Lydia and Ana Rose's joint birthday party!
Dear Friends & Family,
Let’s see if I can keep two years of news to one page! Last year I didn’t have the heart to write a Christmas letter, as we grieved the loss of our twin pregnancy.
Jake’s big news was a new job working mainly from home in August 2021, then beginning seminary the next month. He enjoyed some dives with his own scuba equipment, participated in a few triathlons, and oversaw buying our house in July (the same one we had been renting). In October 2021, he got to travel south and speak Spanish again, participating in a 10-day mission trip to the Dominican Republic with his Bible College class. This year, he has continued with work, Bible classes and homework, doing lots of projects at his parent’s house, buying vintage trucks all over Washington for a German business, inspecting cars, and preaching at least once a month at different churches. He reads and does family things with us whenever he can.
I (Jennifer) spend most of my time keeping up with everyone, homeschooling, and running my side business. Since Michael tested out of school and Samuel took the GED, it was exciting to finish the school journey with Joel in March. We presented his high school diploma and transcript to the Air Force, and for the first time in 8 years, I had only the girls left as students! I ramped up the home bakery business, Ana Rose Sweets, to the max this year (unfortunately there’s an income cap in Washington) by participating in Birch Bay’s summer activities, selling at a farm a few miles away that attracts crowds to all their events, and Ferndale’s Farmers Markets every Friday I was available June through October! The oven was always on.
Three Tuesdays a month, the three big girls and I go to Classical Conversations classes while Ana Rose usually goes to Nana and Pop’s house. This is our third school year and we love the families, the interactive science experiments and demonstrations, artwork projects, tin whistle lessons, public speaking practice, and so much more. We have been so blessed by it!
Joel joined the Air Force in the spring and went to Basic Military Training in San Antonio, Texas! Jake and I had a blast going to his graduation in July, when it was nice and hot. Even though he was open to travel, he is now stationed at Fort Lewis-McCord in Washington, of all places! He is in electronics training currently, to work on the massive C-17 aircraft. It’s nice that he’s just a few hours away and can visit frequently.
Michael still lives a few miles from us at Jake’s brother’s family’s house. He takes classes at the community college and has had various jobs: at the local Christian owned ice cream shop, transporting new cars between dealerships, odd jobs for neighbors, selling cell phones, and now he has an opportunity to train at a bank. He pops in for visits occasionally or we see him out and about, and the girls are always so excited to be with him!
Samuel needed to leave Master’s Ranch, Missouri, last fall, after being a resident since December 1, 2019. Providentially, a spot finally opened on the long waiting list in December 2021 for Job Corps in Astoria, Oregon. He studies welding and looks forward to getting a job when done with the training. JobCorps helped him get a drivers license this year!
Sophia can either be found in a corner reading a book (Nancy Drew is her favorite, but she has read many, many others) or heading up a game or project or craft with her sisters and neighbors. Nana calls her the “Cruise Director!” She started voice lessons in January this year and really enjoys singing, along with dance classes – ballet, hip hop, and soon contemporary. It was so sweet to watch her be the helper in Ana Rose's ballet class!
Lydia is our exuberant, energetic social butterfly. She also loves to read and can be found in the middle of all the games. Going to Classical Conversations is a highlight of her week, and she also loves dance classes and performances. Getting her very own complete Bible—instead of the kid versions—was her favorite Christmas gift and she reads it all the time.
Callie is a sweetheart and loves playing with sisters and friends. She was my youngest to learn to read and I appreciate that she has a new way to entertain herself. She needs to stay busy to keep out of trouble. Her most beloved possession is a deluxe art set she received for her birthday. Our house is covered in the pictures that she draws for us every day.
Ana Rose is always in the thick of whatever is going on in the house, whether that be a game with the big girls or helping mom in the kitchen or with housework. She has always been our most verbally advanced, so it’s fun to interact with her. She knows all the rules and likes reminding anyone in the house about them a little too much! A bit more introverted than the others, she can entertain herself for hours.
All the kids are growing so fast. We try to cherish the time as it flies by!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Jake & Jennifer
Joel (19), Michael (19), Samuel (18), Sophia (9), Lydia (7 ½), Caledonia (6), Anastasia (3 ½)
