Dear friends and family,
Welcome to our blog! We invite you to poke around in our blog archives for more detailed accounts of the events mentioned in this letter, or click on the links provided. It's been a pretty wild year...and that's an understatement!
Last December we forewent our annual Christmas Letter because we were in the midst of adding a new person to our family! We brought Kendall Rae home with us on Christmas Day- certainly the best Christmas gift we've ever received! Now, one year later, our hearts are beaming with joy and wonder as we watch this baby grow into a little girl. She is fully mobile on all fours and spends most of her day scavenging the house and making new discoveries. She prefers, however, standing on two feet, and we expect she'll be taking those first steps soon. Too soon.
Chris has been a faithful fixture at Orthopedic Associates of Duluth, where he is in his fifth year of working as a Physician Assistant. The doctors have been quick to compliment his skills in the operating room, and the patients always enjoy his personable rapport in the office. Orthopedics continues to be his passion, and he is always looking for new opportunities to learn and utilize his expertise.
Jamie has now fully transitioned from the teaching realm to the world of full-time Mommyhood. I now spend my time changing diapers, crawling on the ground, picking up toys, and occasionally popping a meal in the oven. It was a bit of an adjustment, having contributed over ten years of full-time work in various venues. However, I wouldn't trade it for anything...it is the most fulfilling, entertaining, wonderful job I've ever had (and I've had some pretty wonderful jobs). I continue to serve in the Worship Arts ministry at our church as one of four worship leaders for our weekend services.
Kendall is a seasoned traveler at the young age of 12 months, having been on both coasts and been on over a dozen airplane flights.
* February was our "West Coast Tour", visiting Chris' extended family in Vancouver, WA, then heading down to Stockton to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Petersen.
* We spent Easter weekend in Moorhead, MN, at Grandma and Grandpa Stavenger's house.
* In May, we joined the Stavenger siblings and Petersen grandparents for a weekend in Las Vegas, and Kendall experienced a warm climate for the first time!
* June travel to Monterey, CA, for the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach was a highlight this year. With the Petersens, we cheered on our golf favorites and soaked in the coastal beauty.
* We enjoyed our 4th of July vacation at the Lake with the Stavenger grandparents.
* In August, we returned to California to celebrate the life of Jamie's brother, Derek, on what would have been his 32nd birthday. It was a wonderful event that raised over $1000 for the Children's Tumor Foundation in his name.
* In September, our family visited Washington, DC!
* The Stavengers hosted Thanksgiving dinner at the Lake House.
* It's Christmas in California this year...and Chris' first without snow!
Other newsworthy news this year includes a newly dogless home as we decided to give our dog, Luna, to another loving family. Chris and I enjoy attending the Duluth Vineyard Church, where Kendall has taken quickly to nursery fun and we enjoy the grown-up fellowship and teaching it offers. We had the privilege of dedicating Kendall to the Lord at both the Vineyard and First Baptist, Stockton, in the spring. In more recent news, we entered Kendall in a baby photo contest for Pottery Barn Kids and...she WON, receiving the title of "Baby of the Month" for November, and a spot in the January edition of their catalog. Needless to say, we're the proudest of parents.
We are anxious to see what God has in store for us in 2011. Knowing firsthand that He is faithful at the pinnacle of joy and in the depths of sorrow, we will obediently follow Him. And, as always, we use this season as a reminder of the great hope we have because of God's great gift to us, Jesus Christ. May your Christmas season be blessed as you, too, celebrate the birth of the Savior.
In Him,
Chris, Jamie and Kendall
2 comments:
A blog Christmas letter - how "cutting edge!" Your brother would be proud, and so are we, as always. Yes, it was quite a year, as all those links attest! Beautiful write-up. Love it, and LOVE YOU!
Kendall has certainly made her way around North America this year! And soon she'll make her way into mailboxes across the continental US via catalog!
FYI - all hoodies are on sale at the UOP bookstore - 25% off until December 19th. AND...they're staying open until 8pm THIS Thursday (12/16) for a special "after hours" shopping event our office is hosting. Just in case you need to tell Santa to stop by. :)
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