Kristi's 2024 Friends and Family Christmas
Page
Greetings All! I hope you are well as the
days grow cooler and adored in beautiful white, and as we find
time for friends and family to celebrate
the holidays. I share with you our family Christmas letter
and photos of friends, family and colleagues through the year.
May you be blessed!
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Greetings all! We pray you are well in this season of giving.
This past year brought extensive personal and professional
travel equaling pre-pandemic levels. In Dec/Jan Dan and I
traveled to Aruba, then some shorter ski trips (I ski, Dan
enjoys playing guitar in the hotel rooms š), several
presentations and this year a rarity, Dan joined me for the AOTA
conference in Orlando (he enjoys Florida). We too had an amazing
trip out West to see magician Matt Franco & Cirque du Soliel
in Vegas, and then we ventured
on a National Park and Canyon trek through Nevada, Arizona and
Utah, very fun! There were many additional travels including NYC
for the US Open, Family Camp trip to Northern Pines (dad came
too) and for the 29th season I again captained the Purple
Pumpers on the MS 150. If you are interested in
joining us we have a few spots left for our 30th team this year!
At 86 mom has far outlived the life expectancy for someone with
schizophrenia (average lifespan 67 years), she lived at home
with dad until this year as she moved into Assisted Living. Dad
at a youthful 91 still dances often and is still in Golden
Valley. Sadly we lost our dear 16 year old cat Jack who went to
visit 19 year old Mittens in kitty heaven. We still have
adorable Halo and are hoping to get a new kitten or young cat as
a buddy for him.
Sharing the beauty of Aruba-
Our fancy
digs
National Park beauty
Baby Beach
Aruba
Sunset Beauty
Dan: What a whirlwind year for Dan who defies age and still is a
tennis coach and pro as although he āretiredā from being a head
coach for the Centennial Boys, he assisted with Coon Rapids,
still teaches tennis at the University of Minnesota and is what
we believe the oldest head coach in Minnesota as he still
coaches Girlās tennis at Maple Grove; they had their best season
ever and got 3rd in state! We too had an amazing trip with the
team to visit the US Open in New York City. Congrats to Dan as
for the 5th
time he won Section Coach of the Year. Highlights of Danās year
include the many amazing travels, playing music with Mikaela at
community festivals, and the successful tennis year.
Maple Grove, 3rd in
State!
Fun at the US
Open!
Fun on
Broadway
Our whole travel crew!
Kristi: It is hard to believe I am in my 28th year at St. Kates
and loving the reduced .75, 9 over 12 contract (still full
time). I too continue to have a private practice with
developmental and psychiatric clients. Early in 2024 my third
text book (authored with Chuck Christiansen) was published and
is now being
published in Greek as well. I too continue to serve in board
leadership in mental health and am enjoying my involvement in a
Global Occupational Therapy Think Tank, our monograph on global
response to Covid is out and we are now looking at AI in health
care. Dan and I sing in the praise band and are involved in our
church food ministry and I am LOVING grandmahood. Highlights
include the deeply valued times with family and friends,
babysitting (grammy joy), volunteering at chuch, and the many
amazing travels.
Serving at our church Matthew 25 Food Distribution - Let folks
know, every Friday 4-6 and 2nd Sunday 12-2!
Thank the good Lord that in the past 5 years we have been able
to give away millions of dollars in food!
Babysitting fun at Como
Park
The grandkids first day of school
Family ice cream
fun
Dad and I make our annual trip to Michigan to visit his brother
(my uncle Jim) and aunt Kathy
Bri, Mikaela, Caleb & Arlo: Busy as always with this fam!
Itās amazing to believe that Caleb is already in the 6th grade
and he has surpassed both momsā heights! Heās enjoyed stellar
hockey and baseball seasons, and spends lots of time with many
family members and playing video games. He is seriously the
greatest big brother to have ever existed. Arlo is as energetic
as can be, still immensely loving anything cooking related. He
has also become an avid fan of Play-doh, cars, Spiderman and
Bluey. This year he
tried basketball, baseball and soccer (soccer wins as the fave).
Bri has been doing phenomenal work at the transportation company
she works at. She was promoted to an Account Director (though
she humbly wouldnāt tell you this), overseeing other account
managers and being responsible for the
transportation of 9 different schools! She continues to show off
her mad skills in house projects and is truly the most wonderful
of moms. Mikaela is still loving teaching 3rd grade at a charter
school in Minneapolis. Mikaela also loved spending time
with the family, playing music, and playing dodgeball this year.
Gottal love Christmas time, celebrating Jesus and visiting
Santa!
Severs Christmas lights
Blessings to all from the Haertls! š
More Fun Photos!
Work Fun! ---
Left, Photo of Chuck "Chris and I with our
book-
Fun in mental health class
it is being translated into Greek!
The beauty of our
campus
Faculty Christmas fun!
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Conference Fun!
AOTA - Orlando, Congrats, St. Kate's again placed in the
Right- some of us who are authors in
the Functional Performance in Older Adults
St. Catherine Challenge
Some of the Global Occupational Therapy Think
Tank
Time for Fun at Universal Studios
Society for the Study of Occupation- Raleigh/ Durham
NC
AOTA Ed Summit- Charlotte NC
Left- photographed with friends Chris and
John
St. Kate's crew at the AOTA Ed Summit we had many of us
present!
We have all served on the board & presented multiple
times
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Friends, Friends, Friends (I couldn't possible capture all
the fun friend photos from the past year)
Girl's Night Out Events are always a blast!
Left- fun with
Catherine
Right- Yum, Pad Thai with Linda and Brenda!
Left- out to Red Lobster with my friend
Rhoda
Right, out with OT friends!
Superbowl
Fun!
My co-author and board member, Purple Pumper, collaborator and
biking buddy Chris!
Left- Purple Pumpers
29th!
Right- One of my many travels to the North Shore to see my
friend Julie
Julie and I always find fun ways to celebrate our birthdays-
Voyageurs!
A fun Feed My Starving Children Birthday event, here are some
of the attendees
Merry Merry Christmas!
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A small sampling of the year's travels
Fun in Aruba! - We hiked, swam, explored, and went on an
adventure trip!
Some of the many fun ski outings...
Annual Father Daughter
Trek
Hiking in NC
Epic Tour National Park and Canyon Tour West (Nevada, Arizona,
Utah)
Left- Horseshoe Bend- Page
AZ
Right- Antelope Canyon- AZ
Left- Zion National
Park
Right- Bryce National Park
Bryce Canyon has more hoodoos than anywhere else in the
World!
Annual Family Camp Trip!
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Thanks to all for being a part of our lives! My personal motto
is "Live life fully, love fervently, and strive to make a
positive difference!"
From our family to yours, Merry Christmas! God's
Blessings to you!