Jake and Sue Jacobson's 1999 Christmas Letter

Surprise Missy!  Billy takes the red eye after his Friday game to join the family for graduation!

At the beginning of this century, John D. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil of New Jersey only to have it broken apart into several smaller oil companies.  Now, as the century closes, we find two of the largest pieces being merged once again.  Thus is born ExxonMobil!  Jake has spent many a long hour at the office over the years and for his hard work we are eternally grateful.  Fortunately, he has been asked to continue in his current position in the new ExxonMobil.  It will be a good way to start the new century.

Speaking of which ... we got a raise in May as Missy graduated with high honors from Trinity University.  She also shared the Most Outstanding History Student Award!  After spending the summer running a children's program at her church, she went to work for VISTA.  She is working in the San Antonio YMCA system as a service learning coordinator.  It is a new field and one that she sincerely enjoys.  She is making many contacts, which will hopefully help her find employment in the future as her current position terminates next August.

William is now in his junior year at Stanford University.  He continues to pursue a career in baseball and loves every minute of it.  Being in his junior year, he had the opportunity to entertain many recruits this fall.  It kept him hopping, as his job was to show them as good a time as possible in less than 48 hours.  Of course, it is rather easy to sell Stanford University to a recruit!  Classes continue to go well.  He has decided on a major in American Studies with a minor in economics.  Funny ... I thought he was majoring in baseball!  Billy played in a number of games his sophomore year.  It all culminated in a trip to the College World Series in Omaha, NE.  It was such a wonderful experience that we hope to be able to enjoy it yet again this year!  (No pressure.)  Dave and Dorinda Jacobson and John and Anna Buckingham joined us for the first two games, which, by the way, we won!  After they left, we lost the next two and wound up third in the nation.

This summer we visited Cape Cod for the first time.  It was a wonderful Cleveland Family Reunion as we were joined by many family members from Judy Cavagnaro’s and Pat Klinger’s families.  We basically spent a week together being lazy!

Two short weeks later, my niece Jody Bemis went into labor prematurely and delivered the family's million dollar baby!  Leah was born at 29 weeks and has made it through with flying colors so far.  Her first winter will be a tricky one though so our prayers are still with her.

We have been blessed this year with so many opportunities to visit family.  Amongst the highlights though was a trip back to Wyoming for DeLinda Jacobson's wedding in June.  What a wonderful event!  The Jacobson Family Reunion  needs to be repeated in the near future!

We wish you peace of mind and strength of spirit!!