Tuesday, December 22, 2009

HAPPY HOLIDAYS 2009

(A copy of our 2009 Holiday Letter)

Every year, I start my Holiday letter by making a statement about how fast the year has gone by, 2009 is no exception.

This year, however, not only am I going to start out my holiday letter about 2009, I am stating how thankful I am for the many things that I am blessed with. As each year passes, I get more and more frustrated with the premature Christmas festivities and the constant reminders of “black Friday” while Thanksgiving gets completely forgotten in the Christmas hoopla. This year was no exception, except I think Halloween even got the shaft.

On Thanksgiving this year, my oldest Brother Larry was one of the few who actually stated what he was Thankful for when asked. While the rest of us stammered around like we were giving a presidential address, Larry gave the most heartfelt Thanks. Ironically he would have a heart attack just two days later. This year I am extremely grateful for him. I am grateful for his continued recovery. I am grateful for the love and the support of my friends and family who knew my brother was sick and made sure they said lots of prayers. I am grateful for my brother George who stayed with Larry for three days. I am grateful for my sister-in-law Barb who is a great wife to my brother.



Speaking of families, The Stock side of the family had the BEST get together for Ray and Julie’s Anniversary at the Landauer campgrounds in Fremont in July. Great food, wonderful family and the Pfeifer’s were there to celebrate with us. (ps…the Landauer Campground is Ron’s youngest sister’s house..hehe) We all spent the weekend camped out either in a tent, camper or John and Angie’s house, while the kids played outside and made a HUGE mud hole in the Landauer’s backyard with their Slip N Slide, us “Adults” managed to “entertain” ourselves by playing a game that involved knocking bottles off of sticks. I can tell you that one certain girl was VERY GOOD at this ☺



On another Stock note…Ron and I were so honored to become Godparents for the 6th time to Jack Landauer. We were able to host Jack’s baptism dinner at our home and our so honored to be this beautiful little mans Godparents…….



In June, we lost our faithful longtime friend our cat Button who was a part of our life for over 15 years, ironically the same weekend that we lost Button, I had brought home a little puppy that we named Cheerio. Cheerio is named after my favorite driver Clint Bowyer who drives the Sprint Cup car sponsored by Cheerios, thus the name - Cheerio. It has been quite the challenge training and teaching the little boy, but he certainly is a good dog. Which makes our little fur babies, our dog Buddy, our cat’s McCook and Buttercup and now Cheerio………
RIP our sweet Princess Button. I Miss her sooooo much. She was my constant companion and just the best Cat in the world! We got Cheerio on June 23rd and came home from the lake to find that Button had passed on June 26th. I think there was a reason that out of the blue I ended up getting a puppy……..


As for Ron, he is his usual busy self. If he isn’t working you might find him boating on Duncan Lakes or flying our plane to and from somewhere. He has been busy with the launch of another side of Stock Realty and Auction called Big Iron. BigIron.com has grown so quickly that it is hard to believe it has been around for less than a year. If he isn’t scurrying around selling something he is looking at Airplanes online or trying to figure out Facebook.


He has been known to pick up a bowling ball, shoot some pool, Entertain himself on the Wii playing Blazing something or another (his Airplane challenge game), Cheer for the Huskers and watch some racin. Ron likes to fish when he can and hunt if it’s not too cold and do a little Bluerock shooting. However, I will tell you that Ron Stock is happiest doing what he loves and that is selling.

Speaking of flying, I took my first ever trip in the Cessna with Ron and needless to say it was kind of cool. Ron flew us home from an Auction in Oakley Kansas and it was fun seeing familiar things from the air, like Grand Island, US 30 Speedway and Duncan Lakes. I can say that I have seen the top of the roof of Menards in Columbus too ☺


I turned a big milestone birthday in April and Ron threw me one fun party at the Monroe Tavern. I was so surprised by the party and the fact that that many people actually liked me ☺ The whole time I thought our Duncan Lakes friends were simply going to take me on a road trip….yeah to Monroe. Thanks to each of you for everything…and especially to my Friend Cindy Sorensen. I would also like to thank my family for helping Ron keep it a surprise and get everything set up!! IT was a complete surprise to me. I felt like an idiot that I cried but I was sooooooo surprised.


As for me, you might find me following around my favorite wrestler, my Nephew Sheldon Boschen or sitting at a Newman Grove High School Football game watching him play football, seems weird to go back home and watch my old Bluejays play but it has been fun! I am a faithful follower of Facebook. I scrapbook when I can to ease my mind and let my creative side come out.

Typically if you can’t find the Stock’s (Cheerio included) you will find us at our favorite lakeside habitat….yes even in the winter!! Duncan Lakes, but in the summer we enjoy spending our weekends there and still trying to squeeze in a few Dirt track races here and there.

We didn’t travel as much in 2009 as we had in the past, most of the travel was for work and our fun travel was to our Annual NASCAR Race Weekend in Kansas in October.

and to Arlington to the Big 12 Championship Heartbreak game…….

We are really looking forward to 2010 as we are taking a trip to Cancun in January to celebrate a friend’s 50th Birthday. It will be nice to get to some warmth and some sand after such an early start to Winter this year.

Here is wishing every one of you a very very very Happy Holiday, a Husker win in the Holiday Bowl (hehehe) and a blessed a prosperous 2010!!

All our Love,


Ron and Kristin
& the “kids”
Buddy, McCook, Buttercup and Cheerio

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