Lee Christmas Update 2023

Christmas Greetings! 2023

Photo credit: rustic-refined.com

Greetings to friends and family as we close out 2023 . What a year it has been for us! I'm reminded of that as I peruse pictures from the past year. Most of us like images to connect with words on a page, so I include plenty of pictures in this update.

 Much of the Winter months were spent preparing for a remodel of our kitchen and main living areas, which commenced in the Spring. Making choices about counters, cabinets, paint colors, and faucets is overwhelming and exhausting!

We took a quick trip through Chattanooga, TN and on to Panama City for Spring Break.

We returned to renovation in our home for the next three and a half months. The construction crew attempted to make it as painless as possible but it required lots of adjustment. We are grateful for the added features in our kitchen and the open feel to our home.

Before:

After:

The kids have matured physically, mentally, and spiritually. It isn't without its bumps and bruises but we thank the Lord for each one of them, and we inwardly cheer as they grow in their positive influence. 

Jace is in his sophomore year. He runs track and cross-country. His cross country season was hampered by an emergency appendectomy. His interest in music remains as he continues to play the saxophone, piano, and take college prep courses for architecture and engineering.

 

Gwyneth is an eighth grader, and she will move to high school next year. She continues in the dance ministry at the church, Show Choir at the Middle School, Junior National Honor Society, and piano. She enjoys volunteering in the preschool ministry at College Park Church and interacting with friends.

Quinn is a sixth grader who is involved in the New Creation Choir at the church, runs cross-country in the Fall, practices the piano, and is involved in the church's dance ministry. She enjoys expressing herself through writing and continues to memorize a lot of Scripture for Sunday School competitions.

John and Sarah celebrated their 20th anniversary this year. Sarah continues to work with Fishers Veterinary Associates as a doctor with an interest in holistic medicine. John serves at Indiana Wesleyan University as the Online Chaplain for the students in the adult studies programs. We're grateful for great places to serve, the teams on which we labor, and how God supplies our needs for each season. We continue to worship with the family of faith at College Park Church in Indianapolis.

Ever since the kids were born, we knew that someday we wanted to take an educational trip to Washington DC. We had an opportunity to enjoy a Fall Break excursion, passing through Ohiopyle State Park, the Flight 93 Memorial, and Gettysburg, PA in route. Our time in DC was packed with too many pictures to share on this blog... Here are a few:

Ohiopyle means, "white, frothy water."

Ohiopyle State Park

Tower of Voices, Flight 93 Memorial

Relaxing in World War 1 Plaza

Vietnam War Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

US Marine Corps War Memorial

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center

Jefferson Memorial

 

Family pic at President Washington’s Mt. Vernon home.

Knowa, our aged greyhound, is affectionate and still breaks into sprints around the backyard. 

Our new addition is Boaz, who has grown from kitten to cat terror!!! You may ask us how Christmas decor survived after this season.

Seasons come and go. Whether you feel blessed in your current one or not, we hope that you have eyes to see God's goodness. Have a BLESSED Christmas and a Happy New Year!

John, Sarah, Jace, Gwyneth, and Quinn Lee

Isaiah 9:6

Lee Christmas Letter 2022

 Lee Christmas Letter

2022

Family and Friends, 

It is great to greet you at the close of this year. We are grateful for blessings from the Lord as we have journeyed. Naturally each year has its challenges when we feel low and mountain tops when God's goodness is more apparent.

Unexpectedly, Sarah's mother passed away in February after a bout with COVID. She was on a the rebound but suffered a heart attack while in recovery. We felt and still feel the loss deeply, but we are grateful for incredible memories and the person we were privileged to know. Our kids have adjusted well to the loss.  We spent time in IA for the funeral and later, her burial.

Graveside burial of Sarah's mother with her sister's (Hannah Rieman) family.

Jace played "How Great Thou Art" at his grandma's funeral.

Time in Gatlinburg with Linda, Sarah's mom, last year.

On one stop in IA, we went to Kansas City to see the some of the sights. We are grateful for every opportunity we have to be with the kids to make memories.

WWI Memorial and Museum, KC

Arrowhead Stadium

Kansas City Train Station

Jace began his freshman year of high school. He has run cross country, stayed active in the church youth group, continued with his piano and saxophone playing, and looked for any opportunity to play Madden on the Xbox.

Gwyneth started her seventh grade year, stays active in the youth group at church, has been a part of the speech and debate team at school, dances at the church, and continues her piano lessons and choir at the school. If we have organization projects in our home, we hand them off to her.

Quinn is a fifth grader who continues to run cross country, does piano lessons, dance, and children's choir at the church. If she can find a place to do a cart-wheel, it will likely happen.

John's mother fell in August of 2021, and she is in a long-term care facility in Somerset, KY, keeping in good spirits despite not being able to walk. His sister, Esther, visits her two times a day and helps us touch base through facetime calls.

Mom and Esther with David Strong visiting.

For Labor Day weekend, we took a quick trip to St. Louis to see the sights. It was a blessed time. The St. Louis Zoo, the Arch (Gateway to the West), and Sculpture Park were good experiences. We found the city to be very enjoyable. Surprisingly, a meal at a Mexican restaurant before leaving was a major highlight.

Rooftop of The City Museum

Enjoying The City Museum in St. Louis

The Gateway Arch

For Fall Break we had a family vacation and we were able to get away for five days. Returning, our connecting flight was missed and we ended up driving to Indianapolis from Philadelphia to get the kids back into school on Monday morning. We thank God for the time of relaxation with the kids before the holiday season.

Sarah continues as a vet for Fisher's Veterinary Associates and John continues as a chaplain for Indiana Wesleyan University. We are both grateful for a place to serve, provide for ourselves, and use our gifts.

Have a Merry Christmas with your family and friends. May God's blessings abound in your life in obvious ways in 2023. God bless you! John, Sarah, Jace, Gwyneth, and Quinn 

 "For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 NIV