Lee Christmas Letter 2019

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.

Jace running with his buddy, Graham.

Gwyneth in her first season of XC.

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.

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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.

Summit of Camelback, Scottsdale, AZ

Grand Canyon

Train Ride to Grand Canyon

Tom's Thumb

In the summer we were able to take a short trip to Mackinac Island in Michigan with a short stop at Sleep Bear Dunes.

Sleeping Bear Dunes family pic.

Gotta advertise this moment:)...

The Grand Hotel on Mackinac...

Ferry ride back after the day.

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.

Our hiking day turned out to be too cloudy, but the scenery was still amazing.

Dollywood was decorated for the Halloween Season.

 

 

 

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

Lee Christmas Letter 2018

Wow, has this year flown by! I was assembling pictures from our phones to make our traditional memories book for 2018 and I was amazed all we have accomplished as a family.  To summarize, our year consisted of travel, kids, and renovation. 

 

In July, we went on a family cruise to the Western Caribbean. What a wonderful time! The kids loved the activities, pools, and free ice creamJ.  John and Sarah loved the family time, exposing the kids to new cultures, time to slow down, and the fancy evening dinners. 

Renovation is still a focus and when time permits, we continue to upgrade areas of our home that need an update. We added a pantry closet for the kitchen and overhauled our master bathroom and laundry room with the help of a construction company.

Pantry at mid-point.

Pantry partially stocked:).

Framed master bathroom...

Same scene completed:)...

Removal of our kitchen floor was followed by laying new flooring and replacing weathered appliances.

Before

After

Jace finished the fourth grade and changed to an intermediate school in the fifth. He has enjoyed cross country this Fall, in which his season ended with a national meet in Louisville, KY. It was great to see him represent his team well and compete against some top runners in our nation. He continues to excel in  math and is placed in classes that challenge him. It is neat to see him lead as a big brother in the household.

Jace's 4th grade team was fourth in the state in Math Bowl.

All three children benefited from the influence of a great nanny over the summer months. Christa and her daughter (Saebella) were a welcome addition to our household in the summer months.

Gwyneth is a third grader. She has shown a love for kids on the bus and at school who have special needs. Her heart has opportunity to spill over as she expresses herself through service to these friends. She loves all kinds of social interaction, is thriving as a student, and continues to “mom” everyone in the house, including her parents!  She and Quinn have dabbled in gymnastics and dance classes at the church.

Quinn is a vibrant first grader who can’t wait to follow in the steps of her big brother in cross country next year. She works to keep up with her older siblings, is a good reader, and loves to move to the music. I think her favorite description of herself is “sassy.”

In this year, we also added four horses to our property. Their caretakers, who rent our stable and pasture space have been great tenants. They work with our kids helping them learn to care for the animals and keep the place tidy.

Sarah continues to see improvements with her health thanks to celery juice every morning. She continues to remain sweet and charming despite a full work schedule with plenty to accomplish on her days off.

On date nights we were able to pull away from the kids for an evening together. This past year we were able to see the Broadway musical Wicked and also enjoyed the So You Think You Can Dance Tour as it came through Indianapolis.

John is grateful for an opportunity to point people toward hope in Jesus as a chaplain at Indiana Wesleyan University. His co-workers are a blessing, and despite the long commute, we can’t imagine a better scenario for these years with our kids and family.

May God’s blessing be tangible and real in your lives this holiday season. Have a Merry Christmas and a blessed 2019!

John, Sarah, Jace, Gwyneth, and Quinn

Is. 9:6 For a child is born to us, A son is given to us; And the government Is upon His shoulder; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.