Dearest Family and Friends,
We are overjoyed to reflect on another year of God’s wonderful blessings in our family’s life. It has been a year of trusting our Great God through the big and little circumstances. Proverbs 3:5,6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” We saw that as we rented out our home in January and moved in with Gramma and Papa (Amber’s parents) in hopes of buying another house. We were unsure of what would happen, but we trusted in God’s direction. We were also able to apply Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” With Chris’ job as a Realtor, we are reminded that, though God has given him great skills, passion and drive at his job, it is not providing the income it has in the past. At the same time, it is not Chris’ ability, the housing market or even his boss that provides for us; it is the LORD who provides and is the One in whom we place our trust.
In addition to growing in trust, we have been blessed by so many other things. We have been fortunate enough to take two family trips to California. We visited in the spring and went back to Disneyland in the Fall. We are so thankful for friends and family! We reconnected with family we have not seen in years and even met new family members for the first time. It was a sweet visit where so many memories were made. We celebrated the births of friends’ healthy babies. To top it off, we were able (with the help of family) to buy the house in Beaverton that we were hoping for. It is in a great neighborhood, near our church, and has plenty of room for guests.
Chris is gratefully employed at Arbor Custom Homes. This year, he has started selling in a new neighborhood with a wonderful partner, Taya. He loves the community he sells, and loves the people moving into the community even better. He has recently started doing some photography for his company. He worked as a photographer in a studio for many years in California and is excited to venture back into his artistic side. Chris has really enjoyed being part of the Stubblefield’s Bible study on Wednesday night and loves digging into the Word. He is able to serve along side Amber in the Sunday School with the kiddos. This busy guy also always makes time for flag football. He brings his playbook and tries to win without getting injured (because it is easier to hurt things when you are in your 30s). His favorite things are dance parties with the kids, coming home to a full house, weekends with the family and keeping a neatly mowed front lawn.
Amber is still fortunate enough to stay at home with the kids. Having a 4 and 2-year-old keeps her very busy! She loves to take them all over the place and put tons of miles on the van and the stroller. Because of her, the kids enjoy the zoo, beach, museums, farms, parks, city, trains, and various places to hike. She tires them out as much as they tire her out. She has become a fantastic baker, able to modify recipes for Daddy’s and Isaac’s allergy restrictions while making it still taste good. She is leading a small group for Ladies’ Bible Study this year. She also helps in the nursery, volunteers to clean the nursery toys/laundry and attends monthly mom’s groups. Somehow, she will squeeze in leading a preschool co-op with a friend while still taking the kids to and from classes through parks and rec. This year, she has especially appreciated books and videos from the library, free summer events, the rare occasions of uninterrupted showers, the beauty of the NW and dates with Daddy (thanks to the grandparents).
Isaac is 4 going on 40. Maybe 40 is an exaggeration, but he is very mature for his age. He is a planner and a talker. You always know what he is thinking because he is almost always saying it. He has planned his wife (Aubree, who is his best friend’s baby sister…so his best buddy will be “family”), his dog (a Chihuahua named Chowder Steam Train Korenthal), his home (the neighbor’s house he’ll buy so he can live next to us) and the G-gauge garden railroad he plans to build in his yard. He has grown in bravery this year. He wants to do “big guy” stuff (like getting a flashlight and venturing into the crawlspace under the house) with Daddy and even started to swim. Our previously fearful guy has taken on Splash Mountain, Grizzly Rapids, Big Thunder Mountain and the Haunted House. In his fear on the Haunted House ride, he told Abigail, “It’s okay because it’s just music and decorations. It’s pretend, and God is always with us.” He loves people and invites the neighbor kids into our home all the time. He has also become very interested in illustrating, which Mommy really appreciates. He has touched our heart with many of his prayers. When Mommy hurt her ankle, he prayed, “Dear Jesus, thank You that You are able to heal Mommy’s foot. Thank You, also, for being able to heal us and forgive us of our sin.”
Abigail is 2 and all girl. She plays with her brother, but she is a total princess. She loves princesses, dress up clothes, and shoes. She even started a trend at Sunday School where the little girls try on each other’s shoes. She goes by “Abigail” and will correct those who call her Abby. She loves music so much. When a song starts to play that she likes, her shoulder will start to bob. Before you know it, she busts out her big dance moves. She creates her own songs too. She will compose a song with lyrics about what we are doing that day, how she is cleaning up or the color of her shirt. She easily memorizes songs she hears once (right at this very moment she’s singing, “It’s a jolly holiday with Mary…” from Mary Poppins). She has also memorized her first Bible verse, “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Eph 6:1. She is very hands on. She loves to explore everything with touch. She opens all cabinets and even opens the little doors on cars’ where you fill the gas. She loves to snuggle, take naps with Gramma, suck her thumb, wear purple, hold her bear, play with her friend Kayla, drink Rice Dream and say, “I don’t know.”
As we look back, we cannot thank God more! He has been so gracious to us, and we know that this life is a gift from Him. More than the gifts received this year, we thank Him for His death on the cross that paid the penalty for our sins. Psalm 13:5-6 expresses our hearts perfectly. “But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. I will sing to the LORD for He has been good to me.”
Wishing you a joyous Christmas and a fruitful 2011! XOXO The Korenthal Family
Abigail with Kayla dressing up (the truck driver and the princess), sometime the same recipe done gluten-free does not work out the same (the ones in the picture are both baked/done...the GF ones went flat), the kids up front at Christmas Eve service at church (chomping on their gum), lights on their beds, the Dogs Rule CD book that blasts on the CD player (with the kids dancing and shouting), first hot chocolates (they really don't like them much), and (last but not least) a picture my cousin Carlos emailed of us as kids cutting down a tree.
