Dykstra Family 2011 Christmas Letter

Some of you have received our Christmas card leading you to this very place. Others will be receiving one in the mail soon! And some are blog followers, some of whom I've never met. Regardless of who you are, enjoy!

2011.
I would like to say that this was the year we found it.  Although I can't exactly specify what "it" really is.

Maybe it's joy....because after 12 years of hardships we are finally in a season of healing and restoration.

Maybe it's contentment... because after years of selling more wealth out than taking in, we have found a life of sweet simplicity.

Maybe it's community.... because after years of re-locating we have found a place to stick for awhile. A place where everyone we see knows us for today and not for yesterday. A place with a fresh reputation.

Maybe it's the stability... because after years of kinda being homeless (but not really), we have a contract signed. No one can walk in and decide to take our home away.

But first, let me introduce you to....

KASIAH.

Kasiah is 5 and in Kindergarten. I homeschool her. Either I'm weird, or I'm just part of the latest growing trend. I'm not sure. But she loves it and so do I. 

Our most memorable moment with Kasiah was her first dance recital. This cautious little girl doesn't like change or unexpected moments in which she can't prepare for (because then she can't be at her best). If she can't do it right the first time, she might not even try at all. But she stood out on this day, her skinny little ballet legs, glittery tutu, and all. We were quite impressed with our new dancing star who overcame her struggle with shyness. 

Kasiah is our sweet-hearted, stubborn and compassionate kid who loves to love others. She is a nurturer. She is too smart for her own age and is our little Holy Spirit.

If you wanted to find Kasiah at her happiest moment she would be wearing a tutu, leggings and cowgirl boots while riding a horse. A real one. A really fast one. To save a lost kitten while butterflies are fluttering all around her. And after the kitten is saved, she would go feed her babies and put them to sleep, making sure they are safe and warm. And if she isn't doing that, her happiest place would be on a date. As long as it's with daddy.

If you wanted to find us at our most frustrated moments it would be when she's trying to decide on what to wear...or when trying to convince her to eat meat (or at least some peanut butter to prevent iron deficiency)!

And that is our Kasiah.

DYSON.

Dyson is 4 and in preschool. I don't homeschool Dyson. I probably will next year and that will be a challenge. Dyson is known by his teacher as the kid who's always happy. He is our soft-hearted mamma's boy with a lot of energy. Dyson is known for his hair and his humor. He has many famous quotes such as:

"Mom, if we can't get a happy meal does that mean we're getting a sad meal?"

or

 when responding to a friend who noticed our kingsize bed....

Friend: "Woah! You're parents bed is big!"

Dyson: "That's because my mommy is big."

My most memorable moment of the year was receiving a birthday gift from Dyson. A bracelet he found on the playground. One he was so very very  proud of. It read: "I love boobies. Save a breast." Jeremy's most memorable moment would be when Dyson both wakeboarded (in Jer's arms) and skied for the first time.

If you wanted to find Dyson in his happiest moments you would find him wakeboarding, eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich, cuddling with mommy, drinking hot chocolate while watching "Cat In The Hat" or sneaking out of the house with mom late at night to catch fireflies in his pajamas (shhhh. His sister doesn't know).

If you wanted to find us at our most frustrated moments, it would be when needing Dyson to focus on things like eating. Making sure after he takes a bite he doesn't fall off his chair, and while on the floor notice a toy, and when noticing the toy realize it's an airplane, and then when realizing it's an airplane, decide to fly all around the room... all before taking his next bite.

And that is our Dyson.

ADALIE.

On Thanksgiving, Adalie turned 2. She is our little princess who has not stopped asking for "pookie pie" (pumpkin pie) ever since Thanksgiving. She loves pookie pie. No, she just loves to eat. Adalie is our strong-willed toddler who is mommy's least favorite piece of clothing. If she's not worn as a purse on my hip it's because she's transformed into my pretty pink leg warmers.

Adalie is known for her cuteness, chubby thighs and sucking her thumb while playing with her ear. If you look closely, both of her ears are folded over. I'll never understand it. She is ready to potty train, and has shown us several times she can do it. However, not even sugary treats will convince this sweet tooth girl to use the froggy potty. Her diaper is her happy place where she is safe. So we'll just let that go for now.

If you could find Adalie in her happiest moments, it would be when pretending to be a piece of mommy's clothing while holding her blankie, sucking her thumb and holding her juice cup in her arm pit. She would also be wearing a tutu. No, not one of them, but 6 of them.... at once and taking mom's hand to twirl around on the floor to music. She also loves babies, just like her big sister.

Our most frustrating moments are dealing with two year old tantrums, which usually rear their ugly heads while being forced to sit in her carseat.... or denied the opportunity to indulge in sweets, juice or pookie pie. And of course, for mom, when being worn as clothing all. the. TIME!
And that folks,... is our Adalie.

ME.

I (Danielle) am a full-time working wife and mom. My purpose in life right now is to help my husband be all he can be. If this happens, I and the kids will become all we can be. A team is only as good as it's leader. My next purpose (although it consumes all my time) is raising my kids. On the side God uses me to lead a study for women in our community. I love it. I love them. They are awesome.  I also work very part-time helping my mother-in-law in her tumblebus business. Check her out at http://www.superstartumblebus.com/

If you could find me in my happiest moments they would be:

1. Spending a "family only" day (no cell phones allowed) and doing something fun like hitting a waterpark or eating out somewhere at a sit down restaurant where I don't have to get up. Once.

2. Spending a "Jeremy only" day that involves good movies, not getting out of bed, carmel-vanilla latte's, good conversation, and a lot of Mr. Pibb... with BLT pizza's and fattening appetizers like cheese balls. Maybe a hotel in which I don't have to worry about cleaning up messes. That would perfect. Yes. Perfect.

OR

3. Spending a "one girlfriend only" hour (or three). I'm not a big group person. But give me one or two hours with a close friend and a latte, to have good conversations that don't involve the latest fads, shopping, Peoples Magazine or Kim Kardashian, then I am good.

JEREMY.

Jeremy is my hero. He wouldn't see himself that way, but he is. If there is anyone I am the most proud of in my life, it is him. He has learned what it means to sacrifice selfishness for his family. He will do whatever it takes, no matter the job. He will powerwash hog confinements. Gross! He will roof houses on days like today. Freezing! But not only is Jeremy a hardworker physically, he is a hard worker spiritually. 

Satan gives Jeremy a lot of attention. A lot. He is gifted and has already started wrecking this world for Christ. Jer is a warrior and is willing to humble himself and seek out men for help in every area of his life. He has found a group of men to be his warriors with him. It's awesome. They are awesome. And I have prayed for men like them for 12 years. And God has finally answered. When Jeremy leads our church in prayer or shares a word, something happens. "It" happens, whatever it is.

If you could find Jeremy in his happiest moments (other than the thing that makes every man happy), you would find him:

1. In a place of really good worship, maybe rocking out in his truck with Misty Edwards or Skillet (yes, quite a contrast).

2. Wakeboarding with a bunch of guys on a warm summer evening. 

3. Walking through the door after a long day of work to his little blondies running up to him yelling, "Daaaaaddddy!" while throwing their arms around him.

4. Alone, with me. Meaning our children are far, far away. :)

5. After powerfully and motivationally speaking to a group of people about God, getting to experience the impact it has brought to their lives.

Our most frustrating moments with each other are.... o.k. I won't do that. :)

And that is us.

So what exactly is it that we have found? We certainly haven't found the perfect marriage, more money in the bank, or perfect children. We haven't found the perfect home with soft-water and room to run. We haven't found a nice mini-van with a DVD player in the backseat. We haven't found a fancy cell-phone or the latest fashions. We still struggle. We still fight. We still cry. We still battle.

But in all of this, we're solid. Because it's not really what we found. It's who we found.... more of.

God has grown us up with His Spirit and rocked our world in 2011. And there is no looking back. With Him there is more contenment, stability, community and joy. There is more peace, patience, kindness and goodness. There is more faithfulness and gentleness. More self-control.

There is more of everything we need to endure everything we go through (and we still go through the crap). But He is restoring us, renewing us and equipping us. And as much as I hate to say it, the next huge storm will come our way. But for now, we are soaking up the calm. Trusting that when it hits we will remember...brokenness is beautiful.

May you find more of Him as well this Christmas. May you remember God does answer prayer. Don't give up. Look for the rainbows of promises in your storms. Remember that to God one day is like 1,000 years. There is a purpose for your pain and He really does love you. Even when it doesn't feel like it. If he didn't, we wouldn't have Christmas....

With Love,

Jeremy & Danielle