We greet you this year remembering the many blessings we are ever grateful for.
Family We visited Gavin’s parents and sister in WA last January. Lisa’s parents came out for Bronte’s birthday in March, and we met them again in Minneapolis in Aug. We also had Gavin’s parents out in Sept. Gavin’s grandmother, Edith Ellis, and her friend, visited us over Memorial Day to meet Bronte for the first time. She is Bronte’s only surviving great-grandparent and enjoyed her so much that day! She sent us an antique kids table decorated with ABC’s and nursery rhymes that she had as a child and that Gavin’s d
ad, Jim, used growing up.
Friends We have had many opportunities to reconnect with friends during our travels this year for church meetings, retreats, and via technology. We’ve been a bit behind the times with some technological communications in the past, but recently we have found technology more of a help to reconnect with those who are dear to us that live around the country and the world. Life and time is so short.
Service This fall, we celebrated 5 years living in Iowa and Gavin serving at the Covenant Church here. Lisa spends most of her time with Bronte and various responsibilities with church and community activities. She is also very active in parenting issues like green cleaning options and handmade and safer toys for young children.
Among many highlights this year, all three of us went on a 5 day mission trip with a group from our church, a friend from Chicago, and led by a group called Youthworks. We served at a reservation in Rosebud, SD that is one of the most depressed in the country. As part of the church’s first mission trip, we led activities for a kids club and did work projects. With a one-year-old, we learned from God that if you don’t decide to listen and act when the opportunity arises, you may never get the chance. Sometimes you have to say no to your everyday routine and stop worrying in order to be open to new opportunities that will change your course. We were surprised and thankful by all that we learned on the trip as Christ’s humble servants and as new parents!
Marriage and Family We also celebrated 9 years of marriage this May and are still surprised by what we learn from each other each day and what is still to come in the years ahead. 
Adorable Feline Taize, our cat, turned 5 this fall and is learning to share her favorite spaces more with Bronte. She is very helpful letting us know when Bronte is doing something she does not approve of.
Bronte’s New Discoveries She is now 21 months and her 2nd birthday, March 29, is on winter’s back door. She enjoys so many new discoveries in life like singing parts of the ABC song and counting (most of the numbers) to around 13 as we walk up the stairs. Reading is always a fave with this “little girl.” Bronte’s been using her left hand a lot so we will see if she becomes a true lefty like her mom and mother-in-law, Monica. What she is not able to understand yet is that we look forward to her becoming a big sister around July 10th this coming year!
ellis’ recommend
Bronte
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
Ella Jenkins’ Multi-cultural
Children’s Songs
Snack Time by Barenake
d Ladies
Anything Elmo • Wall-E • Nick Jr’s. Curious Buddies
The Muppet Show • My Friends Tigger and Pooh
Gavin
Tempting Faith by David Kuo • Everything Must Change by Brian McLaren
Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright • Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead
The Dark Knight • Once • Buster Keaton’s The General
Lisa
thegreenguide.com from National Geographic
Healthy Child Healthy World at healthychild.org
Buy Handmade on Etsy.com
maryjanesfarm.org
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