Merry Christmas 2009

We have been in North Carolina for two years, now, and it’s starting to feel like home. We were blessed and excited to find a lovely home on a cul-de-sac, in a wooded area adjacent to the girls’ school. We finally finished unpacking, hung pictures on the walls, took time to sit on the deck and enjoy the trees, birds, squirrels, and our dear neighbors, raked leaves, gathered for a neighborhood pig-picking (They roasted a whole pig right here in the cul-de-sac!), had guests for Thanksgiving, decorated the house for Christmas, and even did Christmas shopping without using GPS to guide us around town!

Jack is in his third year at Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC. He took a new position in informatics there this fall doing data-base based clinical research. He still faithfully walks our old dog, Holly, twice a day, follows Boise State football, and enjoys watching the girls compete and perform.

Lisa loves her job as a second-grade assistant at the girls’ school. She finds it very satisfying to invest her efforts in something that has eternal value, and to be a blessing to the teacher and the children she serves. Hugs are the best employee benefits! Watching songbirds at the backyard bird feeder is her newest hobby. A weekly women’s Bible study on Ephesians has been “like springs of living water” to her soul.
(L-Lisa; R-Lisa’s sister Kim)

Traci (almost 18) is a junior this year. Her passion is the theatre and she has had the opportunity to be in several plays (Viola – Twelfth Night; Charlotte – Pride and Prejudice; Nurse Gray – The Secret Garden; Dragon – Dragon Song; Mrs. Arable – Charlotte’s Web; Mrs. Westenra - Dracula; and Stephanie – The Code of the Woosters; Harriet - Emma) at school and in various community theatres. She is her class senator and also has a part-time job in the development office at school. She is looking at colleges, and looking forward to her senior year.



Amy (16 and 6'1") is in 9th grade. She has worked hard at school, but her schedule revolves around basketball. She played with the girls’ varsity team (2nd place) in the state championship game last winter. The team has its hopes set on winning the championship this year, but will have to overcome some hardships. Two girls received concussions in a recent game, and Amy fractured her wrist diving for a loose ball. She’ll be sporting a blue cast until after Christmas. When she’s not playing school basketball she plays for an AAU team which travelled to New Orleans and Atlanta for tournaments last summer.

CARY NEWS STORY FEATURING AMY
CARY NEWS STORY FEATURING AMY (injury)
Photos from the team photographer

Laurie (16) is also in 9th grade, and enjoys social activities. She ran for the cross country team at school this fall, and was one of the top five runners. The girls’ team won the state championship, and Laurie was named to the All-Conference Team! Her hamster, Jarod, keeps her company while she is doing homework, and she blesses our family with baked goods and delicious dinners, as time allows. Over spring break she painted her room with help from Grandpa Dino, Mom, and her best friend, Jackie.

CARY CHRISTIAN GIRLS WIN STATE TITLE

Kari (10) is in 4th grade. She is doing well in school, and especially enjoys reading, Latin, music, and recess. Kari started Taekwondo in March and has earned white, yellow, and green belts. It’s the perfect sport for her – lots of wiggling and screaming! We discovered recently that Kari had an interesting take on the Christmas story. She was reading from a beautiful book that pairs fine art with the verses from the gospels of Matthew and Luke that tell of the birth of Jesus. When she read, “Mary was great with child,” Lisa inquired as to whether or not Kari knew what that meant. She did not. So, Lisa pointed to the picture of the very pregnant Mary sitting on a donkey, and said, “It means she is pregnant and just about to give birth to the baby Jesus.” Kari was incredulous, “Mary didn’t born Jesus! They found him in the stable when there was no room at the inn!”

One of the nicest things about North Carolina is that we have family nearby. We’ve had lots of fun with Jack’s cousin and her family. 2XX 4XY is her husband’s license plate. They took us on a beautiful hike to Linville Falls in the spring, and kept the girls overnight when Jack and Lisa celebrated their 30th anniversary at the Biltmore Estate.



Lisa’s sister, Kim, and her husband, Henri, joined us from Washington, D.C. for the Thanksgiving weekend – the first time we’ve ever shared a holiday with them away from our parents’ home! Kim is came back in early December for a quick holiday visit before she and Henri joined their families in California for Christmas. We're looking forward to many more times together in the coming year.

Raleigh is an easy flight from most anywhere in the country, so we also enjoyed visits from Lisa’s parents for a week in the spring, and dear friends from Idaho in August. Kari and Lisa flew out to California over spring break to spend 3 days at Disneyland with Grandpa Dino and Grandma Betty, visit Grandma Phyllis, and spend a day at the beach. They also enjoyed dinner with Lisa’s family and lunch with Uncle Al and Aunt Debbie. Dino, Betty, Lisa, and Kim rendezvoused in New York in August to attend a reception for Lisa’s cousin’s son and his new bride (from Spain). Lisa hadn’t seen these D’Auria cousins in over 35 years! The reception was lovely, but getting reacquainted with the cousins and their families was the best!

We look forward to hearing of your adventures and family highlights. Thank you for keeping in touch with our family.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love,
The Van Deventer Family
Jack, Lisa, Traci, Amy, Laurie, and Kari