Greetings to all our
friends
and family! We hope this Annual Christmas greeting finds you healthy
and happy.
As time seems to pass by so fast, it seems just yesterday I sat down to
write
the annual greeting. Where does time go?
They say as we get older, each year goes faster… perhaps that is true
in
some cosmic spiritual way?! The past
year brought many changes as after a year of working full time at the
church,
Dan decided he prefers part-time and thus significantly reduced his
hours. It has meant lifestyle changes for us, yet
perhaps not too dissimilar to many as the economic patterns of the year
have
brought us all for a roller coaster ride (I much prefer going down on
the
rollercoaster rather than the economy!)!
Yet with time we all adjust and we were afforded many wonderful
opportunities including various travels, most notably a splendid trip
to Costa
Rica and Nicaragua. We have also made
the transition to “half a nest” as Mikaela proudly graduated with High
Honors
from Blaine. Following a couple of
visits, and a nice scholarship on top of her tuition remission from my
role as
professor, she made the leap and yes, came to St. Kates to study
education and
American Sign Language!!! We cried as
she left, and I continued my tears, yet it wasn’t but a week or two in
‘til I
realized with our biweekly lunches and workouts, and her visits home on
the
weekends, that I would have as much time (or more) with her while she
is at
college!!
Mikaela- Mikaela
completed her 3rd year playing
rugby and served as the team Captain for the Minnesota Rugby
Association’s
North Metro team the Wolves. She misses
rugby but remains dedicated to daily workouts (unlike Dan and me J … just kidding!)
Mikaela is adjusting to on-campus
living at St. Kates. Despite very much enjoying the college, she has
decided
she prefers living at home and being near mom, dad, best friend Jodi
and
girlfriend Jesse. School itself is challenging but is going very well
and she
was asked to consider serving as a math tutor in the Student Learning
Center. Mikaela reports the highlights
of her year as including the annual trip with mom (and this year Jodi)
to
Northern Pines Family Camp, the family trip to Costa Rica, and spending
time
with Jessie, Jodi, mom & dad.
Kristi-
The
year afforded many wonderful opportunities for personal, family and
professional travels to visit family and friends, and to present at
various
conferences. I continue as a full time professor at the
College of St. Catherine. In addition, I just completed my 25th year teaching
early morn aerobics (formerly Northwest- now Lifetime Fitness).
We took our annual charity bike ride, this
year again to the MS 150 and my various national travels went North,
South,
East and West… all of which had their own individual beauty. I have also been actively involved
with my private practice, most often with clients/ systems serving
persons with
psychiatric, developmental and cognitive conditions. I too am grateful as I have
enjoyed a
number of collaborative and individual opportunities in writing,
presenting and
research. As the years go by I am
mindful of what a gift health is, as are the many opportunities to
engage in
life -long learning and to nurture
relationships with those special souls that grace our lives. Highlights
of my
year include the many travels; the time with Mikaela as she has entered
college;
family, work, and personal trips; and being humbled and deeply honored
to win
the College of St. Catherine 2007-2008 Teaching/ Advising Award.
Dan- As
mentioned, after a year of full time work, Dan went back to part time.
After the transition, he started an active
summer tennis program and took on a position as the Girl’s Tennis Coach
at
Maple Grove High School. He will also start coaching the boys at
Centennial in
the spring. He too continues as a Tennis
Pro at White Bear and is a Christian Education Director at our church.
On the side, his music is as active as ever
and the Kid’s band he plays in “Sticks and Tones” has taken off and is
playing
gigs all over including past events at the Mall of America, the Lake
Harriet
Bandshell, and the Como Zoo. Highlights
of Dan’s year include coaching the most successful Girl’s Tennis team
Maple
Grove has ever had, seeing Mikaela graduate, and continuing to play in
numerous
musical engagements and the family trip to Costa Rica.