Castleberry Annual Letter, February 2005

(Please note: Some names have been removed to protect privacy)

God’s blessings to you all. We are all doing fine, and hope you are, also. We have had some interesting experiences this year, some fun, some . . . well, not as fun. But we are grateful through every experience for God’s grace and His Hand in our lives. All things do work together for the good of those who love Him. May you all experience the grace He offers.

In May, (or was it June? Over 40 brain here) we went camping for a week at the farm of friends in southern Minnesota (Hello, Eastvolds!) and enjoyed getting to know them better. It was a beautiful place to be, peaceful and relaxing. We camped a few other times at a state park near us. Everyone has fun camping, and Susie is determined to figure out a way to stay warm. Maybe I need a sleeping bag like the ones the kids have! We did quite a few bike rides this year, including a new trail that is 14 miles long. Most of it is flat or downhill, so Mom and Dad vote to do that one often. We also spent several days at a “cabin” – a nice home, really – in eastern Wisconsin, on a lake. There we canoed, hiked, and rode bicycles. These were the just some of the fun times... we have had many! God has blessed us abundantly.

A few challenges happened also this year. A couple of weeks before leaving for the cabin, ___ fell off the ladder that goes to the barn loft, breaking his arm and requiring stitches in his head. Note to Moms: do not be afraid to outlaw cowboy boots around the farm. No traction. Hiking boots and tennis shoes are safer! The boys are now allowed to wear their cowboy boots to TOWN.

In November we learned that Stephen Jr. (now 21), has to have major back surgery for his scoliosis. The curve had progressed rapidly this year, and is beginning to affect his lungs, ribs, etc. Steel rods will be inserted along the spine, discs removed, and bone chips inserted, which will fuse his spine into one long immovable bone. He will still be able to bend from the waist and move his neck. We were wondering how to pay for this, when we found out that Steve’s insurance would pay for it if Stephen was enrolled as a full-time student. So Stephen was told by Dad Steve to choose his life’s career within 4 days. Hey, it works! Saves lots of time and trouble, too. (New strategy for those of you who want to borrow it.) He did choose – to learn what, read his section. We ask for your prayers as he undergoes a 10 hour surgery on February 16 at Gillette Children’s Specialty Hospital in St. Paul, MN. He will be in intensive care for 2 days after surgery, then another 5 to 7 days in the hospital.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Our newsletter will ALWAYS be late! Like late January/early February. Just mark it on your calendar! We go south every year near Christmas to visit relatives, and since we have SIX 12 hour days of just driving back and forth, we are gone at least 2 weeks. Sorry to worry anyone, but when we get back, there is lots to catch up on, and our annual letter gets pushed to “sometime soon we’ll do it.” Thanks for your patience!

This year the following events took place on our trip south:
1. Steve can hardly wait to leave home, to get away from all the stress he has been under for the last few months on the job. So we leave home the day after Christmas, amidst much flurry and excitement.
2. First day on the road, one of the goats back on the farm gets sick, friends doing chores call vet. Vet arrives in time to charge $100 and watch goat die within minutes.
3. Sump pump dies in basement. Friends work on pump and on getting water out of basement. (These are good friends! Thanks, Winandys!)
4. Ice storm hits at home, first set of friends is unable to get to our farm to do our chores. We NEVER get ice storms! Neighbors come over to help out. (Thanks, Di Pumas!)
5. We all get sick. Good and sick for Mom, but nothing serious. Just bad colds or maybe the respiratory flu. Mom says the flu, but nobody else is buying it.
6. Susie’s dad is hospitalized, ending plans for going to see her parents. (He is now okay.)
7. Steve’s aunt dies, and we all attend the funeral, etc. She was elderly and had been sick a while, so it was sort of expected. It was actually a blessing that we were already there, as Steve is the business person for all her things.
8. ___ and Jeannie are bitten by a dog on a walk around the block near the home of Steve’s mom. Jeannie has to go to Urgent Care and get a tetanus shot and antibiotics.
9. Steve decides he has had enough relaxation. He’ll take the stress at home. We leave for the northland.

Never a dull moment! And now, a few words from the kids:

Hi, I’m ___ and I’m four. ___ helped me make a snowman. It looks like a Pillsbury doughboy. I have a big bed now in the little boys’ room and I sleep in there with them. Love, ___

I’m ___ and I’m 9. I had fun at Granny’s house, going up the Incline to the top of Lookout Mountain. It was fun to pet cows at the Eastvold’s. I’m enjoying all the snow – snowshoeing and skiing and sledding and ice skating and just playing in it. (We currently have about 2 feet on the ground here.) Love, ___

I’m ___ and I’m 11. My favorite things to do are running, camping, snowshoeing, downhill skiing, and hunting (with a BB gun). Hope you have a good year. ___

Hello all! This year I am 18 and I was privileged to be able to vote in the 2004 elections. Thank God for such a godly president!! This spring I hope to graduate and then I plan to stay home and watch the world go by. O. k. I don’t plan on just being a beach bum, since there’s lots to do here, I don’t think I’ll get bored in the least. Some of my interests are: scrap booking, walking on the river (in the winter), quilting, and volleyball (to name a few). Hope you all have a great year! In Him, Katie

I hope this finds you all well. This past year has been very busy, but full of fun too. I love taking on new projects, so life is never dull. This summer found me helping to re –fence our pasture, which was a big job, but rewarding. I also spent lots of time in our garden, riding to Lake Superior, swimming, playing volley ball, and anything that was outside. :) The highlight of the summer was getting to see our wonderful Commander in Chief, and President. He came to Duluth, and we all got to see him. God had given us a wonderful President! This winter, I am still taking piano, and learning to play flute. I have just started to learn Spanish, and I really like it. I am also working on a fictional book, just for fun and practice. :) There has been so much snow up here! It’s great. I am having a blast snowshoeing, cross – country skiing, and downhill skiing. It is so beautiful to see snow covering everything. It makes it all seem much more peaceful. May God bless you all! ___. (___.) 16.

It’s been a great year. This year we were able to see George W. Bush at a rally in Duluth. Praise God that he won the election. This year we put up a cow shed, it’s 30 X 20 and 18 feet tall. We also got an almost new Ford tractor 5610. We got an auger and put up brand-new fencing in our pasture. I enjoy skiing and ice-skating, including hockey. I am also playing the trumpet. ___ A., 14

This year has gone by quickly. In February of 2004 I began working for Securitas as a security guard. I worked at many different sites, from manufacturing plants to gravel pits. As was noted earlier in the letter, I found out that my scoliosis was progressing. The decisions that were necessary due to this development were made quickly. Dad gave me four days to decide what I wanted to study in college as my life career! I am studying architectural technology. How am I going to do this after my surgery? Three of the classes are on-line, and the in-class instructor agreed to work with me for what ever I needed while I am in the hospital. Due to the fact that I am now a full time student, as well as preparing for surgery, I had to quit my security job.
I enjoyed hunting this year, as I was able to shoot a deer. ___ and I have a model train and enjoy working on it together. Stephen

Where should I begin praising God’s goodness in the past year? In many ways, 2004 was an average year in my life, but the older I get the more I appreciate “average” years! (And I’m definitely getting older. This week I hunted everywhere for my sunglasses, only to find them right where I left them – on top of my head.)
God’s leading in the course of history, as well as in my life, is more evident every day. As others have mentioned, in July I had the privilege of seeing a man I pray for daily – President Bush! I am so thankful he was re-elected! God has also given me opportunities to write, and my work on a history of the townships in our area makes me a published author (or co-author, anyway). Currently I am writing my first novel, and I can sense His leading in every part. Other activities include helping with homeschooling, caring for the goats, playing piano and guitar, enjoying the outdoors, and working as an election judge 1-4 days a year. My life is busy and blessed.
May this year bring you closer to Christ as you remember His great love for you!
Only because of His grace, Jeannie