Christmas letters: 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.