Donna’s 2010 LATE Christmas Letter:

2010 was like so many years. I worked, gardened, watched my grandchildren grow, had another birthday. My children are awesome and I am blessed with a job and a home and a wonderful church family and amazing friends. But if that is all that happened, my letter would be rather boring to write and even more boring to read. 2010 was really a year of mountaintop experiences for me.

After working thru every tax season for 23+ years, I actually took two weekends off in February. The first weekend I got to walk the DON OSBORNE LIBRARY MEMORIAL RUN in Oakdale, CA. My father in law died 15 years ago but they still honor him by raising money for the city library. Getting to do this event was something I dreamed about doing for years. The weekend of the run coincided with my first days out of a walking boot (recovering from two different foot surgeries). Being there was amazing. I got to walk the streets where my father in law taught me to run. Running is something that has shaped most of my adult life and though I walk now instead of run, I often think of the many lessons Dad Osborne taught me as we ran. The best part is that I got to touch and hug each of my sister in laws and nieces and nephews (all but one made the trip and I got to hug her and her family in October!). These are kids whose diapers I had changed.. kids I learned to love along with my own kids 30 years ago. It was such a treat for me I am still glowing from that one weekend. I will treasure it for many years. I also got to reconnect with a sister in law that I had not seen for 30 years. She surprised me in so many ways… different but the same. I loved her then..Both my sisters by marriage are amazing women, survivors, women who shaped me and mentored me. I owe them much.

Two weeks later Steph, the kids, and I drove to Bremerton, WA to watch Rachael skate 2 bouts (ROLLER DERBY) with the Central Coast Roller Derby Girls in the Wild West Smackdown. It was awesome and even though no one else came from SLO town to cheer for them, we cheered loud enough to make up for that. We celebrated a hard win by going out to eat with these great ladies in Bremerton and with my nephew, Chris.

In May I broke my ankle while hiking with Rachael in San Luis Obispo and so I got to wear that attractive walking boot a few more weeks. Patience I got to practice alot. My folks visited in June. I always enjoy them. The “girls” got together for a week at the coast in July where we celebrated sisterhood in the most amazing time. Josh’s son, Caleb turned 1 on August 14th. Life was good but it got better.

In September Joshua and Amanda married. It was a beautiful wedding and Amanda was a beautiful bride. They included the family wonderfully with Amber as her maid of honor and Blake as a groomsman. We were blessed with so many wonderful loved ones and friends who came to share this happy event. Almost all of the Osborne clan arrived from California and even my sister in law from Florida came to be there for Josh and Amanda. My family and friends came. My nieces and nephews came and partied the reception down. Josh and Amanda began the journey of their life together with the greatest send off possible. Family is important to both of them and they felt loved by all. My time with my sisters by marriage, Donna and Patt… (sisters, really), was the icing on the cake for me.

In October, Connie and I did the Inaugural Portland Half Marathon in the pouring down rain. We both recovered from surgeries last December and who knows how much physical therapy. We set the goal (paid the money) and got it done. Rain was a bit fitting, I suppose. Life is never the way you plan it. But the question is what do you do when faced with changes you do not like? We walked 13.1 miles in the pouring down pounding rain. And finished.


Later that month, I traveled to Guatemala and stayed with my other friend, Connie (sounds like I have only 2 friends and they are both named Connie!) in Panajachel. We worked with an organization called Mayan Families whose mission it is to serve the Mayan’s in the highlands. We built stoves, delivered food, shoes, & clothing. Seeing hungry people is sobering. We passed out shoes to children, who didn’t just need a NEW pair of shoes; they just needed ANY PAIR of shoes. And we ran out. I had to look in the eyes of little boys who daily walk miles on rocky trails with bare feet to tell them that we had no more shoes. I will carry that forever.

November we celebrated Blake’s 13th birthday on Thanksgiving. Our family talked about the real meaning of the coming Christmas season and vowed to have a different holiday. And we did. We celebrated each other. We celebrated the children and health and great food and love and struggles. We spent very little on gifts and put the emphasis on togetherness.

Let us determine to be agents of change. http://http://muttcats.com/starfish.htm
It is time to start saving starfish even if we can't save them all. It matters! As a very intelligent woman I know suggested, let’s "START A REVOLUTION" to be a light and change the world. Let’s feed the hungry, dig wells for safe drinking water, provide access to medical care, educate children. God has blessed us greatly. Let’s bless others with our bounty in 2011.. lets change the world! DKU