2013 I T ’ S C H R I S T M A S !

2013 has been a year of significant change and transition for our family. Looking back at pictures from the last twelve months reveals lots of laughter, significant decisions and life-changing moves.

We’ve moved… One of the biggest changes over the last 12 months was

our sense and discernment of a move from our home in Sarnia, Ontario where we served Lighthouse Community Church to Strathmore, Alberta and Hope Community. Throughout this process, we have experienced a clear sense of God’s call, provision, and leading along with a wide range of emotion. Pictures reveal the

deep and lasting friendships we’ve left and new people, places, and experiences to discover. We are so thankful for our 8 years in Sarnia, a place of significant beginnings (including our first home, the birthplace of ella, Soren, and Jonas) and life-defining experiences. We simultaneously miss that community while excitedly

It’s been a fun, active, full… year...

2013 HAS BEEN A YEAR FULL OF CHANGES FOR THE PETERSONS!

JONAS “WHO NEEDS SLEEP?!” SOREN THE “PIRATE COWBOY” ELLA THE “ARTIST”

returning to life in the west. Overall, the transition has gone smoothly for our entire family. The only big exception is the fact that our house has not sold yet in Ontario. We are trusting towards that end, and look forward to the closure that it will bring.

the gift of people, places and experiencesWe’ve traveled… 2013 has also been filled with really fun times as a family. Opportunities to travel together: to Florida, across Alberta and Saskatchewan in the spring, our “Big Road Trip West (with lots of pitstops for fun with friends and family), and a week in Vancouver this fall are all filled with great stories and memories.

HELP US TO SLOW DOWN AND SAVOUR THIS SEASON. TEACH US EXPECTANCY TO SEE YOU AT WORK IN OUR LIVES AND IN THE WORLD. AMEN

We’ve celebrated... 1st, 3rd, and 5th birthdays… someone even turned 40; Bekah and Glenn celebrated 13 great years; and Glenn was ordained at the end of June.

We’ve grown… Through all of these things and more we’ve been shaped as individuals and as a family. Our first full year as a family of 5, the challenge of leaving home, Glenn’s dad’s continued fight with cancer, a new home, a new community, new friendships… all with new rhythms of life to be learned… all of these things are shaping us into the people we’re becoming.

This Advent prayer challenges us to reflect and re-engage, “God of Advent, We are an impatient and busy people. We are propelled into Christmas and swept away by activity. Help us to slow down and savour Advent. Teach us in this rhythm of expectation to see you at work in our lives and in the world. Amen’

We pray that you are well. Looking at pictures from the year reminds us how blessed we are with family and significant friendships. We are thankful for you!

All love,

Glenn, Bekah, ella, Soren, Jonas

ELLAHAVING FINISHED JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN IN SARNIA, ELLA HASN’T DROPPED A BEAT AS SHE JOINED MS. GOY’S CLASS AT BRENTWOOD ELEMENTARY. ELLA IS VERY CREATIVE… IF SHE’S NOT SINGING, ELLA IS DRAWING, PAINTING OR DOING BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. SHE’S MADE LOTS OF NEW FRIENDS AT HOPE, AT SCHOOL, AND ON OUR STREET.

SORENOUR MOVE TO STRATHMORE WAS ALSO THE BEGINNING OF SOREN GOING TO SCHOOL. SOREN STARTED THIS FALL AT HOPE’S PLAYSCHOOL WITH HIS EXCELLENT TEACHER MRS. RAY. SOREN LIKES TO EXPLORE, HAS LOTS OF ENERGY, AND AN ACTIVE IMAGINATION. HE REALLY LIKES RIDING HIS BIKE AROUND THE CUL-DE-SAC AND HIS NEW FRIENDS IN ALBERTA!

JONASTHIS PICTURE OFFERS A GREAT SNAPSHOT OF JONAS. QUICK TO WALK (ERR… RUN), HE WOULD PROBABLY RATHER FLY. HE’S ALSO QUICK TO LAUGH, QUICK TO MISCHIEF AND GET INTO THINGS, QUICK TO BE WITH MOM OR DAD, AND QUICK TO PLAY WITH SOREN AND ELLA. THE ONLY THING JONAS IS NOT QUICK TO DO… IS GOING TO SLEEP. HERE’S TO NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS!

The Petersons188 Camden Pl. Strathmore, AB T1P 1Y2Glenn’s Phone: (403) 934-7638 Bekah’s Phone: (403) 324-4663