For anyone who might read this sometimes and isn't on our paper mailing list, here is a less-fancy version of our Christmas letter that we sent out this year! It also gives a little more information on our decision to not be on staff at Camp Bighorn.
Vanderwall Family News
Merry Christmas! 2009
In our last letter, we reminisced about our 10+ years on full time staff at Camp Bighorn and announced our decision to move into a “part time” commitment for 2009. Now that the year is nearly over, we want to recap the year and bring you up to date with us.
THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
As you will read in this letter, we have stayed very busy this year! Being busy is no new concept to us. Just the fact that we have 3 boys makes that statement obvious! Working at Camp Bighorn has also kept our days full and exciting, as well as trying to stay active in the Plains community with the Quick Response Unit, ambulance service, Sheriff’s Office, CPR classes, church, kids’ school, sports, etc. etc! Not having a full-time commitment to Bighorn this year was both empowering and challenging.
Now that the year is over, it is time for our decision for next year.
We have decided to not have an employment commitment with Camp Bighorn either full or part time. As of January 01, 2010, we will not be receiving a monthly paycheck from Camp, nor have physical expectations. We will, however, continue a working relationship with Bighorn and are excited to continue spending specific times there as contracted instructors. We will continue teaching Wilderness Medical classes and other instruction at Bighorn through specific agreements throughout the year.
After raising full time support for over 10 years as our monthly income, stepping away from that feels very strange to us! We have learned to rely completely on God’s provision for our finances in a very visible way by raising support. Now we will continue to rely on him for our finances through different jobs that are available.
Our time at Camp Bighorn has taught us many many life lessons that we plan on taking with us in this life change. We are so thankful for the time we have spent immersed here and the lifelong friendships we have made. We want to assure you that our decision to not be Bighorn staff is not being made out of hard feelings or “falling out”. As we follow God’s prompting in our life, we are assured of his blessings and his hand in our decisions. The timing is right and our family is responding very positively!
We would greatly appreciate your continued prayers for us as we continue to make this transition in an open, positive way.
Zach– Our decision has been made. Not an easy one, but the right one. As of December 31st, my family and I will step away from active service at Camp Bighorn. Factors influencing our decision have been: seeking to expand a versatile life skills set, pursuing a renewed excitement for adventure, “family dynamics”, financial considerations, as well as a smattering of other factors. 2009 has been a God-filled year for my family as we have waded through a year of change. As we are emerging from a year of testing the waters, our new route direction decision conjures up some anxiousness, but no doubts. I have spent a good portion of my time serving through instruction of specific areas at Camp. The tables have turned somewhat this last year as I have been in the student seat working construction. One of our favorite quotes on the jobsite is, “Zach, what ARE you doing?” I like to avoid challenge in my life, but the rewards in evaluating how I react to challenges has galvanized a resolve to seek a steady momentum forward in life. We continue to be thankful for our friends, students, co-workers, and family that have been part of God’s provision at the right times. 11 years gives an ample amount of experience to digest. I have chosen to focus on the consistent themes God has allowed us to experience rather than the sometimes overwhelming feelings that tend to cloud the search for truth. I know I have been hurt and have caused hurt, hindered leadership, and championed it. I have stood for truth and shamefully shied away from it. I would describe the community environment of permanent Bighorn staff as gracefully dysfunctional. A new chapter has begun again in my life. I hope to lean into God’s providence as we continue experiencing the inevitable jungle of life.
During my time at Bighorn this year, Cori and I taught 3 Wilderness Medical classes, I spent some time with the Discover group on a 5-day trip on the Salmon River, assisted with Climbing instruction for Explore, helped with Summer Staff Training, and co-instructed several Basic Handgun classes.
Outside of Bighorn, I spent a lot of time on construction job sites, traveled for a WMA class, and was on-call for wildland firefighting this summer, spending 13 days in Alaska for fires.
This next year, we have plans to contract with Bighorn to instruct Wilderness Medical classes for the college programs. I also plan to work
construction, build our own home, continue handgun classes,
and teach more WMA classes as well as CPR/First Aid.
I look forward to deepening relationships in the Plains community.
Merry Christmas! 2009
In our last letter, we reminisced about our 10+ years on full time staff at Camp Bighorn and announced our decision to move into a “part time” commitment for 2009. Now that the year is nearly over, we want to recap the year and bring you up to date with us.
THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
As you will read in this letter, we have stayed very busy this year! Being busy is no new concept to us. Just the fact that we have 3 boys makes that statement obvious! Working at Camp Bighorn has also kept our days full and exciting, as well as trying to stay active in the Plains community with the Quick Response Unit, ambulance service, Sheriff’s Office, CPR classes, church, kids’ school, sports, etc. etc! Not having a full-time commitment to Bighorn this year was both empowering and challenging.
Now that the year is over, it is time for our decision for next year.
We have decided to not have an employment commitment with Camp Bighorn either full or part time. As of January 01, 2010, we will not be receiving a monthly paycheck from Camp, nor have physical expectations. We will, however, continue a working relationship with Bighorn and are excited to continue spending specific times there as contracted instructors. We will continue teaching Wilderness Medical classes and other instruction at Bighorn through specific agreements throughout the year.
After raising full time support for over 10 years as our monthly income, stepping away from that feels very strange to us! We have learned to rely completely on God’s provision for our finances in a very visible way by raising support. Now we will continue to rely on him for our finances through different jobs that are available.
Our time at Camp Bighorn has taught us many many life lessons that we plan on taking with us in this life change. We are so thankful for the time we have spent immersed here and the lifelong friendships we have made. We want to assure you that our decision to not be Bighorn staff is not being made out of hard feelings or “falling out”. As we follow God’s prompting in our life, we are assured of his blessings and his hand in our decisions. The timing is right and our family is responding very positively!
We would greatly appreciate your continued prayers for us as we continue to make this transition in an open, positive way.
Zach– Our decision has been made. Not an easy one, but the right one. As of December 31st, my family and I will step away from active service at Camp Bighorn. Factors influencing our decision have been: seeking to expand a versatile life skills set, pursuing a renewed excitement for adventure, “family dynamics”, financial considerations, as well as a smattering of other factors. 2009 has been a God-filled year for my family as we have waded through a year of change. As we are emerging from a year of testing the waters, our new route direction decision conjures up some anxiousness, but no doubts. I have spent a good portion of my time serving through instruction of specific areas at Camp. The tables have turned somewhat this last year as I have been in the student seat working construction. One of our favorite quotes on the jobsite is, “Zach, what ARE you doing?” I like to avoid challenge in my life, but the rewards in evaluating how I react to challenges has galvanized a resolve to seek a steady momentum forward in life. We continue to be thankful for our friends, students, co-workers, and family that have been part of God’s provision at the right times. 11 years gives an ample amount of experience to digest. I have chosen to focus on the consistent themes God has allowed us to experience rather than the sometimes overwhelming feelings that tend to cloud the search for truth. I know I have been hurt and have caused hurt, hindered leadership, and championed it. I have stood for truth and shamefully shied away from it. I would describe the community environment of permanent Bighorn staff as gracefully dysfunctional. A new chapter has begun again in my life. I hope to lean into God’s providence as we continue experiencing the inevitable jungle of life.
During my time at Bighorn this year, Cori and I taught 3 Wilderness Medical classes, I spent some time with the Discover group on a 5-day trip on the Salmon River, assisted with Climbing instruction for Explore, helped with Summer Staff Training, and co-instructed several Basic Handgun classes.
Outside of Bighorn, I spent a lot of time on construction job sites, traveled for a WMA class, and was on-call for wildland firefighting this summer, spending 13 days in Alaska for fires.
This next year, we have plans to contract with Bighorn to instruct Wilderness Medical classes for the college programs. I also plan to work
construction, build our own home, continue handgun classes,
and teach more WMA classes as well as CPR/First Aid.
I look forward to deepening relationships in the Plains community.
(Zach climbing during Fall Skills with Explore, photo by Heidi Paul)
Cori-This year has been fun, busy, and new for me.
In January, I started as a helper and substitute at my friend’s daycare business in her home. This became a fairly regular part-time job for me. It worked well because Brenden fit right in with the daycare kids and Josiah and Conrad could just ride the bus and join us after school.
Our summer was busy doing fun stuff for the kids and seeing family. I didn’t work at the daycare regularly during the summer, but started back again in the fall.
In early fall, my friend needed to close the daycare to better care for her family. At the same time, another friend was just opening a daycare, so there was a great place for all the children to transfer to! One of the kiddos, a sweet little girl named Zoey, I now provide childcare for in our home! This has been a welcome treat for us because it provides me with a job without leaving the house or needing to find childcare for Brenden. Zoey fits in with our family so well! The boys love her and take very good care of her!
Zach and I have had a few opportunities to get away with each other this year. We attended a Weekend to Remember conference in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. We had a great time together and loved our stay at the Coeur d’Alene Resort! We just recently got back from a trip to the Los Angeles/ Irvine area for a wedding. The boys love staying with grandparents while we take off or teach classes together!
In August we celebrated our 10th anniversary!!!
I look forward to a new year of unknowns and definite changes! It’s exciting!
(At a friend's wedding in California in December)
(On the Newport Beach Pier)
Josiah is 8 years old. He is in 3rd grade and doing multiplication that makes it hard for me to help with homework anymore! He is the only 3rd grader this year, but is keeping up just fine and getting very good grades. Josiah loves teaching Zoey how to walk and he loves to read books! His favorite book is 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, he has read 2 different editions of it. He attended his last year of Day Camp at Camp Bighorn this summer. Next year will be all week at Junior Camp! He also attended his first Day Camp at Lone Ram Ranch! He loved riding horses and being with his friends all week. I was amazed at how quickly he got used to the horses and was comfortably leading them. He is hoping to get Grandma Marcia to go with him next year to the week-long overnight camp!
Conrad turned 7 this year. He is in 2nd grade. This is the first year he has been in a separate classroom from Josiah, (it is K-2 in one class) and the first year he has other kids in his grade level! He also has a new teacher this year. He is adapting to all of these changes very well, and is doing great in school. Conrad’s favorite things are video games and people! He has a few games on the computer that he looks forward to playing when he’s allowed. He especially likes to play the Wii when we visit Grandpa Mac and Grandma Raine’s house!
We spent most of Thanksgiving week with Zach’s family, and Conrad was delighted! He got to spend almost a week with his Uncle Kris and Aunt Krissy! Even Thanksgiving day in Lynden with a lot of family members he hadn’t seen in years or even just met, he still freely gave everyone hugs when it was time to go!
Brenden is 3! He cracks us all up on a daily basis with the funny things he says and does. Even his facial expressions are hilarious! We are working on some basic preschool principles at home, but not getting too organized with it yet. He plays well with Zoey and sets up the Little People or trains for her.
This summer, we all, (even Zach!!!) spent a week with Zach’s parents at their condo on Lake Chelan in Washington. Brenden had a blast on the beach, in the water, on a jet ski, the water slides, doing crafts, etc., etc. We call this week of the summer “Grandpa and Grandma Camp”. In Brenden’s mind, it is Lake Chelan that is “G&G Camp” so he asks to go back there a lot! He will be very excited when we head back there for a few days before Christmas this year!
We will spend a few days at the condo, then head back to Spokane for Christmas with Cori’s family. Uncle Cam, Aunt Andi and their kiddos will be there!!!
1 comment:
Z & C~So great to read your hearts here on the page! What a big year indeed it has been and a great one you're entering into! We're so proud of you guys in how your are following God's leading in where you feel he's leading especially in those areas that aren't even clear yet! So excited to come "home" (wherever that is) and visit your newly built home! Thanks for posting this! Stay in touch! I'll have Jer read it when he's not out in the Pacific somewhere we're in the same country!
Post a Comment