Christmas Letter 2008

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
What a fast year 2008 has been!! Has it gone as fast for you as it has for us? We pray that this letter finds you all in good health and happiness!
Last year was the first year that the boys were not homeschooled and it went well. They seemed to enjoy it…and they enjoyed it enough that they went back this year! They are in a different school though, since the move. It is only a few blocks from our house, so we spent the fall walking to and from school. That was GREAT! I can’t wait until the weather warms up again so we can start that twice a day exercise again! I have been having a little trouble getting my “Major” baby weight off! J
Cam is 9 and has been busy with Piano lessons, Violin lessons and hockey. He really enjoys the violin…not so much the piano. Jake is 7 and has been busy with piano also and hockey. He played baseball this summer as well and really enjoyed that. Both boys are EXCELLENT hockey players. It amazes me to see how graceful they are on the ice! In fact Jake was honored as Maverick of the Night this past November! He got to be introduced at a UNO Maverick hockey game at the Qwest Center here in Omaha. He stood out with the team while they were introduced and he got to drop the first puck of the game! That was exciting for him. Cam did that a couple years ago, so Jake worked hard to get that opportunity as well! MaKenna is 4 now. She also is at the rink taking figure skating lessons. With hockey 3 nights a week, games on Saturdays, and her figure skating once a week, the ice rink is like our second home! I homeschool MaKenna in pre-school. She really enjoys it, when it is kept brief. She just can’t sit still! Must be the age! J She is my little Princess! Major just turned 1 and is ALL over the place walking! He has such a personality. He is a very happy baby almost always.
I stay busy as the Childcare Coordinator at my church for Tuesday morning bible study, and also as the Finance person for my Mothers Of Preschoolers group at church. I also am home room mom for Cam’s class this year and MaKenna, Major and I help out in the school library once a week. Apparently I love to be at school, or so the teachers say! I have also started teaching Piano lessons…so if you know of anyone… J Jeff and I still have our ministry, Youth of Ukraine. You can check out our website at its new home, www.youthofukraine.blogspot.com. As if that isn’t enough, I also keep everyone updated at our new family website, www.nebraskafillemans.blogspot.com.
Jeff is still working at TDAmeritrade. They treat him well. He has kept busy with coaching hockey and hunting. He goes out hunting QUITE often, but he enjoys it. He has gotten two deer so far this year! He coaches BOTH boys in hockey. They are on different teams this year, Cam is a Squirt and Jake is still a Mite. THAT is one big reason we are at the rink all the time…different teams.
My mom is doing well. Sadly, we found out that her cancer has spread to her liver, bones and brain. She was hospitalized twice this summer for infections, when they found it in her brain. They did a Gamma Knife Surgery to take care of it, and so far so good. She is on a new chemo that makes her very tired. Please keep her in your prayers. With God ALL things are possible! You can keep up with her progress at www.carepages.com. Just put her name in, Suzanne Stutzman.
We have taken a lot of vacations this year. In January we went to Des Moines and Kansas City for hockey tournaments. In June we went to Arizona for Jeff’s sister, Holly’s wedding. In July we went to Storm Lake, IA to an indoor/outdoor waterpark with my mom, dad, my sister Rhonda and her family. In September we went to Des Moines, IA to Adventureland with all of the above also. Then in November over Thanksgiving, the SAME group of us went to Orlando to Disneyworld, Sea World and Cocoa Beach! That was a HUGE highlight of the year for EVERYONE involved. For a lot of the kids it was their first time on a plane, and for ALL of us, it was the first time in Florida (other than stop overs in airports). We all had a fantastic time! You can also view our pictures in a slide show on our family website listed above. We took one day/night at Disneyworld, one day/evening at Cocoa Beach, and 1 full day and the part of another day at Sea World. It was a challenge getting 13 people to and from everywhere, but we managed! We made some incredible memories! Mom is already trying to plan our NEXT trip! I am still tired out from this last one! One thing is for sure, the chemo may be making her fatigued, but she STILL has more energy than I do! J
We pray that your Christmas and New Year are fabulous! We are so thankful for YOU, for friends and family! Christmas is such a special time to remember all of our loved ones as we also remember the Babe that lay in a manager 2000+ years ago, that came to save us all from our sins.
Blessings, love, hugs and kisses to all of you!!
Jeff, Tonya, Cam, Jake, MaKenna and Major Filleman