Christmas 2020

What can one say about 2020 except plans changed.

On April 11 instead of attending Easter Vigil Mass, we lit an Easter fire in our Smokey Joe grill,

which prompted us to buy a portable fire pit a few weeks later.

Sharon braved the snow (!) on Easter April 12 to attend a parking lot Mass at a near by parish, while the rest of the family watched a live stream Mass.

In May 30 , just after churches in Minnesota were re-opened and amid the George Floyd riots, (Fr) Paul was ordained. The men ordained could only invite 20 people, so the large cathedral was not full.

The following day, Paul had first Mass at our home parish, St Raphael, by invite only. It was not the full to bursting Mass we had anticipated. There was no private reception on ordination day, nor one for the parish after Fr Paul's first Mass.

Fr Paul, parents, and grandparents

June 11, (Fr) Paul celebrated his first Solemn High Latin Mass-a week or so later than planned to allow the riots to calm down.

On happier notes:

 In June, Sharon began her new hobby, fermenting sauerkraut.  We quickly learned that Curry Sauerkraut is absolutely delightful.

In August, Serena voted in her first election.

Mike enjoyed working from home which enabled him to bike on days that he would not have been able to bike if he worked in his office space.    He quite happily biked for over 4000 miles this year and as of today (12-10-2020) since the metro area is still snowless and experiencing temperatures in the upper 30's or higher, he is still racking up miles.

Merry Christmas from the Hedmans

Mike, Sharon, Stephen, Serena

2019

Merry Christmas 2019

We had an eventful year with many happy changes.

In March, Sharon traveled to the Holy Land with her father.  This was  wonderful experience and still seems like dream that couldn't have possibly happened.

The rock where Jesus prayed in Gethsamane

behind the glass is Mount Calvary

Harold Trombley (Dad) and Sharon at the Jordan River

May 10, Paul was ordained a transitional deacon for the archdiocese of St Paul-Minneapolis and preached his first sermon.

He has performed marriage ceremonies, baptized babies, and
performed graveside services.  He is looking forward with great joy to being ordained a priest in May.  Please continue to pray for his vocation.







June 8, Serena graduated from high school.  Her future plans are uncertain at this time.  While taking her gap year, she is working at Cub Foods and recently applied to North Hennepin Community College.










In June, Mike, Sharon, Stephen and Serena hit the road--the Great River Road. We traveled down the west side of the Mississippi River until St Louis.  We crossed over the Mississippi River and travel up the east side to home.  We saw several beautiful churches/basilicas/cathedrals, visited museums, saw a friend in Illinois.  We also saw many flooded fields from the large quantities of snow and rain we had this year.

Basilica in Dyersville IA

Hannibal MO

In July, Joel announced his engagement to Nicole.

In August, Serena turned 18.   We no longer have any children in the house--only adults. Also, Mike and Stephen ventured to Madison for a little male bonding and to help Joel make a garden area at his house.

In September, Sharon attended her first ball game at Target Field and Serena had a photo op with TC.

Also in September, Stephen began his third year at St Thomas.

In October, Mike and Sharon attended their last Archbishop's reception for parents of seminarians.  We always looked forward to speaking with other parents and eating the yummy hors d'oeuvres.

In November, we were thankful for a visit from Joel and his fiancee' Nicole for Thanksgiving who arrived as the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota were cleaning from one storm and left just before another one started.  Nicole was introduced to the Hedman tradition of Polish sausage, which is served at many Hedman gatherings.

2018

Christmas 2018

Hello all,

I am trying to modern and be green at the same time, hence the Christmas blog. (Thank you, MaryBeth for the idea.)  As I am new to this, I am sure it will not be very spectacular.

The biggest change this year was in Sharon's extended family.  Sharon's mother died in July as she lost her battle with colon cancer. While it is always sad to lose a family, Jeanne is at rest from her many ailments.  It was nice to visit with family members we have not seen in years.  (Please pray for the repose of the soul of Jeanne Trombley.)

While Stephen and Serena were off at Extreme Faith Camp in June,  Mike and Sharon had their own adventure--more Sharon's than Mike's.  We spent three days in the Lanesboro area at a bed and breakfast and biked the Root River Trail.  We biked 55 miles and learned one very important thing.  Never bike from Fountain to Lanesboro to Fountain.   The first 5 miles from Fountain to Lanesboro is mostly downhill and coasting--which means when doing the return leg it is mostly uphill.

Mike and Sharon both were issued passports-Mike in case he need to rescue either Paul (went to Mexico in the summer for a Spanish immersion program) or Joel (went to Japan on an expense-paid sabbatical from his employer Epic with two co-workers and a college friend) and Sharon in anticipation of a trip in 2019.

See link for Joel (in Twins cap) on Japanese TV at about 4:43   click on >>   Joel in Japan

Paul, in addition to learning Spanish in Mexico, spent January in the land of St Patrick, Ireland.

Paul's seminary Ireland trip blog   <<< click on

Stephen continues to study at the University of St Thomas, where he is majoring in Applied Math and minoring in Computer Science.   He works two part-time jobs--John Ireland Library at UST and Steeple Pointe Senior Living in Osseo.

Serena won two tickets to the Renaissance Festivals.  She and Stephen went in costume and Stephen was selected to participate in a song with the Elizabethan Syngers.

Serena is now a senior in high school and keeping busy with home school, a few dual enrollment college classes, cashiering at Cub Foods and her last homeschool play.  (Sharon became teary eyed during the last performance.  While she is relieved to no longer have a crazy play season again, she will miss the parents with whom she has worked on plays since 2006.)  This year's play was "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe."  Serena was a unicorn.

Merry Christmas from the Hedmans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaVswFQ_C7M   << click on to see our first attempt at a Christmas video.

At the trail head in Lanesboro.  We biked
 from Lanesboro to Whalen (and back) and Lanesboro to Preston (and back) also.

Mass at Shrine of Our Lady Of Guadelupe

Convento de la Santa Cruz.  (Paul, back row, second from left in purple shirt

Mexico city

Stephen as "Link" (in green, center) at Renaissance Festival

Serena and Stephen

The good Narnian animals

The battle for Narnia

2017

Christmas 2017 (The Catholic Church celebrates Christmas Day until January 1 and the Christmas season extends a few weeks past that.)

No letters in the mail this year. I am too harried so you will have to settle for this.

Mike is continue to grow his collection of camera lens. He has now made the jump to professional photographer. Well, sort of. He had one paying job in December.

Sharon has added two things to her list of volunteer activities. She is now a member of St Raphael's pastoral council and the treasurer for her Carmelite community.

Joel is still in Wisconsin working for Epic. He decided to put down roots this year and bought a house in Madison. He is still a Minnesotan at heart and cheers for the Vikings and Twins.

Paul is now Theology II at the St Paul Seminary. He has approximately 2 ½ years to ordination if he does not discern out. He is gearing up for a seminary sponsored trip to Ireland in January 2018.

Stephen graduated from our home school in June. He is following in his brothers' footsteps and is attending the University of St Thomas as a commuter. He is further following in Joel's footsteps to a degree in Math.

Serena is a junior in high school. She was confirmed April. She recently appeared in “Pride and Prejudice” with Spotlight Family Theater and continues to cantor at church.

2016

Christmas 2016

Hedman family highlights

January: Paul went to Honduras for a mission

trip with SJV seminary seniors.

May: Mike, Sharon, Stephen, and Serena took

a mini-Wisconsin trip. Saw some religious shrines,

visited Joel in Madison.

Paul graduated from UST with a degree in

philosophy.

August: Camping at Whitewater State Park.

September: Paul enters St Paul Seminary.

October: Stephen applied to colleges.

December: Serena and Stephen participate in

“It's A Wonderful Life.”

2015

 January 2016 (for Christmas 2015) Sorry, folks, a Christmas photo is not happening this year. The home school play for this school year was “A Christmas Carol” and it took up much of Sharon's free time. Here is a summary of the events for this year.

February: Stephen (operating the spotlight) and Serena (Princess #2) took part in Spotlight Family Theater first (and probably only) musical “Beauty and the Beast.”

April: Paul won the Thomas D. Sullivan Medal and Scholarship for best philosophy paper. He wrote about “The Inability of Mind Uploading to Maintain Personhood or Identity.” (What ever that means. I attended the ceremony and heard Paul read the paper and don't know much more than I did before he read the paper.)

May: Stephen was confirmed May 9. He also was hired for his first job and began training in June for culinary services aide for Steeple Pointe Senior Living.

June: Mike was installed as Grand Knight for the Fr. William Blum Knights of Columbus Council. We celebrated our 25^th wedding anniversary by staying at a B&B in Stillwater.

July: Mike, Sharon, Stephen, and Serena went camping at Tettagouche State Park. They went with Sharon's brother Alan, his wife Beth, and two of his children, Jack and Sam.

August: Serena began home schooling high school. (How did that happen? My baby!)

 September: Paul began his senior year at SJV-UST. He joined Caruso's Crew, the seminary cheerleading squad for the UST football team. Stephen began taking his first PSEO college class.

Sharon took her definitive promises as a Secular Carmelite (OCDS).

October: Stephen passed his driver's test.

November: Mike bought his new toy, a Nikon D7100 camera.

December: Stephen (operating lighting board) and Serena (Fan/Belinda) took part in Spotlight Family Theater's production of “A Christmas Carol.” Joel, who was in Minnesota from

December 18-December 27, was able to see a performance.

May God bless you and have a happy new year!

Mike, Sharon, Paul, Stephen and Serena Hedman (and Joel in Wisconsin)

2014

Christmas 2014

Hello,

Following in the footsteps of the Chinese, the Hedmans have declared this to be the year of the Bicycles. Everyoneended up with a different bike than he/she started the year with, except Paul.

Mike had a crack in his bike frame. Sharon had a choice of two bikes to use- 30+ year model or a garage sale Schwinn. (Mike decided she needed a real bike with more than three gears). Joel upgraded his bike when he was home for Easter. Stephen benefited from Joel's upgrade by inheriting Joel's old bike. Serena upgraded to a used Schwinn (not Sharon's old one) which is bigger than “Misty” her old bike.

Disclaimer on following highlights: each family member composed his/her own except Joel.

Mike is still working at the University of Minnesota. He has been adding lenses to his DSLR that he bought last year and taking pictures whenever he can to learn how all the features work. (Editor's note: he has been know to take photos of light switches.) He has been volunteering for his Knights of Columbus council more of late, and assumed the role of Deputy Grand Knight. When he becomes Grand Knight next year, he may not have time to write about himself in the Christmas letter.

Sharon had so much fun being treasurer for the Rosary Society, co-chairing the ice cream/cookies booth, and chairing the Jolly Jar Game (all at St Raphael Church) that she signed up for another year of each along with another year of producing the Spotlight Family Theater play. Significantly, she finished her three year, three month cross-stitch project of the Divine Mercy image (Jesus).

Joel, age 23, still works at Epic in Verona, Wisconsin and plans to be there for a long time. He was visited this past year his parents and two youngest siblings in May. Both sets of grandparents visited in the fall.

Paul, 20, had a busy year. In his junior year, he continues to study philosophy at St. John Vianney College Seminary at the University of St. Thomas. He finds philosophy to be an interesting and challenging major. He has decided to minor in computer science and is the Vice President of the Computer Science Club at UST. He is constantly finding fun things to use their 3D printer for. He looks forward to January, when he will be roadtripping to Tennessee for a FOCUS (Fellowship Of Catholic University Students) conference and attending an eight day silent retreat led by one of Mother Teresa's spiritual directors.

Stephen, the youngest boy, is 15 and in 10^th grade. He is doing pre-calculus for math, which is usually done in 11^th grade. He really enjoys math. He also enjoys driving as he now has his driving permit.

Serena, the cute one, is excited to be 13. For her birthday, she had her ears pierced. She acted in Spotlight's play The Wizard of Oz. Serena is excited for the next play because it is a musical.

Merry Christmas from

The Hedmans