Christmas' Amazing Race!

How wonderful it was to not travel 750 miles to spend Christmas with family! We enjoyed great memories with both families and even squeezed in a one extended family festivity. We began our season with school programs. Both Madison & Breanne did so well singing with their classes, even though they didn't have much time to practice.

They seem to be making friends as Madison was spying and waving to many new friends while we waited for Bre's program to begin.

The girls are enjoying afternoon snacks the grandpa when he gets home from work. On Grandpa's birthday, the girls surprised him with birthday Special K bars! He was excited and we topped it off singing "Happy Birthday...Grandpa Rock, Stinky Socks." (Not quite sure how those two phrases go together...I guess anything goes in second grade.)

One afternoon, we had a surprise when uncle Bryce came to visit the girls after school. He said the lego stash at the grandma Linda's wasn't up to par, but he still helped make a house, car and garage.

The girls were so excited to complete the Amazing Race, Cousins Edition at our Christmas Party. We had three teams.

The Red team was Breanne, Braelyn, Daniel and chaperoned by Derrick. This team came in last but finished in stride after eating 14 cups of Cheerios before finding the cup with a marked X. It was so fun to hear Derrick tell stories about his niece and nephew!

Breanne & Braelyn give directions to a blindfolded Daniel who finds the wrapped box that holds the math problem.

Madison was part of the Green team with Chloe, Micah, Abigail and Uncle Lucas chaperoning. They led the race for the majority of the time. Chloe was her usual self...all smiles, all the time but Madison had her game face on. Derrick reported that at McDonald's she was not wasting any time on posing for a picture.

Micah blindfolds Madison to go find the math problem, wrapped in a box in the backyard. "Oh, a math problem, that should be easy," Micah tells his team.

Sucking up jello in a straw...not so easy and Daniel pointed out that next time I should put the instructions at the bottom of the jello IN A PLASTIC BAG...point taken!

Madison made it 3/4 a way around the block before dropping the onion...forcing her team to compete in the 5th leg of the race.

The Blue Team was Carter, Rebekah, Caleb & Aliya, chaperoned by Uncle Mike. They were held up at McDonald's waiting on some fresh fries. They may have been tasty, but could have cost them the game...

Although they lagged behind most of the race, their patience perseverance would pay off!
Rebekah was the only balancing act to make it around the block without dropping the onion off the spoon so her team didn't have to participate in the 5th leg of the race. They easily won while the other teams ate more Cheerios.Aliya celebrates her team winning the Amazing Race!

The weather was fantastically cooperative and 1/2 the race was outside.

Aliya & Abigail were also excited to participate with their cousins. The cousins all play really nicely and enjoyed a sleepover with at grandma's WITHOUT their parents. (Aaahhhh...for us!) Aliya and our very own Chlo-Bear (a.k.a. Ka-o-la-Bear to Aliya) were all smiles after the sleepover.

On Christmas Eve, we celebrated with the extended Veldkamp family for a few hours. Most enjoyed a game of kickball after grazing on Christmas splendor.

Aliya got an array of baby accessories from grandmas (crib and nursery set, stroller, bottles, and such.) But nothing is as portable & lovable as the baby the cries and coos until you feed her and give her her pacifier.

We got to celebrate with our girls on Christmas Eve. After a refreshing nap (and quiet time for mom and dad) we ate Cinnamon Rolls and read the Christmas story. Decorating their own gingerbread houses was a hit!

Breanne and Madison were mostly on their own with the decorating, but Aliya got support from Daddy. With about half of the house covered Breanne says, "Can I be done now?" as she pulls off a fruitsie roll and pops it in her mouth. Apparently finished with the decorating and on to the eating!

It's a brown Christmas in Minnesota this year...
One laughable moment was Aliya taking a bite of the chocolate bar and then placing it perfectly on the gingerbread house.

When our presents were opened and Aliya vacuumed up our mess with her first Kenmore vacuum cleaner, we headed to Grandma Barb's for a couple days. (Did I mention that 20 miles was the most we drove this Christmas?)

Aliya was very excited and extremely adorable saying "Percy Harvin," when she got her first Vikings jersey. The same number as the famous Uncle Bryce...

The girls had lots of fun with new toys and accessories, and playing games as it the tradition at the DeWilde house..."Wanna play a game...Bryce?" It's been a long time since we've all been together and was great that Auntie Melissa and Uncle Ben could travel from Peoria, IL.

When Kayla arrived on Monday, they were excited to get their "Kayla pillows" complete with lots of photos, favorite Bible verses or lyrics and 129+ buttons! (Breanne and Madison seriously counted the buttons!)

That's where the party's at...a Christmas Letter

"Wherever We Go" by the Newsboys

Hands up,

Holler back here,

Let's throw this party in gear,

We brought the welcome mat,

Wherever we go, that's where the party's at.

When the Newsboys came out with this song one year after our move to Montana, Derrick said, “that’s like us…wherever we go…” Six years ago, we made the leap from Tennessee to Montana. It didn’t totally make sense (Derrick had a good job, great friends, a fabulous church family, not mention 20 miles from the lake) but we didn’t want to live our lives wondering, “what if we would have...” So we stepped out of the boat and tried Montana. If wherever we go, that's where (our) party's at, the party has moved. It’s almost deja vu. In Montana, Derrick had a good job, we had great friends and a great church family (not to mention the mountains nearby), but when the opportunity came to move to Minnesota closer to family, we couldn’t pass it up. Something about seeing the girls with their grandparents for quick visits and listening to Madison tell her friend in Montana on the phone all about the day they got to spend at their cousins has already been received as a blessing from our good Lord.

But let me back up and give you a synopsis of our year. In March, we got the ultimate Montana experience of snowmobiling. Derrick & the girls LOVED it. Give mom a hot cup of coffee and a warm fireplace and I’m good. It was fun to be with friends, out in the mountains and listen to Harold’s stories around the woodstove. In July, we bought a boat and the rest of the summer is history! We spent every weekend after that, save one, on the lake. The best was watching Madi & Bre water ski! Derrick & I celebrated 10 years of marriage in August. Most people go on a cruise or maybe even Hawaii…Montanans go backpacking. It was awesome to be alone, just the two of us, in the mountains for a weekend!

Aliya had her first broken leg in March (why do these things always happen when Derrick is out of town?) She’s often making us laugh and is truly a sweet, well-natured little three-year old.

Madison continues to exhibit the spiritual gift of compassion & generousity. If she’s got a dollar, she knows someone who needs it more than she does. This year, she & Breanne helped with our family garage sale and made enough money to fill 20 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. She enjoyed girls’ softball this year and began piano lessons in the fall.

Breanne learned to ride her bike without training wheels & requests a house with a long-driveway for lots of bike riding! She’s very wise and precautious and was an excellent class helper for her teacher!

For a couple years, we’ve been praying for an opportunity to return to the Minnesota area, but God never opened the door for us to go. About October, the door swung open. Derrick was offered a job with a new engineering consulting firm called Kestrel Engineering and asked to relocate to the Minneapolis Metro area to work from the office there. We were prayerful and decided to accept. The week following putting our home for sale, we had sold it. This was much quicker than we anticipated, but it was a very direct answer to a prayer asking God to confirm that this was His will for our family. The flip side of that is that it has left us homeless, but we are so grateful for the graciousness of our parents who both offered to let us live with them until we find the right house. It’s a relief to not be rushed in decision making and actually, the arrangement is working out okay. We’re currently residing in Becky’s parent’s “2-bedroom basement apartment.” We’re super blessed to be VERY close to family for this Christmas season! May you be blessed as well by obediently following Christ. Merry Christmas!

P.S. If you see Santa, let him know Madison, Breanne & Aliya’s stockings are hung at 911 5^th St SE, Pipestone, MN 56164.

Stronger

"Stronger"

Just an update for those reading from Montana. Breanne has "turned the corner" and every day at school is getting a little bit better! We are so incredibly proud of the girls for their terrific attitudes and perseverance through the transition so far. We downloaded Mandisa's song, "Stronger" one morning amidst tears flowing. Follow the link above to listen and read the lyrics! This is going to make our whole family stronger!

Consider it pure joy...

As our family of five settles a bit more into the transition of moving, reality sets in and we've all realized, THIS IS HARD! We're all missing our Billings "family." Madison & Breanne began school the end of last week and I don't think being the new kid is as glamourous as they thought it would be. Breanne is especially struggling. It's torture watching your kid who loved school so much go to crying and saying she doesn't want to go! I guess in parenting, this is where the rubber meets the road. What else can you do besides hold them and bring them back to Jesus. In Paul's book to James, chapter 1, Paul says, "Consider it pure joy, my brother & sisters, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance and perseverance must finish it's work to make you mature and complete, not lacking anything!" Isn't that the goal, to be so complete that we don't lack anything in character? Yes, we won't be totally there until Jesus returns, but this process, tough as it is, will give our whole family an opportunity to become more Christ-like. Praise to Him! (Even if at this point, I just wish we were standing on the other side of this circumstance.)

No news on the house-front. Derrick will return to the cities this week to look some more. We are so blessed by the graciousness of our parents to let us call their "basement apartment" home for now. God always provides!

I'll be home for Christmas

Madison, Kyra & Mimi

Hazel, Breanne & Emma

The girls and I with Miss Dawn & Gabers

The girls and I with Miss Brandee, Brogan & Cienna

Madison & Alyssa

After a very long week of packing and emotional good-byes and see you laters, we have made our trek to Minnesota! How can we express our gratitude to all our friends in Montana who made our last weeks in Billings fantastic? Words wouldn't cut it! From our friends letting us crash their Thanksgiving Day with family, coffee with friends, gifts and meals from our neighbors & friends, a great going away party, a relaxing last evening and a place to call home while our house was being boxed up in a moving van. We are so blessed!

Mrs. Barkac had both Madison & Breanne and was hoping to have Aliya...

Madison & Mrs. Rensvold

We woke at 5 on Sunday morning and finished packing, checking the vehicles, grabbing breakfast (including a strong cup of coffee). We were on the road by 7. About 100-miles into the trip, we had a flat tire on the boat trailer. We managed to get the lug nuts off by me jumping on the end of the ratchet. Ufta! We continued on praying we didn't have to use the can of fix a flat spray until we could make it to Rapid to buy another tire. Further through the smaller mountain passes, we skated sideways and all around a particular hill that was very icy. Derrick said Breanne was giggling in the passenger seat. He said, "You better hold on!" Behind Derrick watching the truck and boat slide down the hill, I was saying lots of prayers and had white knuckles, trying to keep the van on the road. The rubble strips were about the only thing that would slow us down. After that, it was pretty smooth sailing until we got on I-90 outside of Rapid. A ground blizzard was going on and we crept through many spots of near 0 visibility.

After a 2-hour layover in Rapid to get a new tire for the boat trailer, we set off across South Dakota. The wind had picked up out of the northwest pretty briskly. Derrick realized it was blowing the lid to the freezer open. Not wanting to loose that, we had to pull over and problem-solve to get it strapped down.

Finally about midnight, we pulled into my parents in Pipestone. It was a long day, but we praise God for getting us to Minnesota safely!

On an exciting note (Tracy & Kathy) we sold our Billings home today...we're on baby step 7! Yahoo!

Tomorrow, we travel to Lakeville, where we hope to call home. Derrick & I will help unload the moving van into a storage facility and then will check out some homes we've looked at online. With any luck (okay, I don't believe in luck, just God's perfect timing) we'll get an offer in on a home by Christmas!

Until then, we're all settled into my parent's basement. Madison and Breanne registered for school today and will start on Thursday. Madison will have Derrick's second grade teacher! The ladies that helped us register could not believe how much Madison looked like Derrick.

My thoughts are with my friends at Harvest tonight as they put on the Christmas edition of Fusion. God bless Heather & Dawn!

Speaking of drama, our Madi & Breanne were in an enrichment program at Alkali Creek their last week of school and performed a play directed by the local theater company. It was fun to see them in action. Breanne said, "I won't be nervous, I told the whole school at assembly that I'm celebrating moving." You'll have to ask her to tell you her joke.

Pack a box...make a difference!

Yesterday, the girls brought in their packed shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child with Samaritian's Purse. As always, it was pure joy watching them worship this way. We used the money they had earned at our garage sale last spring to buy the supplies (they sold lemonade..I sold their clothes & toys). Madison says it's the best part of Christmas. Even Aliya got to pick out some babies to send to little girls across the world to open for Christmas. The team the drop off location was so kind to explain to the girls what happens when kids get their boxes and where our boxes are probably headed. It gave me goosebumps to see the HUGE pile of boxes in front of their sanctuary...almost 1400 shoe boxes! Go God!

It's not too late, you can still back a shoe box. Last drop off day is Monday, November 21. Find out more info here: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC

Thought I'd include Breanne and Aliya's glamour shot from a fundraiser they went to last weekend.

The Great Pumpkin

When God blesses you with a great big pumpkin, you'd better have a party. The Saturday before Halloween, our friends, the McGrails had a party to carve jack-o-lanterns and THE pumpkin! The seeds were even enormous, so I saved some and thought I'd try grow them in Minnesota soil...maybe we'll have a party next year!

We're busy with details of selling our home and also trying to make the most of our friendship here in Montana.

Tears and joy

With excitement and sadness, we're announcing that we are moving to Minnesota! We have been praying for an opportunity to get closer to family (in Minnesota) for 2-3 years but the door has always been closed. Beginning November 9, Derrick is starting a new job and it's going to allow us to relocate to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. We were blessed in the option to have him work from home until our house sold (which honestly, we expected to be quite a while). About a week before we even had our home on the market, the five of us began praying, thanking God in advance for selling our house. After 6 days on the market, we were able to sell our Billings home! I guess God wanted us in Minnesota sooner than later. We close on our house here on December 5.

Of course, it's a busy time and stressful with so many details to handle. It's a daily battle for Derrick & I to remind ourselves to find joy and peace in God's presence.

We were able to go to Fargo to visit Bryce a couple weekends ago and the weekend prior to that, we were in Pipestone for my cousin Ashley's wedding. Being with family and sharing the news has made us so excited to be able to cultivate more family relationships!

However, it is saddening to consider leaving relationships we have built in Montana. It's been a blessing to be involved in our church and small group, in our neighborhood and in the girls' school. Our friends here have been our family! Thank you all!!!

Life is sweeter with friends!

Aliya painted pictures with her friends...something that's more for girls than boys.

Madison & Breanne made Aliya ice-cream cupcakes.

She got 'em all!

The tip of Gabe's nose...perfectly smeared with cake & icing. Gabe loves to give Aliya hugs and then immediately asks if he can play with the train set.

Aliya being her assertive self, concerned about how her friends are eating their ice-cream cupcakes.

Everyone be silly now!

I don't think her dad's a Huskers fan...

Aleena was excited to go to "Maason", "Aeea" and Breanne's house. Little girls are so sweet together.

Sweet little Carter!