Christmas Letter

Highlights of the past year:

· March: The basketball team I was the assistant coach of (Cornerstone University) made it to Nationals! We spent a week in Iowa, it was a great experience. (I have decided not to do it this year because of the time commitment and my new Real Estate Career)

· May: Jared and I took a trip with my sister to Denmark & Sweden, it was a great trip – a little too much city for me, but it was a great adventure!

· Summer: Our kickball team finished the whole season (both seasons Spring and Summer) undefeated! Keeping our place at the top!

· June: I started my career as a Real Estate Agent, and I am loving it! I had my first sale in July and am on track for having a great first year…at least that is what my broker says.

· Jared’s brother, Luke, got married in South Bend, we were happy to welcome another girl into the family!

· July: Jared competed in his first Triathlon and did amazing! Now he is stepping up his training and hoping to do a lot more next year, with a Ironman in 2013! He is training really hard and loving every minute of it.

· August: Our friend from Washington Adriane and her daughter Malibu came to visit! It was so great to see them. We went up north and visited Mackinaw Island and Sleeping Bear Dunes, then headed back to Hudsonville to hang out for a little while. It was so great to hang out with them and visit. I wish we could do it more often!

· September: My birthday which was amazing, Jared took me to the Notre Dame game which was fun even though we lost. Then On my birthday we took a pregnancy test (this was the day before we were headed to the fertility clinic to see what we could do) and it was POSITIVE! We were so excited and in disbelief for a while. It was probably the best birthday ever!

· Jared started being a Young Life leader this year, Young Life Club meets at our house every Monday night (it’s a high school Christian outreach group – I guess that’s the best way to describe it).

· October: We had our second annual Minute to Win It party, my dad made it to the finals but was defeated by my friend Linda Knapper. It was a great day! We were able to go to a couple MSU Football games this year so that of course was the best ever! Someday we will have season tickets!

· This fall/winter has just been super busy with work, projects around the house, and visiting people.

Duke is doing great as well, he really loves hanging out in the soon to be baby’s room so I’m not sure what that is about. He is loving this winter so far since it hasn’t been that cold and there is no snow…he is the only one in the family enjoying that I think. He continues to be as spoiled as ever, but he deserves it.

We are looking forward to January 11 when we get to learn who this little babe is, boy or girl. Other then that we are loving life! We feel so blessed to have wonderful friends, a great small group at church, good jobs, and of course our family!

Hope you all are having a blessed and happy holiday season!

Icebar in Stockholm

Stockholm

On the island of Hven - a little island between Sweden and Denmark

(my favorite place we went on our trip - we biked around it and played Football Golf! AMAZING!)

Everyone Can Use a Helping Hand...Pay it Forward

Amazing things have been happening over here. Our small group, who is a group of AMAZING FUN people, was looking for a family to adopt through an organization or something for this holiday season. At first we were a little disappointed because the program we were going to go through wasn't doing it anymore. Then one girl in our group discovered that another girl in her women's bible study and her hubby were not well off at all. They are very hard workers, but have just fallen on hard times. We decided that we would get them some gift cards and try to make their holidays a bit brighter. The girl is pregnant and also has a 13 year old son, so we decided to do what we could.

We all did that and brought our stuff to our small group Christmas party. We all started talking and we found out that the couple had nothing for their baby which is due in a couple months. For a few minutes we all just sat their thinking about how scary and aweful that would be. Then I said.... WAIT this is NOT a big problem and can be solved easily! Where do you go when you need to gather the power of the people...FACEBOOK. We posted on Facebook the situation and just asked if anyone had old baby stuff they didn't need anymore..within an hour we already had a carseat and stroller. Over the next couple days we gathered all sorts of things, carseat, stroller, highchair, pack N play, crib, mattress, swing, bouncy seat, clothes, monitor, humidifier, clothes, diapers, and much more. People were coming out of everywhere, people who didn't even know anyone in our small group donating money and supplies. It has been amazing to see God work through His people. This week we are gathering everything and delivering it anonymously...I can't wait. I wish there was someway to capture it on video!

I knew people would want to help. I believe people always want to help, but many times they just don't know what needs doing. Which goes back to my life theory of...when you need help...ASK. Also, my life theory of people are good.

This truly has been an amazing example of God working through His people and I am so happy to be apart of it!

Pregnancy Update

So I am 15 weeks right now, Saturday I will be 16. Officially out of the first trimester and into the second. Still waiting for all those pesky first trimester things to wear-off, however, I really never had it bad. The most annoying thing now is that I am starting to get hungry, but still not much sounds good to me to eat. I lost 5 lbs when I got pregnant and now I am back up 1 for a total of -4 lbs - the doctor said she is not concerned about this at all and it happens to a lot of people so that is good. Jared and I can tell that I am showing a little, more at night time. A couple other people have commented on it, but I wouldn't say that I am SHOWING yet I guess...but on the verge.

Jared and I have a project list of things we want to accomplish each month...we are already a little behind, but I am glad we are at least starting to do things now instead of waiting till spring. We have the crib built and the paint bought for the room. Our biggest stressor is the bedding, Jared and I do not like baby bedding! We have found a few that we like but then they are like $300! and we aren't about to spend that on bedding.

Overall I would say things are going great. Jared continues to be the best Hubby ever! The other day I had a temper tantrum about our cereal selection which ended up with me laying on the ground in the kitchen...Jared simply said "I'll go to the store, do you know what you want?" and left to get me some more cereals. He may have laughed at me to my face, but I couldn't blame him.

I also think that Duke is starting to sense that someone else is in my belly. He has always loved pregnant people. He loves to lay across my belly and snuggle...draping himself over me, it's kinda funny.

January 11 is our appointment to find out who is in there...our future son or daughter!

Winter - Holidays

Where is winter? I am having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit this year. There is no snow outside - and that really makes the holidays come alive for me. I have taken to making it seem like Christmas and trying to trick myself.

Here's what I do:

Once it is dark outside...

Turn on the fire, close the curtains then you can see neighbors Christmas lights faintly through the curtains, play christmas music while you sit in front of the fire - make hot chocolate if you want. Put on your PJ's and slippers, then put on a good christmas movie and snuggle on the couch with your hubby and dog (at least those are my snuggle buddies).

PERFECT! Then I believe it's the holidays!

In my head it looks like this outside: