The VM Family Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas, Dear Family and Friends!

We trust that if you are here it is because you are a regular visitor to our blog.  But, perhaps you found this blog address on our card this year and are new here.  Welcome!  As I've done in the past, I thought I would just write our Christmas letter via the blog.  It's been a big year for our family and we're excited to share how God has once again blessed us in the year 2013!  (If you're interested in the longer story, just click on the link.)

Family Highlights:
We had the opportunity to take some fun trips again this year.  The two long weeks we spent in Michigan and Chicago, reconnecting with family and seeing sights that hold a special place in our hearts, were probably our favorite.  We also spent some time in Lake Tahoe right before our school year started, a long weekend in LA with Anna and Derek, a few days in San Francisco over Spring Break, our annual week in Mount Hermon and a few days camping at Pinecrest.

We had lots of family visitors this year!  Grandpa surprised the girls for a Grandparent's Day visit.  (Auntie) Kris and (Uncle) Eric celebrated an anniversary in CA and stayed with us.  And (Auntie) Karen made her yearly visit with one son, this time our oldest nephew Calvin.  There is perhaps nothing we find more valuable than spending quality time with those we love most, so these visits from family, along with the new memories we made, were true high points.

One other family highlight from 2013 was adding Cutie the hamster to the VM Bunch. :)

And now, in our own words...

Dave's Highlights:
As I think back on this year, there are a few things that stand out.  In the spring, I got my first passport and used it on a trip to Guatemala, where our church has started a mission partnership.  It was a beautiful country, a great trip and a wonderful opportunity to see what God is up to in another part of the world.  We celebrated a special landmark this summer in our 10 year anniversary of moving to California and serving at our present church.  I don't know that I ever thought I would be here this long, but God has really blessed us with a wonderful home.  I think that was confirmed again for me by what the rest of my family wrote about their year, the church family we love, the school that is a big part of our lives, etc.

Jen's Highlights:
After a year of online studies to begin earning my certificate in Early Childhood Education and to meet the state's standards for becoming a preschool teacher, I was offered a position teaching preschool 5 hours a day, Monday-Friday, at the school the girls attend.  I've been teaching my sweet little students for 90 days now and am still finding great joy and purpose each day.  I am in awe of God's timing and praise him constantly for the blessing of a job that not only fits my schedule so ideally, but also perfectly matches my gifts and interests.

Ella's Highlights:
"This year was a very good year.  It seems that I've been growing faster than usual because I am not the smallest in my class anymore!  I got my ears pierced for my birthday in Chicago.  I keep improving at piano.  I love reading and discovered my favorite book of all times, The One and Only Ivan.  One of the best parts of my year was New Year's Eve when I had a dance party with some good friends and I won the MVP mirror ball! Blessings to you!"

Delia's Highlights:
"Every day I grew bigger.  I went all the way across the ropes course at Mount Hermon.  I finally learned how to ride a two-wheel bike.  I learned to read and write and spell at school, but I still like recess and snack best.  I lost my first tooth.  My favorite thing that we did this year was going to Discovery Kingdom for my birthday.  I hope you had a good year too!"

From the big things, like celebrating 10 years of thriving ministry, new career paths and safe travels in foreign countries, to the small, like laughter with friends, the magic of learning to love reading and the perseverance to develop musical gifts, we have once again seen God at work in our lives this year.  We pray that each of you may have the same evidence of God's faithfulness and that your hearts may be blessed this season as you celebrate His goodness!

With Love,
Dave, Jen, Ella and Delia

"Prettig sinterklaasfeest!"

Once again, in lieu of a big showing from Santa on Christmas Morning, we celebrated the tradition of Sinterklaas last night and this morning.  We read the now-familiar story of the Dutch Santa and his sidekick Pete and then filled our klompies with carrots for his horse, a glass of water and a very long letter.  In the past this tradition has brought out various concerns.  When Delia was very little she was scared of strangers in costume coming into her house.  Last year Ella was afraid we'd poison Sinterklaas with the ant-killer we put in the bathroom.  This year was no different.  Delia reminded me about 17 times to be sure to put out the fire thoroughly before bed because she didn't want Sinterklaas "burning his booty or any of the presents".

  

 Looks like the girls were good this year!

 Delia crawled into bed with us at an insanely early hour because she was so excited.  In the past I've loved the timing of this early little taste of Christmas, but if it produces tired family members on school mornings, that may be something to consider!  Regardless, there is great joy in watching the girls stumble out of bed with wide eyes over the sight of a present pile by the fireplace and I do think December 6 will be a Saturday or Sunday next year. (Right???)

These gifts were some of the favorites-- Ella's zebra hat/mittens and Delia's Polly Pocket helicopter.  Sinterklass made his way over to school last night too!  Delia's first grade class left wooden shoes out for him and received some candy and letters.

Happy Sinterklaas Day!

Roaring Fire, Good Book, Cuddly Dog...

Does life get much better than this?

Thanksgiving Break Top 10 List

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!  Plenty of relaxation was perfectly mixed with a number of fun outings and get-togethers.  Since I don't really have any pictures of it, though, here is a top 10 list of things we enjoyed these past 5 days:

1.  Sleeping in and staying in jammies through the late morning.
2.  Getting things crossed off the "To Do at Home" list (like designing family Christmas cards, or starting the (online) Christmas shopping).
3.  A blessed Thanksgiving Day with dear friends Lloyd and Heidi and their kids.  A great feast of fantastic food and the kids riding bikes outside and playing hide-and-go-seek while we adults had some good conversation and played cards were highlights.
4.  Getting the Christmas tree and giving our home a festive make-over.
5.  A super fun birthday party for some school friends that both girls got to attend.
6.  A date night for Dave and I where we tried a new restaurant we're sure to revisit.
7.  Watching the movie Frozen in the theater.  It was good!  The girls have a new favorite princess movie and have been playing "Anna and Elsa" all weekend!
8.  A special party to celebrate God's faithfulness with some other dear friends, Ed and Anna Jean, who are celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary.  (Yep, that said 50!)
9.   First fireplace fire, thanks to some church friends who farm almonds and generously restocked our wood pile for us.
10.  Amazingly, staying healthy!  Delia's and my classes have had a good number knocked out with strep throat recently.  The girls' friends and my students have had everything from head lice, to pinkeye, to stomach flu (Ugh, I know.  I can't even pick which thing off this list I would least like to deal with!).  With illness attacking all of us from all directions, I was certain that we'd be taking our turn with something this break.   But, lots and lots of kiwis, oranges, pomegranates, sleep and prayers every day seem to have kept us healthy!

We have only 3 weeks left until Christmas Break-- that's just 14.5 days of school!  This means I'll see my T/Th students just 6 times and my M/W/F students just 8 times!  It is going to fly.  We've been loving school and wouldn't have said that any of us were desperate for a break, but after the taste of such a lovely time together at home this Thanksgiving, we are really excited for these 3 weeks to pass and Christmas to be here!

Mmm, My House Smells Like Pine

It is getting harder and harder to choose and cut our own Christmas tree in the area we live in.  When yet another of the farms we've patronized in the past shut down this year, we started flipping through sale papers and discussing artificial trees.  However, this was quickly stopped when we explained to the kids and their exact reactions were: "WHAAAAT?!?!" (Ella, with her mouth hanging open) and "NOOOOOO!!!" (Delia yelling).  Apparently we are locked into the tradition of cutting down our own live tree for life! :)

So, once again, we found a new tree farm.  Here are the annual shots of us selecting, chopping and hauling the special pine that will adorn VM home this coming month...

Fun this year was finding a big bird's nest in our tree!  We were told once that finding a nest means you'll have good luck all year.  We may be lucky, but we feel a little bad for the birdies who are now homeless.

This tree farm also had a lot of animals, so after getting the tree strapped to the roof of the car, the girls loved visiting with some roosters, miniature ponies and very vocal goats.

This year was Ella's turn to put the angel on top, though we did had quite a debate about it, which is why there is a picture-- to help us remember for next year!

It is still 70 degrees by us, leaves are still changing color.  Dave and I must admit that we are not necessarily feeling all that Christmas-y yet.  This was one of those situations where we got the decorations up just because it was convenient to get it done at this time.  Though, it is true that once we crack open those stored tubs of ornaments and Christmas books, a holly jolly mood quickly sets in.  So, Merry Christmas!

Competition

If you know anything about our family, you know we are game-players.  I'm not sure we've ever gotten together and not pulled out the Trains, Settlers or Dominion board.  We can't even get through a car ride without the "DJ Game", "Concentration" or "I Spy".  So, even though we had just about 60 hours with Karen and Calvin, we made sure several of those hours were spent playing games.

Friday night was pizza and Just Dance night.  

 Then we finally introduced Ella to the game our family probably enjoys and plays the most-- Ticket to Ride (aka "Trains").  She had Dave giving her advice and we were all extra careful to not steal her tracks, but we weren't expecting her to kill us at her first attempt!  We're looking forward to adding Ella in future Trains matches, though since she's proven to be a true contender, we probably won't be as nice! :)

And then there was the Battle of the Brains when Uncle Dave and Calvin pulled out the Stratego board.  

Soaking in Yosemite, laughing in the car, sharing meals and beating each other at games, whatever we were doing, it all added up to a really great weekend!  We're so thankful Karen started this annual tradition of taking one nephew/cousin at a time out to visit us!

Yosemite in Fall

We are just concluding a whirlwind weekend of hosting Karen and Calvin.  They arrived late Thursday night and left today after church.  We knew this precious time with them would fly by and it did, but our theme for the weekend became something Auntie Karen comforted Ella with, "We'd rather have even just a little time together than none at all, right?"

On Friday while the girls and I were at school, Dave introduced Calvin to geocaching at Knight's Ferry.  Then on Saturday we enjoyed lots of time to catch up and visit in the car as we drove up to Yosemite.

After a stop at Tunnel View (above), we took the winding road up to Glacier Point.  Late nights, early mornings and hours of hard play had the kids actually all fall asleep in the back like this!  Yosemite has a number of breathtaking sights, but the one of these cousins all cuddled up and snoring was probably my favorite of the day!

At Glacier Point we ate a picnic lunch, took in more great views of the valley and met a really cool family who noticed and commented on my school sweatshirt, then shared their own faith story with us.  How cool to be in such an amazing place to begin with and then to feel such a quick connection to strangers because of the Christianity we share!  A true taste of heaven! 

Yosemite is splendid all year long and to see it in fall was something new for us.  Up in higher elevations it looked pretty normal, but on the valley floor there was some beautiful color.

The strangest sight to us was probably that of Yosemite Falls (above) and Bridalveil Falls (below) completely minus the falls!  We anticipated the falls being low to nothing since major snow has not yet fallen, but to see just the dark path in the rock that the pounding water carves out was fascinating!

We made a new stop in the museum and watched a movie about the history of Yosemite.  There were lots of interactive exhibits that our super-smart nephew ate up.  We checked out the topographical map (above) and gave John Muir bunny ears (below).

Since the days are shorter now, we did something else new too-- stay at Yosemite all the way until dark!  As we drove up and out, we marveled at the huge "Man in the Moon" full moon that hung above Half Dome.  I think that's just about every season we've enjoyed Yosemite in now and close to every family member we've enjoyed it with!

10 Years

This summer our family hit a special milestone: 10 years of living and serving in California!  In August of 2003, we packed up our every belonging in a big, rented truck and made the trek across 9 states with our best friends, Nick and Amy.  Along the way we had tons of laughs and some jitters about the home that would be waiting for us at the end of this journey (the journey being both the 5 day drive and the 20 years of school Dave endured to do what he believed God was calling him to do). 

It is really remarkable how richly God has blessed us in this call.   Dave has been a perfect fit for the job and 10 years later still feels purpose and rewards in doing it.  And you know, because you read regularly about, how much we love this home-- the amazing things to see and do all around us, the life-long friends we've made, and now the satisfaction we are both finding in our careers.

Being so embraced in this church family is truly blessing enough, but about a month ago the church decided to make our 10 year anniversary even more special.  (Posting now because I just yesterday got the picture of our family someone snapped.)  They recognized Dave and our family during a worship service, gifted us with a very generous gift card and served everyone cake afterwards in our honor.  In his little speech about Dave, our senior pastor acknowledged both the great professional relationship and friendship he and Dave share and said something really nice: "If I had even a bit of the intelligence and wisdom Dave has when I was first starting in the ministry, I could have avoided so many mistakes and problems."  When Dave went up front to accept the applause and gift and to give the parting blessing he said, "It was always my fear that, following seminary, the church I felt called to would not be a place Jen felt called to.  Here we have been so blessed!  To the point where my wife has said that if I ever feel called elsewhere, she and the girls will stay and email me pictures!"  We are always striving to stay on the path we feel God wants us on, but I must confess that I pray God desires to have us traveling this particular road for many many more miles!

Signs of Fall

Since I'm teaching the unit "Signs of Fall" to my preschoolers this week, I've had leaves changing color, crisp weather, pumpkins, apples and acorns on my mind a lot.  It worked perfectly that we had a free Saturday to drive up into the hills and experience some of these signs of fall for ourselves yesterday!

We spent the day hiking new paths at our favorite Big Trees State Park.  On the way, we stopped at a roadside apple stand for some cider donuts and honey sticks.

We know certain parts of Big Trees better than almost any other hiking area, but yesterday was a lot of new and unfamiliar for us.  On Friday they opened an awesome new visitors' center, so we had fun checking out all of its interactive exhibits.

Then we took a new trail that led to a scenic overview.  Most of the leaves were already down, so we were probably about two weeks off in experiencing fall to its fullest, but it was still beautiful and cooler and worth the outing.

The overview!  We could even see some of what we thought were Yosemite's peaks up here.

The leaves were dry and just barely clinging to the trees.  Delia discovered she could "make it fall" when she shook the trees.

 Though the loop we hiked yesterday didn't have as many Giant Sequoias as the one we usually hike, we still saw a few of these favorites.  The tree below was covered in drips of this really neat crystallized sap.

And then we drove down to the river where we skipped rocks, climbed boulders and took pictures in the pretty scenery.

This picture cracks me up.  I'll share it for the sake of keepin' it real here on the old blog.  At the river there were a lot of big boulders to scale in order to get around.  And a lot of wild rapids to fall into if you slipped off a boulder.  The girls are confident and strong climbers, we don't normally worry about them, but Delia was in a mood that had her being more of a daredevil than usual (imagine that!).  So, here she sits out since she wasn't obeying and climbing safely.  This picture just captures Delia and a moment that is somewhat regular for her! :)

Our great day of fall hiking was topped off with a view of the sun setting in a painted sky on the way home.