Christmas with The Groves 2018
Before you read this letter, check out our previous Christmas letters here: 2015, 2016, and 2017
Hello friends and family, this is Jericho Groves, but my humans call me many different names like: Jimmy Boy, Bears, and Jer Bear, to name a few. I don’t see the appeal, but they love these “pet names.” Anyways, I am the fur baby to Colton and Ashley Groves. They adopted me in September of 2017 and I have been spoiled since; mostly with food, which has made me gain some extra weight. What can I say, they're my wait staff, catering to my every desire. I love whatever they feed me; even human food like beer and popcorn (I have a very diverse palate if you cannot tell). Anyways, my humans are trying to get me to become more social by introducing me to all the neighborhood kittens, but they scare me too much. I thought writing a letter to some humans would be a safer and less anxiety-ridden experience.
My humans allowed me to write this letter to you on one condition; I have to give you a recap of our past year. Seems easy enough, except when they leave me at home alone, because I have no idea what they do when they're gone. Oh sure, they talk amongst themselves about their daily plans but they never directly tell me. They like to leave me in the dark, literally. Apparently, my mom, Ashley has worked for the OHSU-PSU School of Public health as their Fiscal Coordinator for just over a year. She still enjoys her work and loves that she can commute by bike. This fall she started brewing her own Kombucha and has been dog sitting through Rover. She says she still loves me the most, but sometimes I do get jealous, especially when they cuddle. Colton, my dad, had a summer internship at an Architecture firm called LRS Architects. He also is in his second year of grad school at University of Oregon to obtain his Masters in Architecture. He graduates in June 2019, which means I will get to spend more time with him. Together they've visited many coffee shops, started their own vermicompost, picked lots of blackberries, and cycled around the city. They are actively involved in their church community from participating in different small groups to serving in various areas. Most importantly, we celebrated my first birthday in May. I'm officially an adult!
Very rarely do my humans give me details on where they are going and this only happens on their overnight trips. I presume this is because they want to inform me that strangers will be entering the house. I thought humans were taught not to talk to strangers? It's okay though, because they always feed me and give me a nice belly rub. In 2018, they took a 28 hour trip to Vancouver, B.C., in April, with some of Colton's school friends to study the Architecture; took three trips to the Oregon Coast - Newport Beach with Colton's parents, Rockaway Beach with their Young Marrieds' small group from church, and Cape Kiwanda to see our brother-in-law’s surfing competition; Colton took a three day jaunt to Utah in September for the fun of it; and Ashley went on her first ever cruise with her mom and friends to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico in October. Since, I'm a cat, I couldn't identify these places on a map, but I'm sure you know what they're talking about. You'll have received this letter before this happens, but to end the year they are spending Christmas and New Year's in Utah, without me (for the record, I CAN identify Utah on a map because I've been there).
This past year, I have had the pleasure of meeting some of you. I won't remember everything we did together because "cat brain," but I thoroughly enjoyed our time together. Of course, I got to see my Paternal Grandparents, Karen and Danny Groves, and Colton and Ashley showed them around Portland by visiting the Rose Test Garden, Salt N' Straw Ice cream, Mother's Bistro and other restaurants; They celebrated Danny's belated Birthday and Father’s Day; and also spent a few nights at Newport Beach in the cutest Airbnb (without me!). My sister-in-law and her family stopped by Portland for a few hours and I so wish I was able to meet them; maybe next time! My Maternal Grandpa, Jim, came for a visit and they celebrated Colton's birthday by eating Sushi, attending the Oregon Brewer’s Festival, and tasting Pips Original Donuts. It's always fun seeing family. We also had multiple friends come to visit us: a few friends from Utah and Ashley's friend and her husband who she met while she attended college in Indiana.
I don't personally know God because I don't have the brain capacity for that kind of relationship (animals go to heaven anyways, right?), but my humans say that He has richly blessed us with another great year. This concludes my letter to you all as I must go and take my fourth cat nap of the day (I need 18 hours to be exact). Prayers for another blessed and fruitful year to all our friends and family! “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” – Psalms 54:4
Have a Meowy Christmas!
P.S. I don't know what it means, but it seems to me like really important information that you need to know! My humans say they are going to start trying for a baby sister or brother for me in 2019! Do you think it will look like me?
P.P.S. Want to see more photos of my cute humans taken by the lovely Diana Gula Photography? Yeah, I thought so. Keep scrolling.
