Christmas Letter 2009 January 8, 2009

It has been a very long time since I wrote a family Christmas letter.  It seemed like a good time for an update.  In keeping with my character, all of my Christmas cards are ready to go out the door, it’s three days before Christmas and here I am – at the computer.  I have always worked best under pressure. 

 

I remember when my children were babies and people with older kids would say: “just wait, it get’s busier”.  I just didn’t believe them – how could it feel busier? Well, now I get it!  Baby time was busy as in I’m holding a baby and cooking dinner at the same time, and I don’t sleep.  Now life is busy like “get in the car, we gotta go, hurry up, were late, basketball, baseball, football, snowboarding, dances, friends house, go, go, go, hurry up”  There just never seems to be enough time and life is moving by at an alarming rate.  It seems so cliché, but it is so true.  How did my boys get to be 12 (Erik), 10 (Josh) and 7 (Lucas), when only a while ago I was at the pond throwing rocks with them and giving them rides on the four-wheeler or snowmobile.  Now they are riding the four-wheelers to their deer stands, shooting their first buck (Erik + plus 2 does), and as soon as the snow is on the ground, the snowmobiles are packing it down.  If there is an untouched piece of snow on our property – these three are not happy about it.  Being 12 this year, Erik will be our third driver which will enable us to take some longer snowmobile trips. 

 

Rodney spent another fun season of coaching football for Erik’s team with another undefeated season.  We also got to watch Joshua as he is finally old enough to play the sport he was born to play!   Both Erik and Joshua competed in the Punt/Pass/Kick competition and both took home 1^st place.  It was nice that they each ended up with the same size trophy – not that there is any competition.  We are now into the basketball with Rodney coaching the 6^th grade and Joshua playing 4^th grade we will spend the next 10 Saturdays in different cities.  Lucas has made the concession stand his favorite sport, and we are waiting patiently for him to pick up the basketball as well.  He is the tallest kid in his class and one of the youngest. Lucas is now in 2^nd grade which is okay, but he would so much rather be at home with his mom.

 

Besides Coaching as his volunteer position, Rodney has been busy growing the Rockwell Industrial Plant Services group from 2 people working out of our shop to now over 40 employees.  He manages it all very well and when you don’t find him in dress pants and shirt you will find him with grease up to his elbows, probably buried in a snowmobile or a car that he is restoring.

 

The past year also brought us a challenge.  On March 31^st, Joshua was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.  Many of you may know that Type 1 diabetes is an Auto-immune disease and his pancreas will no longer produce insulin.  Joshua uses an insulin pump to manage the disease and his Glucose Meter is never far away at any time.  This has been an epic roller coaster ride to say the least but as a family we rise to the occasion and will help and support Joshua to live a very long, active and healthy life.  And as all Type 1 Diabetics, we are hoping and praying for a cure. 

 

As for me I continue to be the chauffer, chef, accountant, laundress (sounds better), and the Queen of this Castle.  Any time I start feeling like life is crazy I do manage to get a few hours in here and there at St. Mary’s walk in mental health Crisis Clinic as a therapist.  I am always assured when I leave that indeed we have a very healthy family and we are not very crazy at all.  I have found a love for blogging and social networking (facebook) and would love to keep in touch with any of you that way as well. 

 

I must quit now – as you can see I have never been one short on words. 

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!

Love,

 

The VanBaalen’s  (vanbaalen5@msn.com)

Rodney, Lisa, Erik (12), Joshua (10) and Lucas (7)