“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” -Charles Dickens

Well you may have wondered if we are still among the living and the answer is yes. Yes. We are. I’m listening in to Winton’s Youth Christmas program and I just never get tired of all the Christmas songs and the joy that everyone seems to shine with at this time of year. And what a year this has been. I told Morgan that it really just seems like it has been a year of growth (some of it has been forced growth because some of it has been stuff I’d rather just not deal with:) I remind myself every single day that God knows it all and He must have a bigger plan than we can see. We have had happy touches through each and every month and I look back on those memories with gratefulness.

We have been here in Michigan since September, probably since I last wrote here! Morgan is teaching 12 students in Grades 7 & 8 in a dark green classroom with lots of plants and a beautiful mountain painting I thrifted for $4.00. He has extraordinary co-teachers and school board and we feel very lucky. The year has gone well so far but Morgan is glad to be on Christmas break:) weird that a teacher would feel that way right? haha. Morgan bought a Yamaha TW200 motorbike (if that means anything to anyone) so he rides it the 10 minute drive to school every day, rain or shine. Friday evening was a “walk to Bethlehem” given by the 61 Michigan school children. The teachers were together a few times in November at our place and Tucker’s to make plans which was fun in itself, and the whole evening turned out great Friday. Four guides took 330 people through the walk over 2.5 hours so it was a success!

I feel like our house is adorable. We are currently renting from Uncle Jeff’s as it’s where they used to live. It’s across the road from Grandpa Pete’s home place where Uncle Jeff’s now abide and we like living across the road from family and a pantry that we have used as a store several times. The house is a nice green color with white trim and lots of lawn and trees around it and even a swing set. It’s a normal “Michigan farmhouse” with lots of wood trim, small rooms, and hardwood floors that creak. I have our stockings hung in the window so we can see them when we drive in. My nativity from dear Grandma Jul is set up in the dining room which is special and sad all at once, and my nativity from Mozambique is sitting in the living room corner where I see it every day. When my nephew Max comes over he stands in front of it and sings about the “little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay” and it is the purest thing you will ever hear. I can look out my kitchen window and see Morgan coming down the country road in the evenings and it makes me happy to be in a house for a change.

No, we are not living in the bus right now, obviously. And also no, we have not sold it. Right now it’s parked by a little barn on our yard in a nice spot and it’s winterized for the season. We talked about taking it out Christmas caroling but didn’t think of it in time so maybe next year:) We do miss living in the bus though. I dislike how quickly we accumulate useless stuff so I plan to go through things in January and reorganize because it feels cluttery to me. We moved all our stuff into the house from the bus so going into the bus feels very empty now. I hope we can AirBnB it starting in the spring but we’ll see.

We are absolutely loving living close to my sister Madison, and my brother Dillon&Renae and their boys Max (3) and Brett (1). We have never lived by my family like this and it has been such fun for us when we can babysit the boys and have them around the house with us. Madison got announced to be married to Nathan Ziegler from Altona, Manitoba in February. We are so excited but I’m a little sad that our little time together here in Michigan will come to a close. It is just so clear to us that we were supposed to be here this year for this time and I’m thankful we are able to. The next couple months will be full. Mom plans to come abit before and stay after the wedding and we’re excited because Morgan and I were gone when she was here over Thanksgiving.

I have just been at home this fall. I’ve spent a little time at school for hot lunches and birthdays and other fun stuff but mostly I just let Morgan have his space there unless he needs help. We are continuing to doctor for infertility which affects me more than I’d like to admit. It’s been difficult to get a job that can work around appointments so I’m trying to be contented with a slower season of life while we are in this stage. We sometimes feel quite alone and ill-equipped to deal with this infertility journey. I am realizing more and more how many kinds of grief there are and so many are not death-related but rather just a loss of something that’s gone or you’ve never even had. It’s easy for me to get bogged down with figuring out appointments and medications and finances and trusting that God knows our path. Please pray for us.

Some happy things from September to December:

1. Carlos&Jodi and family messaged one day last week on their way home from the mission in Newfoundland (headed home to Enderby) and wanted to stop for coffee! Well obviously we are selfish and wanted more time with them so they ended up at our house and we got a supper, a night, and a breakfast with them. It was such a boost for us to see them and visit and it just felt like we had never not been with them and that’s the best kind of friends.
2. We flew to Calgary on our Thanksgiving break and promptly drove to Enderby where we spent 2.5 jam-packed days staying at Lance&Tasha’s and visiting as many of our people as we could fit in. Morgan spent time on the ranch riding horse and I coffee’d with friends. Then we drove out to Linden where Ches&Erinne got married. We got to stay in Kels&Jordyne’s digs and it was lovely, 10/10 would recommend for love, comfort, good sleep, coffee. Zac&Cecily&Eloise enjoyed our company immensely a few times. and Courtney made these insane sourdough cinnamon rolls for breaky one morning for us. I think Mitchell did stuff too. Made coffee maybe. Like overall we went home with full hearts and those people seem to like us and you can just feel it and that is also the best kind of friends. Grandpa Gary and Grandma Cathy drove to Calgary and we got to spend Sunday afternoon and evening together. We were so glad to see them and catch up and be together for a few hours.
3. Renae, Max, Brett, and I drove out to Kansas together for a week. Renae helped her Mom with projects and I spent time with Mom on her school meeting break. We babysat Max and Brett one day so we took them to the Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Wichita. Max loved it and he still talks about feeding the giraffes and holding the “wemurs” (lemurs). Mom and I talked and ate out and shopped. It was great.
4. Dillon’s, Madison, and us spent several weekends away on Lake Michigan making the most of Michigan summertime. The guys kayaked and fished for hours and we swam and relaxed and ate pizza. We all shared a hotel room one weekend because nobody wanted to spend money so it was hilarious and cozy and Madison was mad she had to sleep on the floor.
5. Morgan had the privilege thanks to his friend Taylor of spending a week down in Mexico working on projects at an orphanage that Good News Foundation helps with. Dad Kevin was very involved with the Good News Foundation so it was special for Morgan to be able to go volunteer some time and give back. I’m guessing there will be more in the future because we want to be able to give as willingly and serve even half as much as Dad Kevin did. We miss him so much every single day.
6. Due to Conference Care Meeting and the Eastern district school meeting being held at 2/3 congregations here in Michigan, we had the privilege of keeping company at our house! Living in the bus didn’t give us the option to keep overnight guests and we have loved being able to. We kept Jon&Holly, Winton people, over one meeting, and Morgan’s 1st cousin Mitch&Jana over the other which resulted in heart-to-heart conversations and good times.
7. We were so excited to have Mom Yolanda come and stay with us for a couple days in November. Then the three of us drove down to Goshen, Indiana, for Morgans 1st cousin Sean’s wedding to Hannah. We had a happy time with Mom Yolanda, Grandpas, cousins, and the uncles and aunties all staying in an AirBnB together for several days. I feel like every family needs to do that at least once, if not more, because it certainly makes for some hilarious moments and memories.

There are many little moments in between that were lovely. We are planning to go to California for a week over Christmas, and the rest of the break we will just be holed up in our cozy house in Michigan, probably playing Crokinole or Rook On Rook Off, and drinking coffee if you feel like stopping in. I wish I could hear your triumphs and struggles as easily as I write mine here. Some of you share with me and I’m so thankful to be a little vessel that can listen and pray because would we have made it through this year without the prayers of others? I don’t think I would have. Wishing you a lovely little Christmas with those you hold dear.

xoxo chey&morgan