Now that we're all feeling sorry for leaving our fireplaces burning on Christmas Eve (sorry, Santa!), let's get to why you really came here: to read our "Christmas letter"! Or you were bored and decided to type in the URL on our Christmas card to see what happened. Either way, we're glad you're here!
When you received our Christmas card, you may have asked yourself, "Where in the world are the Brootens?" No? No everyone thinks in song lyrics? Well, just in case you are curious about our whereabouts...
1. Upper left: On a fabulously relaxing mini-family vacation in Lincoln City, OR! With's Dave's crazy schedule as a lawn care/landscaping business owner, we strategically plan our family trips in between his busy seasons. For our friends and family on the East Coast who may not know this, OR Coast weather is chilly, wet and windy no matter the time of year. Fabulous family time was
had by all as we walked and collected firewood along the beautifully soggy beach, explored the stunning wonders of God's creation in places like Devil's Punch Bowl, indulged in fresh seafood at new and old favorite restaurants, shopped the outlet stores, and cozied up at the fireside to watch movies together.
2. Lower right: Why go in order? That's no fun. On the same aforementioned Brooten family adventure, we drove down Brooten Road to bring the boys to the Brooten ancestral town of Pacific City, OR, revisiting our sordid family history tales of kelp ore and tuberculosis. If we're friends on Facebook, you already got to see the crazy videos of us wading through feet of sea foam and climbing then jumping back down the sand dune on the beach! We are so thankful to God for this treasured time.
3. Lower left: We were overdue for a trip to Pennsylvania to visit Grandma and Grandpa Hamm, but sadly, Dave couldn't get away long enough to join us for our Epic East Coast Adventure. Andrew (now 13) and Seth (now 11) get the unique opportunity to explore the East Coast when we visit the PA family -- so this year we decided to take a road trip in the Hamm family sedan (which we affectionately nicknamed "the Sardine can", or "Sardy" for short!) to Niagara Falls! As you can see, they now offer family-sized barrel rides over the falls. While Grandma and I found the experience quite terrifying, the boys and Grandpa impressed all the onlookers with their bravery and cool, calm demeanor in the face of such peril.
4. Upper right: Stop #2 on the EECA (I've spent so much time in the medical profession I can't help but make up acronyms): the Jersey shore! I was unable to resist Andrew's request to visit that nice, warm ocean over there with its warm, soft sand and warm, sunny skies (did I mention that it's WARM?). Highlights included Andrew and Seth parasailing for the first time, Andrew's surrey driving causing symptomatic motion sickness in a fellow surrey rider (it was me: I shared a moment with a trash can on the boardwalk), old school games on the boardwalk, and warm, relaxing sun bathing on the Wildwood beach.
5. Before you go dig out our Christmas card to look for this 5th picture (no, it's not on the back!), there isn't one! The majority of our 2017 was spent in the places we love and call home in Spokane, WA, so our beloved city deserves an honorable mention. Dave spends his days at clients' homes and businesses all around Spokane; I (Kristy) spend my days caring for patients, working with new and student nurses and leading some team building activities at the hospital; Andrew and Seth can be found at their middle and elementary schools, respectively. Both play brass in school band. You will find Andrew on the rugby field and Seth on a nearby football field. We all love spending time with our church family, enjoying the friendships built at our Life Group and youth group and through serving alongside some amazing humans in women's ministry, deacons, new building committee, and Vacation Bible School. God has grown us all so much in our relationships with Him, each other and others through our beloved church family and through the challenges we have faced together this year. We truly are blessed. Our humble little plot of grass on the Pend Oreille River has become our "happy place" of rest, relaxation, recreation and retreat. What a joy to share this space with friends and family! And now with the glorious snow upon us, it is time to retreat to the mountain, snowboards in hand.
5. Before you go dig out our Christmas card to look for this 5th picture (no, it's not on the back!), there isn't one! The majority of our 2017 was spent in the places we love and call home in Spokane, WA, so our beloved city deserves an honorable mention. Dave spends his days at clients' homes and businesses all around Spokane; I (Kristy) spend my days caring for patients, working with new and student nurses and leading some team building activities at the hospital; Andrew and Seth can be found at their middle and elementary schools, respectively. Both play brass in school band. You will find Andrew on the rugby field and Seth on a nearby football field. We all love spending time with our church family, enjoying the friendships built at our Life Group and youth group and through serving alongside some amazing humans in women's ministry, deacons, new building committee, and Vacation Bible School. God has grown us all so much in our relationships with Him, each other and others through our beloved church family and through the challenges we have faced together this year. We truly are blessed. Our humble little plot of grass on the Pend Oreille River has become our "happy place" of rest, relaxation, recreation and retreat. What a joy to share this space with friends and family! And now with the glorious snow upon us, it is time to retreat to the mountain, snowboards in hand.
So tell us...where in the world have YOU been this year?
.jpg)
