Christmas Letter/Year Summary 2009

Rowen Albertson Family Christmas Letter 2009

December: that time of year to figure out “What did we do with it?” and “How did it fly by so fast?” For us, 2009 included:

Rowen working at Carestream Health as their best (and only) microscopist on the plant site, painting the outside of the house with the help of the family, keeping cars and truck in running order, gardening, spending lots of his "free" time being a wonderful Treasurer for the Johnstown Historical Society.

Janet homeschooling in the 20th year, making three new quilts (!), sewing, training young people, succumbing to the need for bifocals.

Jeffrey finishing homeschooling his senior year, but electing not to “graduate” in favor of going on a TLC (Touching Lives for Christ out of Hobe Sound, FL) Mission Trip to Haiti in June; starting work at Johnstown ACE Hardware Store in August; going on another mission trip for two weeks in October/November to Ukraine.

Beth homeschooling now in her junior year; spending 3 ½ weeks with her cousin Shari’s family in Eure, NC in July/August helping with two preschoolers and 2 month old twins; cleaning weekly for the Chamber of Commerce; babysitting for a 2 year old little boy that we all love; cross stitching and crocheting, sewing when she has time; publishing God’s Girls’ Newsletter, now in its 6th year.

Jason homeschooling now in his sophomore year; passing up everybody in the family in height except for Dad and Randy; taking lessons and learning to play cello beautifully; refreshing listeners’ hearts by his devotional piano playing; working only in the neighborhood this summer rather than for the lawn company; shoveling snow this winter without Jeffrey being along; learning that vacuuming the house for Mother is one of his favorite chores!

Emily homeschooling now in her sixth grade; growing about four inches this year; having her prayers answered for a violin and taking lessons; finding out she has a natural ear and talent for playing violin; becoming a prolific writer of “chapter fiction stories” (not yet self-published, but headed that direction); helping out with cleaning the Chamber of Commerce office with her sister; doing a sewing project “almost all by herself”.

Our family has had the opportunity to help out with a children’s ministry in Federal Heights (north Denver) on Sunday evenings. We are enjoying getting acquainted with the children and challenging ourselves to remember the names and faces of forty some children who come from time to time. It is also a blessing to us to fellowship with Ben and Marlene Reynolds and family, and the other helpers who come up from Colorado Springs: Steve Cunningham, Tonya Sickler, and Judy Hunt.

Lately we have had the privilege of sharing Sunday morning worship with our friends, the Kaus family, coming over for Hobe Sound Bible Church online and spending part of the day and sharing a meal with us.

We gained a precious grandson to the family this year, when on January 26, Micah Rowen was born to Randy and Joy Albertson. Janet got to fly and spend a week with them to help out during that busy time. What a blessing that the children were able to do what needed to be done so that she could be gone without feeling like they were stranded!

As a family, we made three trips to MO: a fast trip over Mother’s Day weekend, a long trip in July (which included helping with the Joplin Vacation Bible School and celebrating Janet’s 30th high school reunion), and Thanksgiving, gathering with all the Scoles clan in Columbia, and then the weekend at Joplin.

In a few days, Randy, Joy, Quil (2 1/2), Micah (11 months), Tim, and Brenda are coming to spend Christmas week with us. We are excited especially because having just seen the little boys over Thanksgiving we are thinking they will remember that we “belong” to them. Quil knows us best from video-chatting online. We are his family in the computer! We are thankful for the technology to be connected though many miles apart!

God has been very good to us this year. We are trusting Christ, and Him alone, to keep us through the upcoming year and uncertain future. We are rejoicing in the sure knowledge of His first coming, His rule in our lives, and His soon return! Our prayer is that each of our friends and family know Him and be ready to meet Him when He calls or comes.

Have a Christ-filled Christmas season and blessed New Year!
The Johnstown Albertsons
Rowen, Janet, Jeffrey (18), Beth (16), Jason (14), and Emily (11)

James Aquila and Micah Rowen

We went to Joplin, MO for Thanksgiving and got to see my nephews, Quil and Micah.
They are growing up so fast and they are really sweet. Quil is now 2 and Micah is 10 months old.
They are coming here for Christmas. Here are some pictures of them.
Micah Rowen


Micah and Grandpa Albertson

James Aquila


I (Emily) really enjoyed playing and being with my nephews.

Brothers

So Sweet!

Aunt Beth reading to Quil

Quil

Christ Jesus is The Reason for the Christmas Season!

Twas the month before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away,

The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say

December 25th is just a 'Holiday'.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod

Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa

In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down

At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears

You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty

Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen

On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter..

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded

The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'

Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say...

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,

not Happy Holiday!

Please, all Christians join together and

wish everyone you meet

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christ is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season!
- Author Unknown -

A new picture of the Johnstown Albertsons

This picture was taken on Sunday, November 22, 2009 after church. We were happy to have two families worship with us twice this month!

The rest of "what we've been up to" in November will have to wait until after Christmas to be revealed, Christmas secrets, you know!

November bonfire with friends

On November 21, we were invited to join some friends for a bonfire, weiner roast, and devotion time in a farmer's field near LaSalle. It sounded like a fun thing to do, and we wanted to get together with the friends, so we did it. We arrived at 4 PM and the temperature was about 44 degrees. It was 34 when we went home at 8:30 PM.
Ephraim Cruz got a nice fire going. The Cruzes had brought hay bales to sit on and straw to cover some of the mud. After the nice snows we have been having in November, the field was pretty muddy, and there was still snow around.
Ephraim never donned a coat all evening, but the rest of us were not so brave!
Beth had a babysitting job and Jeff had to work until after 5 PM and came later, so they are not in this picture. (Rowen was taking the picture.)

It did get dark soon and very dark later!

We enjoyed our roasted 'dogs and marshmellows and the other salads and food that was available.

After everyone had eaten, we sang some songs and told some stories.

At the end, a new Christian burned two boxes of things she no longer wants in her life. She obeyed God and burned her bridges. I thought it was a lot like baptism--a testimony of a new life to be lived for God alone!

A short visit with friends

On November 13, a couple of Emily and Jason's friends, who now live in WY, were in Loveland for shopping. Because Emily and Amy were desperate to get together, we went shopping at the same exact moment and place, so they could see each other.

Amy and Emily talk almost every day. They play their violins to each other, and read their original stories to each other on the phone.

Daniel and Jason are techno-type friends, so Jason brought his new laptop to show Daniel. They chat a lot on line and learn and share their computer skills with each other.

November Homeschool field trip to LASP, Boulder, CO

We had so many J-M Homeschoolers at the November field trip that we were divided up into 4 groups. This is the group that had our camera in tow, in the machining room. I thought with all of us wearing safety goggles that maybe the innocent would be protected!

A couple of pictures of Jeffrey and Harrison visiting after the field trip. Harrison thinks Jeffrey is pretty nice.

Janet and Beth visiting with Kelly, Quinten, and LeAnna in the stroller.

How we learn colors around here

Since Randy was a little boy, and that was a long time ago, I have had hair fasteners in the bathroom drawer. We have sometimes used them in people's hair, but mostly they have been for entertainment and learning for little children, while I was combing my hair or someone else's hair. If I wanted to have the little child where I could watch them while I was tied up with hair combing, I got out the bag of hair fasteners. This morning as I combed my hair and Emily's, and Lincoln was with me so that Beth could do some school, I thought about how I have taught my kids and those we babysat all about colors, counting, and sorting with these fasteners. Some of them are losing their elasticity from old age, but they are still fascinating to little ones. Today Lincoln sorted yellows, reds, blues, and whites, before he made them into a necklace of sorts. I knew where he was the entire time, and Beth got some school done!

Drummond Family Visit

Dave and Twila Drummond with Lena and Kent visited us over the weekend. They are missionaries in Ukraine. In 2006, Brenda Stevenson (now Albertson) did an internship with them for about 8 weeks. The Drummonds have a special place in Brenda's heart because of their kindness and the good times they experienced together. We have wanted to meet the Drummonds in person, but this was our first opportunity. We were so glad they put us on their travel schedule. They were a blessing to have in our home.

After our Sunday morning service online with Hobe Sound Bible Church, the Drummonds shared their power point presentation of the work they do in Ukraine. Here Dave is explaining about the picture on the computer.

Twila is telling us why we should answer God's call. In these pictures are our friends, the Kaus family who join us for church and who also enjoyed hearing from the Drummonds.

After church, the boys played some Legos.

Beth and Lena looked at some blogs.

Later, Jason, Kent, and Emily played some competitive Foosball.

Our girls enjoyed getting acquainted with Lena.

We were blessed by the privilege of hosting some of God's wonderful people!
It was special also that Jeffrey, having just returned from Ukraine, could share his experiences and pictures with Dave and Twila, as they are very familiar with the places he worked and how much the work was needed! God's timing is so wonderful to put the Drummonds in our lives this weekend!

Jeffrey's home from Ukraine!

On Friday afternoon, Nov. 6, we were excited to welcome Jeffrey, John McVey, and Jonathan Lucas back from the Mission Helps trip to Ukraine. It seemed like forever as we waited. Here are some of the Lucas children and Emily.

John came through first, having preferential treatment because of having crutches. Jeffrey and Jonathan had to wait in the long line much longer.

Finally, we got a glimpse of Jeffrey!

Here is the entire Lucas family glad to have their daddy back!

Jeffrey will be working on getting his blog updated soon, (we hope) to share the work accomplished in Ukraine.

Jeffrey is in Ukraine!

Update on Saturday 10/31/2009:

We just talked to Jeff with live video on Skype!

He is looking good, at the point half way through his time there in Ukraine. He'll return this coming Friday. He'll fly from Kiev to Frankfurt, then straight to Denver.

He said that their entire group "went to town" today; they went shopping in Kiev. He said that there is a major H1N1 scare there right now, as explained in this site: http://blog.kievukraine.info/ Many people in Kiev were wearing masks, and they were "spraying medicine from airplanes". I haven't heard of that before, and can't find anything about it online.

Please help us pray that the work team won't get H1N1 or other severe illnesses this week, or on their long flights home next weekend. Jeff said that everyone is sniffling, and he was coughing / sneezing some.

Update on Monday:
Jeff wrote again on email today and also chatted with Mother, Jason, and Em. He said he's better, and got to work today. He reported that they all worked hard and were tired when they were chatting at 9 or 10 pm his time. He helped one of the guys float one of the concrete walls today... we don't know what that means, but we are excited for the opportunity he has to learn these things! Thanks for praying for him. We are glad he is doing better.
- Beth

UPDATE SUNDAY: We heard from Jeff today by short email. Everyone arrived just fine, but Saturday night (Ukraine time) Jeff awoke twice, sick to his stomach, as was Joanna Sturtevant (their hostess). He said that he was feeling some better, but didn't feel like writing a long or detailed email. Please pray for him, and for Joanna, who has a house full of guests!

On Thursday Oct. 22, which was our 26th wedding anniversary, Jeffrey left Denver to fly to Ukraine. He plans to return on Nov. 6. He is working with a Mission Helps team to finish a church basement near Kiev, Ukraine, to create Sunday School rooms. Jeff is very motivated to be a part of this kind of mission field involvement, and it was a blessing to him and to us to watch how the Lord worked out so many details in his life in preparation for this trip.

We have not heard from him since he left Dulles airport in Washington D.C. on Thursday evening, but we heard from one of the team members' wives that the entire team arrived in Kiev. That's all we know, but we grateful for that news. We'll edit this post when we get more news. We are very anxious to hear how the Lord helped him make it through the Frankfurt, Germany airport and on to Kiev, without the help of any other human that he knew! And no, he doesn't know a word of German or Russian... at least he didn't when he left here...

Jeff was able to acquire many tools to take on this trip, which he will likely use on many missions project at many places in the world.

Please pray for Jeff and the other team members, as well and Jason and Joanna Sturtevant, and Roman's family that they are working with them.

Happy 26th anniversary to us! October 22

Still happy God made us for each other and led our lives together!

We have been blessed with love, unity, children, and now grandchildren.

Squeezo Strainer Apple Day

When our dear friend, Eileen Owen, moved to Minnesota and was downsizing to a small apartment, she gave me one of her treasures: a Squeezo Strainer! This fall I got a bunch of apples and I was able to put the Squeezo Strainer to good use. Two Mondays ago, the children and I made applesauce and applebutter. It was the easiest apple day we have ever had!

All we did was wash the apples, remove stems, cut apples in quarters, and cook for about 20 minutes in a covered pot with a little water. Then we put the apples through the Squeezo Strainer and turned the handle. Out one side came all the seeds and skins. Out another side came applesauce! I measured it and added sugar and cinnamon, cooked it a little longer and canned it.

Lincoln Brown was being babysat by Beth, as he usually is on Mondays, so he learned all about making applesauce too!

We always try to get everybody involved, even Jason!

Jason stirred the sugar in so that none got scorched.

When I made the second batch of applesauce into applebutter, I did it differently than I ever have before. Usually I use the big electric roaster oven to cook the applebutter down, but I really didn't want to get it out. It takes so long, is so hard to clean, and ties up the whole counter. So I put the applesauce, sugar and spices into a very large roaster pan in my oven to cook. I left it in there 1.5 hours and stirred it occasionally and it was done. Then I put the applebutter into jars and sealed them in the oven also! (250 temperature and 20 minutes) It was faster and less mess than waterbathing them.

Finished products: 8 quarts of applesauce and 19 pints of applebutter.