Christmas Letter for 98

Happy Valentines Day, President’s Day, and Ash Wednesday,

Who said I didn’t get letters out during the holidays! Maybe you should know why you didn’t get a letter from me during Christmas. We spent 4 days in Mesa, AZ visiting Dennis’ folks and aunt and uncle. Then on Christmas day we drove to Redlands, CA to visit my side of the family for 4 days. We had a total of 4 and ½ days driving in the car. When we got back we had girls to return to the Academy, grades to get done, major school projects to work on…Let’s look back.

Dec. 1997 We had a wonderful Christmas vacation at home last year which included skiing for everyone except Laura who snowboards, seeing the Nutcracker ballet, shopping, eating, watching too many videos, pet sitting, and Dutch Blitz. (an addictive card game)

Jan./Feb. 1998 Justin turns 12. Justin and Erin ski on Tuesdays. Sherri takes her class (grades 1-4) swimming. Laura at Auburn Adventist Academy snowboards on Sundays. Sherri has Math Carnival, Jump Rope for Heart and a Presidential Breakfast at school to keep her from getting bored. Dennis and Sherri begin a 16 week class called "Growing Kids God’s Way." (I highly recommend it.)

March AAA parent/daughter brunch. (Laura says they pull out the good food when parents come). Erin goes to AAA for band clinic. (Last year it was choir clinic). Justin and Erin’s piano teacher moves away. Spring break sends the kids to Arizona to see Dennis’ snowbird parents and Dennis and Sherri to Iowa to see family and her grandparents in the nursing home. (They have both returned home now.)

April Erin does well in the school Geography Bee. Her classmate and competition goes on to the state level. Sherri is overloaded with school responsibilities like new student day, parent teacher conferences, art and writing contests, Cowboy day… Erin plays at Handbell Clinic. (She needs to try everything). Erin and Justin are trying to catch up on Pathfinder requirements (that they missed while skiing) before Pathfinder Fair.

May Church campout at Rosario Beach. Erin turns 14. Last minute fieldtrips and school programs. Erin’s 8^th grade trip to Vancouver and Victoria. Dennis has a birthday. How many now?

June Sam the guinea pig takes Justin as his owner and moves in. (Sam’s mother was in Justin’s class and his father was in our upper grade teacher’s class) Erin graduates from 8^th grade and Sherri’s dad baptizes Justin. (We feel so fortunate that he was able to baptize all three kids. I wonder when the weddings start? Hopefully it will be awhile.) Laura comes home from the academy and gets a job at the Snoqualmie Falls gift shop. (Never the same shifts or hours from week to week.) Campmeeting for only Sherri, Erin, and Justin.

July Sherri is on the Pacific Union Social Studies 1-4 Committee. (Not one month without something related to school!) We took short day excursions because Laura had to work every Sunday (with every Sat. off). Deception Pass and Ocean Shores were quick but relaxing trips. Shopping for Erin’s academy needs has begun. We say good-by to our friends the Allisons who move to Wrangell, Alaska. Dennis and Justin go backpacking.

Aug. Sherri is thrilled to go to Portland, OR for some special training. (School again.) All of us go backpacking to Spider Meadow (where there is a full moon and many obnoxious rodents). Redecorating Sherri’s classroom. Registration and moving into 2 dorm rooms exactly 2 floors apart. Erin is now a freshman and Laura a junior. Sherri flies to Iowa to her great-aunt’s funeral. Justin begins life as a 7^th grader and an only child. Sherri teaches 1-3 in the morning and adds 4^th for 3 classes in the afternoon.

Sept. Dennis and Justin backpack. Laura turns 17. Our annual campout with college friends is earlier so that all the academy age kids can go during home leave. Laura decides to go to Honduras during Spring Break 1999 on a mission trip.

Oct. Dennis goes to his 25^th academy reunion in North Dakota. (My he is getting up there!) Net ’98 meetings by Dwight Nelson. Laura got her driver’s license! (Now all she needs is a car and time to drive it). Dennis and Justin go to eastern WA to glean apples. Sherri’s month of fieldtrips.

Nov. Pressing apples for cider and freezing applesauce. More Net ’98 meetings. (Weren’t they excellent!) Our school musical Thanksgiving Program. Parent Weekend at AAA where our buttons popped off as Laura is in Wind Ensemble playing percussion and Erin is in choir and on the gymnastics team.

Dec. 98/Jan.99 We have a great time eating, bowling, shuffleboarding, eating, swimming, visiting, eating, pressing our way through the most crowded Disneyland I’ve ever seen, and eating. We return home New Year’s Eve and have our Christmas morning on New Year’s Day. What do we long for in 1999? Ask Justin and he will say snowboarding. Dennis tries snowboarding and buys his own equipment and goes with Justin. Erin wants to successfully make it through her freshman year. Laura is anxious for her Honduras trip in March. Dennis and Sherri are thankful for a great family and wish the Lord would come soon to reunite us all together.

Email address ds.seibold@wavecable.com

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