up. Both of these daughters-in-law have proved to be wonderful mothers, breast-feeding their babies. We would trust our grandchildren with them any day. We have had several enjoyable visits from Sam, Ben and Eliza (Christopher's children) and they are doing well. Simeon and Kelly have demanding jobs in Sydney, leaving them little spare time. Simeon is manger for electronic publications for Lexis Nexis, Kelly a senior lawyer with the ABC. We enjoy spending time with them and appreciate their occasional advice. Anna has been a wonderful back-up in the office while we appointed a new office manager. We have seen a lot of her, Andrew and their children Joshua, Elisha and Jacob and it has been wonderful to get to know the children so well. Andrew has accepted a job in Mildura in the new year, so they will be leaving their home in Shoalhaven Heads with its new gardens, garage and aviaries to move 10 hours drive away. Our friendsIt would be wrong not to mention our gratitude for the ongoing support and interest of our friends and family. You must be one of these, otherwise you would not have read this far! Thank you, and we trust that you will find comfort and hope in Jesus in a threatening and uncertain world.
On Elizabeth's birthday,. 2002
Brooke and Chris with Laura, Eliza, Ben and Sam, July 2002
From bottom left: Simeon, Brooke, Chris, Elizabeth
Virginia, Pa, Nana, Anna
Ken and Elizabeth Joyce
June 2002
Granny Derwent with (clockwise from bottom left)
Angelika Kelly, Caspian Snoswell,Sam Joyce, Joshua Thompson,
Eliza & Ben Joyce, Elisha and Jacob Thompson, Elijah Snoswell.
Jacob's 2nd birthday, January 2002
Nana & Pa Joyce with
Michael, Susan and Claudia (their great-grand-daughter) Neberding
Wagga, August 2002
Lottie (Elizabeth's mother) and Robbie Derwent
(Elizabeth's great-uncle) plant a
150 year memorial tree, Oatley, October 2002
Chiswell reunion. Clockwise from left:
Roger, Pa, Nana, Julie, Barbara, Adam, Cathy,
Michael & Ken Joyce
Camping at Kingfisher Camp. northern western Qld, April 2002
At Lorne Hill National Park, north west Qld, April 2002
Lorne Hill gorge, north west Qld, April 2002
On the top road, across the Gulf of Carpentaria
between the NT/Qld border and Borroloola
David and Prue Sidey (Elizabeth's sister)
with their boat in Borolloola, April 2002
Ethan Richard Joyce, (4 months old)
September 2002