It seems just
yesterday I wrote
last year’s Christmas greeting, where does the time go?
2010 personally brought travel opportunities north, south, east
and west
and our family ventured to see Dan’s mom Dal in Wisconsin, and we
enjoyed trips
twice to Vegas, to the north woods of MN, and West to enjoy the beauty
of the
Grand Canyon. Mikaela, her girlfriend
Hannah,
my dad and I also traversed north to our favorite Christian Family Camp
at Northern Pines.
Mom and dad still live in Golden Valley and dad continues to love
tennis,
travel & dancing. And in March we
celebrated Dan’s mother’s 90th bday!
Thus a good year, with the exception of the unexpected death of
my 13
year old soul kitty, Midnight :_( I
still miss her dearly. In order to provide our other cat Mittens a
friend, we
have a new adorable delinquent 2 year old Jack <yes, he’s a cat :
) >.
Enjoying the Grand Canyon
Dan: Since Dan’s transition
from
church work last year, he has been busy with various part time work
activities
including his kids’ band, tennis, and is in a new position supervising
a weight
room at Columbia Heights High School. Dan’s tennis activities continue
to grow
as he is the head coach at both Maple Grove (girls) and Centennial
(boys) high
schools. He too serves as a Tennis Pro at various sites and debuted as
an
academic staff member, now teaching at the University of Minnesota. He
has had
the opportunity to work with some excellent athletes and teaches tennis
to
folks ranging in ages from 4-80! Highlights
of Dan’s year include singing with Mikaela in Dan’s niece (Kristin’s)
wedding,
going to the Beatle’s LOVE show in
Las Vegas (yes it was awesome), and spending time with family.
Dan's Band "Sticks & Tones" playing at Lake Harriet Bandshell
Dan's mom turns 90!!
Ready to go to the Cirque Du Soliel Beatles LOVE Show!
Kristi: Having just completed
my 28th
year teaching aerobics and amidst my 14th year as a
professor at St.
Catherine University, I am mindful of what a blessing it is to hold two
positions I absolutely love. Academics
brought many venues for publishing and presentations including the
opportunities to present research at our World Occupational Therapy
Congress in
Santiago Chile and at a joint international research conference in
London
Ontario. As we drove from Detroit to London Ontario I was mindful of
the many beautiful drives and trips from childhood to present day with
friends and family. Personal adventures this year included hiking
in the Andes,
captaining
our 14th Purple Pumpers team on the MS 150 bike tour and
running the
TC marathon untrained as I was only 5 weeks post bike accident. Highlights included many running and biking
events (including a duathalon, marathon, and various events with
friends), many
rewarding
travels, sharing bike rides throughout Minnesota, and spending precious
time
with dearly loved friends and family.
Mikaela,
is now a junior at St. Kates and is doing well. She is consistently on
the
Dean’s list, active in the Artist Coalition and is working as a tutor
at two
inner city schools. This year she has elected to write her section…
Mikaela: has had quite the
transitional
year (as is so often cliché’lly said). Saying goodbye to her
ever faithful long
blonde hair, Mikaela has spontaneously cut it all off and says hello to
her new
mowhawk. Shocking her parents and having to re-introduce herself to
everyone,
Mikaela enjoys ‘the do’ on most days. She is now in her third year at
St.
Catherine University, rockin’ the Education Department, aiming to
receive her
K-6 licensure next year (*knocks on wood*). She thoroughly enjoys
spending time
with her best friend/sister Jodi, smokin’ girl Hannah, stellar rents
and the
Diment family. Some of the golden memories include a saintly-sober
Vegas
vacation, Family Camp, road trips, Duluth outings, Tea Garden shindigs,
music
fests, dancing the night away and tutoring at an inner-city, all-girls
middle
school.
(Thanks
for an
entertaining section Mikaela!)
A favorite park/ trail where I run and bike near our home-- Had to
offer at least one pic of the snowy season!
So there you have it,
the Reader’s Digest Condensed version of the Haertl
family’s 2010
experience. We wish joy and happiness to
each of you as we celebrate Christ’s birth and may you have a very
Merry
Christmas and a year full of many Blessings!
Where is it you find joy?
Where is the beauty in your heart?
Who is it that touches your innermost soul
Where does the love of God start?
When will we seek to know
Where peace and love begin
We're here as wind does blow
With each new loving
start.....
Kristi Haertl
Kristi's Friends and
Family... A Snapshot Look Back at the Decade!
Family--- Through the Years....
2008 above/ below-
Mikaela graduates with high honors from Blaine High School
Family Camp!! One of our Many Years Attending!
Sadly,
after 40 years in the family-- in 08 we said good bye to our beautiful
cabin- here's a couple pics from year's past
One of our many years collecting food for the foodshelf at the
Holidazzle- yes, we bundle up!!
Costa Rica
Pets---A few of those adorable
felines who have graced the past decade
Oreo and Midnight (our 3rd & 4th cats-- both lived to age 13) Oreo
died in 06; Midnight in 2010
Friends;
Friends; Friends!! 
Out to Fabulous eats with friends Rhoda and Linda (left and Rhoda &
Chuck right)
Chatterbox
Pub!!
Celebrating with my friend Carrie Christiansen after Grandma's marathon!!
Kristine, Linda & Beth -- as friends
gather at Linda's farm!
Mikaela and I out with my friend Ron Johns and the whole crew!
Seems like many of the social events with my friends are sports related
or eating?! :)
Biking with Friends and Family!!!! 
One of our many Purple Pumpers Teams!!
You too can join us and bike with your friends on one of our charity
biking events!! (We will attend our 15th event next year)
Out riding with friends! (Dad and Mikaela along too!)
Lanesboro with my friend Chuck, his son Erik & Mikaela (above) and
with his son Kalle on the Douglas trail (below)
Mikaela and Grandpa -- hit the trails
Riding with Marge- Bob & Dave
Mpls. Bike Tour
One of many favorite Minnesota Bike Trails!
Picture taken on a beautiful bike ride with a friend
Work Life--- Aerobics!!
Conference Travel... I feel so blessed to
have an opportunity!! 
One of Many fabulous AOTA conferences!!
Celebrating with St. Kates folks at AOTA after the Awards Ceremony
Darling Harbor- World Federation of Occupational Therapy- Sydney
Australia-- Wonderful Conference
Loving
Bondi Beach Australia!!
The
Chinese Friendship Garden- Sydney Australia--- Beautiful!
The beauty of Long Beach
Enjoying the
Harbor
Dinner with friends Chuck and Linda in Florida
SSO has been a blast over the years!!!!
Etsuku and Ruth enjoying the sing - a -
long
Combined Canadian and US Occupational
Science Societies Research Conference-- out on the town
Jeff Markovics (former student) and I
getting ready to present our autism study
The
beauty of the Ivey Spencer Center
Biking along the Thames
Personal and Family Travels....
Places of
Beauty... Blessings to all, Merry Christmas and a
Beautiful New Year!! 