This year we do not have a family picture to send because the truth is it has been a while since we have all been in the same spot, being scattered across the country: Jessica is in Brooklyn NY, Matthew is in Portland OR, and Dan and Ashley are in La Habra CA, while Bob and Jamie are “stuck in Lodi”. Needless to say we are very happy when we do see one another!
Our year started with Dan undergoing a major surgery to remove his primary tumor in his pancreas. Unfortunately that particular surgery is quite extensive and involved removing not only part of the pancreas, but also part of the stomach and small intestine and the entire gall bladder. There is a high incidence of complications and he got his share of them:( After spending a month in the hospital and not eating for 7 weeks he seemed to be on the road to recovery, therefore Bob and I felt confident about proceeding with our planned trip to Israel with the Jim Elliot Christian High School Robotics team (who were invited to compete in the Israel Regional event of FIRST). While in Israel we learned that Dan had a bowel obstruction which was a complication of his first surgery. So back to the hospital he went for another month and another surgery. Wow! His attitude through this all has been amazing. And we are so thankful for all the prayers lifted up on his behalf. God graciously answered them. What’s more, his wife Ashley, throughout all this added stress, continued to excel in her nursing courses while traveling back and forth from LA, only to graduate SUMMA CUM LAUDE in late May! Unbelievable! What a couple! She is now working at a hospital in Whittier and Dan will resume his credential program at UCI in January to teach high school math next fall.
Matt headed for Portland in January for his first semester at Multnomah University, a small Christian college. His English professor has been very encouraging of his writing skills and Portland seems like a good fit for Matt. During the summer he lifeguarded at Hume Lake Christian Camp and acted in the nightly skit as a “musketeer” named Felipe which Jessica, Bob and I enjoyed while visiting him there. On a November road trip to Portland, Bob and I had the opportunity to spend some time with Matt and toured his campus, while catching up with various friends and cousins.
Jessica has been munching on the “Big Apple” and enjoying it, so for the moment she is staying there! She has lived in 3 different apartments with different roommates and has had various jobs, but the present one finds her working as an assistant to my cousin who designs jewelry. This summer I had a wonderful time schlepping around NYC with her and her boyfriend Josh for a couple days before we traveled upstate for a country visit with cousins and a week at a Bible camp, Camp Shoshanah in Keeseville. We topped off our time with a short jaunts to Vermont and Montreal and overnighted with friends outside of Montreal.
In June our “girls”, Lily and Steffi finished their school year with us and returned to their respective homes in Mexico and Germany. As wonderful as the year was, we were thinking this next year would be quieter, opting not to repeat our foreign exchange experience. As it turned out, Bob’s cousin’s son Andrew moved in with us in July and has been working and attending the local junior college. Not quite as lively as the girls, Andrew is still a great blessing to have with us.
As our year winds down it is our dearest wish to communicate with you the Love that God has shown us all by sending His Son to this earth:
From the prophet Isaiah, chapter 9
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness. From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.
May you have an ever-increasing passion to know Him, His Word, and His heart of love for you.
With love, the Howen gang: Bob, Jamie, Matt, Jessica, Dan and Ashley
