Lake Family Adventures 2017

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     For me, 2017 has been a year of personal growth and outlined boundaries.  I have made a conscious decision to cut out unnecessary distractions and focus my time intently on being present in the lives of my family, while still allowing time for myself. I still wear multiple hats of responsibility: 7/8 Math Teacher, School ASB Director, Chair of CanClub Ministry, Girl Scout Leader, and most recent Science Olympiad Coach.  But the role of these responsibilities do not define me, and I have taken great lengths to create quality time with my beloved husband and children as well as digging deeper into the intricacies that create peace within my own psyche.  Kayaking and Bike rides serve as my stress release, two hobbies of which I have picked up more routinely this past year.  But,  checking off adventures still serves as my outlined highlights of the past year.
      In June Brandon and I took the kids, as well as my parents, to San Diego for a week where we were able to partake in the annual grunion run at midnight, play in Legoland for 3 days, visit Sea World, and trek into a desert safari to Salvation Mountain and Anza-Borrega State Park.
      In July we served COCC as the VBS coordinators again for the 7th year and took the community kids on a CAVEQuest where we taught them that Jesus is the Light who shines the way.  We also managed to squeeze in much needed beach camping at our new family favorite: Bodega Bay.
     In September, I participated in a trip of a lifetime and traveled to Cambodia with my cousin Jen.  We toured Angkor Wat by tuktuk and elephant rides, sailed over the Tonle Sap into the floating villages, hiked through banana Jungles in The Pailin Province, shopped in Battambang, and sat through torrential rain to watch the nightly bat migration.  It was seriously a trip of a lifetime.  But more than the adventures, my heart was stirred to reinstate the much needed quiet time with our Lord on a daily basis.  Therefore, upon returning home, I ripped out my garden and built a fire pit in the backyard to serve as a relaxation center on days that I need to refocus my priorities.
     In October, Brandon and I took the kids on a river float down the Mokelumne, picked up our fishing poles for the occasional dusk evening, and enjoyed our annual tradition of pumpkin patches and carving with the Davis Clan.
     In November, we spent a weekend playing in the snow near Lake Tahoe with Ommie and Papa.  Over Thanksgiving break, we took a trip to Cannon Beach to visit my cousins, The Henry's, and had a marvelous time pent up in our tiny $20/night cabin playing board games through the coastal rainstorm, and ventured out with each peek of potential sun to surface Haystack rock, and Sandy Shores Trail.
     This brings us to December, the time of year I slow down, and take in the home life near the glistening tree, wrapping presents by our fireplace.

     For Brandon, 2017 has been a challenging year as he is adjusting to a slower lifestyle than he prefers. His degenerative ankle is breaking down leaving him more disabled than he refuses to feel.  He gets around with the use of his wheelchair and knee walker around the house, limiting his outdoor activities to family adventures.  He has continued woodworking and can be found tinkering in his workshop daily.  He strengthens his study in the word, and has been sucked into the culture phenomenon: Stranger things.
       Hannah has entered her 8th year with a strong start in third grade.  She can been found on her bed reading a book, babysitting her little cousin Maddie, singing into her karaoke machine, or roller skating about the neighborhood.  She has continued girl scouts, joined choir and science olympiad at school, and will be competing in the hot air balloon event early next year.  Her highlight of this past year is "bike riding along the canal with mom and catching the pet rabbits."
      Zechariah is 7 years old and in the second grade.  He excels in mathematics.  He joined the First TEE fall golf tour and enjoys building with dad, playing ball (wall ball, tetherball, baseball...) with his friends, pranking his sisters, or playing Minecraft.  His highlight this past year was "playing with his cousins in Cannon Beach."
       Tabitha is 5 years old and has won the award for our strong willed child.  Although it is also important to note that she has also stolen the title of most snuggly child as well (her temper and mood swings are fluid.) Tabitha has spent this year loosing 5 teeth, playing with her pet bunny, playing mine craft with brother, or drawing pictures at the table.  Tabby's highlight for this year was: "Riding on the dragon rollercoaster 8 times at Legoland."
     As you can see, 2017 was a fun filled adventure in the Lake house, and we look forward to seeing what 2018 brings us.  Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family, and we wish you a very Merry 2018 Year.