2007 Year in Review

Dear Friends and Family, January 3, 2008

Happy New Year! I hope this letter finds you all doing well and filled with excitement for this New Year. So far we’ve had no trouble moving into 2008, but I’m guessing it is only because 2007 was so full of transition for us that it comes as a welcome ending to one crazy year. Don’t get me wrong, 2007 was a year rich with friends, family, surprises, and even some travel, but we have to admit we are ready and excited for the new adventures of 2008.

Here’s a quick run-down of our jam packed past year. For January we had the pleasure of an extended visit by Neile’s folks (perhaps not so pleasurable for his mom as it was due to her broken ribs that they “were able” to stay so long). During this time Nicole was just beginning to study for her comprehensive exams that happened mid-February. Boy are we both glad that is over! The day after her exams we flew out to South Dakota to pursue a possible job. While nothing ever came of this job we did get our first taste of house hunting and also began to open our minds (and hearts) to the possibility of leaving the community we had grown to love in Wheaton.

That trip took us right into March where we celebrated our 1st anniversary as a married couple! After a quick celebration Nicole got back to studying for her April oral exams and attempted to start working on her final paper. All the while Neile continued to keep himself busy volunteering at church and fundraising.

May was our busiest month by far. Neile’s folks flew in for Nicole’s graduation where she officially became the proud owner of a M.A. in Educational Ministries with a certificate in Outdoor ministry. A week after that, Neile had his last day with LeaderTreks and began the process of packing up our first home while Nicole finished up her last few days in the Geology department at Wheaton College. While neither of us had permanent jobs waiting for us we both were convinced God was directing us towards something else. So we packed our stuff into storage and headed off to the Black Hills of South Dakota! There we had the pleasure of cooking and serving students taking part in Wheaton College’s science camp (Nicole went there in undergrad). This past summer was an amazing time of rejuvenation and simplification (no TV, limited internet, limited phone) from an overly busy school year. Neile took on the job of being head cook for camp as well as the additional task of searching and applying for a full-time job. Praise the Lord his hard work and efforts paid off as he was offered a great job offer our 2nd to last week at camp! Neile was to start as the Computing Support Specialist for the Science Division of Wheaton College mid-August...but not before we squeezed in a little weeklong road trip out west to Yellowstone with a few other stops on the way!

And that brings us to September, where we moved in with Nicole’s folks in Wheaton while Neile started his job and we began to look for a new home to buy. Nicole also began her new job at a local health club. We were able to find a great deal on a townhouse in Wheaton and moved in mid-October! Needless to say we were (and still are) beyond excited. We quickly set to work painting and getting our stuff settled so that we would be ready to host Thanksgiving at our new place for all of Neile’s immediate family. What a joy that was to have them all here in our new home. After all the crazy, December ended up being a month of rest. We spent Christmas with Nicole’s family in town and did a lot of nothing (aside from Christmas parties and socializing of course!). And now we find ourselves in 2008 feeling pretty well rested wondering when the next adventure will begin – hopefully not for at least a few months! ;) We have so loved and appreciated your notes this past year and hope you keep them coming. God bless you as you too take on the many adventures that the Lord sends your way.

Blessings,
Neile and Nicole