The Roosa Register 2 — The Year of Our Lord 2021 All The News That Fits , We Print
Revelries, Reunions, Road Trips “Do not give up the habit of meeting together, as some have been doing.”— Hebrews 10:25 (The Living Bible)
P
art of us says, “Let’s just make this whole letter a photo album with captions and be done with it!” Truly, for all the photo mania that has engulfed our families (Both surnames are photophiles), none can surpass the shutter speed of 2021. Makes sense seeing as how 2021 was the travel antidote to stay-at-home 2020. Vaccinated and masked, we took advantage of eased travel restrictions to attend weddings, overnight with families, take road trip vacations and hold reunions with classmates — some planned, some impromptu — while resuming work and ministry escapades as well.
Vikki completed her 55-for-55 running goal then began a new marketing job to hold us all together. Mike returned to the road presenting humor keynotes in schools while fielding writing and directing offers.
Camille received two work promotions, recovered from a health scare that inspired an inspiring weightlifting body makeover .
Vanetta celebrated a milestone birthday, “adopted” a missionary child, and found a pair of churches to unleash her worship vocals.
Otrie thrived as a cloistered composer, turning his bible studies
into musical scores of Psalms and John’s Gospel.
Hanan joined the ranks of the employed to develop a homey mancave to host the cadre of friends he reconnected with after two years in Singapore.
Have Shots, Can Travel
W
e didn’t realize how much until now, but the Good People of 1723 spent a lot of time on the road again. Not counting Camille’s semi-monthly drives back to visit college friends in the Quad Cities, and Hanan’s jobtreks to Wisconsin, work and play found us lingering in DC, Indy, Atlanta, LA, Virginia Beach and Nashville. We got touristy at Arlington National Cemetery, Colonial Williamsburg, The Martin Luther King Center, Pigeon Forge, TN, The Moonshine Museum, and Santa Claus, IN.
A
long the way ho-ho-home we met long-missed cousins, high school and college classmates, and reestablished ministry and theater connections. Most importantly, Vik and Mike created “Just Us” time: 365 days of reading through entire Bible together, a monthly date night, and taking our first non-business, unfamilied trip in 28 years. A second honeymoon. Where nobody knew our name. Branson, MO. And met someone. And loved every blessed minute. Enjoy your blessings.
Rites of
Milestones • Birthdays: Vanetta (6-oh!), Cousin Freda (75), Sister Marva (Trombones — 76). • Houses: New kitchen appliances! 419 Congress in Indy (makeover!) . • Theater: Mike’s new play, “Colors of Thunder,” produced by Improv Playhouse, Libertyville, IL. • Ministry: Launched online program, “An Evening with Kingdom Impact Theater,” and resumed live Sunday worship with Connection Church, Libertyville, IL.
Rites of Passage Brian Parker, nephew Ray Barrett, cousin
Raven and Brie The last week of September was mournful. Monday, September 27, Vanetta said goodbye to Brie, her beloved toy fox terrier who’d come with her from California. Brie had been ill. We saw it coming. Still… That Friday, October 1, we unexpectedly needed to put Raven, the cat who owned us, to sleep. We adopted Raven and her late brother, BJ, our first Christmas on Roosa when Camille was 5. We were all able to gather and thank her. Pets are people, too. We have mementos. Good night, sweet paw prints.
Mike, Vikki & Camille & The Good People
The Spice and Times of Mike, Vikki, Camille & all the guests of The Myers Place 1723 Roosa Lane, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007