Christmas and New Year's Greetings from Jan and Reg Hollinger

Greetings and Best Wishes to our family and friends everywhere! We hope that our annual message finds you well and prospering. As the year draws to a close Janice and I are looking back on a memorable 2011, which was topped off by a fun-filled Christmas gathering with our children and their families.

This Christmas was one of the most magical in memory for us, as we enjoyed it through the eyes and experiences of our 19-month-old grandson Caden, while filled with anticipation of the arrival of our second grandchild in April.

A highlight of the year past for Janice and me was a 16 day European adventure appropriately dubbed by our tour company the “European Whirl.” We visited eight countries in 14 days with a day of travel "across the pond” on each end. Our trek began in London, England and continued on through France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and back to France. We were seeking an overview of the continent and we got what we signed up for. We shared our motor coach with a collection of fun loving traveling companions from around the English-speaking world, including Janice’s sister, Kris, and her husband, Dave. We saw just enough at every stop along the way to get us thinking about where me might want to spend more time if we should ever return. We have no immediate plans to do so, but it’s fun to dream.

Janice is still

teaching at East Elementary School in the village of Ashley, but made the transition in August from grade 2 to grade 3. She reflected again recently, as she does from time to time that, “I can’t imagine myself working anywhere else.”She has clearly found her “calling” among the students and families she serves. She loves her students, seemingly working around the clock on their behalf, and I have seen much evidence that they have great love and respect for her, too.

She relishes her role as Caden's "Grandma Janice."

Shona and Jason and their two Shih Tzus are still living in Thornville, a little over an hour away, where Shona continues as a guidance counselor at Licking Valley High School. Jason is still teaching 8^th grade science at Sheridan Middle

School and coaching football and track at the High School. They, and we, are very excited about the approaching birth of their baby (gender unknown)

who is expected at the end of April.

Tyler and Kristin are still only 15 minutes away in Ostrander. Their son, Caden, seems comfortable in his role as “little man” of the house. He competes with his Shih Tzu puppy “big sister” for his parents’ attention and continues to be a source of great joy and amusement

for everyone in the family. Mom and Dad both teach, second grade and sixth grade respectively, in the city of Worthington, a northern suburb of Columbus.

Although I am in my second year of retirement from teaching, I’m keeping myself out of

trouble by working as a part-time driving instructor and as a part-time member of the front desk staff at our city’s new Community Center/YMCA. I have the great privilege and delight of spending every Friday with Caden while his parents go to work. I continue to partner with a friend in sharing the leadership of an adult Sunday School class at William Street United Methodist Church.

Janice and I try to live daily in gratitude for life’s abundant blessings among which we count each and every one of you.

With love,

Reg and Janice