It's always fun to reflect on the previous year and remember all the special times and great moments God has given us. Below are some of our highlights.
Team Pete’s Top 10 from 2021
#1 Dad Beats COVID. (January) Daneen's Dad (who lives in PA) recovered from being close to death with COVID. He still has some "long hauler" effects along with his advanced COPD. Yet, we are so grateful for God's mercy to save his life and give us more time with him! Jesus 1 - COVID (Satan) 0.
#2 JoJo turned 3. (February) JoJo turned 3 years old and started preschool. He loves all sports but has a strong passion for basketball. He plays daily in our house and wants us to play with him so that he can try to block our shot, get a rebound or call a foul or goaltending! The boy knows his basketball! He is very observant and bright. He has a kind and generous heart. A common phrase of his is "I let others go first."💙
It was an unseasonably WARM winter so we were able to go hiking a lot!!!
We love Makoshika State Park!!
#3 Basketball March Madness. {Let me, Daneen, brag about my incredible husband and how God has blessed his work!} Joe's basketball team had a phenomenal 2020-21 season (23-3.) After finishing the Mon-Dak Conference season UNDEFEATED and were the Region XIII Tournament Champions, they went on to beat the #11-ranked team and win the North Central District Champions.
That win gave them a slot to the National Conference. This was Dawson Community College's FIRST TIME EVER to attend the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. (Read more.) Daneen, JoJo and Aria joined Joe and the team on the 16 hour bus trip to Hutch so that we could all be together for this incredible opportunity. So special!
#4 Summer. Our summer months were packed with fun travels and some special visitors. Time in Longmont always feels like "coming home" yet this time we got to stay on the lake with our Colorado family!
JoJo learned to ride a pedal bike!!!
We spent the 4th of July in western Montana and stayed in a little cabin on a working ranch (complete with horses, chickens and bison) and surrounded by tall, Evergreen trees! We celebrated a wedding in Kalispell, went swimming in the cool and crystal clear water of Flathead Lake and soaked up the gorgeous mountains of Whitefish.
We had another cabin adventure in the Granite Range mountains of Nye with the Christ's Gift Academy Board of Trustees! It was fun to spend time with others who are passionate about the people and ministry in Mbita, Kenya. We all enjoyed a special time 'floating' down the Stillwater River.
Daneen's parents came to visit us and we enjoyed some fun fair festivities. The kids liked cooking with Nonna and played some baseball outside with Grandpa.
Finally, we couldn't pass up crazy cheap flights on Allegiant Air so we squeezed in a trip to San Diego to visit
Joe's family! This was the kids' first time seeing and playing in the
ocean!!! Sea World was an extra special treat.
Whooo-- it was a packed summer, but full of fun and great family memories!!
#5 Pow Wow. (September) We attended our first Pow Wow at Poplar Indian Days. We gained some insight into JoJo's Sioux and Assiniboine heritage while enjoying the colorful, hand-crafted regalia, and soul-filled dancing! Aria especially loved the jingle dancers, while JoJo loved the frybread!
#7 Aria turned 3. (October) Our little pumpkin Aria turned 3 years old. She likes wearing her unicorn backpack to preschool. She loves wearing dresses that twirl and having pigtails or “ponies” in her hair! She is mesmerized by the cheerleaders at the basketball games and practices her own cheerleading moves at home! She is tenacious and determined… Creative and funny.
#8 New Job for Daneen. (November) After serving with Christ's Gift Academy for the past 5 years (working from home), Daneen is now working at the college again. She oversees a program called Dawson Promise which provides opportunities for youth who age-out of foster care or are homeless to be able to receive a 2-year college degree debt free.
#9 Basketball. (Nov-Dec) Basketball season is in full swing. At half way through the season, the DCC Buc's are currently 14-2 and have received votes to be in the top 25 (for all NJCAA Div I teams; read more). They are a fun and talented group of guys to watch.
#10 Christmas. We spent Christmas in Phoenix with Joe's family; everyone except his brother Dave. We enjoyed some warmer weather and seeing family; Papa and Nana, Uncle Steve & Aunt Cari and cousins Amanda and her family and Macee and her family, Uncle Sam & Aunt Sally and cousins Zach & Kylie!
Joe and JoJo were able to go to a Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors game and see the infamous Stephen Curry play in person!!!
After Christmas, Joe's basketball team played in a 3-day tournament, Pima CC Holiday Tournament, where they finished 2-1.
# BONUS. Jesus. He gets His very own category.
All. Year. Long.... Jesus sustained us and blessed us!!! Without His LOVE and GRACE this life would be bitterly hard. It's challenging enough as it is. Jesus is our HOPE for a brighter future... a better tomorrow!
I love this T-shirt 👇
It's funny!!! And true.
Life after these "COVID times" will never be like it was before. But... Jesus is our unchanging and firm foundation!!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
No matter what 2022 brings.... God is good, faithful and oh so gracious! 💗
