2011 in Review

Huge piles of snow—good exercise for Dad—nearly 100 inches for the winter. “March Madness”—Elyse and the cheer squad follow the team to the Xcel Energy Center (home of the Wild) for the exciting team and individual State Wrestling Tournaments.

Mid-March Spring-Break Vacation to Arizona—a delightful time with John & Stephanie in Prescott including John flying Dad, Elyse, and Luke over the Grand Canyon; also, Stephanie shopping with Elyse while John gave Luke and Dad some shooting lessons somewhere in the desert; also, a wonderful visit with Grandpa and Grandma Jaarsma in Tucson—we all trekked down to Tombstone (site of the famous O.K. Corral Gunfight); Dad and Luke spent a day at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and ate at the fabulous Mi Nidito Mexican Restaurant (“Oh, yes! it’s as good as they say on Man v. Food).

Dance Recital for Elyse in April—possibly her last, she does know how to say “no” to some things when she feels like her plate might be getting too full.

Vacation to Holland, Michigan in June for Ralph and Elaine’s 50th wedding anniversary; visit with John and Stephanie in Quincy, Illinois on the return trip. And, part of our vacation days, a fun visit to Target Field for our school’s appearance in the State Baseball Championship.

Baseball games and tourneys for Luke—at one (on June 4), Dad, forgetting that he’s no longer twenty-something, fell while goofing off with Luke’s teammates between games and ended up with a severe rotator cuff tear (not to mention the confusion at seismic monitors in the Midwest).

Late Summer Summary: Rotator cuff surgery on July 13 followed by a slow-but-steady recovery and rehab—the first few weeks in record-breaking heat and humidity. Just so you know, the first 48 hours after surgery were #&@% (that is, not fun). Driver’s permit for Elyse on July 1; Dad begins praying an extra few minutes each day on July 2. Elyse to Rocky Mountain High with the Second Reformed (Pella) youth group—“Fabulous! Exciting! Fun! A Great Experience!” Luke celebrates his 12th birthday with a sleep-over—bacon and pancakes for ten kids! Luke and a friend and Dad spend a day at The Great Minnesota Get-Together, the Minnesota State Fair!

Luke and Dad jinx the Hawkeyes again: we’ve been to three Iowa-Minnesota football games in Minneapolis and the Gophers have beaten Iowa all three times!

Elyse hosts the wrestling cheer squad for a pre-season pillow-making, sign-making, and general bonding sleep-over in the basement. More pancakes. More bacon.

“Feast at First” on furlough: Eight years ago Carolyn started the free Thanksgiving Day dinner at our church and we enthusiastically continued the tradition. But, after seven straight years, we decided to take a Sabbath (or “Jubilee” year) in 2011. We enjoyed a family Thanksgiving in Orange City with the Lubbers family and we already have some volunteers to be the coordinator (a.k.a. “boss of the kitchen”) for “Feast at First 2012.”

Which brings us to December— December?! What happened to December?!  Christmas vocal music concerts at school for both Luke and Elyse; Christmas program at church; ringing the bell for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign (our church has been the #1 overall fund-raising organization in the Greater Mankato Area for the last two years and we’re always in the top two—we fill a whole week of slots at Cub Foods East in Mankato); shopping and a host of other preparations like laundry and housecleaning with the kids; and—Dad’s highlight—preparing for and praying for and anticipating our three beautiful and meaningful worship services: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service @ 5:30 PM, Christmas Eve Communion-by-Candlelight Service @ 11:00 PM, and The Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Christmas Day @ 9:30 AM.