Christmas 2012


Greg and I will be celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary this month. I feel we owe this success to mutual affection, some hard work, and not driving in the car together too often. I’ve noticed recently that Greg makes different (wrong) decisions than I would while driving. Just today, when Greg parked in the farthest away spot at Target, I, in an effort to not be a control freak, said calmly, “Our minds work differently” and left it at that. Which is why I found it so ironic that tonight, during the hour-long lip-sync/dance/play the girls put on for us in our living room, Greg turned to me and said all the things I wanted to say to him earlier: “It’s not going anywhere!...It’s like they haven’t even been practicing for the past four hours!...There’s just no organization!” Seems I’ve finally rubbed off on him.


Besides heckling our daughters, and teaching his regular English/Media Communication class, Greg has started a new film studies class this semester (which is a harder class than it may sound.) He’s also excited about offering Holland Christian’s first film production class next semester! He is a well-loved teacher, even though he’s still much harder on himself than anyone else is. He still sings at church—mostly my parent’s church oddly enough, because Dad loves to hear him sing and because Greg can’t say no to his father-in-law. Greg loves to do home-projects (I think…he spends a lot of time on them), and this year it has involved re-doing our front 3-seasons porch and tearing out the wall between it and our living room to make our living space larger. It is at a livable point, and will be a wonderful addition….someday.


Kate is in second grade, and has the “world’s best teacher!” Seriously—she’s beautiful, sweet, kind, and full of energy. She has helped Kate grow in confidence this year, which has been so wonderful to see. At the parent-teacher conference I learned that Kate is a lover of vocabulary (she writes down words she doesn’t know so she can check them out later. I know…Greg does this too!) and is being asked to be in a “vocab group” to help the rest of the class. She loves to read (mostly Mary-Kate and Ashley “mystery” “books”) and is sweet to the world. Besides her obsession with the Olsen Twins, High School Musical, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, she is a lot like her father. Greg recently traded in his guitar for a smaller traveling version that the girls can use, and began teaching piano lessons to both girls. We’re hoping they will take after him in this arena as well.


Elia is in kindergarten and finally wanting to learn how to read (a bit). The only slightly negative thing I heard at her parent-teacher conference is that Elia needs to “work on telling the truth” more (just like her mother, dad says). But at least her stories are good! Elia is always energetic, always expressive, and almost always sweet. One phrase I’ve heard from her a lot this year is, “How can you do this to your own daughter?!” or “I thought you loved me!” or, once after Greg made her clean up her mess in the basement, “Daddy broke my heart!” Her career ambition is still to become a rock star. Elia brings joy to many people…and frustration to a select few.


Kate and Elia ran the flower-girl circuit this past year, walking in the weddings of Greg’s three brothers. Their tour included Denver last Thanksgiving, Los Angles during Spring Break, and Grand Rapids in October. They are excited about their new aunts, but now are looking for new ways to display their talents (and cuteness).


This year I’m continuing my 3 part-time jobs (babysitting, appointment scheduling and cleaning) which allow me to be home with Elia every morning! I’m teaching Kate’s (and I bring Elia—part of the deal) GEMS church class every other Wednesday night and am challenged and beloved by the 9 girls in my group (or so I am told by my friends who did not want the job). Since now every year I’m getting closer and closer to 40 (ack!) I find myself on and off the exercise bandwagon (Jillian Michaels), and my record was 55 straight days of working out (after which, to celebrate, I’ve been taking the last 2 months off). All of this apparently is to no avail, as Kate mentioned to me that she’s not sure how her newly pregnant teacher (the beautiful one) will be able to fit her baby in her belly, ‘cause it “goes in, not out” like mine . =) Ahh…children. She probably has a belly button too. (**if you do not get this reference, you'll have to check past blogs.)


Just quickly, we added to our family in April—we ‘adopted’ Molly (Anne) the kitten! She has been a super soft, super cute addition to our family. I slept on the couch next to her when she was wee-tiny and sick, I clean the litter box every day, and I pay for her food and vet visits, but somehow she mostly (and perhaps only) loves Greg. Go figure.


WARNING: If you neither know, nor like Sarah's family of origin (the Nieuwsmas), read no further! However, do scroll down for pictures!!


Josh and Mere have had quite the year. In late January Josh got a job at a D.A. Blodgett—St. John’s, local nonprofit, where he is a Multi-Systems Therapist. His clients are troubled youth and their families. He mostly works with the parents of these kids helping them make better parenting decisions. He says his work is rewarding and challenging. He has two more years on a limited counseling license, and will likely stay at D.A. Blodgett until he is a fully licensed counselor. Eventually Josh would like to go into private practice.


My favorite Josh story this year is when Greg excitedly told him all about our home renovation, and how it was the plan to have it finished this summer. Josh, without blinking said, “Oh, it won’t be done till at least Christmas.” Greg, quite offended, worked hard to make things look good before Josh came to our house a few weeks after that. Josh walked in, looked around and said, “Oh, you’re doing some renovations?!”


Meredith does leadership development, consistory training, and a whole bunch of other stuff at the Reformed Church in America. She travels about 30 days a year. She still loves her work and thinks she could potentially retire from the RCA. She just got back from a trip to New York, and will be leaving shortly for Phoenix. Not bad for a Michigan girl to have to spend part of January in Phoenix!


Avery is three! She is a very busy little girl. She goes to day care during the week and loves it. Every day when Meredith picks her up from day care, she asks Avery “What did you do today?” Without fail, Avery answers “Nothing.” Meredith is pretty sure Avery does something at day care, but who knows what. Avery refuses to be potty trained. Josh and Meredith are hoping that by next year’s Christmas letter they will be done with diapers. We’ll see. Despite what it might sound like, Avery is absolutely delightful. Her favorite thing to do right now is play tea party with her grown-up tea party set and real water in the teapot. She can spend a couple hours a day playing tea party. At least she’s well hydrated.


Dad is planning on retiring from full-time pastor next summer. About 20 members from his old church in Battle Creek surprised him by showing up at pastor appreciation night at Dorr CRC. He’s taking a course in clinical pastoral education just in case something opens up in part-time hospital chaplaincy after he retires…Mom is still planning and cooking elaborate meals. Only now she ends them with poignant questions (as she did after thanksgiving) like, “So can you guys just tell me why you voted for who you did?!”


The nine of us took a trip to Ontario Canada last August to spend a week at Uncle Len and Aunt Elaine’s new cottage up by Bobcaygeon. While there we went fishing, water skiing, and swimming, besides doing an excessive amount of reading, eating, and drinking, and just general relaxing.


Halfway across the bridge to Ontario, Elia looked out the window and said, “Canada is more beautiful than I ever imagined!” Yes my dear, it’s a magical place! On the way up, we stopped by some old haunts in Bowman-ville, Cobourg, and Grafton. Dad and mom could hardly believe that the schools where they taught, once in the country, were now in the middle of subdivisions. Dad was also very displeased to see the barn gone and other general decrepitude at our old place north of Grafton. The neighbor’s barn had disappeared too – no, wait; that happened while we still lived there when Josh and his old friend Michael were experimenting with matches.


We will all be leaving the afternoon of Christmas Day for Gatlinburg, Tennessee where we’ll meet up with my mom’s family for a 3-day Dykstra reunion. (The Nieuwsma’s meet again in Iowa next July.)


The Nieuwsma family experienced more loss this past year. Grandma Nieuwsma died in March, and my dad’s sister Donna’s son Joshua died in an accident in May. He had just finished his first year at Dordt. Last October my dear friend’s 3 year old son very suddenly died from a brain tumor. It seems death, divorce, and sickness surround us too often, and I know I’m often at a loss of words of what to say in these times…but find these mourner’s testimonies of God’s faithfulness so powerful. Even when this life seems too long and painful.


On that note I’m going to bid adieu. May God grant you much joy and peace this year…with much love,


Duane, Barb, Josh, Mere, Avery, Sasha-the-dog, Greg, Sarah, Kate, Elia and Molly-the-cat!