2011 Annual Holiday Letter

2011 Annual Holiday Letter (unedited) As we close this year of many blessings, beginnings and adventures, we look forward to the celebration of the birth of the Son who came to bring us Hope, to show us Love and give us the ultimate gift of Eternity. As I write this letter, my dear grandmother has hours before she passes from this temporary life and on to one that has no pain or tears. Hannah will be baptized in less than 5 hours, to celebrate her new life in Christ. I could write a book about the life lessons that Hannah has taught us. This letter is written with a raw form of emotion and will not be edited the normal 10-12 times before I post it. We are in a transition of celebrating life, a life soon to pass, and a life that gives us a hope and a promise that we humbly unwrap only by the grace of God. So, we recap this year, which started off with camp fundraising in full gear. Although it consumes a greater part of my life for 6 months, it is worth it when we tally the funds raised to offer an opportunity to those that would never have it. During Spring Break, we threw an All Night party for 80+ Middle School students and then attended a youth conference with a great group of students. Hannah worked tirelessly to create what she calls “the most amazing Science Fair Project ever”. Apparently she impressed the judges and was sent on to the Science Expo at the Evergreen Aviation Museum. It was such an amazing achievement for her. The best part of all was having the Expo on her birthday. Days later, my grandmother, two friends, and I, traveled to Hawaii to check off a few things from grandma’s “bucket list”. We had a great time celebrating Mother’s Day on the warm, sandy beaches. I thoroughly enjoyed the adventures we endeavored, even if we got lost hiking… It was such a blessing as grandma’s health quickly declined after the trip and she was no longer able to travel. In June, we piled 60 students in vehicles and headed to the new Wings and Waves Water Park in McMinnville. We were happy to return with most all the students we left with… Shortly after that, Dale and I celebrated our 15 year anniversary with a “tour de Portland” package that we created ourselves. The package included dinner at Wing Stop, a movie and dessert at Papa Haydn’s. Truly the most amazing dessert experience I have ever had. (yeah, I secretly wish I was THE Cake Boss). The School year came to an end with Hannah leaving for Summer camp. We enjoyed another amazing campout with friends at Detroit Lake to kick off the start of our very short summer. Grandma started Hospice care at the beginning of July, ending 2 years of Chemo and Radiation treatments. Hayden turned 7 with a classic Hawaiian party at the park. During a family BBQ in late July, we all quickly realized how fragile Grandma’s condition was and I stepped in to coordinate care for her as I juggled work and visits and Dale juggled work and caring for the girls. For vacation, we all went to Camp Tadmor for a week (along with 70 other students). Grandma’s cousin, Barbara, came to care for her to give me a break so I could go. I was blessed by my cabin girls and co-leader more than I could have ever planned for. Coming home, we were met by the crew who were repairing our house and days later the repairs were finished and a new coat of paint applied. Hayley attended Volleyball camp at Western Mennonite and Hayden attended Soccer camp. Grandma had a short time where she felt well enough to get out of the house and joined us to celebrate Grandpa Dale’s Wedding to his beautiful bride, Joy. Towards the end of August, we enjoyed a short visit from my sister, Angela, who traveled from TN to run the Hood to Coast. Shawna and Noel were able to come and visit with us at grandma’s. We started a 1000 piece puzzle at 3 PM. Twelve hours and many, many, words later, we finally finished the puzzle. Before we knew it, our family was sitting on the beach during our Annual Coast Photo Days over Labor Day weekend, talking about the school week ahead of us. What happened to the Summer? Hayley was selected to be an Ambassador for the Church On The Hill to return in 50 years to unearth a time capsule. We celebrated 100 years as a church with a concert, Hill Fest. Just weeks after the girls started 8th, 5th and 2nd grade along with their sports schedules, I was informed that I would be laid off at the beginning of October, which turned out to be a blessing so I could better care for my grandma. I had more time to attend activities for the girls as well. Hayden got her Soccer game on, showing us how well she had improved through the summer. Hayley played Volleyball very well, showing skill and confidence on the court. We had a bit of a set back when she shoved into a wall with her hand and almost damaged her growth plate. Throughout the year, Hayley developed an ear infection that just hasn’t been able to clear up. We are in the process of educating ourselves on tubes for her ears. In late September, I was blessed with a weekend getaway to the beach with my girlfriends to refresh my spirit. We were off and running quickly into the month of October. Dale went to San Diego for a Youth Workers Convention and short visit with our “family”, the Mora’s, just days before their beautiful miracle, Sophia, was born (I can’t forget to mention that just barely 10 months earlier, the Mora’s also welcomed Gabriel into this world, which was also an incredible miracle). Grandma’s cousin, Barbara (aka, an angel in disguise), came to give me a reprieve once again. Before she returned to Nevada, we gathered family for a huge buffet and photos at grandma’s. We made such an amazing spread of food, which included all of grandma’s (and most of our) favorite foods. Days flew by so fast that we were in November, hosting our 14th Annual Family Portrait Extravaganza and planning for Hayley’s 14th birthday before I had a chance to catch my breath. Hayley celebrated her birthday in style, with an old school party at Oaks Park Skate Rink in Portland. My favorite part was, of course, the cake decorating. We took a few days off to go over the mountain and see Dale’s parents and his brother, Robert, and kids for Thanksgiving. We enjoyed a visit with Holli, Brooklyn, and Bonnie as well. For Black Friday, we headed away from the retail madness into the wilderness of Oregon to spend much needed down time with our friends. Hannah made a part in the school play which we are excited to attend this next Tuesday. We have planned a Christmas Party for the youth on the 17th. The Stolpe’s will be here for 9 days over the school holiday. We are anxiously awaiting that visit. During that time, we are planning an 18th birthday party for my sister, McKayla, a day at the Water Park, a snowshoeing adventure and a celebration service for grandma. We will also celebrate my sister, Shawna’s pregnancy. She is due to deliver baby Alexis on grandma’s birthday, early February. We look forward to a new year. We look forward to many opportunities to connect with friends and family. New adventures and achievements are sure to come as well. In the Fall, Hannah will be starting Middle School and Hayley will be starting High School. So we are embarking on new beginnings. I can’t wait to get out into the yard this spring, enjoy the sun and listen to my girls giggle and laugh as they usually do when we are outdoors. It will not be easy to see them grieve the loss of a woman who has been so dear to them, a grandmother who nurtured them and loved them to the best of her abilities. I wish it were not so hard to celebrate the passing of a life from this Earth into Eternity, but fact is, we miss those we love. With a heavy heart, I want to tread lightly into the next days and weeks, so not to damage the delicate hearts of my girls as they remember and celebrate their great-grandma’s life. I know we can’t do it alone and am thankful for the love that so many people have poured into our lives this year. Friends and family that have come around us to encourage us and strengthen us, to show us love that has penetrated to our inner most beings and left an impression on our hearts that will last a lifetime. This Christmas Season, we’ll be celebrating the most important of all things, Christ’s Birth. Although we are not completely sure that he actually came into this world on December 25th, we know that the reason we place a living tree in our living room is to remind us that we serve a living God. We decorate it with lights to remind us that we have a life that can shine bright into a dark world. The ornaments remind us that there are blessings to celebrate in our lives because God has given us the days and abilities to experience them. We know that without Christ, we would have no Hope, and therefore, we celebrate His life and the sacrifice he has given so that we can have eternal life. We close this letter with prayers for blessings on you and your life this next year. May it be full of adventure and gifts that you could never even imagine. May you be healthy and find wealth and substance in your life. May you know the Hope that Jesus came to sacrifice His life for. Most of all, may you know that we, the Collver’s, are thankful for and praying for you today and throughout the year. Merry Christmas.

Our Top 10's in 2010

Top 10 Happennings
1- Hayden graduated Kindergarten Spanish Emersion Class
2- Hayden bacame a Christ Follower
3- Hayden learned to ride her bike right before turning 6
4- Hannah joined the choir and had many successful performances
5- Hannah worked hard and raised all the money for Camp Tadmor. She went for the first time as a camper and LOVED it!!
6- Hannah passed the survival swim class and turned 9 years old, she earned Student of the month for friendship.
7- Hayley made it on the honor roll her first year in Middle School
8- Hayley earned a cell phone for her 13th birthday by achieving straight A's in all subjects while playing on the Volleyball team.
9- Heather helped kids raise over $9,000 to go to camp, then went to camp Tadmor as a counselor one week and as a camp mom another week. She also started a new part-time job away from home.
10- Dale got a taste of extreme stunt driving in the Urban Assault Vehicle. (a.k.a. our mini van)

Top 10 things we did on Summer Vacation
1- went to the beach (you'll find us there when we have a chance to get away)
2- went to Camp Tadmor (yeah, it's just plain fun!)
3- went on Hood River train ride (a snapshot of Oregon's beauty in a day trip)
4- went on hikes (a few hours or a whole day, can't beat the great outdoors)
5- went bike riding
6- went to Oaks Park (a whole day of fun and it won't break the bank)
7- wentcamping for the 4th of July with friends
8- had barbeques, visited with friends
9- slept in every day we got a chance for as long as possible
10- went on a crazy road trip to Reno, Yosemite, San Dimas, California Adventure, Golden Gate Bridge, Jelly Belly Factory, Redwoods, then back home. In just 11 days with a van full of kids and grandma.

Top 10 things we learned on our summer road trip
1- The required adjustable tour hat at the Jelly Belly Factory was not big enough for Heather's hair.
2- Just because we planned to see the Golden Gate Bridge doesn't mean it was visible in the dense fog that only one could expect in the middle of August (REALLY??)
3- Our Urban Assault Vehicle can survive a curb jump at 75 mph. (Daaaaaaaaalllle!!!)
4- In order to drive-thru the tree in the Redwood forest you must take off the overloaded black bullet (a.k.a. luggage rack)from the top of your Urban Assault Vehicle. (Oh, well, it was cool to see everyone else drive-thru)
5- "if you touch it, you might break it, then you'll have to buy it" is good advice, even for adults (Heather!)
6- You don't even have to leave your hometown, if you have a hotel with a pool and free hot breakfast, the kids think they are in heaven.
7- Llamas are really jealous animals. They are really agressive too. When they come up to you and start pushing you.... PUSH BACK!!!!!
8- Getting a spanking can turn out to be a blessing. (Hayley's own words)
9- Don't let the kids be the first to go into a public restroom in the middle of no where, miles away from nothing. The field across the street that their sister peed in was much safer.
10- If you travel to Yosemite to see wild animals in their natural environment, that doesn't really mean you will actually view any wild animals. Unless you call two lizards on a rock wildlife, in that case, we could have gone to PetSmart.

Hope you enjoyed our Top 10's.

What Christmas Means to Dale

Christmas to me is when the family gets together and celebrates the birth of Christ. We eat and hang out doing fun things together as a family. I love taking time off with the family and reflecting on how richly God has blessed our family.

I love the lights, the tree, the ornaments, the smells and the sounds of Christmas. When we have snow during Christmas, it is like having the icing on the cake. I think of my child hood and the anticipation of Christmas morning. Oh, and you have to watch The Christmas Story. That is a must.

Dale

What Christmas Means to Heather

This year will be different as we are not heading down to California for our traditions with the Mora family, and that will be pretty hard. I love traditions. I guess I feel like traditions are something to hold on to, something of value. Something I can pass on to generations to come.

Christmas is a time of reflection for me. I love to reflect on the year. What growth have my children made in their lives? What have I accomplished and how did I make a difference? What can I do to improve myself and what are we doing as a family to love on others?

It is also a time of year where it just feels so good to be around friends and family. It is a time to make memories and cherish our loved ones. I look forward to the adventures while we stay in Oregon this year. This Christmas will be especially memorable as Hayden has chosen to follow Christ and that is big news here. She made the decision on her own and is so excited to serve and love others. The peace of knowing my family has a hope and a future beyond the realm of this world gives me great joy.

I pray that we will be shining lights as we discover what this season has in store for us. I pray that we will connect with old friends, encourage and love one another, and enjoy the company of friends and family. I wish everyone a blessed Christmas season and a very happy new year filled with experiences and adventures to warm your hearts.

What Christmas Means to Hayley

I think Christmas is about fun, families, giving presents and last but certainly not least, Jesus’ birth. On Christmas, we do need to focus on Jesus' birth, but I do not think it would be Christmas without presents. People say Christmas should not be about presents, but if you think about it, didn’t the wise men bring Jesus gifts? Gifts at Christmastime should be about giving and not for thinking of what you will get back.

My favorite thing about Christmas is reading the story of Jesus; even though I have heard it more than once, it is like an adventure. Adventures start unexpectedly, like Mary did not wake up when she was little and know that she was going to be a virgin and still give birth to Jesus, Gods only son. She did not know she was going to have to ride on a donkey for miles a day just to give birth in a manger. She started a journey that not only changed her life. A journey that affected us all.

I also like being with my family because it is a time were everyone is happy and with family; telling jokes, telling stories about previous Christmas's, opening presents from others, singing Christmas carols, and if they are lucky and in the right place, families play in the snow and make snowballs.

These paragraphs above really do explain what I think Christmas is about and what I love doing with my family and I hope you liked it and agree a little or more. I did not make this “stuff” up. I do thank you for taking your time to read this.

Thank you,
Hayley Collver

WOW!! Hayley has grown into such an amazing young lady. She has a heart for those who are lost and truly cares about her friends. She is beginning to see the world through a bigger perspective and living out her faith seperately than ours. I am amazed by her perspective at times and encouraged by her growth and servants hearts.

What Christmas means to Hannah

Christmas is the day of Jesus' birthday. The three wise men gave presents to the young child Jesus. We get presents because we have been good. I love this holiday because it has love. We give money to help spread his love all around the world. I think Jesus is why we celebrate Christmas.

Spoken from such a tenderhearted little girl. Hannah has an amazing love for people and for those that need our love. She truly has a gift of prayer and loves to talk to God and bring our needs to him. Praise God for her life and the gift that she is to our family.

Hayden's Christmas Letter 2010

I think Christmas is about Jesus because he died on the cross for our sins. - Hayden

As Hayden's mommy, I am facinated by how much she has grown and now comprehends. This last week, Hayden prayed with her Daddy and chose to make Jesus the boss of her life. She is so excited to be in God's family. I am praising God that I have a family that not only confesses that Jesus is their LORD, but they have such huge and amazing hearts to serve others, love those that are usually forgotten and they have a hope and a future that this world can't offer.