Strandberg Christmas Newsletter 2008

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Hello and hallelujah!! It is only a week away from Christmas and we are just beginning to write our yearly 2008 Strandberg Christmas Newsletter!

2008 has been an extremely eventful and transitional year. We have walked through many challenges and changes together and have hopefully safely made it out the other end…. There is a saying on a plaque that is mounted on our china cabinet regarding “Change.”

It says “A bend in the road is not the end of the road… unless you fail to make the turn.” Our journey this year took us through some major “Osoyoos Type Switchbacks,” but we made it home safe and sound – Praise God!!

The year at a glance….

January started out fairly normal. Deana was in Grade 9 (now in grade 10) at G.P. Vanier, and Mikayla finished Grade 7 at Comox Valley Christian School and is now in Grade 8. I (Debbie) was still working as support staff at Arden Elementary School, and from March to June, I also took on a position at Classic Printers as their Graphic Artist. My roll as President for Comox Valley Aglow has significantly subsided and I have just finished my four year term as Secretary on Comox Valley Christian Education Society Board of Directors.

We attend Northgate Foursquare Church here in Courtenay and the girls have enjoyed spending time in Northgate’s THRIVE Youth Group.

The girls (now both teenagers…yikes!!) are growing up fast and exploring new territory. They are both budding into independent, thinking, young adults. This, of course, comes with a few bumps and tears along the way, but all-in-all they continue to show hearts of love and compassion for the people around them. They are finding their voices and their way through peer pressure, school transitions, teenage relationships, family changes, and life changes in general… I spend much time in prayer, of course!!

Special Memories from the girls...

A Message from Mikayla....

So this year was pretty awesome. Made some great friends, and ‘bonded’ with my family (trip to the cabin) hahaha. It had its downs, but none as memorable as its ups.

I think I’m going to remember 2008 as the year that taught me most, about friendships, family and just life in general. It was a very memorable year.

I’ve changed a lot over the past year. And for now, I’m going to enjoy the rest of my teenage years!

Have a good 2009 everybody! I love you all! ~! ^KaylaXoXoX^!

Now Deana... is attending Grade 10 at G.P. Vanier - The Next Generation.... It’s a flash from the past – Debbie and Mike, (mom and dad) both attended as well as Deana's uncles Lloyd, D’Arcy & Brad! Vanier just celebrated its 40^th Anniversary this year and we can all say we had a part in Vanier’s history!

Deana has been focusing on school and ended up getting 89.5 % in Science "A" Yeah! (Maybe now we will consider letting her try for her Driver’s License in 2009… Please Pray!!?!!). She is also in the process of putting out part-time job applications around town.

Both girls attended the Thrive / Outloud Youth All-nighter with ~150 other teens. Deana stayed long enough for the swimming at the pool, while Mikayla participated through the whole night with Swimming, Games, Food, and just “Hanging out”!!! Mayflower (Worship band out of Victoria) was there as well as Jason Ballard, a dynamic gifted young adult who speaks all over the world! Mikayla did avoid the Annual Polar Bear Swim though - I wonder why?? :D

And Debbie...

A couple of very special memories that I have this year brought a true revelation of God’s faithfulness and presence in the fire. Our car had lost its transmission and we ended up stranded in the Kootenays for 6 weeks (I know, if you have to be stranded this was the place to do it, at the cabin with our family!!)

However, it happened to be at the same time that the Fort Steel Forest Fire was ablaze… only 15 kms away. We had been told to be ready to leave if the Fire Marshall gave the call. I am sure that we could have all piled into Grandma and Grandpa’s truck, but without our car, it would definitely have been tight! Fortunately, at the last minute, the wind shifted, the fire turned, and we were all safe! Praise God!

There was also a time when I had started to feel sorry for myself (even in that beautiful setting surrounded by family). It was a rainy day with just a touch of the sun. It was the kind of a day that you would expect to see a rainbow, but I was thoroughly disgusted that there was not a rainbow to be found! I had at least hoped to find some promise in these trials we had been going through, but NO, the promise wasn’t visible in the sky that day.

Fortunately, God has sense of humour and He is always faithful. The next day He gave me a double rainbow!! It was beautiful, and I grabbed hold of it as a double promise of my own!

(For the full story check out my "Summer Journey"
Blog from September)

2008 Wrap Up

The last few weeks of 2008 have been busy. We were at the Northgate Christmas Tree Decorating evening to hang our “Rainbow Fire” ornament and watch Mikayla sing “Silent Night”... Then the next week she also got the chance to perform in the Grade 6-10 Choir at the CVCS Christmas Pageant (By the way, very well done everyone!)... The Youth all-nighter as mentioned earlier... The CVCS kids have also spent the last three Fridays at the skating rink which has made for some interesting antics!

I had a bit of extra work as support staff at Vanier for the last two weeks (God does provide!) and I was also able to help at the Northgate Soup and Sandwich Christmas Luncheon by praying with people in need on a cold winter’s day!

The plans this week may have to change a bit because of the snow (It is still coming down!) but for now, it looks like the girls will be with me and the “G-Rents” (as Kayla calls them) for Christmas Eve and with their Dad on Christmas Day. Lloyd and his family are in Florida right now (and rubbing it in too!) and D’Arcy and his crew will be on the mainland. I think Brad is staying in the area, so we will still get to visit with them.

Well, we wish you all a Merry Christmas & the Best New Year Ever!
God bless!
Debbie, Deana, and Mikayla!

By the way... Our favourite Christmas Joke!

Three Wise Women

You do know what would have happened if it had been
three wise WOMEN instead of men, don't you?

They would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought disposable diapers as gifts!

Author Unknown