First up is our oldest, Liberty. She just turned 16 and is a Sophomore in high school. She attends Spring Vale Christian School which is just down the road. She has been busy with volleyball (this was her first year on Varsity), being on the honor role, and basketball. She ended up falling and splitting her knee open, which required 14 stitches. That has delayed her basketball playing as she heals, but she hoping to get back at it when they come back from winter break. For her birthday she was able to fulfill a lifelong dream and have a horseback riding party!! She will also be enjoying her birthday present of 5 horseback riding lessons. 
Next up is Levi, who is 14 1/2 and a freshman at Spring Vale Christian School. He has been enjoying baseball this summer, soccer and basketball this school year. He is a point guard for the JV team and has been enjoying working hard to improve his skills, which is easier said than done with all his growth spurts he has been having! (my grocery bill feels the pain!) Levi got glasses this year and it has greatly improved his ability to do his school work, but also made him look so much older! His favorite pass-times are playing Minecraft, using his imagination to construct whatever he can think of, and playing sports.
Our third kiddo is Shayna. She just turned 12 and is enjoying her last year of homeschooling, she will be attending Spring Vale for junior high next year. She is a busy girl with dance 4 nights a week and she absolutely loves it. She is taking jazz, ballet, tap, and gymnastics. She is also very interested in painting, she has been known to watch Bob Ross for inspiration and then go and paint her own beautiful paintings. So for her birthday this year we surprised her with a painting party. We went to Painting With Twist and had a very fun time painting a snow man picture together. We also had a fun time together at a Secret Keeper Girl event earlier this year. She is also kept busy by her younger sister who seems to think that Shayna is the best :)
The past year has also been filled with Lyle traveling for ministry as the Youth and Young Adult Ministry Director and planning and ministering at Michigan Youth camp. It has been such a blessing to see God move in the hearts and lives of the next generation. God is Good!
Our family is looking forward to the new year, and what God will do during that time. The first thing I read in the new year was Isaiah 62 and it seems fitting. "you will be called by a new name.." "You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hand" "so will your God rejoice over you" It feels like the new year is bringing new seasons and I am excitedly expecting to see God do great things this year. Even though busy seems to be the one word I would use to describe this past year- I wouldn't trade any of it- it is exactly where I want to be. May this next year be blessed for you all~
