Christmas Letter 2009 Merry Christmas to All!

Dear Family and Friends,

This past year we found ourselves moving yet again (yes, we are in the Witness Protection Program). We were very glad to be reunited as a complete family living in only one home. We also now have a lovely "summer home" in Bonney Lake. January of last year Rob took a job in Vancouver, Washington not British Columbia. He is now the Medical Director for The Vancouver Clinic (TVC). The job has been good for him and he enjoys the challenge. This coming year he plans to return to school. Haven't we been there before? He will be working on his Master's Degree in Business Administration in an effort to ensure that none of his children ever reach his level of education:).

Lisa spent the better part of last year driving Katy back and forth to college, giving thanks daily for Bluey, the bluetooth. However, Katy now has her license and drives herself. Hallelujah, mom now has more free time to cook, clean, do laundry and school. Oh, yes, and more free time to "boss us around" as Mark says.

Katy who is "almost" 18 (Feb 2010) has been going to college and is finishing her 2nd year. She is on the Dean's List. She fills her days with homework, college applications and practicing her newly acquired driving skills all while managing to Facebook and text message for 1000 minutes weekly. Try it, it takes some skill to do all that. Last year she taught English on her mission trip to Korea. This year she will be going on a college age mission trip to Alexandria, Egypt.

Lisa Dawn is 15 and in 10th grade. She has been busy with school and co-op where she is learning ballroom dancing. Piano has also occupied her time as she is very passionate about it. Lisa Dawn was a house page at our state capital in Olympia. The past couple months have found her preparing for her mission trip to Ukraine in the summer of 2010.

Kelly is 13 and in 8th grade. Kelly is the family's aspiring author (who refused to edit this boring Christmas letter). Kelly spends the majority of her time writing lengthy novels and researching her next project. Mom is especially grateful to her as she has stellar computer skills while mom is less than proficient. It will be a novel in itself watching her pursue her passion.

Luke is 10 and in 5th grade. This past year he has developed a love for reading, and especially enjoys books on the medieval times and Star Wars. Mark and Luke have had a ball playing in the woods on our property. We are delighted as this was one of the main reasons we bought our current home.

Mark the Shark (as Katy fondly refers to him) is 6 and in 1st grade. He's cooler than you. He spends his time scheming ways to avoid eating anything that isn't brown ie hotdogs and chicken nuggets. This year Mark learned how to read and he made it his goal to memorize the favorite color of every family member by asking multiple times every hour, every day, for days, and days.

Mark provided our most exciting, happy event of this year when he accepted Christ as his personal Savior on October 15, 2009. What a blessing! He was baptized with his cousin, Autumn as she, too, accepted Christ only a few days before.

That wraps it up for the familial update. Our prayer is for you and yours to have a most blessed Christmas and a 2010 filled with opportunities only our Lord can provide.

"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2

What a privilege to serve a God whom we can trust, who gives us strength and never leaves us!

With much love,

Rob, Lisa, Katy (who provided the humor for this letter), Lisa Dawn, Luke, Kelly and Mark

PS: For an update on our BIG kids and their families (Robyn, Clare and Clark) look for a future post. They are all doing well in Tx, CO, and LA, respectively. We miss our grandkids and wish they lived closer.