Christmas 2006
Where does the time go? It seems like I just finished up the 05 Christmas letter and here we go again. It has been a great year with many challenges and countless accomplishments.
Gara Ann…As I briefly shared with you last year … After nearly 20 years with RE/MAX Gara Ann got a terrible urge to change and we are now Keller Williams Realty Agents. Core Values of this Nation Wide company are God, Family and Business. That and a host of other reasons were enough for the change and challenge of building a new business on Marco Island. Gara Ann is an owner and is very involved with the guidance and training of new agents and operation of the office…our 42nd agent signed up today!! The “New” offices are at 713 Bald Eagle Dr. and it is New! The owners totally gutted 4000 SqFt of storefront and finished it into a stunning office. I keep asking myself… What are we doing starting this at our age? The truth is Gara Ann and Carla are doing most of the “Martin Team” work and I am “helping”!
Nathan… STILL NO KIDS! I need to have a father-son talk with that boy. GAM & I are going to be too old to hold a baby by the time he and Gina get around to having one. Don’t they know that the babies are for the grandparents? They are still living in their “swamp”; their home is surrounded by a 5 acre Botanical garden with all the fixins, Cypress, exotic palms and lily filled ponds. Nate works a bit of everyday just keeping the jungle at bay. He has cleaned up most of the hurricane Wilma damage from 05. He gathered up a few buddies, hired a professional roofer (for direction) and replaced his own roof. Saved a bunch of money and did a super job. Gina and Nate’s home was dreary at best when they bought it and they did pretty much a full gut and rebuilt it the way they wanted it. It came out beautiful and they truly enjoy living there. Very well done and a ton of sweat equity by Nate & Gina. Nate did a movie for a developer on Marco about his product; followed the construction of a luxury home from start to finish. He may have found his niche. Old Pongu (the not as smart as Snoopy beagle) is still a part of his family, along with Pinky & Bell (Chihuahuas) 2 snakes + babies and numerous rabbits.
Grannies… We moved my mom from assisted living in Blairsville, GA to Gilmer County Nursing Home in Elljay, GA on the first of October. She really needed the care of a nursing home and is very contented with the move. She likes the food and accommodations but she loves the attention she gets… Says “People I don’t even know stop by and say “hi Jean”… Sister Beth has worked here for some years as a nurse (and as a volunteer on her off days) and has asked her friends and co-workers to visit mom in passing. I’m putting my name on the waiting list there – it’s that nice.
Grandma Toalson… Gara Ann and sister Alice moved their mom to a studio apartment this summer. It is in the same Arkanshire building, but a little smaller space. She is as pretty as ever and has many friends at Arkanshire.
June 1 and the SDS (storm defense system) was in place. The Marco home was set at DEFCON 2. All windows and doors shuttered, boat in garage and ready for the worst so I could enjoy Georgia without worry. I spent every other month at the cabin, starting with April. (4 months) WOW! The Retreat (at Sunrise Gap) is structurally done and all that is needed is hanging “stuff” on the walls. A neighbor complained about my 25’ motor home (I left it in GA for the summer) so I built a 40’ X 22’ barn to hide it. We haven’t painted “See Rock City” on the roof yet! The garage is full of tools, jeeps, bikes and Lord only knows what all, so now we start to fill the barn. At least 5 times a week I’d run up to Ellijay to visit mom, Twice a week to Murphy for Flea market, Chopping dead trees and burning, visits to Hooper Mountain (family) and making sawdust in the garage.. Not to mention Skylarking on the bikes and jeeps (toys)… Time flies and before I know it is time to head back to Marco.
Gara Ann came up for short visits between her busy schedules at the office but still managed to work half days while there. With Carla manning the home office, Hi-speed, Fax, Internet in the cabin office and the cell phone She can list and sell and do business as well there as home. Isn’t technology great?
Riding with Nate… I packed the camper near the end of February and headed for the center of the state for an annual old engine show; three days there and on to Daytona for Bike Week. Nate rode up with a friend and spent 5 days there, camping with me and enjoying the sights and sounds!!! I, being the age that I am, was in bed by 9 PM every night but Nate never got home till 1 AM. I would wake up every night around 12 and call to check on him (He’s only 28 yrs old), but he uses good judgment and was as safe, as Daytona would allow.
Nate flew up to Blue Ridge for a visit with Granny (she was ailing) in June, stayed for 4 days, and came home in the car with GAM & me. Nate, a friend, nephew Josh & I took dirt bikes into the Cashes Valley for a day ride and really had a ball. I’ve said it before but it is worth repeating… Sure is fun riding with your son either dirt or Harley. It just don’t get no better than that.
Loaded up the camper near the end of October and headed for Columbia, MO for Mizzou - Oklahoma game. Spent one might in Mexico, MO campground and dinner with Gerry Villars our adopted Toalson mother. (Gerry is recovering now from major surgery, but seems to be on the mend.) Arrived at Camp Toalson (brother Bill’s) on Friday in time to watch Cardinals win the Series in the comfort of nephew Davy’s sports bar & restaurant, D’Rowe’s. GAM went to the football game on Saturday and watched Mizzou ‘get whipped’. On the road back to Blue Ridge that night and arrived 12 hours later. On the 30th Gara Ann drove the van home to Marco and Happy & I followed with the camper and trailer (loaded with bike and misc.). Went back to spend Thanksgiving with Mom & sister Beth’s Family. Cabin closed down for the winter but I will be back April 1st. (Lord Willing)
Last 2005 Christmas letter said I was on my way for B-day trip (Dec 29th) to Key West. Nate came along to keep me out of trouble and Gara Ann came along with the bail money in case we both got in trouble. Nate & I rode the Harleys into town for a Friday night on the town (father/son quality time) and Gara Ann stayed in camp waiting for “that Call”. We managed to get back to camp by 1AM, intact. Nate rode home the following day and Gara Ann & I did the street that day. Gara Ann managed to find a TV and was able to enjoy the MIZZOU 38-31 win over South Carolina. MIZZOU WON!
GAM has spent time in Austin, Texas (home of Keller Williams) and Las Vegas for KW convention, but managed to make several stops in Fayetteville, AR before or after to see Mother and the Peiser family. (You would think those were her kids.) Oh yes “the kids” like to come to Marco for spring break and we enjoy having them too.
Another GAM highlight was a reunion in Carmel, CA with great friends…Elaine Hansen Warren, Margot Sturgeon Baker and Cilla Mow Weber… friends forever. Margot was the hostess with the mostest. We all had a GREAT time.
After much planning and praying a new First Baptist Church Marco Island Building is a certainty. The plans are completed and approved; the funds are 80 percent in place and we are geared up for a new church. Growth of the “flock” is incredible, particularly in the younger families and youth areas and space is at a premium. Demolition of the “old” is underway and the new will be coming out of the ground before long. God has blessed us with an incredible staff and ‘servant’ church family members. We are ‘On Mission for God.’
All the fun, the material blessings, the
successes, the relationships we enjoy and have mentioned are gifts from God,
but the REAL JOY both now and forever begins when we surrender ourselves to
Him. He is perfect and good…we are not… but when we surrender our lives to Him,
then the true Christmas Gift becomes ours…life through the gift of His Son,
Jesus Christ. John 3:16
We are thankful for all you mean to us. God Bless You! Merry Christmas!