Our Family Christmas Letter 2009

I've copied and pasted this from our family's regular Christmas letter that we mail out every year, partly in hopes of being a bit more "green" this year, but also to include all of those "new old friendships" that have resurfaced this year.
No matter the medium, all of our communication is sent/uploaded with lots of love!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I’ve gone through about a hundred different ways of starting this year’s Christmas letter. A lot has happened in our 2009, I don’t know about yours. Our lives have changed in some very significant ways. So, how do I begin to sufficiently encapsulate all that has happened, and what it has meant to us?
Well, the very best way I have come up with is to tell you that my God is GOOD. My God does not follow the same rules of fairness that you and I have, but my God is good. My God is loving, even when it doesn’t look like it. My God is supreme and sovereign, even when I’m questioning Him in hurt or anger. The Hand that delivers you to it is the same Hand that will deliver you through it, this has been my mantra this year. My God is in all things GOOD.

Galen lost his job this year. Not once, but twice. Within the same organization, no less. (It’s weird, I know.) Last year, I wrote in our Christmas letter that Galen was the Director of Alumni at Ottawa University, and how much he was enjoying that job. Then, the economy hit the university, and in February, almost a year to the day of his promotion, Galen was one of several who were let go. The university graciously created a position for Galen in the Admissions office, so as not to lose him completely. Although not overly happy with the shift, Galen saw the prudence in keeping *a* job in the current market, and accepted. However, by June, the Admissions office was making major changes and eliminating positions to make way for a new admissions model. God was rapping on Galen’s head – hard – that it was time to go.
The doors of opportunity were thrown open towards Bethany College in Lindsborg. We pulled up stakes and stepped out on faith. Galen began his new job as Director of Annual Giving (a.k.a “The Fund-Raiser Guy”) in early August. It’s not an easy job, especially these days. But Galen has come to love the college, he loves the job, and fully appreciates the challenge before him. But, never fear, fellow Braves! Even though we don the blue-and-gold with pride and joy, our hearts will always bleed black-and-gold. (Well… at least one ventricle, anyway.)

Again, I cannot say it enough: God is good. I look back on how difficult it was to say Good-bye to our lives in Ottawa. Those roots ran deep, for all six of us. But I see as well how GOOD God is for sending us here. We went through all of that because He could not have been clearer that THIS is where we’re supposed to be right now. Lindsborg is a wonderful community; embracing and friendly, culture-rich and enthusiastic about Christ. Bethany is an impressive organization and we’re both very grateful to be working here.

“Both.” Yes, I wrote that correctly. Galen and I BOTH are working for Bethany.
After being primarily a stay-at-home mom for who-knows-how-many-years, I’ve gone back to work! Well, part-time. But still! ... The Bethany Social Sciences building took me on as their secretary in late August, and they’re still putting up with me, bless ’em. They’ve made it easy to foray back into the working world, and I’m enjoying the people I work for very much. I miss directing my choirs and teaching my private students, yes, but I’m not idle in my music pursuits. I’ve stepped to the other side of the music stand and have started taking voice lessons again, and I’m very much looking forward to joining a choir in the area and sing with a group again soon. This extraordinary little community has no lack of quality music avenues, and I’m very excited for some new learning opportunities.

“How have the kids handled all of this?” you ask.
It hasn’t been easy on them. Ottawa was the only community they’d ever called “home.” But my kids are tough. They’re compassionate, patient and trusting, too. And their parents have relied on those attributes more this year than ever before. They’ve adapted very nicely, all-in-all… Again, Lindsborg has made it easy.

Kagen had a great sixth grade year at OMS. His spring semester added another year to his age and a couple of new inches to his height. Over the summer he enjoyed another fantastic week at Camp Mennoscah and helping out with various Bible schools in the area. Kagen jumped head-first into Lindsborg Middle School with his typical wit, charm and accepting spirit. His fall semester added football to his schedule… and yet another couple of inches to his height. [sigh] His team fought their way to a winning season, and Kagen thoroughly enjoyed playing lineman on the team. He’s still enjoying trumpet with the middle school band, Scholars Bowl, and is still keeping up his excellent grades and making new friends. His thirteenth birthday is approaching in February, and he has nothing but ornery grins toward his parents about becoming a teenager. Oh yes, pray for us all.

AJ rolls along as AJ ever does: sweet-natured, diligent and thoughtful. He had no problems finding the same interests in Lindsborg that he held in Ottawa, for which we are grateful. AJ is still keeping up with his piano lessons and Scouts activities. He also had the opportunity to spend a few days at Camp Mennoscah this summer, and he can’t wait to go back again! He’s ever the excellent student and friend-maker, and he certainly made the most of all the opportunities being eight years old afforded him this past year. Understandably, he’s even more excited about having just turned nine a few days ago and what those new opportunities will be, too!

It’s always a challenge to “sum up” Reece. This child is one, big, walking dichotomy. You can’t peg him, because he’ll surprise you, either way. His spring semester of kindergarten was as wonderful as the semester previous. His summer was full of playtime, friends and fun, as it should be. Moving was hardest on him, of all the kids. But, mercifully, some hands of friendship were extended to him rather early-on after we moved, which helped his transition to a new school that much easier. He’s still the same fun-loving, imaginative, quirky little monkey that can exasperate and entertain us (often all at once). Reece is working through his challenges bit-by-bit, and we know he’s going to be very successful with all of them. We praise God for an excellent teacher, an excellent school and his good friends! These factors give the rest of his First Grade year a lot of hope. Reece has also joined Scouts, and is looking forward to some martial arts classes in the spring. He’s loved being six this year, and can’t wait for seven in April!

My last child is in her last year of preschool. Kind of the end of an era, on the “mom-o-meter.” I was highly doubtful we would find a preschool program here that matched the high expectations Westminster Preschool set for us… but we did. Soderstrom Preschool here has been such a wonderful program with which to be a part. Just like last year, Emilie loves it; school days are good days. She is a whiz with letters and early reading skills, and we love how her preschool is fostering those abilities so well. Emilie is still quite the mommy-care-taker to her vast nursery of baby-dolls, and has endless delight in playing “school” with them. It’s very fun watching her grow into a thoughtful, sharply intelligent, caring little girl. Five is such a great age, and she will certainly enjoy every day of it.

And I have to include at least a couple of sentences about our extended families, of course. Both sets of parents are doing well, and continuing to give and thrive in their respective communities. They have blessed us in ways immeasurable this year. My brother and his wife are continuing to impact people’s lives through their lines of work in Newton. Galen and I became the proud aunt and uncle to our second niece, Grace, in November. We are VERY excited to go to Wyoming over Christmas break and love all over her, her big sis Claire, and her parents.

2009 has been a year of looking forwards and back… very often at the same time. It has been a year for the history-books, for our nation and for us personally. (I’m shaking my head in disbelief at the realization that the first decade of the 21st century is near a close. Weren’t we just chanting “Y2K Compatable”, like, yesterday?) So many of our loved ones have struggled this year, be it with job insecurities, a myriad of personal struggles, or health issues. And, at the same time, so many of our loved ones have experienced new joys, found new peace, and deepened their well of gratitude. I fervently hope that you holding this letter know that whatever your 2009 has been like, God is good, all the time. Know that we extend to you friendship and Christ’s love. With all our hearts, we pray for peace, guidance and revival. May you be richly blessed in the new decade ahead!

In Him,
Galen, Blakely, Kagen, AJ, Reece and Emilie