Since this blog is our "Christmas Card" and we didn't send a physical one this year, this post will be a summary of highlights from 2013. On several of the events I have put a link to our post about it earlier in the year.
- January & February - ok, I know we did a lot these months, but I don't have pictures/don't remember. There were speech events, preparation for our busy March, etc.
- March - Hosting the second Take Back the Land conference with the Boyers
- A concert and visit from the Bontrager Family Singers (friends from Bible Bee) on Jessica's birthday
- Another visit from Bible Bee friends - this time the Martins from Ohio.
- April - A weekend camping trip to Point Lookout State Park, on of our favorite places to camp.
- May - Attended the VA Republican convention - thankful for lots of good options.
- Had the unexpected privilege of hosting Valerie Shepard (daughter of Jim and Elizabeth Elliot) and hearing her speak.
- June - enjoyed hosting Alexandra, a good friend of ours for a month while she took summer classes at her local college.
- A certain someone's 50th birthday!!!
- HEAV, our annual homeschool convention. Excellent as usual
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| Gatorade… or Windex?? |
- Jessica attended the National Conference/Tournament for the Institute for Cultural Communicators
- Family vacation to Ontario, Canada. A week at a cabin on a lake, and then the weekend with cousins.
- July - Gettysburg for the 150th anniversary of the 3rd day of the Battle of Gettysburg.
- Several days spent farm sitting for some other friends
- August - hosting the local Bible Bee for the greater D.C. area. This really was a highlight for our whole summer, with planning and events all summer. We had great support from our church and friends and ended up with 88 contestants on Contest Day.
(June gathering - picnic)
(July gathering - ice cream social)
(1st August gathering - practice Bible Bee and Adult Bible Bee)
- September - our tenth year of visiting our friend out in WV with another family from church.
- house flood - well, this wasn't quite a highlight. Our dishwasher broke and the water ran all night. In the morning the kitchen floor was covered, the basement ceiling was fallen in and the floor was covered. We had great insurance, so we've had the basement redone (all our storage moved out and back in), and our kitchen will be redone in January. It's been a long process, but we have seen how God has been gracious in many ways. The rest of the year has been on and off sorting, getting the basement redone, etc.
- Apple gleaning - Joanna, Janelle, and Julia went to a nearby orchard and were able to collect over 200 pounds of apples for free that had fallen off the trees. We made applesauce, apple butter, dried apple rings, apple cider, and froze apples for pies.
- Shooting with our Aunt and Uncle for Joanna and Janelle's 20th birthday
- 100th birthday party for Aunt Mabel, a dear friend of our family
- November - Communicators for Christ speech conference
- A LOT of campaigning for the governor's race September through election day (at least hundreds of phone calls and doors knocked)
- Jason and Daddy's birthdays
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| frisbee golf |
- Bible Bee Nationals - definitely a highlight
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| some families from our local Bee |
- December - Christmas parties, caroling, baking, eating, fellowship, snow, ice, etc. etc.
Wow. I think I might finally be done!! After several days… and losing my work. Hope you enjoy!
~Janelle
(p.s. I'm posting this in December so it stays in our archives for 2013, but don't be confused, I'm just posting it today, January 10)
1 comment:
What a busy year you had! Glad we could share a few days of it with you!
Love,
Ashley
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