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Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Christmas 2018





As you probably noticed from the pictures, we have 2 big girls now! Each day I am struck by how they’ve grown up this past year! Both of them are talkers, so we never have to wonder too long what they might be thinking! They also love to make up songs about anything and everything, making Dave and my refrain, “please just obey; we don’t need a song about it.” However, we love hearing them sing “Jesus songs,” and our daily prayers are that they grow to love and trust Jesus more each day and their worship (and ours), encompasses each part of their lives.

Well, you may recall, 2017 was the year of our house move and Callie’s health struggle. We are still loving our “new” house. Amy did some interior painting, and we continued to work on the landscaping and our little garden. We discovered cherry tomatoes grow VERY well here! Over the summer, Dave’s truck spent nearly a month in the shop, so after some tears from Maggie (who grows rather attached to things) and lots of research, we made the decision to replace “Chucky” with the upgraded “Sir Charles”-a silver Kia Soul. Yay for better gas mileage and a reliable (and cute J) vehicle!

Callie’s health has definitely improved this year, working with a nutritionist. She is still on a rather strict diet (which is tough) but is mostly feeling and looking healthy, so we praise God for that! Callie does all things passionately-whether it be playing hard or crashing afterwards! She played her first year of real softball in the spring, and her team enjoyed an undefeated season! She had a blast with Daddy as the assistant coach, a special sweatshirt with her name on the back and a big 1st place tournament trophy to top it off! Callie started gymnastics in August and is loving that, as well. She also continues to enjoy school (3rd grade this year) and just finished playing a singing/dancing/baby doll-loving orphan in Bethlehem, in our church Christmas play. Both Callie and Maggie are on Faith School’s Bible Quiz Team. They are learning all about the book of Acts and doing such a great job in their monthly quiz meets.

This was a big year for Maggie! She turned 5 in February, so following the tradition we started with Callie’s 5th birthday, we spent a night at Great Wolf Lodge. It was lots of fun since both girls were tall enough to do the family inner tube rides. In May, Maggie finished preschool and decided she needed to do all the big girl things! She lost some baby teeth and learned to ride her bike without training wheels over the summer. In July, we had quite the adventure when she tripped in a small hole and ended up breaking her femur! In the emergency room, we learned that the femur break was caused by a bone cyst, so we had a late night ambulance ride to Doernbecher, where she had surgery the next day. Maggie was quite the trooper, and while it was obviously a difficult time, we were so aware of God’s protection and provision in all the details! Also, the amazing prayer support from friends, cards, gifts, and meals were such a blessing to our family! Maggie completed physical therapy in late November and excitedly announced she is now “a normal 5-year-old!” After months of limited mobility, she delights in galloping, running or jumping wherever she goes! She loves kindergarten and is thrilled to be learning to read. Always pushing to be like Sissy, she looks forward to the day when she can read chapter books!

Dave began his 5th year as Lead Pastor at Grace Church in August! He had the privilege of leading another study team to Israel in February, in partnership with his parents and a pastor from Salem. He completed his second summer of doctorate classes and is doing some voracious reading to prepare for his January class! This year is full of changes, as we are exploring a church building program, and Dave’s family is building a duplex here in Dallas and will be moving in early 2019. The girls are excited to have cousins close; we have a new niece joining our family in February. Amy is beginning her 10th year as a real estate assistant and continues to enjoy working outside the home a few hours a week. With Maggie in school every morning, she’s been able to participate in Bible Study Fellowship this fall and is also working with the high school senior girls midweek and on Sunday mornings. We are grateful to have Amy’s mom nearby and are hopeful this coming year will bring more time with her dad. Amy’s sister’s family moved to Spokane Valley, WA over the summer, so we anticipate a road trip north sometime during 2019! Dave and Amy celebrate 14 years of marriage this month. In this time of reflection, we are so aware of two things: life is full (of both good and bad), and God is faithful! He has been, and continues to be, our Strength and constant Presence, especially during hard times. Our hope for 2019, is that you come to a deeper awareness of His love for you and seek His plan for your life.

With love,
Dave, Amy, Callie and Maggie Bertolini