Christmas Letter

We brought back our Christmas letter, I have always loved the letters that Kip writes. I am so thankful that he took the time to write one this year.

Merry Christmas. Sorry it’s been a few years since we’ve done one of these, but here we go.

As most of you know, in late June, a wildfire in Waldo Canyon destroyed several homes in Colorado Springs. During that time, we experienced an emotional roller coaster ride that we could never have imagined.

Early on June 26, Kip sent the following email to his family members.
Tuesday, June 26, 6:48am
“We’re fine. It’s a couple miles away but it would take something apocalyptic for it to make it to our house. I’m more concerned for the folks who are right on the edge.”

Later that day something ‘apocalyptic’ did happen.

Around 4pm we looked out the window and, during a break in the haze, saw the flames top the ridge across the street. Sirens started sounding from every direction and the roads became gridlocked as people starting fleeing. We filled our cars with as much as we could, considering our belongings included 3 dogs, 2 ferrets, and one cat.

We evacuated and eventually made it to our friends’ home later that night.

We were without Hayden who had been at a friend’s home since the previous day. Shortly after midnight he called us. This boy had watched from across town as the flames rushed down on his neighborhood. He put up a brave front all day, but that was over. He needed to come “home.” We drove to pick him up and around 1am on the 27th we were finally all back together. We were blessed enough to be staying in a spacious home with enough rooms and beds for all, but on that first night we all slept together on the living room floor.

Late that first night we feared for the loss of our home, Nicole’s (Kim’s sister), home and Kim’s parent’s home. Early the following morning we heard from an eyewitness that they saw Kim’s sister’s home burning and we reluctantly broke the news to her. Given the proximity of Kim’s parent’s home to the worst parts of the fire, we were certain their home was gone as well.

However, throughout the day, as information started to flow in, it was one bit of good news after another. We have friends in both the CSPD and with the Volunteer Fire Dept. and both confirmed that as of the previous night our home was fine. We were happy that at least one of the three homes in the family would be there when we all returned, even if we would be a bit cramped. Later, initial thermal images were released and it appeared that the fire stopped just short of the other homes in our family as well (within feet in both cases). Finally, aerial camera shots confirmed that all were still standing.

One strange thing about this whole experience is the small amount of time it took to process potentially losing our home. Late that first night, once Hayden was back with us, we realized all was well. Sure, it’s easy to say since we didn’t end up losing our home and we don’t want to diminish the pain inflicted on hundreds that night who did. But we had what we needed. And as far as stuff goes, we have too much anyway. We would rebuild, but rebuild better and smarter. That night, as we were getting sleepier and starting to drift off, at this point still pretty sure that our home may be gone Gillian looked up and said, “Can I get a new bed?” We just laughed and said, “Yep.”

Three days later, we went home.

After a number of years of marriage we find ourselves making decisions that we would have laughed at years ago. One of those decisions this year was taking a short Anniversary vacation to Breckenridge… WITH our kids. Our family has simple pleasures and one of them is heading to the hills so it seemed a shame to not bring everyone along. Our children are incredible traveling companions and it was a very memorable trip. We had great time simply eating good food, taking our kids on high altitude hikes, and then relaxing.

Kip started a new job in late summer. After spending the last couple of years working for a slow-moving corporation with a quarter million employees he thought it would be nice to try something a bit less bureaucratic. So, he took a job working for the U.S. Government. Yeah. Actually, he’s working as a defense contractor on some pretty fun stuff and he gets to do it from the “peace” and “quiet” of his own home. So far we love it and Kim is handling him being at home all the time as well as can be expected… all things considered.

This summer we were finally able to do something we hadn’t gotten around to yet… horseback riding. The entire family was thrilled. Most of the family was thrilled. Half of the family was thrilled. We spent a few days in Pagosa Springs with friends and did an extended trail ride as a family. It was beautiful and not too painful. All of the children but Gillian were boys, but in this particular group Gillian becomes an honorary boy. All of this to say, do you have any idea how funny horse farts and horse poop are?

With Kip working at home, we’ve rediscovered the fantastic park across from our home and walk/hike almost daily. It’s not huge, but it’s big enough that we can see new things almost every time we go. It’s been a blessing to just walk, talk and reconnect while the kids are at school. The kids love the park as much as we do and with all the hiking we are doing, we are looking forward to getting the kids to the top of a couple 14’ers next summer.

School is going well for both kids. Gillian is in third grade and has an absolutely wonderful teacher this year. Hayden is in fifth, but looks like he could be a sophomore in High School. We’re not kidding. He is taller than almost all of his classmates and many of the teachers. We are very pleased with the friends Hayden and Gillian have chosen at school, such a neat group of kids from wonderful families. I can’t say enough how blessed we are that our children go to such an amazing school.

Gillian had a great year with ballet and had some wonderful opportunities to grow this Fall/Winter. She auditioned for a production of the Nutcracker and ended up dancing several parts. What a fabulous experience it was for her. We have seen more of a desire from her to get more serious about her dancing. Dancing with the older girls in the production has really inspired her and given her lots to work toward. There is something about watching your daughter mature as a dancer and see God’s gifts in her as she glows and truly looks like she is loving every minute of it.

For better or worse, Hayden is a chip off the old block and is a computer wiz (actually he’s an anything-technical wiz). He loves film making and has had the opportunity to create several films with his friends along with dozens of videos on his own. We’ve gotten to the point where when we get a new lens or any other piece of photography equipment for ourselves, we just hand it over to him since we know he’s eventually going to swipe it anyway. And to be fair, he’s probably got more talent anyway. His favorite class in school is no surprise, computer class. He has impressed his teacher with his typing score. Our boy types 97 wpm with 100% accuracy.

Kim continues to do more work for less pay than one would have believed possible. We have a very incredible school with a tremendous amount of parental involvement and involved she is. She heads in to each successive year determined to take it easy but she also heads in to each successive year with a diminished ability to say “no.” The children, their teachers, and their school are enormously blessed as a result.

Last year for Christmas, Gillian talked us into getting her a couple of ferrets. We were very hesitant, but since she promised to take good care of them and always clean the cage (pause here for extended laughter) we acquiesced. It ended up being a wonderful decision. They are a hoot. You can just turn them lose, sit back, watch and laugh. They are so fun. Unfortunately, Lizzy, who was not doing so well heading into November died on Thanksgiving Day. That was hard for all of us, but especially Gillian.

Number 452 on the list of things we said we’d never do.
We got a cat. He’s cool. We apologize to everything we’ve ever said about cat owners. We get it now.

That’s it, more or less. It’s been a crazy year and we’re all standing and very blessed at the end of it. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas