Christmas 2008

Dear Friends and Family: Our family has a dinnertime tradition at our house (as do

many of you) of sharing the “highs” and the “lows” of our day. We wish that we were sitting around the dinner table with

you, but in that spirit, we wanted to share with you the Staman family’s “highs” and “lows” of 2008…

Our Highs…

Cam had more woodworking jobs than he knew what to do with; as a result, Against the Grain is thriving (and even paid for a new basketball hoop and concrete basketball court at our house). Don’t let that fool you though… he found plenty of time to take the boat out!

Tiffany graduated in June from Fuller Seminary with her master’s degree in global leadership, opening up opportunities to serve with amazing global organizations like Spark Ventures, a non-profit that helps vulnerable children around the world.

Taylor made the volleyball team (which she loved!) as well as Student Council Vice-President. Somehow she thrives by balancing those with playing piano, playing bass clarinet in the school band, singing and acting in the school play.

Payton continued to tumble and went to Nationals in Cincinnati, OH, as well as the Junior Olympics in Detroit, MI, from which he brought home two gold medals for tumbling and trampoline.

Graham decided he wanted his dad’s name included in his own; so on September 24, he appeared before the judge and asked for his name to be legally changed to Graham Addison Campbell Staman (the length would not deter him). To celebrate, he wanted to enjoy a gigantic cinnamon roll at Stockholm Inn. He’s not a hard kid to please!

Cam survived (which is the most positiveword we can conjure up) his company’s transition from Insight Communications to Comcast. Even on the best week at work, his high was still going boating or hiking with the family on the weekend.

Tiffany enjoyed many teaching and speaking engagements, as well as back-to-back trips to Dallas to participate in a Women’s Initiative for Leadership Network. Breathing Space continues to thrive as well, and she enjoys subbing in the Roscoe Schools just to spice things up a bit. However, her greatest highs are coming home to Cam and the kids, sitting around the dinner table and having great conversation.

Taylor was thrilled to be nominated to attend the Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, DC, where she will be flying with two other seventh grade classmates in March over Spring Break.

Payton learned how to water ski, wakeboard, skateboard and play basketball (he really loves anything that involves a board), all of which provide hours of fun and exercise.

Graham learned how to play guitar (although the practicing part would fall on his list of “lows”), and he also enjoyed playing basketball, soccer and dodge ball through the YMCA.

Our family’s best high this year was our sixteen day road trip out west where we camped at Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, Arches (where we white-water rafted down the Colorado River) and Zion National Parks, UT, the Grand Canyon, AZ, Lake Mead, NV, and the San Gabriel Mountains, CA. It was the trip of a lifetime.

Okay, we couldn’t resist a few more from our highest high of the year…

Our Lows

Honestly, we did not have many lows this year. The lows we did face revolved mostly around saying goodbye…

to friends, to a coach and mentor, and to a place we loved…

We had many dear friends of our family move to different parts of the country this year. Saying goodbye to three core families in Potter’s Wheel was difficult.

After four years of coaching him, Payton’s tumbling coach resigned, which felt like we were saying goodbye to a member of the family. It was a difficult transition to a new gym and a new coach, but it was also a great lesson in embracing change.

The Brauer Family’s favorite summer meeting spot, Glen Valley Lodge, near Devil’s Lake, WI, burned to the ground this summer two weeks after we had all reunited there. It will not be rebuilt.

We had far more highs than lows this year, and there were many more ordinary, everyday moments in which we laughed and cried. We are so grateful to know a God who is present with us in the good and bad, the joy and pain, the peace and chaos. May you experience His grace and love in your family this Christmas season and in all your “highs” and “lows” of 2009! With much love, Cam, Tiffany, Taylor, Payton and Graham