Christmas Letter

Christmas 2007

Well, it happened. I (Brad) finally reached the age where people seem to not care nearly as much about me as they do my kids. “Hey, Brad, great to see you! How are those kids of yours?” I’ve also reached that age where I’d rather talk about my kids than about myself. It all works out.
A is 8, and growing like a weed. She’s a precocious third grader, now. I don’t use that term lightly, either. She’s reading well above her grade level, learning Latin, and generally outside her grade level (or high in the 3rd grade) in most topics. She spends two days a week swimming at the YMCA with the Swim Team Prep class. She is a machine in the water. Crawl, back, butterfly, breast stroke, she can do them all, and do them well. I have to remind myself that she is only 8!!! She is still involved with the home school co-op on Wednesdays and enjoys getting together with many of her friends for parties and play dates. She is reading whatever she can get her hands on. She will often stay up late into the night reading books. (Wow, I wonder who that reminds me of? I seem to remember a little boy who would do that.)
L will be three years old in March. He’s also growing up. When he comes down in the morning wearing a bulky sweater and a pair of corduroy pants, I realize he’s not a baby anymore. He’s my little man. When A is sitting at the table working on school work, he often sits in his chair, with a piece of paper in front of him, drawing. He calls it “my work”. “Hey, L, what are you doing?” “I just do my work….for a while.” He spends much of his day running circles through the living room – family room – kitchen – dining room. (Often, this is accompanied by squeals of glee and “Get me, daddy!”)
I am still working at the same company and have reached another transition point in my career. Right now, it looks like I won’t have anything confirmed until at least the middle of January next year. I am working a number of angles outside the company as well, but I don’t really want to leave my company right now. The running joke with my friends at work is that it is time for the executives to “put a nail in the sand” and get me back to work. I like that. Put a nail (concrete, tangible, solid) in the sand (amorphous, moving, unstable) should make anyone feel comfortable with their career future. I am also spending a lot of time on my hobby -- “blogging” about theology, philosophy.
Wife, continues to home school A, and manages L running around all day. She also spends one night a week volunteering at SD, organizing the storehouse -- clothes, and other baby accessories for the moms involved in the program. I’m always hesitant to call my wife a stay at home mom. I’ve said this before, “doesn’t that indicate that she’s home?” There’s only one day out of the week that she doesn’t have something scheduled outside the home with either the kids or her own activities. I am amazed at her stamina.
In August of this year, we had to take a trip to Calgary, Alberta for the funeral of my grandpa. He was the only grandpa on my dad’s side I ever knew, since grandpa S died before I was born. It was a wonderful celebration of his life, and it was good to see all of my aunts and uncles (his kids) that I don’t get to see very often as we are spread out all over the world. (Malaysia, Mexico, United States, Canada)
On a lighter note, we have been hiring a herd of goats to come and clear our lower property. The kids have had a wonderful time watching the 19 goats and “Guard Llama” chow down on the blackberries. I’ve enjoyed getting down there with my chainsaw and clearing out quite a few trees. Wife’s dad came up and helped me out one weekend, and we got so much done.
Wife and I continue to be involved with ACME (The Association for Couples in Marriage Enrichment) and have taken on a role of writing book reviews for the national newsletter. It’s fun, and our calling to marriage enrichment is an important part of our lives.
We hope all is well with you, and pray that this Christmas would be a joyful time in your lives. I’ll end this as I always do. You are always welcome. We’ll find a place to fit you in!

Merry Christmas!