Tracie opening her present

Nate opening his present

Christmas Day

Derek, Tracie and Nate Smiles :)

Nate and Tracie...soon to be married (August 15, 2009)

Our family (missing Stephanie and Kevin)

Silly picture...Nate, Tracie, Derek, Janice, Greg

Tracie gets waterproof boots!

So does Derek

Picture is dark...Greg is getting something...I can't see

Nate gets knives!

Tracie what are you doing?

ohh...Tracie gets the knives too

Derek gets a red shirt

Another church for mom's collection

Nice sweater for Nate from Tracie

Also from Tracie

more for Derek

Nate is a model!

footies for my feet

Game Cube games from Steph and Kevin

Ski helmet

Tracie loves Nate's present

So does Nate

Christmas Eve DeBoer family picture

Standing: Bill, Dave
Seated:Mom, Dad, Sheila, Brian, Janice
On the floor: Amy, Marie, Sara

Christmas Eve Welcome

The entire DeBoer family except Stephanie and Kevin :( will be coming over tonight to celebrate Christmas Eve. I shoveled the walk to our house so they would not have to walk in deep snow.

no sun in Michigan

So for the month of December we have had a total of 6 hours 43 minutes of sunshine. The rest of the time...no sun. Lots of snow though :)

Another 4-8 inches of snow predicted for tomorrow. This morning when I went out to feed the horses I noticed the snow had drifted over all 4 wires of my horse fence. I wonder if the electric works on the fence if it is covered with snow (I am not going to touch the fence to find out). Also the water tank was completed drifted over with snow. When I went to dig it out...I sunk in the snow up to my waist. To make things ever more messy...they predict several inches of rain on Saturday ... that will be awful on top of all this snow.

So how is California this time of year Stephanie?

Church cancelled due to weather

Derek's room redecorated

Finally Derek's room is repainted and redecorated. He had Stephanie's old room with horse wall paper boarder (Derek's not into horses!) Now the room matches Derek's personality more :) - an outdoor theme. We got Derek a Fuf chair to relax in ...he likes to sit in it while on his lap top.

Moose bedding...Derek ususally sleeps on the bottom bunk. He likes it there...nice and dark (he hates the light when trying to sleep.

Top bunk

curtains also have a moose theme to match the bedding

Turkey alarm clock. When it goes off in the morning...1st an owl hoots, then a hen clucks, then a male turkey gobbles. When you turn the alarm off...a gun shot is heard. Good morning!

A little Christmas decoration too for the back of the bed. Derek made that in school a few years ago...it says his name.

To continue the outdoor theme we have a deer head, turkey fan and a big fish on the wall. Also Derek has an aquarium in his room.

black eye for Derek

I am suppose to post that Derek got in a fight...therefore the black and blue eye.... Truth is...it was an accident...someone elbowed him :)

decorating the tree

Stephie and Kevin in California, Trace and Nate at College, that leaves Derek to decorate the tree...he did a great job.

The Pacific Ocean

Just 5 weeks ago we were by the ocean enjoying the sunshine in California. Here Derek walked in shallow water to the rocks and then was suprised on his way back as the tide came in...the water was deeper. Now we are knee deep in snow!

snow, snow, snow

Snow is in the forcast every day! Thank goodness for on line shopping!

Kevin Anderson

Today is our son-in-law Kevin's 25 birthday. Happy Birthday Kevin, we miss you and Stephanie! Have a great day. Doesn't he have a cool car? Here he is with Derek when we went to visit him and Steph in October.

Tracie has been accepted as a Jubilee Fellow!

What is a Jubilee Fellow?
Jubilee Fellows are students who have been accepted into the Jubilee Fellow Program. This program is designed for twelve promising students who are strongly inclined toward spiritual leadership and Christian ministry, and it aims to foster the next generation of church leaders. Students sometimes have a sense that God is calling them to ministry, but they aren't sure what "job" they should pursue or what steps they should take after graduating from Calvin. Others may already have a sense that God is calling them to continue their studies in seminary, or pursue a particular job in church ministry. In either case, the Jubilee Fellows program seeks to help these students explore their vocational calling through interdisciplinary learning, mentoring, and ministry experience. What is required of a Jubilee Fellow?
Jubilee Fellows participate in a lively program. During the spring semester of their junior year, they take a seminar course that studies the vision, lives, and theologies of those who have made great contributions to the Christian church through the centuries. They read a variety of books, both historical and contemporary, listen to guest speakers, and do a bit of personal research on a Christian leader of their choosing. The semester-long course meets weekly over dinner to foster fellowship and a sense of community among the Jubilee Fellows and the course instructors.
Following the course, Jubilee Fellows set out on ten-week summer internships in outstanding teaching congregations throughout North America. This component of the program is often the highlight for students, providing them with first-hand experience in the day to day life of a church. We also pair Fellows with strong mentors on the pastoral staff of the internship churches. The mentors will walk alongside the Fellows, not only providing them with work to do, but also with honest feedback on their peformance, spiritual direction and encouragement, and the opportunity to learn from someone working daily in church ministry.
Upon returning, Jubilee Fellows contribute to Calvin College community life through a ministry-related service component their senior year. Students take what they have learned from their internships and find creative ways to use their gifts at Calvin, whether its leading a small group book or Bible study, helping out in the Mentoring Office, or hosting community outreach events in their neighborhoods.
Jubilee Fellows will receive a $4,000 fellowship, paid throughout the summer and fall of their service. Each will also be provided with summer internship living expenses and reimbursed for travel expenses to and from their summer internship site.
Through these components of the Jubilee Fellows program, we seek to encourage students as they consider church ministry as a vocation.

pictures

There are over 150 pictures in the post about our trip...I am not sure why part way down they are spaced so far apart. I am sick of being on the computer so I'll try and fix it tomorrow. If you want to see all the pictures...just keep paging down. Sorry for the inconvenience.

California trip to visit Stephanie and Kevin

We left for sunny California on Tuesday (October 21) in the afternoon. Derek only went a 1/2 day to school and the rest of the day was spent traveling. We arrived about 7:30 pm to see Steph and Kevin greet us at LAX. It was so good to see them both again! After a drive to their apartment in Redlands we had a good nights rest. Over the next few days Stephie was our tour guide. Kevin had to teach so it was just the 4 of us.

We left Wednesday morning for the desert. On the way we passed one of California's clean energy - Wind farms!

We then went to Joshua Tree National Park. The western half is the Mojave desert. The eastern half is Colorado Desert (high desert and low desert).

Desert flower

Rock climbers (took these pictures for Tracie and Nate - they are going to California in March and they like to Rock Climb - Maybe they can do that in the desert!)

View from Keys View. You can overlook a stunning expanse of valley, mountain and desert. The San Andreas Fault can be seen in the valley.

If it wasn't for the smog from LA - you could see into Mexico from here.

Skull Rock

Thursday - Big Bear Lake - and climbing up in the mountains.

Stephie's dog Ein needed help getting over this log.

Ein the rock climbing Corgie

Castle Rock

Kevin's classroom - he collects gas masks

Friday - Sea World in San Deigo

of course we had to take pictures of the horses - Clydesdales

Shamu

Mission Point

The Pacific Ocean

Derek - Stephanie - Kevin

There was a surfing contest on Saturday - high school teams

La Jolla - we kayaked, and saw sharks, sea turtles, seals and lots of fish

Kevin - Stephanie - Mom

Stephanie

Stephanie

Mom - Kevin - Derek

Birds of Paradise and Palm trees are everywhere

Kevin and Derek in Kevin's BMW

On Sunday we went to church with Kevin and Stephanie. They go to the River CRC. It is a great church - the people are all so friendly. On Monday we left for home. We had a great time and it was so good to see Kevin and Stephanie. They are doing well in California. It is obvious they are deeply in love and have put God in the center of their marriage. They have a nice apartment and very good jobs. We miss them and hope they move back to the mid west some day (ideally very close to us) but know they are in God's hands.