Happy New Year! I hope that you had a lovely Christmas! I am going to back date this Christmas letter (it won't be the first time) as I had started a draft but am just getting around to completing and posting it and it is already January 4th, 2025!
I love reflecting on our last year and making plans for the new year but I always struggle with what exactly to share and how to fit a whole year into one letter. It is not my attempt to give the impression that the year went without a hitch... there are always ups and downs but I suppose it is only natural to want to highlight the milestones and special moments over the struggles and difficulties.
The biggest highlight for us this year was having our oldest son, David, graduate high school. As homeschoolers I often wondered about what the actual celebration would look like for us and I am so pleased with how it turned out. I hope to write about this in a separate post with all the individual details. For now I will just say he worked hard, succeeded and was celebrated.
Another big highlight was David's Graduation Trip to Seattle where we took in some sights as well as a Twenty-One Pilots concert. I am so glad we started this tradition and I look forward to planning graduation trips with all of our kids as their turns come.
Summer highlights are usually the same for us year to year and this year was no exception. We did less camping than usual but we did enjoy Englishman River, Selah and Rathtrevor Beach. Selah was a first for us, a church camping trip and we look forward to adding this annually. We floated down the river in tubes, cooled off in the swimming hole, swung on the rope swing, played beach volleyball, had campfire time and so much more! Another summer favourite is spending time at Sproat Lake and it was so nice to do that again this summer. This year we got to see the Mars Bomber taxi on the lake and in flight but my favourite was when it taxied past us at Taylor Arm and we got to play in the huge waves it made.
Angeline and Samara are working quite independently with their online courses and are aiming to graduate in 2027. Rebekah, Joshua and Naomi are enjoying learning together with family unit studies by Gather Round. Next year we might just have the two littles doing unit studies together... its so strange having 2 in and approaching Grad Program. I have to say it wasn't easy when they were all "little" and needing me constantly. As much as I enjoy their independence I want to soak up all the little moments before they are all grown up. David is 18 and Naomi is 8!
In 2025 we are looking forward to a family vacation in Oahu, Angeline turning 16 and getting her learners licence, David turning 19, Rebekah will be a teenager, Joshua hit double digits last year, Samara has almost 2 years until her sweet sixteen, and Naomi will celebrate turning 9. Jonathan and I are not at milestone birthdays but we are celebrating 20 year of Marriage in October!
In the day to day (and week to week) there is badminton, curling, swimming lessons, ballet, running, Church, Bible Study, Jr. Youth and Youth Group. Before we know it another 52 weeks will have gone by and we will be anticipating plans for 2026!
Thank you to all our friends and family who walk with us and stick by us in both our struggles and our celebrations. Thank you for those who also share their moments with us.
Merry Christmas
and
Happy New Year!
Love,
the Neufelds
Opa, this was the year we said our goodbyes (this side of heaven). We gathered for the celebration of your life with so many whose lives you touched. It was a special day as we celebrated the warmth your love brought to this world. We will cherish your love and your life well lived as we remember you always.
