Family Update – Marty Kantola’s Family

Since we have blogging experience, I (Kristi) have been “nominated” to represent our family on this blog :)

My parents (Marty & Debbie) recently went to McCall and Boise to visit Grandma Edith Kantola. It’s a beautiful time of year in McCall and they had a great visit with Grandma. She is in good spirits and really enjoyed seeing them. Here’s a few pictures from their trip. The house in Donnelly, ID where my Dad grew up:Visit with Grandma:
   Just a quick family update. Anthony and I are living in Melbourne, Australia on a two-year contract with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Anthony’s employer. We are working on plans to move back to the northwest in May 2010, but in the meantime you can read about our “adventures” on our personal blog: www.anthony-kristi-harris.blogspot.com.

Katie got her master’s in education three years ago and has been teaching ever since. She has taught third grade, second grade, and this year she is teaching kindergarten. She lives in an apartment in Hockinson, about 20 minutes from Vancouver, WA.

Jason is in his third year at Northwest University just outside Seattle, WA. He is planning to major in communications. He is living in a house with two other guys near the university and enjoying being out on his own.

Dad and Mom just celebrated their 30th anniversary in August! They are part-time “empty-nesters” while Jason is in school. But Jason spends summers at home, so they don’t get too much of a chance to be lonely :)

We had some family pictures taken in September this year when Anthony and I were home for a visit. (From left to right: Katie, Anthony, Kristi, Marty, Debbie, Jason)

Click here if you’d like to see more pictures: Family Pictures 2009

We have enjoyed staying in contact with everyone and love this greater family blog. We hope you all have a wonderful holiday season! Love, Kristi & Anthony (Marty, Debbie, Katie, & Jason)

In Gratitude - Aunt Darline

Hello All~

Wanted to take a moment and thank my Aunt Darline. 2009 is a year in which she has faced a devastating loss of her husband Arlon to cancer. She also helped her sister Donna bury her husband of 50 years, Mel. When Dad was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, it was a tough blow to all of us. We have all tried to step up and help in our own way. Darline has spent the better part of a month being a daily taxi driver to Philadelphia (1.5 hours each way) and a waiting room and chemotherapy/infusion companion. It has been unbelievably difficult for all of us to watch Dad fight, endure pain and be unable to talk. But the grace it has required of Darline none of us can truly understand. She has taught me to have the strength to look outside of myself when others need something I can give. She has given her time and empathy in a period of grieving when none of us could have asked it of her. As she gets ready to leave and get on with living, I wanted to let her know that her sacrifice has not gone unnoticed. We love you and thank you for all you have done.

Cheri