2013-12 Greetings From the Scrivener's

8/13/2019 2013-12 Greetings From the Scrivener's

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From the home of

We have been remiss at sending out our annualChristmas letter that connects us with family and friends

far and near for a couple of years. Well tryto catch up

on a few of the highlights!

Richard & Laura

Christmas 2013

In November 2013, Jennifer and Todd and the grandkidsvisited us in Arizona. Jennifer (with Lucas peeking over

her back), Todd, Sarabel and Richard in the Desert

Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, AZ.

Below Sarabel (quite the photographer!) and Papa chat

about cacti at the Desert Botanical Gardens while Lucas

and Mommy admire some fish at the Sea Life Arizona

Aquarium in Tempe, AZ.

In May 2012, Lauras sister Vi, and our daughters

Jennifer and Carol, hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

in Peruor should I say, they attempted. Laura got

altitude sickness so she and Vi hiked out instead of over

the mountains on the 2nddayand arrived via bus and

train to meet the girls at Machu Picchu!

We have been enjoying spending part of the winter

in Mesa, Arizona, USA. Laura can do nearly all of

her work and studies from there so she gets to

spend much of the winter in AZ. Richard is looking

forward to days when he can spend more time

under the blue skies and warm sunshine of an

Arizona winter but appreciates the brief reprieves

he is able to capture.

Whether in Saskatoon or in Arizona, if we are home

the door is open. Visitors are always welcome!!!

Facebook: Laura Smith Scrivener Email: [email protected]


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We welcomed our second grandson in May 2013. Lucas

is not a sleeper (I think he has an allergy that hell likely

outgrow when hes a teenager!) so for his Mom - skirting

the edge of exhaustion has been her reality. But precious

he is! Lucas is already crawling and pulling himself up on

things! Nothing and no-where is safe now!

Welcome charming Lucas William Bond

Born: May 23, 2013

Parents: Jennifer and Todd Bond

We welcomed our fourth granddaughter in August 2012.

Karley is a sweetheartshes got such a twinkle in her

eyes! She makes every effort to keep up or pass her

older brother Braedon! She walked early and has been

running ever since!

Welcome sweet Karley Rachelle ScrivenerBorn: August 15, 2012

Parents: Bradley and Kimberley Scrivener

Lauras mom passed away on December 20, 2011 after

what became a relatively brief and uncomfortable run-in

with an aggressive cancer. The picture below was takenin July 2011.

Mom enjoyed her many years at Cedar Manor in

Nipawin. Living there gave her a social life and friends

close by. Every spring she helped plant the flowers that

welcome everyone. They were always so beautiful.

Richards Dad passed away on January 6, 2013. He lived

with congestive heart failure his last few years. Below isa picture of Dad, taken at our wedding in 1977.

Dad was able to enjoy many of his favourite activities to

the end. Mom is still in their home in PA. Her cousin Betty

stays with her and keeps her company much of the time.

ee Scrivener


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...Meet Hope! In the spring of 2012 we

welcomed a delightful chocolate lab into our family.

Hopes energy level keeps Richard very active! Hope

is marvellous with the grandkids. She can play catch

for hours!!! Of course, she has grown much since

we got her. Shell be 2 this coming March. She

comes to work every morning, and when she wassmall enough, Richards backpack was her favourite

place to curl up and sleep (or sneak his lunch from!)

Isnt she beautiful? We adore her!

Costa Rica fun! In February 2013, Richard and

I travelled to Costa Rica with our industry friends

(PEP Group) from Toronto, Mississauga, and

Windsor, ON and Bridesville, BC. We had a

wonderful eight day holiday together.

We spent the first half of the working vacation at aresort in the Arenal Volcano area. We went ziplining

and visited a facility that housed children who had

been removed from their homes. We had brought

supplies with us for the children at the Hogaracito.

We spent the last few days at a resort on Conchal

Beach, with a drive-by tour of a geothermal plant

on the way to Conchal from Arenal. From the

rainforest and mountains to the Pacific beaches,

Costa Rica is a country of beauty and vibrancy.

Awesome PEP Group fun and

relaxation!


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L-R (Top) Visiting school children in a small village along the Rio Negro, school boat, Rio Negro archipelago as seen from

the air (Middle) Life along the Rio Negro, M/Y Tucano, vibrant Amazon sunrise (Bottom) piranha fishing, eating the

piranha we caught, Amazon safaricanoe ride, village boy, local people making BBQ skewers.

The Meeting of the Waterson the Amazon River occurs about 8 miles from Manaus, Brazil, when the "white" Solimoes

River meets the "black" Rio Negro and form the Amazon River. Due to differing densities and the speed of flow, it takes

many miles before the two rivers blend together. Below is a picture of where the two types of water converge.

In August 2013, Laura travelled to Salvador, Brazil to attend the Annual International

Meetings (AIM) of CISV. The final evening wasCarnivaland Laura became a peacock!

Following AIM, Laura embarked on a trip to explore in the Amazon. She flew into Manaus,

Brazilthe heart of Amazonia, and spent five days on the M/Y Tucano (river boat). Each

day was full from 5:45 AM until 9:00 PM - canoe excursions to search for birds and

animals, trekking, visiting an Indigenous communityan Amazon safari!On her last day,

Laura flew over the area in a Cessna to see the view from above. Amazing!!!!


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Our children are all doing well, and we are very proud of each oneand oh, so happy!

Our grandkids overflow our hearts. Heres a few pictures from the last couple of years of our children and grandchildren


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In December 2011, we travelled to Seoul, South Korea to

attend the wedding of Lauras sister Vis son, Rhett to

EunJoo Noh. Rhett has lived and taught in South Korea

for many years. We were thrilled to attend and be a part

of their special day.

Vi and I wore traditional Korean hanbok for the wedding.

After the wedding we travelled to the Philippines where

we spent time with some of Lauras CISV friends in

Manila, volunteering at He Cares Mission in Quezon City,

and vacationing (with Vi and her family) on Cebu.

He Cares MissionProject 6, Quezon City, Metro

Manila, Philippineshttp://www.hecaresfoundation.com/

Eating a lunch with a number of some of the kids at the

He Cares Mission. The mission has about 25 kids that live

there and during the day the numbers grow by leaps and

bounds as street kids from the neighbourhood come for

food, showers, clean clothes, and hugsall supplied by

the mission.

Lauras friend Tom has a farm in a rainforest in eastern

Philippines! We thoroughly enjoyed our day at the farm

napping, strolling, and eating!!

We had a relaxing time on the island of Cebu. Wecrashed the honeymoon and Lauras sisters family

Christmas! Together we decorated a little hotel

palm into a beautiful Christmas tree! Santa found

us all

Eating lunch with some of the kids at the He Cares

Mission. The mission has about 25 kids that there.

During the day the number grows by leaps andbounds as street kids from the neighbourhood come

for food, showers, clean clothes, and hugsall

supplied by the mission. The place is bare bones

basic, and provides home and love to so many.
http://www.hecaresfoundation.com/http://www.hecaresfoundation.com/http://www.hecaresfoundation.com/http://www.hecaresfoundation.com/

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2013-12 Greetings From the Scrivener's