I have no idea if anyone if even checking back here.
So for now.....here is the Christmas letter that I included for all of our out of town friends and family.
DEAR
FRIENDS and FAMILY!
Christmas 2015
Another
year has flown by and with it we think back on fond memories, and the Lord’s
workings in our lives! It is hard to
believe that one year ago we were visiting all of our “overseas” people, and we
were able to hand deliver our Christmas cards complete with 9 Valk hugs! What a blessing and amazing trip that was,
made all the more special by the hospitality and love shown to us all over the
world.
November
is here and while we are still enjoying some mild fall weather, the snow will
fly and with it the fun that brings! My
twins have already been searching online “garage sale” sites looking for
various pieces of ski gear for the family.
Last
year during our school year, I kept the outside activities to a minimum and we
concentrated on our books in anticipation of the ultimate class trip at the end
of 2014. This year we are ticking along
nicely with three high school students, Levi in grade 6, Gideon in grade 2 and
Malachi being the expert on trucks and trains, with the occasional request to
work on his “smelling words.” (translation:
spelling words). Macayla, Justin and
Kadin are enjoying weekly volleyball with fellow homeschool students their age
as well as a 10 week art class with some friends taught in the home of a local
art teacher. We also have a new
instrument in the house…..it began with the sounds similar to a transport truck
honking through the house or the sounds of a dying goose, BUT Levi has
progressed nicely and is loving his saxophone lessons! Gideon and Levi also meet with some friends
regularly where one mom is teaching recorder and learning new songs with the
hope to perform at some local seniors homes.
With
the addition of church activities, active social lives and jobs for the oldest
four, life is busy, full and blessed!
Justin and Kadin were even recently offered a snow removal job for the
winter and overall we are grateful for this job and others that our children
have been provided with.
Jacob
is our graduate and this September began a new chapter in his life! He is attending a local college working to
complete a 3 year degree in “Advertising, Marketing and Communications.” He is thriving and recently expressed his
gratitude at feeling very prepared both academically and socially for his
current studies. It is a joy to watch
him spread his wings and continue to figure out how the Lord would use him in
his life.
Eric
and I were able to enjoy a long week-end away in October attending the national
CCEF conference in Virginia Beach (google it if interested!). It was a wonderful time away to deepen our
faith and challenge us in our lives of helping those around us. Before and after this time we’ve had a number
of dear ones in our lives both near and far experience deep grief mostly
dealing with a loved one’s death. At
times it felt like our prayer list was growing by the day…..but our God is sovereign
and we continue to pray for friends that hurt and the brokenness felt makes us
long all the more for the “not yet” of eternity. We are thankful for an awesome God that can
comfort across the oceans.
Eric
continues to be blessed with much work, and works diligently to support our
family! We are still also doing the beef and hay sales for the “little extra.”
We
hope to celebrate our 20 year anniversary at the end of 2016. Friends from our church will be celebrating
15 years of marriage one day after us.
Over a number of coffees and conversations in the last year or two, we
have decided to celebrate together, taking advantage of a 2 week school break
next year in March (our friend is a teacher)….and our plane tickets are already
booked for the Netherlands! We hope to
include the fast train to Paris and perhaps even London. Travelling as 4 adults will definitely be
different than a family of nine, and we look forward to exploring some more of
Europe! I seriously think I might have a
career as a travel agent sometime in my future.
J
This
past year we also a new member to our family…..a furry sister for Macayla! Gracie is just over two years and is a
beautiful German Shepherd. She loves
having the large property to roam, and makes a nice companion for the animal
lovers of the family (mostly Levi!).
This
summer we also had a summer visitor for the Bronx, New York. Amir (10 year old boy) came to live with us
for two weeks with an organization called the “Fresh Air Fund.” City kids coming from concrete jungles
(usually apartments) live with families to experience country living. Overall it was a wonderful experience and we
hope to invite him back again next summer.
It made our children really appreciate all that we have, and it was
pretty special have a child with more melanin in his skin than our whole family
combined calling us “mom” and “dad”!
You
will have noticed our photo for this year’s card is slightly on the wacky
side! Yes, last year was so formal, that
after some discussions we thought to try something different and this was the
result! Of course, I had no arguments
that we didn’t need to wear nice clothes (Eric hadn’t even showered after
work!) and these boys had to keep throwing more wood on the fire to create more
sparks! Most of us aren’t even smiling
and Malachi isn’t even looking at the camera on the tripod!
We
are blessed.
Faithful
preaching in our church. Supportive
church family. Material goods far beyond
our needs. Dear friends both far and near.
Family around us.
And
a SAVIOUR that died and arose……that we might live!
As
we celebrate this Christmas, we pray that that too may be your greatest JOY!
WITH
LOVE,
Eric
and Christine
Jacob,
Macayla, Justin, Kadin, Levi, Gideon & Malachi
