“Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name;
make known among the nations what He has done.” —Psalm 105:1
“Give thanks to the Lord, call on His
name;
make known among the nations what He has done.” —Psalm
105:1
“Grace and peace to you. We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers” (1 Thes. 1:1b-2). We're so thankful for what the Lord has done in our lives this past year. We'd love to hear from you, too. Remember that you're always welcome at the Burger bed & breakfast!
Wishing you His peace this holiday season,
After completing my fifth year at SAGIAN, I was promoted to staff software development engineer. I am working on the next generation of scheduling software for our automated systems. The management is outstanding, and our team works well together to solve challenging problems. To cut costs, most of Beckman Coulter will close during the last half of December—I'm looking forward to my first Christmas break since graduate school!
As a second-year elder at church, I dealt with some difficult and frustrating situations. Reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together has been very helpful, and I have experienced afresh the truth of Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
We enjoyed getting to know our neighbors better this year, and I continue to serve as treasurer of the homeowners association.
Most people think homeschool is for our children, but it's really my second education. I love to learn many new things from history, geography, social studies, nature studies, etc. We enjoy taking field trips and reading books. The girls and I also had fun watching my flowers grow. My kitchen often smells of freshly baked bread, which our family eats by the ton but leaves enough to share.
Seeing a friend's time line motivated me to start a forty-foot time line in our hallway to help us remember significant people in their historical context. When we read about someone, the girls decorate a three-inch figure for the time line. So far we have fourteen figures including Moses, David, Xerxes & Esther, Jesus, Columbus, J. S. Bach, and Helen Keller.
My recommended book list is: A Child's History of the World, The Greenleaf Guide to Old Testament History, Under the Influence: How Christianity Transformed Civilization, and Managers of Their Homes.
I celebrated my seventh birthday on May 17 with family and friends. I planned the menu and games and made the invitations and name tags. Everyone had a wonderful time!
Dad is teaching me piano, and I love to play. I'm also learning to type using a fun computer game. In second-grade homeschool, I am soaking up biographies and stories from history. I am particularly interested in stories about war. Mom & I enjoyed our first G. A. Henty book together, Facing Death. Every Thursday this fall I went to a half-day program called Master's Study where I learned colonial history, drama, art, and music. I go to AWANA Sparks at our church Wednesday evenings.
I love to draw and make things for other people. I am adept at catching butterflies and other insects. In my spare time I like to listen to the Adventures in Odyssey audio series.
I will turn six on December 26. Last Christmas Dad took Elizabeth & me to see the Nutcracker ballet, and the whole family made gingerbread houses on my birthday.
I spend a lot of time drawing and sketching. I am very observant and have an excellent memory for details. I like to make up stories and tell jokes, especially knock-knock jokes. Mariah picked up on this and would blurt out “Knock, knock!” during dinner!
I was delighted to start Kindergarten in homeschool this summer. I have been doing well in phonics and love learning to read. I enjoy Master's Study with Elizabeth, and I sang When Jesus Wept solo at the final performance. This year I graduated from AWANA Cubbies and am now in Sparks. I like to tinker on the piano and have a knack for playing songs by ear.
I have a tender heart toward those who need a friend, and I love to make things for others. I jump at the chance to help Mom cook.
For my fourth birthday on September 8, I got the bottom half of a bunk bed. As a reward for being potty trained overnight, Dad put on the top half, and Ruth & Elizabeth take turns sleeping over me. I am growing tall.
For Christmas last year we four sisters got the chicken pox. Mariah and I suffered the most since we got it last. We're all grateful to be done with them!
I love to sing, and I have a positive outlook on life. I am eager to help others. I am a peacemaker to my sisters by encouraging them not to fight. Mom & Dad like to take me shopping because I find things for them without begging to buy extra stuff. I am teaching myself to write the alphabet, although sometimes I invert letters because I'm left handed. Like my sisters, I love arts & crafts. I am excited to start homeschool next year. Elizabeth, Ruth & I are looking forward to ballet lessons this winter.
This year I was delighted to join AWANA Cubbies. Using puppets and a felt set, Dad presents the Bible story each Wednesday night.
When I turned two on October 9, I realized I was old enough to do everything by myself. I help Dad make my oatmeal with raisins (yum!), look at photos on the computer, play dishes and dress up, entice my sisters to chase me, hide quietly in dark places, look at books, push buttons wherever I find them, express myself verbally, make silly faces, and ride in the cherry van. My sisters can get me to do most anything by saying, “Do it for Grandma!”
This year I learned to sing several songs. One of my favorites is “Stomp your feet,” otherwise known as “If you're happy and you know it.” This summer our family started weekly visits to an elderly friend from church who is now confined in a nursing home. We love to sing for him.
Saturdays are special for us sisters because Grandpa Ron & Grandma Dianne regularly take us to fun places such as the Children's Museum, the Indiana Historical Society, libraries, parks, and their house.
In June we spent a week of fun in the sun & sand of Myrtle Beach with Grandpa Ron & Grandma Dianne. We flew in an airplane and were met at the airport by Grandma & Grandpa, who drove our van! We all had such a splashingly good time that we hope to do it again next June.
We returned in time for summer Bible school at our church. Dad taught the Children's Catechism to Elizabeth's class of first and second graders and to the third and fourth graders. Mom helped in the third and fourth grade class, too. A few weeks later, Elizabeth & Ruth participated in a VBS at a neighborhood church.
Mom hosted a five-day club at our house through Child Evangelism Fellowship. Several neighborhood children enjoyed this mini-VBS, and we highly recommend it.
On September 1, Mom's brother, Alexx Wilson, got married at Grandpa Max & Grandma Pam's home in LaPorte, Indiana. We're glad to have Stephani as our aunt and Matthew & Bailey as cousins!
On September 4, our cousin Alyssa Leilani Yamada was born in Colorado. She joins brothers Michael & Chad. We hope to meet her soon!