“No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other’s worth.” ~Robert Southey



Christmas means many wonderful things; among them is reconnecting with loved ones. So, we have decided to launch the classic tradition of the Christmas letter for the Bradley family.


We’ve been on the move since our wedding in June 2008. Our quiet union in Kauai with immediate family was a picture-perfect way to start our lives together. We appreciated friends and family celebrating with us at receptions in Vancouver, British Columbia and Colorado Springs; it meant a lot for us to be able to meet and re-establish contact with so many people who have been important in our lives. (Wedding photos can be viewed at http://www.joelandcarriebradley.com/)


For Christmas 08, we drove to Montana to be with Carrie’s family (the Ericksons). Sub-zero temps didn’t keep us from cross-country skiing and having an all-around good time. On our return trip we dodged avalanches to get an amazing downhill powder day in Jackson Hole, WY. Sun and warmer weather greeted us in Colorado for a ski day in Steamboat Springs, before returning to home turf at Winter Park. We enjoyed season passes at Winter Park and feel blessed to enjoy our cozy townhouse which provides a warm and relaxing retreat for us. (Check it out at http://www.gotowinterpark.com/).


Although we enjoy skiing, we welcome warmer weather. Our week-long summer trip took us to the East Coast. We visited Joel’s family friends, Dick and Evelyn Mack, at their cottage on Nantucket Island—a special place to Joel since childhood. We toured the island on bikes and savored the sea breezes. Carrie got to meet Joel’s aunt, Joan, and cousin, David, at their home in Manchester, NH. We drove from there to Maine for a couple days, then back down to Boston, where we were once again warmly hosted by Dick and Evelyn. We got to experience the spectacle of 4th of July fireworks in Boston, right where so many events related to American independence took place.


The following weekend Carrie finished her 6-year National Guard commitment and “retired” from the Air Force. Weddings also kept us busy in July. Carrie traveled to Michigan to attend cousin Herb and Jackie’s wedding. Then Carrie and Joel attended his cousin Anne and Eric’s wedding in Grand Lake, CO. In August we convened again with the Ericksons and Bradleys at the cabin in B.C., Whaleback—this time for a play week (last year was work week), including kayaking and hiking. Speaking of hiking, we continue to enjoy “bagging” 14ers—mountains over 14,000 feet—and got one in, San Luis Peak, on a backpacking trip over Labor Day weekend. Joel also climbed Stewart Peak at 13,983. Later in the summer, Carrie competed in her first mountain bike race, a 25-miler, in Winter Park.


We’ve been getting more involved in our church, and in our “spare” time volunteer as small-group leaders for highschoolers. Carrie graduated from Colorado Institute of Massage Therapy’s year-long program in October and started working at Toccare Massage Clinic, VillaSport, and started Bridgeport Massage Therapy (check out the Joel-managed site at http://www.bridgeportmassage.com/). Joel continued his 11th year at Rimrock Group, Inc. (RGI), where he has taken on new tasks in three-dimensional design and also technical writing. The company reached milestones this year in moving to a brand-new, luxurious office space, and taking the entire company (with families) to Mexico.


As you probably know (or can deduce), when we’re not working we like to be traveling! In October, Joel went to Oregon for a spiritual retreat and we drove to Telluride for a snowy, but sunny weekend stay. Joe and Bonee (Carrie’s folks) drove to Colorado to spend a lovely Thanksgiving with us in the Springs and Winter Park. This Christmas we will be at home in Colorado Springs, then on the 26th we head to Cancun for a week, courtesy of RGI. We are looking forward to visiting Paul and Joyce (Joel’s folks) in Vancouver for the winter Olympics in February.

We hope to hear how you’re doing and what you’ve been up to as well. Merry Christmas and a happy 2010!