Wrapping up the Year

It's not quite 7:00 a.m. and the sky has a lovely band of pink at the horizon.  I'm excited that we are past the shortest day of the year and now headed towards spring!  We had a lovely 4 day Christmas this year and are settling back into normal life until New Years.  I'm not sure where the year went!

I know in January I was doing multiple online book studies.  Most of them ended by February, except 1.  I worked through the workbook for the book "The Lifegiving Home" by Sally Clarkson and ended that today.  Next year I am planning on starting to read through the Bible in chronological order (as it happened in history)...I printed out a plan I found online.  Chances are it will take me longer than a year, but that's okay.  I'm not sure about any book studies as well...maybe "The Lifegiving Table" (also by Sally Clarkson) as I have that workbook or "Safe People" by Cloud/Townsend (one, the other, or both...can't remember).

We are doing at least a bit of school between Christmas and New Year's.  It is helpful for my kids to have some structure and not to much unplanned time.  I need to get that ready for today but don't want to disturb my kids who are sleeping in after being up early Saturday - Tuesday.

Back to our 4 Christmases:

• Saturday we celebrated with Randy's family
• Sunday we had our Christmas Program at Church and celebrated with some of our Boys' family.
• Monday we celebrated with my family.
• Tuesday we had our own family celebration.  Randy's parents came for lunch.  And we wrapped up the day with some friends here for supper and cards.

I truly was amazed at how well the children did with so much excitement and anticipation.  Holidays in the past have been rather stressful interspersed with fun.  This year it was more of a pleasure, interspersed with moments of stress.  I like the flip!  :-) 

Randy got me a pair of cowboy boots.  I've wanted boots for a long time so was very excited with that gift!

We have taken road trips most years since 2012 and are contemplating 2019...perhaps it's time to venture South to the Great Smokey Mountains?!  We will see what we can work out.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

~Karen

In lieu of a Christmas Letter...

Years ago I would write a Christmas Letter and mail it to our friends who lived away from us (not usually those locally).  Somewhere along the line, I stopped doing that.  Facebook Memories tell me that last year I just updated my blog and posted the entry on Facebook so this is my attempt at doing that again.  :-)

And now, the official (brief) update:

As a family, we continue to live where we lived, attend church, homeschool, have some animals on our little farmette (a few chickens and a steer at the moment).  We love to travel (camping) and went to the Adirondacks this past June and Watkins Glen in September...although our kids are getting older so the oldest did not join us on those travels this year.  We also spent a week at the beach in August and went to the cabin with my family in July.  We continue to be involved with Transport For Christ (Annual Banquet - March, Truck Rally - June).

Fort Ticonderoga in the background.

Randy continues to drive truck, traveling to the Midwest & Canada every week.  He continues to enjoy riding bike and biked the 145 mile BR2RB and Hershey Chocolate Tour this year despite his diagnosis of Sarcoidosis (a lung disease).

Karen continues to read voraciously, homeschool, and manage the home and schedules.  She also love chocolate and essential oils.  (website:  www.karensauder.com, Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KJSauder/ ).

Josiah got his CDL as soon as possible after turning 18 and drives truck within PA (due to rules and regulations prohibiting him from driving out of state until he is 21).



Autumn is working on her Senior Year of High School.  She recently got her drivers license.  She enjoys working part time at Half Dozen Cafe & Bakery.  She occasionally plays violin or sings at church.

Janae is enjoying her 1st year of homeschooling and likes to read as much as I do.  As she recently turned 14, she is now in possession of a working permit and wants to work (with the desire to buy a nice road bike and save for college).  She also enjoys biking, especially biking with Dad on the Tandem Bike.

Zach is in 5th grade.  He has recently taken over caring for the animals which has been so helpful.  He enjoys listening to Adventures in Odyssey, watching Dude Perfect, and playing with Legos.

Mark is in 4th grade/Life Skills.  He loves to go to the neighbor's house.  He continues with Speech and Occupational Therapies.  I am constantly thinking about ways to help him learn as it is such a struggle.  He loves to help us and enjoys cleaning and playing with toys.

Micah is in 3rd grade and working on mastering multiplication.  He misses his friends at school but seems to be adjusting to being home.  He loves Legos and all things sports.

Haydyn is our delightful toddler.  He loves "Old McDonald Had a Farm", playing with toys, playing with his brothers, and going away.  He is in Speech Therapy as well and is getting more and more vocal. :-) 

 

And that wraps it up.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!