Schield Family Newsletter 2010

Each year I send out queries to various cousins to get news of their family's doings the past year. Pat Werth sent a detailed report and rather than try to summarize it and risk leaving something out, I've added it in here as a separate post. Thanks, Pat.

Here is the Schield news letter. It does take time to get everyone to respond, doesn't it? I only have 6 to worry about! Mom is just out of the hospital. The diagnosis is beginning Alzheimers but several of her children don't believe it - we think it is more related to her blood sugars. Dan is going down next weekend for a few days. One good outcome is that a home nurse is coming in each day to get her started - we all think that will relieve pressure on Dad, but at 90 and 93 they are doing well.

We celebrated Mom’s 90th birthday in February (above is 2009 photo) with most of the Schield children and their spouses, three granddaughters and two great grandchildren sharing a beach house with Mom and Dad in Florida. Weather could have been warmer, but that did not stop us from having a good time. Mom and Dad are doing as well as can be expected at their ages.

The Schield children (above in 2009 photo) have not moved, but their children are all over the world. David and Becky’s Jessica is living in Maui. Son Jeff is a personal trainer in Sarasota, Florida and is also coaching soccer for a local club organization. Grace is a freshman at UNI (University of Northern Iowa) where she is a walk-on soccer player who spent this season recovering from minor knee surgery. Her intention is to become a high school history teacher.

Jim, Shawn, Brieana and Jonah live in Arlington, VA. Brieana is going to NOVA community college and plans to transfer to George Mason University in the fall. Her passion continues to be working with children and one day hopes to be a teacher. She is a wonderful mommy to Jonah who will be 2 in March. Brandon lives in San Diego and works at a landscaping business owned by a friend and often goes to LA to play his music, which is still his passion.

Mary Alice is struggling with life and needs many prayers to help her find her way. Joey is living in Petaluma and surprised many of us with his knowledge of all the 100 best football players of all time ­ he knew them all!!!

Wendy is working in Boulder as a hygienist. Daughter Brittany finishes university in San Francisco in time to go to Paris with her mother for Christmas. Christmas lunch at Le Train Bleu; ­ I am jealous!! Son Patrick is living in Seattle.

Dan and Bobbi’s Miranda took a marketing position with Veolia Environmental Services in Chicago in the fall of 2009 and is very happy there. Michael is starting his second year as a golf pro in Shenzhen, China and Emily is in her last year at U of WI. She had an internship in London this past summer – not much work I think – more traveling!!

[Son-in-law Nino Rabbaa's] Santa Rosa restaurant, Rendez Vous Bistro (above), is doing well even in this economy and he will open another restaurant about a block away sometime early in 2011. It will be an upscale burger bar. There will also be another great grandchild for Mom and Dad as Megan and Nino are expecting their second daughter in January. Juliana started kindergarten in the fall and is very excited about the coming baby. Justin works at the restaurant and also still plays with his band.

Never Never Land (the family cottage in Hatfield) got a little sprucing up this past summer, thanks to Becky and David. A little reorganization in the kitchen area and new flooring, some new carpet in one of the bedrooms, a fresh paint job highlight the work so it is ready for a 'hopeful' McCorry Cousin's gathering sometime perhaps in 2011.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Pat