Christmas Letter 2012

 

 

 

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

God continues to challenge and lead us through life.  We are learning about new ways of parenting as the boys get older and  we see how coming out of a hard life can cause issues we never dreamed of.  We are grateful for our home here and the many exploring opportunities for the boys. They are looking forward to sledding on the giant hill out back.  We did not have an abundance of snow last year so maybe this year! They are playing some basketball on Saturdays which helps burn some of that extra energy.   We love them so much!



  Hazel Jane Koethke, our fifth grandchild, was born on   February 12, 2012 !







Our Grown Children

Nothing much has changed with all the kids.  Angela, Carlos, and Gio are still in Ephrata. Gio is a Junior this year at New Life Christian and starting to think about what God would him  do after High School.

Patricia, Christian, and the kids have settled into what we now refer to as  the "farm house".  We often gather there for family get togethers.  Patricia is homeschooling Hudson and travels on Mondays to Yakima for a group school settings.  Livia has stayed with us a few times instead of going to school with brother. She enjoys helping grandma with cooking  and yard work as long as she can stay in the gator!

Christie and Dustin are in Salem, OR. They took a trip to Cameroon, Africa in November to see if God would have them serve there.  They are still praying about it.  When they returned they announced that baby Gietl is due in June!

Becca and Jared keep busy with Lane.  He celebrated his first birthday here at our house so many of the aunts, uncles, and great grandparents could participate.                 

Debra and Jacob are in Yakima.  Both have new jobs, different employers but same line of work.  Debra has also become a Miche representative.  You can ask her all about it!

 

My Parents Moved To Ephrata

My parents house in Oregon City sold quickly which enabled them to move to Ephrata this past spring.  The wonderful house they purchased is right on the way to school so I can stop in and see them often.  They have wonderful neighbors.  Mom even planted a garden and grew her first watermelon.  They are enjoying being close to our family and celebrating the holidays with us.  We are looking forward to celebrating mom's 75th birthday with all our kids home as a birthday/Christmas gathering.

 

This year for Easter we had the entire family together.  We were blessed as it is harder to get everyone together as we continue to grow.  Even Wes's mom came so we took some four generation pictures.

 

Wes and Julie

Wes continues to work on the farm. He says retirement means 40 hour weeks and being able to come and go as he pleases. He continues to turn more of the responsibility over to Brandon and Nic. He has planned and even helped a little bit in building of a shop/garage.  They just put the trusses up this morning.  It will be good to have someplace to park the pickup and to work on stuff with the boys, not to mention a basketball hoop.                                    He also continues to work with the K-6 Olympians at church on Wednesday nights.

Julie keeps busy taking care of the family, lots of cooking!  She has enjoyed working with the teenagers at Youth Group on Wednesday nights and teaching Sunday mornings.  She is blessed by the growth and change she sees in many of our youth.  Please pray with her for the new believers to grow strong in their faith. 

Helen continues to spend most of her time studying or working.  We are looking forward to her six week winter  break from Biola where she is in her second year.  If you are ever in the Anaheim, CA area be sure to look her up!

Vickie is attending Williams and Mary College in VA and is spending Christmas vacation with us.

We are so blessed and look to the Lord for His wisdom and guidance as we endeavor to live this life He has given to us so that His name will be praised! May He richly bless you in 2013.