Merry Christmas! I don’t have the physical addresses of all my online friends, so I’ll post a blog version of my Christmas letter. First, my two fine sons smiling down on us:
2008 has been an eventful year for our family. Last December, I finished my Master’s in Library and Information Science. I got to march in graduation on my birthday in June, exactly 21 years from the day I marched for my Master’s in Math.
By February, I was a full-time Children’s Librarian (okay, “Youth Services Manager”) at Herndon Fortnightly Library — the very closest public library to my home.
Timothy is 14, and a Freshman in high school. His big event of the year was being accepted to the local magnet high school, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. TJ was rated the Number One high school in the nation by US News & World Report. It’s an amazing school, and we are so blessed that Tim gets to go there. It’s a public school, so it’s free, and they even provide bus transportation. His favorite class for first semester is Film Study, perhaps influenced by his brother.
Josh, at 20 years old, finished his Bachelor’s degree in Film from Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida. We got to go see him graduate and visited some amusement parks while we were at it. Now Josh is out in Los Angeles, staying with my parents, and looking for jobs in the film industry. So far, he loves LA, particularly all the independent theaters. Kind of funny — he’s near his birthplace (Anaheim), and I’m near mine (Washington, DC). The circle of life?
I spent the year facing the “reality” that, like it or not, I’d be divorced this year. About a week before our first court date in November, our lawyers finally reached an agreement. A few days later, I learned that Steve had a dispute with his lawyer, would not sign the agreement, and was dropping the case! (For now, anyway.)
So, we are still married. And I have no idea what God is up to in our lives. This is what I do know:
— God is good, and God is faithful. He is filling my life with things to be joyful about.
— Being a “career woman” is fun! I really do love being a children’s librarian.
— I love connecting people and books. My website of book reviews, http://www.sonderbooks.com/, is going strong.
— I’m writing again! And that also feels wonderful. I have a book out there being considered by a publisher.
— I am part of a loving, caring community at Gateway Community Church. New and old friends there have been my lifeline.
— Northern Virginia is beautiful! I’m enjoying walking in the woods. I still love taking pictures.
I’m afraid I spend a lot of time online! I’ve gotten a real kick out of connecting with friends from all the different phases of my life via Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=753450664&ref=profile
I’m enjoying posting on three blogs:
This one: www.sonderbooks.com/sonderjourneys A standard blog, musing about life.
www.sonderbooks.com/sonderquotes Quotes from all the great books I’m reading and things I’m learning.
www.sonderbooks.com/sonderblessings A little way to count my blessings and to remember to be joyful.
May you all have a blessed Christmas!
Wishing you much joy,
Sondy Eklund
Have a Happy Holy Christmas!
I have a lead for Josh, but don’t have his contact info. He moved out of your parents and lives in Hollywood now.
My co-worker’s daughter works in the entertainment industry too. I got her number for him. When I went to Marcy’s birthday party to give him the lead, he was not there. I’ll try to leave it at your parent’s place the next time I come over. It’s been a while since I had her phone #. I hope I can find it now.
Love,
Pam
Dear Sondy,
It’s good to hear from you. I also have finished my “Boys in Tanks” formerly the “Young Grenadier” book. A German publisher is interested in having it translated into German and publishing it. I have no clue how all this works, but it’s exciting all the same. I don’t think I quite made my goal of 101 rejection letters, but it’s close!
If and when I get the hard copy maybe you would consider reading the completed project and reviewing it on your website? I would be thrilled if you would. If you would like me to send you the electronic copy, I can do that too. I’m still disappointed that it’s not Hemmingway, but I think the story is good.
Look forward to hearing from you soon.
JoAnne
God is good all the time. You’re living proof. May God’s good gifts surprise you in the coming year.
Hi Sondy,
thank you for keeping in touch ! I think you are one amazing woman, who deserves the best in life 🙂
Sorry that Steve does not see what a wonderful, successfull and smart woman he has married…
On top she made sure his sons get the best education possible 🙂
Wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2009 !!!
Big hug from Germany, you are a great friend !
Melanie
Merry Christmas to you all too!
Enjoyed the photos and update.
Lovely! Thank you!
Happy Holidays to you too! Thank you for the update; I always love hearing how friends are doing. I think I might do an update email or blog as well:) Anyhow, I just wanted to wish you the best of luck and congratulate you on your success! ~Diana
JoAnne, That’s fantastic! I absolutely do want to read your book — It started out so completely intriguing. I was so impressed by all the research you’d done, and the story was so compelling.
Diana, blogs are a lot of fun! As long as you don’t put pressure on yourself to post very regularly! It’s a fun way to express yourself and communicate with friends. And no one has to read it unless they are interested! I finally got started blogging after joining a writers’ group. We all decided it would be great practice. We were in Germany, so we all knew that at the very least, we could write about living in Germany.