December 2023 Update

They say as people get older, they tend to talk too much about their physical infirmities.  So, in order to keep that going, I’m going to talk about mine.

 

I had my last physical therapy session in late November.  Now I am on maintenance exercises, and so far I’ve been good about doing them.  I also had a physical with my primary care doctor, and she said I’m in pretty good health, other than the known issues.  One of those known issues I’ve been dealing with for years is an occasional problem swallowing.  It feels like food is stuck somewhere in my throat and won’t go down.  I’ve had a procedure done about once every 3-5 years where my GI doctor uses a balloon-like thing to stretch my lower esophageal sphincter, and usually that has taken care of it until my acid reflux shrinks it again over a few years.  The last time I had that procedure done, the issue returned much quicker than it had in the past, so my GI doctor (you know you’re getting old when you have a primary doctor, a urologist, a podiatrist, and a GI doctor that you see too often) ordered a barium swallow test.  They determined from that that I should see a thoracic surgeon to see if I should get my large hiatal hernia surgically repaired.  I have an appointment for that in January, so add one more doctor!

 

So, basically, I’m falling apart, and I remember now my Grandpa Taylor telling me as he struggled to get his leg into a car because of his bad knee, “Never get old, Greg.”  I’m trying to make light of it all, but truly, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain,” (Php 1:21) and I truly believe that, but I also believe in the power of prayer, and I covet your prayers for me over all these issues.

 

We had a pretty relaxing Thanksgiving because the remote families all stayed remote, and the local families all did something elsewhere.  So the only ones around our table were the kids that still live at home, Zach, Jem, and Levi, plus Zach’s girlfriend, Brandi.  Still the food was delicious, and the day was great fun.

 

Our excitement this past month was the change in status for Brandi.  She is now Zach’s fiancée!  They got engaged on December 9, and here's a picture of the happy couple.

 

My barbershop chorus sang again this year at a local mall.  I had noticed for the last few years, even before COVID, that the malls are a lot less busy these days.  I expect it’s because most people do a lot more online shopping, and I’m sure that’s true, but I noticed a lot more traffic at the mall this year.  Maybe people are swinging back toward more local shopping?  I think that’s a good thing.  Online is cool and convenient, but sometimes it’s good to actually see and feel and try the things before you buy them.

 

At our church this month, I’ve been in a small band that’s playing Christmas carols between our two morning services.  My daughter, Ella, is playing piano with us too, and I dusted off my trombone to play.  It’s been fun, and we have one more Sunday of doing it.  If you’re in our area, and you want a Christmas Eve morning service, our church is having candlelight services at 8:30 and 10:30AM, and we’d love to have you.  My family will be at the 8:30 service and then Ella and I and the rest of the group will be in the lobby playing carols, so if you come, stop and say “Hi!”

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

The print is a little hard to read, so here’s what it says:

The Matthews Family

This year we celebrated Amelia and Ben’s wedding, and

welcomed Nora Updegrove (pictured right with big sister, Lena)

 

The picture on the top left is (obviously) from Amelia and Ben’s wedding.  She had all of her nieces and nephews as “flower babies.”  They all came up the aisle while pulling the youngest four in a wagon as they scattered flower petals.  Ben is holding Maya Shaw (Abigail and Bernie), and then left to right is Alma Mickle (Hannah and Kevin) holding Truman Sommer (Ella and Cody), Bea Rhode (Kortney and Mat), Lena Updegrove (Caitlin and Ben) being held by Hazel Sommer, in front of her is Ansa Mickle, then Daisy Rhode holding Dorothy Matthews (Cai and Amy), then Josie Sommer, Ruby and Milo Wilkinson (Carissa and Matt), Ivy Sommer, Alex Mickle, and finally Gus Rhode.

Nora was born on September 28, 2023, less than a week after the wedding.  We are highlighting Lena and Nora together because Lena was born on December 21, 2021, after the 2021 Christmas card had been sent out, and she hadn’t yet been highlighted.