Christmas Letter

Dear Family and Friends,

Here we are at the end of 2008 and what a year it has been. See if you can guess the correct answers to these questions about the Vanderlaan Home in 2008.

Jeff is:
a. Not sure what to do with himself this Fall since he did not coach a team (basketball, soccer, baseball, football) for the first time since Jackson was in kindergarten.
b. Thankful to still have a pretty secure job in the worsening MI economy.
c. Still a huge University of MI fan despite their terrible Football season and in spite of all the Spartan Fans he is is surrounded by.

Heather is:
a. Not sure what to do with all the quiet afternoons now that her baby is in 1/2 day kindergarten. Or at least that is the way Olivia sees it.
b. Enjoying getting to minister to women through Moms and More (the ministry she leads) and through various speaking engagements.
c. Having a ball creating cards, pages and blog headers on her computer!

Jackson is:
a. Thinking 5th grade is pretty easy and thinks everyone must have been lying about all the homework.
b. Playing Saxophone for the first time and in Beginning Band.
c. Hoping that it snows a lot this winter since he has "contracted" to shovel our driveway.

Ainsley is:
a. Taking and loving piano lessons and according to her teacher showing quite a bit of ability!
b. Glad she has a 2nd grade teacher who likes order and procedures.
c. Reading everything she can get her hands on.

Olivia is:
a. The tallest kindergartener in her class and has everyone asking her all the time if she is in 1st or 2nd grade.
b. Not so sure about going to Kindergarten every day. (While she loves it and doesn't ever complain, she tells us that it does cut in to her play time.)
c. Able to make friends no matter where she is.

Our Family:
a. Is thankful that Heather's mom survived her life threatening bike accident.
b. Celebrated International Talk Like a Pirate Day.
c. Loved getting to take our annual vacation to Silver Lake.


Sure we have had our months of drama and our months of crazy busy as well as our days of just normal life. But regardless, God showed up in our lives on every one of those days! I can truly say as we look back over 2008 that we are more like Jesus today than we were on 01-01-08. May that be true of us and you in '09!

Merry Christmas!!
Heather (for all)

*All the answers were true! We'd be happy to fill in details!