Here is a copy of our family Thanksgiving letter:
Dear Friends and family,
Happy Thanksgiving! I love this holiday. In fact, it is my favorite time of year. I love the fall season with school starting, the leaves changing colors, apples and pumpkins, and cool weather for baking. I also, love Thanksgiving because it is a time to reflect on the things we are so grateful for. This year has been busy and exciting and has given us even more to be thankful for. We enjoy making an annual Thanksgiving list as a family starting November 1st. Jeremy and I thought we would share some of our thanksgiving list with you, the people who made the top of the list.
Yes, each of you receiving this letter made the list. We are so grateful for the people in our lives: Our parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles who have guided our lives since we were infants. Our many siblings who helped us develop into the adults we are today. Our neighbors, who are truly irreplaceable in our lives. Our church family, who without your love and support we would never continue on this crazy journey God has placed us on. Our doctors and their excellent staff, with a family this large good medical care is such a blessing. Our friends and co-workers, whose lives intermingle with ours everyday and help us live in the real world. We are so grateful that God has given us so many people to share our lives with.
Of course, as we think of all the people whom God has blessed us with, our kids are at the top of the list. This year has been exciting for each of them too. Daniel became our first teen this year. He has grown so much, he is almost as tall as Jeremy now. He played soccer again this year and continues to enjoy music, playing the clarinet in band. We are excited about how Daniel is really starting to show his own personality and share his creative side with us. Tyler Ann wishes she was the first teen, and in many ways is maturing into a beautiful young woman. She is enjoying her first year of junior youth group (along with Daniel and Rachel). It has been a real joy to see her grow into a very gentle and compassionate sister, really nurturing her younger siblings. This year she auditioned for Chancel Choir and is now the youngest in this group. Rachel is also singing in a choir and playing percussion in band. She continues to excel in school, and enjoyed playing on the same soccer team as Daniel this year. This summer she and Tyler enjoyed a trip to Kansas to visit their cousins. While there, she was given the opportunity to be a hero when a four wheeler flipped on her cousin. She responded quickly and was able to get her cousin help. Lydia also enjoyed playing soccer this year, on the same team as Brenden. She even scored her first goal. She and Brenden are excellent team players (on the soccer field). She is taking a music class, as well, with Brenden and Bekah. Most days, I can’t give her enough school work to do, as she often will do a whole weeks worth of lessons in a day. Brenden has taken off on his schooling this year. He is a real reader and enjoying learning new things. He especially has an interest in science of all kinds. Lately, he has a bug collection. He also enjoyed his first year of football. He is a really great big brother and very patient with the little boys. Bekah continues to be full of life. She loves helping with the little brothers, and would rather be a helper than a student. Jeremiah on the other hand, has quite a thirst for knowledge. He often asks the most challenging questions. He enjoyed the presidential campaigns and watched each and every debate. He campaigned for McCain, and now he prays each day for Obama to be a good president. Yes, he is only five. He also, played his first year of soccer. Josh, now three, wanted to play soccer too, but cried at every game that he was cold and hungry. He is a very full of energy and loves his new brother Davey. Often, he introduces Davey to others by saying, “This is my new brother, Davey.” Baby Zach, is also very busy. He loves playing with his big brothers and snuggling with his sisters. We are so excited that God continues to bless each of the kids, and bless us with them. We look forward to a new addition come the first week of February. Of course, we haven’t forgotten Davey. Wow, what a great blessing he is to us.
After a great deal of prayer and thought we moved forward into adoption again. We never could have guessed how God planned to bless us as we stepped out in faith to obey him. We knew that it would be a special child that would fit in with our family. We also knew that we wanted to offer a home to a child that many may think had too many challenges to make a forever commitment to. We were like, any expecting parent, nervous and excited about adding to our family. We knew Davey had many needs and challenges, and we hoped we were ready. We couldn’t have been more surprised at how his foster family had done such amazing work with him. They had truly sacrificed to help him develop and grow. Not only that, they prepared him to join our family. Yes, he is very limited, and we continue to learn how to best care for him, but one thing is certain he is ours and he is home. So, at the very top of our list of people whom we are grateful for this year is Davey’s foster family.
Even though people are at the top of our list, there are many other things we are grateful for. During these tough times in our nation, we are so grateful to know God as our Lord, Savior, Protector, and Provider. We know that he loves and cares for us. We are also so very grateful for the job God has blessed Jeremy with. It is an excellent company to work for, with great people, and excellent benefits. God has been so good to us this year and we are truly full of Thanksgiving this holiday.
Gratefully yours,
Jeremiah 30:19
From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained.
Dear Friends and family,
Happy Thanksgiving! I love this holiday. In fact, it is my favorite time of year. I love the fall season with school starting, the leaves changing colors, apples and pumpkins, and cool weather for baking. I also, love Thanksgiving because it is a time to reflect on the things we are so grateful for. This year has been busy and exciting and has given us even more to be thankful for. We enjoy making an annual Thanksgiving list as a family starting November 1st. Jeremy and I thought we would share some of our thanksgiving list with you, the people who made the top of the list.
Yes, each of you receiving this letter made the list. We are so grateful for the people in our lives: Our parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles who have guided our lives since we were infants. Our many siblings who helped us develop into the adults we are today. Our neighbors, who are truly irreplaceable in our lives. Our church family, who without your love and support we would never continue on this crazy journey God has placed us on. Our doctors and their excellent staff, with a family this large good medical care is such a blessing. Our friends and co-workers, whose lives intermingle with ours everyday and help us live in the real world. We are so grateful that God has given us so many people to share our lives with.
Of course, as we think of all the people whom God has blessed us with, our kids are at the top of the list. This year has been exciting for each of them too. Daniel became our first teen this year. He has grown so much, he is almost as tall as Jeremy now. He played soccer again this year and continues to enjoy music, playing the clarinet in band. We are excited about how Daniel is really starting to show his own personality and share his creative side with us. Tyler Ann wishes she was the first teen, and in many ways is maturing into a beautiful young woman. She is enjoying her first year of junior youth group (along with Daniel and Rachel). It has been a real joy to see her grow into a very gentle and compassionate sister, really nurturing her younger siblings. This year she auditioned for Chancel Choir and is now the youngest in this group. Rachel is also singing in a choir and playing percussion in band. She continues to excel in school, and enjoyed playing on the same soccer team as Daniel this year. This summer she and Tyler enjoyed a trip to Kansas to visit their cousins. While there, she was given the opportunity to be a hero when a four wheeler flipped on her cousin. She responded quickly and was able to get her cousin help. Lydia also enjoyed playing soccer this year, on the same team as Brenden. She even scored her first goal. She and Brenden are excellent team players (on the soccer field). She is taking a music class, as well, with Brenden and Bekah. Most days, I can’t give her enough school work to do, as she often will do a whole weeks worth of lessons in a day. Brenden has taken off on his schooling this year. He is a real reader and enjoying learning new things. He especially has an interest in science of all kinds. Lately, he has a bug collection. He also enjoyed his first year of football. He is a really great big brother and very patient with the little boys. Bekah continues to be full of life. She loves helping with the little brothers, and would rather be a helper than a student. Jeremiah on the other hand, has quite a thirst for knowledge. He often asks the most challenging questions. He enjoyed the presidential campaigns and watched each and every debate. He campaigned for McCain, and now he prays each day for Obama to be a good president. Yes, he is only five. He also, played his first year of soccer. Josh, now three, wanted to play soccer too, but cried at every game that he was cold and hungry. He is a very full of energy and loves his new brother Davey. Often, he introduces Davey to others by saying, “This is my new brother, Davey.” Baby Zach, is also very busy. He loves playing with his big brothers and snuggling with his sisters. We are so excited that God continues to bless each of the kids, and bless us with them. We look forward to a new addition come the first week of February. Of course, we haven’t forgotten Davey. Wow, what a great blessing he is to us.
After a great deal of prayer and thought we moved forward into adoption again. We never could have guessed how God planned to bless us as we stepped out in faith to obey him. We knew that it would be a special child that would fit in with our family. We also knew that we wanted to offer a home to a child that many may think had too many challenges to make a forever commitment to. We were like, any expecting parent, nervous and excited about adding to our family. We knew Davey had many needs and challenges, and we hoped we were ready. We couldn’t have been more surprised at how his foster family had done such amazing work with him. They had truly sacrificed to help him develop and grow. Not only that, they prepared him to join our family. Yes, he is very limited, and we continue to learn how to best care for him, but one thing is certain he is ours and he is home. So, at the very top of our list of people whom we are grateful for this year is Davey’s foster family.
Even though people are at the top of our list, there are many other things we are grateful for. During these tough times in our nation, we are so grateful to know God as our Lord, Savior, Protector, and Provider. We know that he loves and cares for us. We are also so very grateful for the job God has blessed Jeremy with. It is an excellent company to work for, with great people, and excellent benefits. God has been so good to us this year and we are truly full of Thanksgiving this holiday.
Gratefully yours,
Jeremiah 30:19
From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained.
