I think we must be in good days, because the pace has been full this Fall.
All three children were in cross country and we enjoyed attending meets and watching all of them compete. I think parents develop along with their runners as the kids worked to make personal records and deal with the challenges of an athletic commitment on the side of school.
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| Jace running with his buddy, Graham. |
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| Gwyneth in her first season of XC. |
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| Quinn also experienced her first season and had moderate success, even as a younger runner. |
Jace is a sixth grader. He has enjoyed learning the play the saxophone for band. His teachers say that he is responsible and his grades show that he is a smart boy. He strives forward in all he does and has recently been working through The Purpose Driven Life with his dad. He loves reading and time with his mom, who tries to relish any “little boy” moments that arise.
Gwyneth is a fourth grader who loves school. She finds a way to enjoy anything she does. She is exuberant and continues to bring joy and drama to the family. She enjoys dance and gymnastics on the side of her normal activities and keeps her mom and dad on their toes about being fair in each situation.
Quinn gets along well with her peers and strives to win at anything she attempts. She longs to keep up with her brother and sister, even though she is a second grader. She also enjoy dance and gymnastics. Her giving spirit challenges us to be more selfless about “things” that we own.
This past year, we tried to take advantage of the school breaks with our children. My boss and his wife own a time share. They offered a trip for us to go to Arizona for Spring Break. We enjoyed a week in the Phoenix area, hiked mountain peaks, and even visited the Grand Canyon.
In the summer we were able to take a short trip to Mackinac Island in Michigan with a short stop at Sleep Bear Dunes.
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| Sleeping Bear Dunes family pic. |
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| Gotta advertise this moment:)... |
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| The Grand Hotel on Mackinac... |
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| Ferry ride back after the day. |
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| Lighthouse at Mackinac Island |
For Fall Break, we took another short trip to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area of Tennessee. Dollywood, hiking, and Dolly Parton's Stampede were the highlights. We savor these family times and hold on to any opportunity to make memories.
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| Our hiking day turned out to be too cloudy, but the scenery was still amazing. |
Dollywood was decorated for the Halloween Season.
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Sarah continues helping animals to live a quality life as a vet. We have seen some steps forward in her healing from adrenal failure, but we are looking forward to improvements in her health, since we know she isn’t near full strength. She continues to keep us eating healthy food and sometimes relents when our pleas for sugar become incessantJ. She is a loving mother whose kids love her devotedly.
John ministers through the chaplaincy role at Indiana Wesleyan University. His work load has increased with new policies and changes, and that means more lives to touch. He is grateful for a place to serve people who are already taking steps to better their lives through an education.
It's our hope that you have a blessed holiday season. May times with your friends and family be rich. May you sense the greatest gift of all, Jesus, in your hearts. Have a Merry Christmas!
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 Hi shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6
