Greetings!
We are trying something new with this web Christmas letter. Please let us know if you like it. It saves on paper and only those like yourselves who really want to read it will take the time to do so. Thank you for your interest in the goings on of our little family.
Our year was filled with joy, laughter, frustration and sorrow. Jonathan has been involved in Awanas (wed. night Bible class) at church this last year and has loved it. He is memorizing Bible verses and learning a lot. In February, Kris had the pleasure of going through the weekly lesson with him when he started asking some tough questions about God, Jesus and heaven. After talking about it, he decided that he wanted to follow Jesus and be able to go to heaven. So on Valentines Day, he asked Jesus, the lover of his soul, to come into his heart! It was a special day, one that will be cherished for eternity.
As winter went on, we were
all a little frustrated with how long, cold, and snowy it was as were many
others so we decided that Orlando was calling us.
Curt had a sales meeting down there the last week of March.
Kris & Jonathan met him down there at the end and spent 6 days
playing at Disney World. What a blast!! We
saw tons of characters and got their autographs. We even ate a lunch and a
dinner with them!! We went to all 4 parks but of course Jonathan loved Magic
Kingdom the best!!
One of the struggles we have
been going thorough this year has been trying to get pregnant.
After 1½ years of trying on our own, we decided to seek medical help.
When we returned from Orlando, we found out we were pregnant! We were so excited & Jonathan was ecstatic!!!
But it was not to be. We
miscarried a month later. It was
pretty hard on all of us.
Life went on and summer was
upon us. We were busy as always and
enjoyed camping in Ely & on the north shore of Superior, resorting at
Madden’s and Breezy Point up near Brainerd, MN. Ted & Anjelita Blake (the missionaries that Kris spent
most of her time with in Spain) were in Minnesota for the summer and she enjoyed
spending time with them while they were here.
Our summer ended on a special
and fun note. We had the
opportunity to get down to Monroe, WI during Labor Day Weekend to see some of
Kris’ aunts & uncles and Grandma Wini.
Grandma was in later stages of Alzheimers and didn’t smile or interact
much at this point. We were so
blessed to have gotten what we didn’t know then was her last smile.
After our wonderful visit with them, we set out for the Wisconsin Dells. We
had a lot of fun there. We went to
see a magic show and they chose Jonathan to help with their levitating car
trick!! He was so excited (after
the trick!!). We even have it on
video (which he would be more than proud to show any of you who come to visit
us). We went on the Ducks, to a
water/amusement park and to Serpent Safari
It was at the last place that we found the pet for us!!
At this point, we had no idea just what a whirlwind of
emotions we would return home to. On
the way home we decided to buy a Bearded Dragon (which we named Fluffy!!)
We got home to a message from Kris’ mom to call her ASAP because
Grandma Wini was sick and the prognosis was not good.
We bought Fluffy (6½ “
long then). Grandma died September 5th. We then headed back to Monroe getting there the same time
exactly one week later. Kris was
asked to sing at the funeral with her sister Molly and her dad. It was a hard weekend with the funeral on Monday, September
10th. We then woke
up to September 11th. While
watching the horror unfold, Curt told Kris that his company had offices in both
towers. There were people that we both knew very well that worked
there. With emotions already raw,
we watched and wept. After the
fact, we found out that a large part of Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. was
located right where the 1st plane went in and had the 2nd
most loss of life (250+ people). Fortunately
the people that we both knew survived. As
we watched the aftermath at ground zero, Curt commented that he had just sent
some proposals to World Trade the week before and his work was probably part of
the paper covering the streets. It
was surreal.
We got back into the shuffle of life when we returned. Preschool started for Kris (teaching) and Jonathan
(attending). It is Jonathan’s
last year before Kindergarten!! He
turned 5!!! He also started going
solo to swimming lessons! Up until
now, he was either accompanied by Curt or Kris.
He is growing up so fast! One
of his other great accomplishments this fall was learning to ride on two
wheels!! His first attempt looked more like that of a seasoned rider!
It was quite impressive! He
is also very proud of the fact that he can count past 100 and shows us this
skill often!
We were able to go out to Phoenix for 10 days around Thanksgiving to
visit Kris’ parents who moved there in July, and her brother, Rick, & his
wife, April. Molly & her
daughter, Sydney, flew down from Milwaukee, too!!
It was fun. During the
beginning of the trip, Curt & Kris borrowed her parent’s car and drove up
to Las Vegas for 4 days, 3 nights while Jonathan stayed with (and was spoiled
by) Grandma & Grandpa! Curt
& Kris got to see the Hoover Dam and to sightsee in Vegas. We stayed at the
Venetian, saw Blue Man Group (ask us about it sometime…), toured Madame
Toussaud’s Wax Museum and went out dancing.
We got a lot of exercise! We
also came away from the experience $15.00 richer!!!
(Ooh! Ah!)
Curt’s job is going very well as a financial analyst for Marsh.
He is making quite a name for himself in the life insurance world and in
his company. We are very proud of
him! He also pulled together a
men’s Bible study this fall with some friends and neighbors which is going
well.
Kris is still a Pampered Chef Consultant (very part time) and as
mentioned above also is teaching Pre-K at Funshine Preschool.
She also fills many a Sunday singing on the worship team at church and
loving being able to use her gifts to glorify God and minister to others.
Last winter she organized a women’s Bible Study with some of her
neighbors that is still going and was part of organizing a National Night Out
block party in the neighborhood.
As of the writing of this letter we are still not pregnant and have toyed
with the idea of an international adoption.
We have almost exhausted our avenues medically due to insurance and
comfort level issues. God is still
God and miracles do still happen. Keep
us in your prayers. We’ll keep
you posted on any new “developments”!!
We will be enjoying Christmas in Duluth with Curt’s
family and having a ‘white’ Christmas there seeing as how we probably
won’t have any snow at home!!!
May God’s peace & joy fill your hearts and homes this Christmas and
throughout 2002.
In His Love,
Curt, Kris & Jonathan