The Haertl Family Christmas Letter...
Greetings friends and family! We hope this annual
letter finds you
well. This year
has been a year of
travel! Dan and I ventured to Black Island Florida in
January, and I had the
blessings of numerous additional travels to Big Sky MT,
Baltimore/DC, Japan and
more. Mikaela and her girlfriend Sarah worked on an organic
farm in Sweden, so
of course we had
to visit them :) ...
I rented a
phenomenal
flat for us in the theater district of Stockholm which
provided opportunities
to see the many beautiful sights. We too traversed across
the Baltic to explore
Finland. Dan
and I are parents to three
wonderful cats, Jack, Mittens, and Mikaela’s Dragon (an
adorable energetic cat half the size of our others).
(Left)- Jack and Mittens fond of guitars just like
Dan!
(Right)- Jack and Dragon look like they could be father/
son!- No blood relation
In Memory- Sadly Dan lost his beloved Rat Rue in 2014... When Mikaela first got her, Dan was not very excited, then they bonded... and cuddled and played every day!
2014 was a year of travel, fun,
and adventure. Mom and dad continue to live in Golden
Valley; dad is active as
always and is doing well. He actually qualified for the
National Senior Olympics next summer to be held in Minnesota
(qualified in both singles and doubles tennis)... below is
an endearing photo of him celebrating his victories (first
and second), here in Minnesota. He too continues his
affection for biking and plans to ride our 20th Purple
Pumpers event again... the MS 150! :)
Left- Dad celebrating his state Senior Olympics wins in Tennis- will go to nationals/ Right- Mikaela, dad and me ready to ride the Grand Rounds Bike Tour :)
Dan - Continues to grace
the tennis courts as a
high school coach for Maple Grove girls and Centennial boys
teams. He also
teaches tennis classes for the University of Minnesota and
works as a Tennis
Pro at Baseline Tennis center. Along with his daily vigorous
exercise routine,
these activities keep him young beyond his years! Dan’s Sticks and Tones children’s band (with friends
Steve and Jeff) continues
to provide family friendly music at a variety of venues
including festivals/
music in the park at Maple Grove, Burnsville, Bloomington,
Vadnais Heights and
other communities. Highlights of Dan’s year include our family
trip to Europe,
the beauty of Stockholm, the fun and adventures of Las Vegas
(he loves Jimmy
Buffet), and the many valued times shared with friends and
family.
Dan still coaching and teaching tennis... here is one of his tennis classes at the University- Yes, Mikaela's best friend, and our "second daughter" Jodi is in the back row! :)
(Left)- Dan battles a ferocious crocodile in Florida-- Right,
canoeing in the everglades..... We stayed on Black
Island (between Fort Meyers and Bonita Springs)- Gorgeous!
Spectacular Sunsets & Sunrises... On the Right is
the View from our Condo on Lovers Key, Black Island Florida
Kristi-
What an
adventure! The year started with travels to Florida and then a
work &
pleasure ski related trip with my friend Catherine to Montana
(Big Sky/ Bridger
Bowl and the beauty of Yellowstone). In April I released my
textbook at our
national conference in Baltimore, thus checking off the 11th
of my
12 item bucket list (still have to get to my 50th
state,
Alaska—booked for June)! Then in June I was blessed with the
opportunity to
present research at our OT World Congress in Yokohama Japan…
what an incredible
experience! Additional activities included several running
events, captaining our
19th Purple Pumpers team on the MS 150, family
camp & more. The
year concluded with a 3 month, 50th bday
celebration starting with an
August weekend 40
mile hike on the
Superior hiking trail with my dear friend Julie (also turned
50) and culminated
in a trip with Dan to Vegas which included riding the world’s
tallest Ferris
Wheel, the fabulous Cirque du Soliel show “Ka” and a Jimmy
Buffet Concert… I
too sent out 50 pay it forward bday letters and am so thankful
for the many
acts of kindness and generosity so many have shown. Thanks to
dearly loved
friends and family who have shared in the adventures biking,
hiking, running
and traveling! It
was a year of
blessings beyond words!
Montana skiing is amazing... and
Big Sky is now the largest Ski Resort in
the U.S. (Left) skiing with my
friend and colleague Catherine at Big
Sky- Right (Bridger Bowl)
Yokohama Japan--- Had the
Opportunity to present at our World Federation of
Occupational Therapy
Finally got my book released at our American Occupational
Therapy Conference in Baltimore MD!!!!! (Right)--- Enjoy
Baltimore with Friends
Purple Pumpers 19--- MS 150 ... This
year will be our 20th event, we hope to go over $100,000
raised through the years!
Celebrating our 50th birthdays with soul sister Julie-- hiked 40 miles on the Superior trail :)! 10 to go in the snow this winter!
Mikaela and her girlfriend Sarah
welcome us to Sweden with open arms and an adorable sign :)
Mikaela- This
year
summed up in one word: Holymolyohmygoodnesswoah. This was a very life
changing year for
me. Personal-life:
I continue to live
with my beautifully wonderful girlfriend Sarah, in NE
Minneapolis. We have two
rats named Ellie and Luna, and they’re so stinkin’ cute. Sarah
and I decided we
wanted to live in Sweden for a month, so that’s just what we
did! We spent 3
weeks of July WWOOFing (Word Wide Opportunities on Organic
Farms), working on a
farm in Sweden in the middle of nowhere. We worked endless
hours completing
crazy tasks such as weeding impossible gardens, decluttering
the Shed of
Narnia, chopping forests worth of wood, and making dinners for
8 people out of
almost nothing. We also stayed in Stockholm for a week and a
half with my
lovely parents, exploring the culture and community. It was
the most life
changing, amazing trip I have ever taken and I desperately
pine to go back
asap. Occupation: In the spring of this year I quit the job I
worked prior (at
a middle school) and relocated to an elementary school. I am
now a 1st
grade teacher at West Side Summit, a charter school in West
Saint Paul. I work
(literally) 10-13 hours a day, but I absolutely love it. I
could not be more
proud and honored to be my students’ teacher.
Sweden Photos!!!
Mikaela and her wonderful 1st grade class! :)
Running the Rugged Manic- We had a Blast!!!
From the Haertl home to yours,
we wish you a most blessed Christmas and Happy 2015! God’s
Blessings !!!!
Additional Fun Photos From 2015!!!- Kristi's Friends and Family...
Biking!!!
Purple Pumpers--- Training Ride 1
Purple Pumpers- Training Ride 2
June
Purple Pumpers 19th!!! Yes, this year marks our 20th Event!! Join us for the MS 150!
Ready for the Rain with my friend Chuck "Chris" Christiansen
Purple Pumpers 19!!
Grand Rounds 14
Left- Running in the Delano 4th of July race in memory of my brother--- Right 4th overall and won my age cohort dressed as a cow in the Halloween race :)
The Rugged Maniac!
Some of our aerobics crew for the Battle of the sexes
The crew all ready for Christmas workouts !!!! :)
Personal and Professional Travels and Events
Florida
Above- The Beauty of The Florida Everglades
Montana-
Left- the beauty of Yellowstone... and Montana... Right, a view of the vast areas and mountains from Big Sky Montana
Baltimore- and the American Occupational Therapy Conference
My friend Christine and I visit the site where the Star Spangled Banner was written
Left- St. Kates wins the AOTF "St. Catherine Challenge---- Right- Celebrating with friends Maryanne Sacco and Charles (Chris) Christiansen- the CEO of AOTF
nbsp; Right- Photographed with Production Editor from AOTA (my book wouldn't have been possible without Ashley)!
World Federation of Occupational Therapy- Our World Congress--- Yokohama Japan
The Beauty of Japan- I had
the pleasure of presenting
research at our World OT
Congress<
At WFOT with famous OT extraordinare, Ruth Zemke, her husband Wayne, Christine, and someone I don't know!
Northern Pines Christian Family Camp--- A Favorite Place and Annual Visit!
Sweden
Finland
Finland- Baltic Sea
Santas are everywhere in Finland... perhaps because they are close to the North Pole?
Girls Night Out -Still getting together with the same group of high school friends on a regular basis! What fun!
Left- Saying Good Bye to the Old Sunshine Factory and Right- Saying Hello to the new Pub 42!!
Joint International Occupational Science Conference- Hosted by St. Catherine University!
Left- Kate and I with some of our students Right- Yours truly with friend Chuck "Chris" Christiansen and two students, Christine & Annie (Christine was Valdictorian)
Dinner out with colleague friends from all over the world!
Left- Through the years- Zemke winners (along with Ruth Zemke :) ) Right- Photographed with students, this year's Zemke winner and friend, Liz Townsend, and Hans Josephsson
50th Birthday Celebration... My 3 month celebration- including 40 mile trek on the Superior Trail; Numerous Celebrations; Benihana 4 times; and Topping it off with Vegas!!!
Thanks to all who celebrated with me!!! ... In addition to sending 50 pay it forward funded letters, I had the blessing of celebrating my 50th for 3 months starting in August and ending in my birthday month of October. I am deeply grateful for so many dearly loved friends and family, and too, am touched by the many acts of kindness!
Special Thanks!!!.... This year as I celebrated my 50th I sent out 50 funded pay it forward letters including anyone from our fitness family who came to my October fitness birthday breakfast! As part of this Ken Welle set up for 20 people to pack food at Feed My Starving Children.... along with the church groups there, our entire 8pm group packed nearly 30,000 meals!!! Thanks to all from our aerobics family who joined us! :)
Thanks to all who joined us... along with the other groups, nearly 30,000 meals packed in just over an hour!
In this season of Giving, may we all be mindful of how we can give, and extend acts of kindness!
50th Fat Nats Celebration
50th Fat Nats Celebration
The "High Roller"---World's Tallest, Stands 55 Stories!
View from Atop the Stratosphere (where we stayed)
I pause
in gratitude for the beauty
of time spent dearly loved
friends and family this past
year
As I have turned 50 I am
mindful of how important it
is that we embrace the
journey
and that along the way, we
too seek to give back; and
to leave a legacy on this
precious Earth
May you
and those most loved enjoy
the warmth and love of the
Christmas Season
and let us remember of the
precious love of God came
down to earth
that we may hold love and
light in our hearts!!!
Kristi
