Thursday, November 24, 2016

Christmas Letter 2016



Hello Family and Friends,

As I think about recapping our year, I’m drawn to showing our experience in pictures. In all honesty, I don’t think Sarah and I took enough pictures, but we try to capture memories at every turn. Time marches on, and we certainly feel it as we watch our kids grow and realize we aren’t as young as we used to be.
Each kid spends a portion of two grades in the year. For Jace it was 2nd and 3rd grade. For Gwyneth it was K and 1st. And for Quinn it was her 1st and 2nd year of pre-K.








One of Jace’s 2nd grade works of art was featured in an art show put on by the school system.










We attempt to give the kids a dabbling in a variety of activities that we pray helps to broaden their experience and help them to develop as whole persons.







Jace enjoyed basketball in the winter.










Gwyneth and Quinn did a dance class together and are pictured here with their instructor.

Jace and Gwyneth sang in the New Creation Choir at our church, and we are expecting another big Christmas show in which their choir is participating the second week, this December.



For the kids’ Spring Break, we headed to IA for a week to see Sarah’s side of the family. Sarah’s sister, Hannah, gave us a photo shoot on a frigid, rainy day. We didn’t have summer tans, but we were thankful for the opportunity to have family pics from a seasoned photographer.
Sarah and her mom.








Jace played his last season before Little League baseball and enjoyed his Pirates team.





















At the end of summer, we rescued a greyhound from the racetrack in FL. We later found out he has run around 41 races, won 5, and placed in most … He was a sick dog at first, but Sarah has done a great job changing his diet and getting the worms out of his system.






























At the end of the summer, we enjoyed a short trip to KY to visit Grandma Lee and Aunt Esther. Natural Arch was the chosen destination for a picnic and hike.













School arrived too quickly after a summer that the kids spent with our nannies Alyssa Cummings and Sarah Benson. They did an awesome job, and the kids had a lot of fun!
Alyssa
Sarah





















Here are first day of school pics for all three….

Jace/3rd Grade


Gwyneth/1st Grade


Quinn/Pre-K


All three kids played soccer in the fall. This was Quinn’s first time playing soccer. We enjoyed watching the games.










Thanksgiving was spent at my sister Becky’s home. 


















Sarah and I are full of gratitude for friendships, a good church, jobs we enjoy, and a relationship with God through Jesus Christ that sustains us. We hope you have a BLESSED Christmas season with your family.

John, Sarah, Jace, Gwyneth, and Quinn


Is. 9:6 "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."