She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
We ushered in 2009 in 28 degree weather in the snow in Victoria, B.C. Canada, the close of our first family vacation over the Christmas/New Year’s holiday. Victoria may be beautiful but we missed most while it was covered in snow or raining. We enjoyed high tea, outdoor ice skating and fun restful time together.
The spring brought the usual club volleyball for us with our girls continuing to play for Smack Volleyball Club on the 14’s and 16’s team. Megan had the privilege of playing in Colorado in March, while tournaments almost every weekend were the norm all over Southern California. Club brought the opportunity to meet and spend time with both Keri Walsh & Misty May, our volleyball idols. Sandy became the key fundraiser and supporter for the club and did an awesome job.
The spring also brought a return to Biola University for Jim. He has entered a grad school program in organizational leadership. All is going well and he is both enjoying and being challenged by his studies. Maybe he will be done with school by the time Courtney graduates from high school.
Two major milestones were reached as summer approached. Megan earned her driver’s license and the freedom for our whole family that that brings. Courtney graduated the eighth grade and left Calvary Chapel Christian School behind for the challenges of high school.
The summer sent us in many different directions. Jim headed to Morocco for ten days with some of our friends to help observe and encourage new friends there. Megan and Courtney headed to camp at Hume Lake and also to various missions service teams from our church. While the girls were at camp, Jim and Sandy were able to enjoy a week together, reconnecting and enjoying just spending time together. We also enjoyed a family trip to Sedona with a day jaunt to the Grand Canyon. Then a quick trip to the family farm in Iowa by Jim ended the summer.
Early November, Jim and Sandy went on a five-day cruise to Catalina and Ensenada. We had a great time on the cruise with Sandy’s sister, Susan and brother-in-law, Dave and our friends, the Nicholls.
The fall brought new challenges. Back to school for Megan with a very rigorous schedule as a junior. High School as a freshman for Courtney. High School volleyball—both on the varsity team! Their team went to the second round of CIF. Then came the “great flood of ‘09.” On October 15th, we were flooded out of our home for the next six weeks. We are now back in our “new” home with fresh paint, tile, carpet, a new washer and dryer and TV. We are very thankful for friends and family who helped in the process. Sandy is working hard at putting it all back together just right as time permits between work, USC football, volleyball and helping Jim in ministry. It is good to be home.
We are very blessed!
We wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love Jim, Sandy, Megan and Courtney
