 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm December 18, 2006 Dear Friends, As we look back on 2006, we realize that our year has been full. God has blessed us with many good things, and even in the difficult spots, He has sustained us. Here's just a quick overview of our year. Dan's business has continued well. There has been plenty of work--in fact, it is often a challenge for Dan to juggle both work demands and time with the family and home projects. However, he has still made time to lead the 7th grade boys' community group, of which Kevin is a part, on Sunday afternoons. The energy of those 14 boys will keep him young for sure! Dan is also part of a men's mid-week study and plays hockey twice a week. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm  mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Laura - Valedictorian 2006 After a very busy spring semester, Laura graduated from Heritage Christian High School with honors. She was one of three valedictorians and delivered an inspiring message to her classmates. During the summer, Laura worked at an assisted living residence. It was a good experience for her and helped her earn a bit toward college expenses. Now Laura is attending Colorado Christian University in the Denver area. We are glad that it's fairly close to home so we can see her now and then. Laura has adjusted well to roommates and to a different kind of class schedule. She continues to do well in her studies and enjoys the activities on campus. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm  mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Matthew & Anna - Spring Formal Matthew is a sophomore at Heritage. He, too, does well in his studies, and still stays busy with social activities, several youth groups, and sports. In the summer, Matthew's hockey team played in two national competitions and took first in both. Matthew was honored as MVP at one! This fall, Matthew practiced with the Heritage soccer team with the goal of being on the team next year. Although he really enjoyed soccer, he was thrilled to get back into hockey as soon as soccer season was over! He is playing on a recreational team and in a high school competitive league here in town. He's also planning on playing on a travel team. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm  mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Kevin - Lego Robotics Club Kevin, now in 7th grade, is still homeschooling and is officially in junior high. The 7th grade boys' community group has helped Kevin connect with other boys in the junior high youth group at church. This fall, Kevin participated for his second time in Lego Robotics. He had two teammates and Dan was the coach. Although Dan and Kevin could not make the actual competition, the other boys competed. They came in 20th out of 80 teams and brought home the judges' award! Kevin continues to play hockey as well. In both nationals, his team came in 2nd. He is currently playing recreational hockey and looking forward to the beginning of the new competitive season. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm  mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Amy - Ballet Amy is also homeschooled and is in 3rd grade. She takes piano lessons, as do her brothers, and is also in the children's choir at church. She loves it! The children's choir performed in our church's Christmas musical last week. When I asked Amy how she liked that, she said, "It's buckets and buckets of fun!" Amy is in her second year of ballet and tap. Although she was quite apprehensive about last year's spring recital, she did well and found that it was actually rather fun. Amy and her friends keep our house full with little girl creativity--forts and tents, all kinds of dolls and imaginative play, Dance Dance Revolution, and more. mmmmmmmmm  From reading the above, you can deduce what I do. There are a few other things in my schedule besides homeschooling and driving children to their various activities, though. As I mentioned last year, I have begun a small support group for homeschoolers in our church. It has been a joy to meet the other families and do things together. This fall I also joined WOW (Women of the Word). I have enjoyed the connection with other women as well as delving into the gospel of John. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm  mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Paul Smith mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm He enjoyed life to its fullest. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm 1954 - 2006 The hardest part of our year came in November with the unexpected death of Dan's brother Paul. Just two years older than Dan, Paul died while on vacation in Hawaii. The family gathered in San Jose, CA, to grieve together and attend the memorial service. In spite of the numbing shock and the deep sadness, it was good to be together. We were blessed many times over, too, by the numerous friends, near and far, who cared for us all in practical ways and much prayer. Because of our recent loss, we understand more fully that Christmas is not always a "holly, jolly Christmas" for everyone. Even so, Christmas is a time of joy--deep-seated, everlasting joy--because of our Savior's birth. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm With warm greetings, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm  |