Here we go...
What was your favorite place we visited in Minnesota?
Ben: Home sweet home
Bethany: Nickelodeon Universe theme park at the Mall of America
Lee: Water Park of America (indoor water park)
Tracy: The park at Centennial Lakes--gorgeous and fun in every season!
What was your favorite place we visited outside of Minnesota?
Ben: The Tigers vs. Orioles baseball game at Comerica Park in Detroit (ending in a thrilling two-out walk-off homer by Clete Thomas!)
Bethany: Navy Pier in Chicago
Lee: Greenfield Village in Detroit (Henry Ford Museum and interactive historic site)
Tracy: Hmm, I agree with all of those, but I'll add Lake Michigan--the sand dunes and the sunsets
What was your favorite activity with friends?
Ben: My friend's birthday party at the Brunswick Zone (bowling, laser tag, arcade, and got pop to drink)
Bethany: My luau birthday party at the water park and our house
Lee: Playing co-ed softball on Friday nights
Tracy: Meeting with my Moms in Touch prayer group and my Bible study group
What was your favorite thing we did with relatives?
Ben: Went to Brunswick Zone on my birthday with Mona and Honey (Lee's parents)
Bethany: We went to Balsam Lake and fished with (cousins) Tyler, Jacob and Joey. We tubed while Joey drove the boat and Jacob rode.
Lee: Boating, playing games, good food, good conversation, and pyro fire building opportunity with Tracy's side of the family at Balsam Lake
Tracy: Going to Miami with (sister) Dayna and (nephew) Tyler for my nephew Danny's wedding. So fun to see my brother's whole family and celebrate a beautiful occasion together.
What was your favorite accomplishment?
Ben: Saving up enough money to buy Madden '10 (Wii football game)
Bethany: (Wii) Boxing against cousin Kyle and winning
Lee: Accumulating knowledge, and applying it to the design of the sound, video and lighting systems in our new church building
Tracy: Being part of the leadership team that led the building effort on our new church addition--now finally finished!
What was your favorite thing that you did for somebody else?
Ben: Helping my friend Colin get ready for a couple of his big games in football
Bethany: Going to church and helping pack toys in shoe boxes for kids that don't know about Christmas and Jesus (Operation Christmas Child)
Lee: Packing food for the hungry at Feed My Starving Children
Tracy: Helping some friends make special keepsake books
Other highlights:
Ben: The Cincinnati Bengals having a good year, hitting my first home run in a league ever against the White Sox, getting "squishies" (little rubber animal toys) together with Bethany, playing baseball and football with all the neighborhood kids in our yard
Bethany: Going to visit the grandparents for Christmas for the first time, adding to my Webkinz collection, joining Girl Scouts, Sparks at church, gymnastics, collecting "squishies" with Ben, being with my friends
Lee: Camping in Michigan with our family
Tracy: Watching Ben and Bethany grow into big, capable, responsible kids, seeing them in the children's musical at church, reconnecting with many old friends from different parts of my life through Facebook, earning some money with my "Milestones" business
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We are so thankful for all of the ways the Lord has blessed us--with health, employment (though not without changes), and children who are thriving. This continues to be a season of abundance and joy in our lives, while many who deserve more are struggling with less.
Whether you find yourself in the midst of abundance or struggle, we pray that this is true for you:
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12-13
With love,
Tracy, Lee, Ben and Bethany
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