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In September we celebrated Karina and Annika’s one year birthday and we invite you to celebrate with us (view a year with Karina and Annika here). Looking over the past year, if we had known what we were in for we would probably have gone into hiding. But God is faithful, He is bigger than whatever life can throw at us and our family stands here today to proclaim that He has carried us through the storm. As you know, the past year started with the birth of Karina and Annika, we had been told that the first 2 years would be a blur but we were not prepared for it. The challenge started almost immediately with both girls having jaundice which required daily trips to the hospital for blood draws for the first couple of months and semi-weekly visits to the pediatrician for checkups.

After a week off Sean prepared to go back to work but was informed the prior Friday that his
services would no longer be required at Verizon Business. Two more mouths to feed and no way to provide was a bit of a blow. What followed next were months of little sleep, lots of feedings, and the stress that accompanies unemployment during a significant economic downturn. God provided over and over through His people in gifts large and small, we are very thankful. Finally in May,
after a false start of employment in Alaska and attending Todd and Angela’s wedding we finally received, and accepted, a job with Qwest in Denver. While it is best to rely on God day to day,
it is comforting when He provides in a way that has a bit longer view.

In August Kristin and the kids traveled to Michigan for some down time and visiting family
and friends. Sean stayed back in Colorado to continue working and to complete some projects around the house. Once back, Sean and Maria headed up to the mountains for a weekend
of bear hunting with friends while Hunter looked forward to rabbit, squirrel,
and pheasant hunting starting in November with Sean.

Maria turned 9 in June and is becoming a beautiful little lady. She is now in 4th grade and
loves to read, draw, play the piano, is an incredible helper with her baby sisters, and adores horses. In December Maria will be planning and preparing to cook a Scandinavian Christmas Smorgasbord.

While in Michigan Hunter turned 5 and prepared to start kindergarten. He loves to run, jump and push the limits, he looks forward to hunting with dad and tries to keep up musically and academically with Maria, and is incredibly gentle and loving with Karina and Annika.

Karina and Annika continue to grow and express their individual personalities even as Sean continues to struggle to visually distinguish between them, Kristin and Maria assist in identification. They are quite amusing to watch as they interact together, they have taken their first few steps,
get into everything and love to entertain their older brother and sister.
Their first birthday party was an intimate affair, enjoying the double pleasures of
New Jersey style pizza and ice-cream cake for the first time.

Kristin stays busy with the kids, homeschooling, driving kids to extra activities and always looks forward to anytime she can get out hiking in the mountains. Sean also chased the mighty wapiti in mid-October in the Indian Creek region but failed to connect (obviously some time at the range is in order). Maria and Hunter prayed every day that dad would bring home an elk . . . maybe next year.

What does the next year bring us? Well, if there is any constant it is change. Sean’s job is
uncertain with the merger of Qwest with CenturyLink out of Louisiana. Depending on how the job situation plays out we would at least hope to move out to the country in order to live a little more
of a rural lifestyle or we may find ourselves moving further away.

Of most profound importance we know that in all this change God will continue to remain faithful and unchanging, kind and loving in His desire to bring us into fuller maturity. As the writing of Psalm 118 expresses, join us in “Give[ing] thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.”

As always your continued prayers are desired. Love to all,