Dear Family and Friends: January 2009
I hope the New Year is treating you all well. I had high intentions of writing this as a Christmas letter, and it just didn’t happen. So, we will just pretend they are Winter Cards and send them anyway. So much has happened this year, I really wanted to send a letter.
2008 was an exciting year. Last year, Jason was invited to join a National Grace Brethren Leadership Team and traveled to CA in January for meetings. I was able to go with him and we had a few days of meetings for him and rest for me. He is actually in California now for a week for more meetings
In July, we traveled to Florida for our National Conference. Jason’s parents went with us (all 7 of us in the van – with a full car-top carrier) for a week of meetings and Conference. Then we had a day at Sea World in Orlando before we continued to Hilton Head for a week of vacation. Friends own a condo there and let us use it every year. This was our 8th year to vacation there. We really feel like it is home away from home. The kids love the beach and the pool as well as riding bikes and watching for alligators.
In October, Jason traveled a bit farther, to the Central African Republic by way of Paris, France. He went to help teach at the Grace Brethren Seminary there. He was gone 2 ½ weeks and had an incredible experience. His journal detailing the trip can be read at http://pastorjasoncarmean.blogspot.com/. He plans to return for the last half of May this year to teach a 3rd year Seminary class on the book of Revelation.
Micaela is 7 this year and in 1st grade. She loves school and is doing really well. She loves to play with her Webkinz dog and is likes anything to do with paper – coloring, painting, writing, creating. She played soccer this fall and really enjoyed it. Her team did really well, and we had fun getting to know other families as we watched the practices and games. Alyssa is 5 and in Pre-Kindergarten - a 5-day preschool program at our church’s school. She loves school and can most often be found reading a book. She has paid close attention to Micaela’s schoolwork, and she can read just as well, if not better, than her sister. Josiah is 2 ½ and is into everything. We are trying to potty train, but so far he likes his diaper, I think. He has surgery in April to put tubes in his ears and had his adenoids taken out. This has made a huge difference in his speech, balance, and health. He got a guitar for Christmas and sings and writes his own songs all day long. All three kids have been taking swimming lessons at the YMCA this year. Josiah is in the parent/child class, so Jason or I (mostly Jason) have swimming lessons too. It has been a great time to get some regular exposure to the water. All of them have made great improvements.
My life is kept busy with all of the above. But I do manage to do a few other things. I have continued to lead a Women’s Bible Study at my house. This is our second year and I love it. I have two groups - one on Tuesday mornings and one in the evening. It is exciting to learn and grow together. I also take 5 weeks in the summer to move to Camp Bethany (about 45 minutes from our house) to be the head cook. My brother Kenton, is the director and lots of our family is involved in one area or another. We work hard, but we have so much fun. My kids can’t wait for summer to come so they can go to camp. Micaela is especially excited because she gets to be a “real camper” and sleep in the cabins this summer.
Things at the church are going well. This is our 9th year in Lexington and the church is growing. The church paid off the mortgage this year, and that enabled us to hire a full time Youth/Family Pastor. Jason has really appreciated having another person in the office to share and partner with. We have experienced the usual “growing pains,” but we see God working in a lot of ways and people.
I am not the best at keeping in touch, but hopefully this catches you up with our lives at this point. We ask God to bless you all this year.
I hope the New Year is treating you all well. I had high intentions of writing this as a Christmas letter, and it just didn’t happen. So, we will just pretend they are Winter Cards and send them anyway. So much has happened this year, I really wanted to send a letter.
2008 was an exciting year. Last year, Jason was invited to join a National Grace Brethren Leadership Team and traveled to CA in January for meetings. I was able to go with him and we had a few days of meetings for him and rest for me. He is actually in California now for a week for more meetings
In July, we traveled to Florida for our National Conference. Jason’s parents went with us (all 7 of us in the van – with a full car-top carrier) for a week of meetings and Conference. Then we had a day at Sea World in Orlando before we continued to Hilton Head for a week of vacation. Friends own a condo there and let us use it every year. This was our 8th year to vacation there. We really feel like it is home away from home. The kids love the beach and the pool as well as riding bikes and watching for alligators.
In October, Jason traveled a bit farther, to the Central African Republic by way of Paris, France. He went to help teach at the Grace Brethren Seminary there. He was gone 2 ½ weeks and had an incredible experience. His journal detailing the trip can be read at http://pastorjasoncarmean.blogspot.com/. He plans to return for the last half of May this year to teach a 3rd year Seminary class on the book of Revelation.
Micaela is 7 this year and in 1st grade. She loves school and is doing really well. She loves to play with her Webkinz dog and is likes anything to do with paper – coloring, painting, writing, creating. She played soccer this fall and really enjoyed it. Her team did really well, and we had fun getting to know other families as we watched the practices and games. Alyssa is 5 and in Pre-Kindergarten - a 5-day preschool program at our church’s school. She loves school and can most often be found reading a book. She has paid close attention to Micaela’s schoolwork, and she can read just as well, if not better, than her sister. Josiah is 2 ½ and is into everything. We are trying to potty train, but so far he likes his diaper, I think. He has surgery in April to put tubes in his ears and had his adenoids taken out. This has made a huge difference in his speech, balance, and health. He got a guitar for Christmas and sings and writes his own songs all day long. All three kids have been taking swimming lessons at the YMCA this year. Josiah is in the parent/child class, so Jason or I (mostly Jason) have swimming lessons too. It has been a great time to get some regular exposure to the water. All of them have made great improvements.
My life is kept busy with all of the above. But I do manage to do a few other things. I have continued to lead a Women’s Bible Study at my house. This is our second year and I love it. I have two groups - one on Tuesday mornings and one in the evening. It is exciting to learn and grow together. I also take 5 weeks in the summer to move to Camp Bethany (about 45 minutes from our house) to be the head cook. My brother Kenton, is the director and lots of our family is involved in one area or another. We work hard, but we have so much fun. My kids can’t wait for summer to come so they can go to camp. Micaela is especially excited because she gets to be a “real camper” and sleep in the cabins this summer.
Things at the church are going well. This is our 9th year in Lexington and the church is growing. The church paid off the mortgage this year, and that enabled us to hire a full time Youth/Family Pastor. Jason has really appreciated having another person in the office to share and partner with. We have experienced the usual “growing pains,” but we see God working in a lot of ways and people.
I am not the best at keeping in touch, but hopefully this catches you up with our lives at this point. We ask God to bless you all this year.
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