The Christmas Letter

Christmas letters.... What a joke??? You never get a Christmas letter that says that their first born is in jail, the second got a girl pregnant, and the youngest just dropped out of school. Christmas letters are a way of telling the world how wonderful your children are and bragging about all of their achievements during the year.... I never thought I would write such a letter...........but here I am...

First I want to wish everyone God's blessings on them and their family. I pray that God blesses your family as much as he has ours. We are truly blessed beyond measure!! This has been a hard year with the economy for my work. Sales is always better when people have more money and they are secure in their jobs. But God has something big that He is planning for us, yet it's still unknown, He is teaching us lessons that we wouldn't be able to learn otherwise.



Lauren is now a junior in high school. Looking at colleges for pre-med. A Doctor in the family would really be a plus!!! Lauren is on high honors in school, so hopefully 13 years of college will be fun for her.... :) She plays the clarinet in concert band and pep band. She also is a beautiful pianist. She plays classical and pop. Most often in passing the piano she will stop, and play theme songs...most common lately is the theme song to "The Office", as wonderful of a song it is..... Tristan and I are a little sick of it. But she is very talented and it is beautiful to listen too. She also had another Prom and Homecoming dance.. But this is the biggie... Junior Prom!!! Lauren is also involved with Community problem solvers. A group through school that works to improve the community. This past year they finished the town park and this year are working with the Veterans. Hostessing dinners, interviewing them and what they recall from years gone by and having fun events with our Veterans. Lauren is a worker when it comes to helping people. Lauren is very involved with our church. This past summer Lauren wanted to be baptized in the same lake that she attended Bible camp at for years. It was a very special day!! Also this past summer she did street missions, and this summer she will be going on a Missions trip to Ireland. While there, they will be doing community service and street missions. What a wonderful young woman she has become!!! I couldn't be more proud of her!!!



Tristan is in eighth grade and well beyond his years. He is the student council president. And went to Leadership Camp this past summer. Tristan has a politicians personality. Everyone loves him!!! I joke and say that he got all of the girls votes for student council president and a few boys and he had it easy.... Tristan is so easy going, and well liked!! After coming home from Leadership Camp, I had to remind him who ran the house.......... Tristan has been playing the French Horn for the past number of years, although he tells me that he won't be playing the French Horn for a living, so he might not take it in High school. Tristan was chosen to go to Milwaukee School of Engineering for a Hydro Power Challenge with school. He went for one full day for learning, and then competed just a few weeks ago. Although they didn't come home with the gold, it was a very good learning experience. Tristan has always been a challenging child. He talks about thing...I have no idea about. Just the other day he was talking about...big this and little that.......only to find out he was talking about the names of the bomb that were dropped on Hiroshima. What?? Tristan is also very involved in church activities. This past summer he also was baptized in the same lake that he went to Bible camp at for years. Nothing make your heart swell than to see your children make a public confession of faith. He will be going to Ireland as well. He will also be doing street missions in Milwaukee this year. Tristan has a heart of Gold!! He is loving and caring and really cares about people. He will do amazing things!!!




Selamnesh.........what a growing girl!! It is so amazing that just a year ago we were hoping that she would take her first step on Christmas. And so like her personality... she did just a day after Christmas. Selamnesh has a smile and personality to melt your heart!!! But a strong willed child she is also....much like her older brother and sister. She is almost potty trained..... She will go when you put her on the potty, but really doesn't care if she is wet or has a dirty diaper. And you can't make someone not like something...... So unlike Lauren and Tristan who were both potty trained before 2 years old. She will do it when she wants and how she wants!!! Just a few days after Christmas she will be 2 years and 7 months. And a smart whipper snapper she is... She knows all of her colors, counts to 10, sings the ABC's, sings songs, likes to gallop around the house like a horse.....Just all the things she should be doing!!! Selamnesh is such a blessing to our family!!! She changed our hearts so much more than we changed her life....



So... What is going to be happening in the next year for our family?? Lauren and Tristan will be going to Ireland with our church this June. August Tristan will be doing street missions in Milwaukee. Until then they will be raising the funds to go on the trips by themselves and with church activities. In June of 2011 I am organizing and taking a group of people to Ethiopia for missions. We will be doing general work for the orphanage Selamnesh came from, and building a playground for the local school there; since they don't have anything for the children to play on or with. If you are interested in coming with us, please let me know. I also got my Foster care licence. We are waiting for placement...although Tristan really wants a boy...we are open to whatever God has for us.


May God keep your family close to his heart,
In His Grip,
Anna, Lauren, Tristan & Selamnesh