Topic: Family News

Happy New Year everyone!  Don and Colleen just returned from a Christmas, New Year Holiday in Oceanside, California with Cheryl, Ron, Brad and Ronda.  We had a wonderful time in the sun with our family.  One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to Catalina Island with the entire family.  It was a beautiful, warm day and no crowds to slow down our rented golf carts.  But the best part of the trip was simply being with the people we love.

Now that the holidays are in full swing, and we are all knee deep in our preparations for Christmas 2002, let's take a few moments to send Christmas wishes and remember the "reason for the season".
First of all, I'm so tired of all the "politically correct" greetings and am going to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, yes! Christmas... the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
So many traditional events here in San Diego - Christmas on the Prado for example is now called December Nights. These traditions are being renamed not to offend other religions, yet more and more events are targeted at non-christian religions without a second thought. Our childrens Christmas Pageants are now Holiday Celebrations, the Living Nativity scene at a local park was not allowed this year.
I for one, am wishing everyone I see and greet with a joyful and pointed "Merry Christmas".
I would like to send special greetings to my wonderful Mother and Father, who took the time to teach me right from wrong, cherish my family and always try to smile.
I am so gifted to have a loving husband and a wondeful, bright, caring son. How many Mom's can actually say their child takes the time at least once a week to visit her?
I am truly blessed indeed.
I'd like to wish my brother's family all the love and happiness that they deserve and send special wishes to all my family members accross the country and throughout the world!
One wonderful thing about family is that you can fall out of touch, but always have them in your hearts and get to know family that you didn't really know too well and take them into your hearts... more than just your friends, they are your family!
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, may Jesus smile upon you all, have a peaceful, joyful year and I love you all...

<font face="arial" size="2">Donald R. Fenrich Jr. has submitted some great new photos of their visit to Michigan with Aunt Lorraine & Uncle Nick, and the new 2002 school photos of the children of Donald R. Fenrich III. Take a look!
Donald's children are all absolutely cute as buttons, but Kristi Lynn Fenrich is a knockout... He's gonna have to get out the old baseball bat!

Colleen and Don Fenrich, Jr. visited and dined with Lorraine Louise Fenrich Day, Nicolas L. Day and Patt Bourcier Braun 10/9 at the Doherty Hotel restaurant in Clare, MI. We then spent a full day with Lorraine and Nick on 10/10/02 in their lovely Beaverton, MI home. Lorraine and Nick are very interested in the Fenrich Family history although they do not have internet or email capability. Lorraine prepared a delicious ham dinner on 10/10 and she and Nick spent several hours providing me and Colleen with much data and photo ID information which will appear on the FF website in future weeks. Lorraine is the eldest Fenrich and daughter of Bertram E. Fenrich, SR! Her siblings are our mothers and fathers.

Patt Bourcier Braun was her normal self...still bubbly and beautiful. She lives close to Lorraine and Nick and works as an accountant with a local firm. Photos of all will appear soon....stay tuned for future developements.

Donald R Fenrich, Jr.

<font face="Arial"><font size="2">With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I'd like to remind everyone to count your blessings in life and be thankful for all the wonders that surround us every day. We are all so fortuante to have families that love us, the beauty of nature and the ease of modern day life.
As I look back and reflect on the lives of our ancestors, who had to work much harder to put a decent meal on the table for their children, I realize that we are all very blessed indeed.