the Christmas Letter...

Merry Christmas from the D. Quigg Family

It’s December, 2013. 

I haven’t written a Christmas letter in quite a few years, but I decided that today was as good a day as any to write one. 

Dan has been working at the same company for about 6 years now.  He does welding, carpentry, tree work… yes, he is quite versatile.  He’s out there on this chilly day welding at a lake for a dock job.  Cold and not too fun I’m sure.  He always has something around the house that he wants to get done, and is so full of creativity.  He has discovered that his thyroid is not working well so has been on meds for that.  In June he ran a half marathon, held here in town, and did very well. 

the boy turned six this year.  In January he began his year by asking Jesus if He’d come live in his heart.  And since then he has been quite excited that Jesus is with him always.  His latest prayer request has been to have wisdom, like Solomon.   He is in grade one and is doing very well.  He loves his teacher and is making friends.  He loves math.  He also enjoys helping out in his sister’s class at lunch times.  He is a determined kid with lots of creative energy.  He has been waiting for snow so daddy can teach him to snowboard some more this winter.  He has just finished swimming lessons, that he had requested, and did so well in them. 

the girl, our little 4 year old.  She also began her 2013 by asking Jesus to come live in her heart.  She has been asking a lot of questions about what that means.  She is excited to see great grandpa Quigg in heaven one day, now that she gets to go there.  She (and her brother) love memorizing verses for Sunday school and their mid-week programs.  Her favorite verse is 'When I am Afraid I will Trust in You'. Psalm 56:3.  She is in Junior Kindergarten.  She goes three days a week, and loves the days she’s there.  She has a wonderful teacher and is making some good friends as well.  She loves going on the bus with her brother.  She just finished 14 weeks of gymnastics lessons and had a blast, loving everything about it.

Michelle is still at home with the kids.  She loves being at home to see them on the bus, off the bus and to be home if needed to take care of a sick little one, or to help out in one of the classes.  Every Monday she volunteers in the school library and loves it.  Seeing the kids when they come in, and having lunch with the boy every Monday.  Monday has definitely been a hi-light of her weeks.  She has been able to take some of her time to work on her photography, with the desire to improve on her passion. She is currently in drama rehearsals for the Church Christmas Play (dinner theater) that will be performed the weekend before Christmas.  She also completed her first ever 10K run in June.

In the summer we took a family trip out to British Columbia.  To Summerland, in the Okanagan Valley.  We were there for a Quigg family reunion.  What a wonderful trip it was.  The kids had their first airplane ride, and enjoyed everything about it.  We had the opportunity to see so many family members and for the kids to meet people they had only heard existed.  We are so glad we took that trip.  We also stayed after for another week and had a chance to visit Dan’s sisters and families at their homes – homes we had never been to.  And to spend time with the nieces and nephews we really didn’t know well at all.  The kids loved their cousins, and can’t wait to see them all again. 

When we got home we had Dan’s parents staying with us before they moved out to BC.  It was nice to have them stay with us, and we miss them lots.  The kids want to go visit about every other day.  Not so easy.  But they are now getting to see their other grandkids and enjoying being in their lives as much as they have been in our kids’ lives all these past years. 

In September we, as a family, participated in the Terry Fox run.  Dan and the boy biked the 10K, Michelle ran the 10K and the girl and her papa did the 5K.  Later that month Dan and Michelle participated in Tough Mudder.  It is an obstacle course challenge.  About 17Km in distance.  We had a team of 5.  What an amazingly fun day it was.  Tough? yes.  Sore at the end of the day? Yes.  We are registered to do it again August 2014. 

So…now it’s December.    At the end of this month we will be celebrating our 11^th Anniversary.  We are also preparing for Christmas…  ok, not really yet.  This is the start.  Each morning Michelle reads a little of the Christmas story out of Luke for the kids, and they have been enjoying listening to it. 

Christmastime will only be as busy as we allow it to be.  But no matter how busy we allow it to be I hope that you remember to take some time remembering that Christmas is a time to celebrate Christ’s birth. 

Love Dan, Michelle, the boy (& bear) & the girl (& Lammie)

70

today is a special birthday.

it's my dad's 70th.

growing up i wanted to spend as much time with my dad as i could.

my favorite times were our walks. 

the walks are still my favorite.

this morning i told my kids it was papa's birthday.

he's 70.

my girl wanted me to count it out for her.

1. 2. 3. 4 - that's you little girl.

5. 6 - that's you my boy.

7. 8. 9. 10. 11 - that's connor and jaden.

12. 13. 14. 15. 16 - aliyah.

17. 18. 19 - jade.

20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33 - daddy.

34. 35. 36. 37. 38 - me.

39, 40 - uncle timmy, aunt heidi. 

41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50...

i paused here and said "somewhere in the 50s are crazy ol' grandma and grandpa"

51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68 - gramma jeanine

69. 70 - papa.

they stared at me.

wow.

wow is right.

i am so thankful that my dad has had these 70 years.

and is healthy.

he's planning another 70 i believe.

i'm good with that.

because that means we still have many walks to come.

happy birthday dad.

i love you.

dad trying out dan's snowboard. - at the beginning of 2013.

building sandcastles with his grandson summer 2013

precious moments

this morning the kids and i had 'Bible Time'.

during breakfast i have made it part of our routine 

*on school days for sure*

to work on the kids' memory verses for sunday school

and to read the Bible.

yesterday we read about Solomon.

when the Lord asked him what he wanted he asked for wisdom.

today the question was:

"if you could have ANYTHING what would you want?"

i repeated it 

"if you could have anything in the whole wide world, what would you want?

if you could ask God for anything what would you ask him for?"

the boy thought for a moment.

"wisdom."

i was expecting to hear LEGO.

i said 

"like solomon?"

he answered 

"yes.  so i can make right choices."

the girl answered.

"a unicorn."

exactly what i expected.

love her mind.

then the boy said 

"i have a number two thing.  

if i was allowed a number two choice.

i would ask for God."

we chatted for a bit and worked through how money could buy things but wisdom helped you make the right choices..or be a great friend..

there was a fill in your own thing at the end.

money could buy __________ but wisdom could _______________

the boy: 

money could buy plants and flowers (like papa does for us)

wisdom could help you pick the right ones.

the girl:

money could buy a horse.

wisdom could help you take care of it.

*they did have a little coaching from me on the wisdom part* 

when it was time to pray i asked if there was anything they wanted to pray for today.

the boy:

thank God for trees, and flowers, and plants.  

for dads and moms and sisters and brothers and papas and grandmas and grandpas.

the girl:

that God will help me stop biting and eating things.

she always has to have something in her mouth so this was very cool to hear her say.

Love these guys.

*photo taken by me.   

with Gertie (my Canon T2i)

another one of those mornings with my knight and princess.

the sun was rising.

breakfast was being eaten.

we discussed how God sees us as special.

as beautiful, of value.

as princes and princesses.

we are His children and He is a King. 

and how we are to treat others as God wants us to treat them

with love, respect, honor.

the action the little study wanted us to do was to draw a crown on the mirror 

- where it would look like it was on your head-

with washable markers of course.

first they had to get dressed.

the girl chose to wear a white with purple polka-dot dress.

as i was in the living-room she came walking toward me.

she had put a crown on her head.

her eyes were staring at me expectantly, hopeful.

i looked into her eyes and smiled.

"you are a princess."

she smiled so brightly and headed to her brother's room.

"nice."

he said.  

but that was still enough for her.

she walked into her room and faced her mirror.

i walked in and sat on her bed as she stared at herself.

wonder filled her face.

"mommy, i am a princess."

she continued to stare.

that's when i remembered the study.

we ran and chose markers, and went back to the mirror.

she drew her crown, full of jewels.

her brother drew, not a prince crown, but a knight's helmet.

then they moved to the bathroom mirrors to continue.

so excited to do it.

*i'm sure being allowed to draw on mirrors were the biggest excitement about it though*

then it was time to get ready to go.

he couldn't find his shoes.

they had been left outside all night by the trampoline.

he had to wear different shoes.

his frustration grew.

and the battle began.

finally he put on his other shoes.

he claimed that he was going to ride his sister's coaster bike until the bus came.

i reminded him it was her bike and he needed to ask her.

he had a scooter and his own bike.

she, of course, said no.

the tears and anger came out.

screaming, he ran to the couch.

i went to get him and told him he needed to come out. 

when i tried lifting him i received deadweight.  

i wasn't carrying him, so i let go.  

he dropped the slight height onto his bum.

i grabbed his backpack and walked out the door.

meeting his sister, on her bike.

i hung up their backpacks and proceeded to go get his black shoes.

he came out in quiet tears.

when he found out i wasn't making his sister get off the bike he was so mad.

he wasn't getting on the bus!

he wouldn't take his backpack.

i told him that a child who behaves like this; when he doesn't get his way, doesn't get to do the things he wants to do.  

i said if i heard from his teacher that he had sulked all day and been angry about everything than he wouldn't be going to swimming lessons that afternoon.

*this is actually a negative for him as he loves swimming lessons and he is only in them right now because he asked to take them*

the bus pulled up and i walked his sister to the doors.

and had to go back for him.

tossing his backpack on the top step i started him walking up the steps.

no hug.

no 'i love you.'

i forgot.

as the bus pulled away i saw his sister wave bye to me.

she gave him the window seat this morning.

i saw his eyes peak out and i blew him a kiss.

and away they went.

my knight and my princess.

amazing how fast things can change in just a moment.

i wasn't ready for that.

i tried to stay calm.

speak calm.

i need to go for a run.

   

Hoo Rah!

i hurt.

my muscles hurt.

my knees hurt.

my knees and elbows are scratched, red, sore.

my back hurts.

and i love it.

on sunday morning i woke.

way earlier than the alarm.

i couldn't sleep so i went downstairs and got ready.

Dan got out of bed shortly after me.

change of clothes, check.

lunch, check.

registration forms for us and the others, check.

water, check.

'will i be warm enough? will i be too cold?'

time to check the car's fluids for the drive.

oh crap. 

we had a fuel leak.

call and verify we can use Jon's car.

good to go.

picked up Ben and Nick.

nerves not too bad.

but the excitement was thick in the air.

met Jon and transferred vehicles.  

we were on our way!

alright, 

which obstacles were everyone afraid of?

Arctic Enema, Boa Constrictor, Electric Eel, Walk the Plank, um...all of them.

we had no idea what to expect, and were excited to go.

this had been anticipated since January.

we had trained..some...ok, not too much.

we were as ready as we were ever going to be.

thoughts swirled through my mind.

"are we crazy? will i have to go around any obstacles? am i tough enough? i don't want to be the slowest on the team. will i love it as much as i hope i will?  will i get hurt?  it isn't going to be as scary as i think...yes it will.. no it won't.  i don't want to walk the plank."

we arrived at the ski hill: Mt. St Louis Moonstone.

there were so many cars coming off the highway, i couldn't believe it.

and this was with the priority parking.  there would be many more arriving by shuttle.

wow.

we parked and i was so nervous, i was shaking.

it wasn't cold but i couldn't stop shivering.

on our way to park we passed Arctic Enema and the Mud Mile.  

they were real.  

we were really there.

walking over to registration the excitement bubbled over.

we were all talking non-stop.

none of us had done it before.

none of us knew anyone who had.

none of us knew what to expect.

we were a team.

C2TM: Couch 2 Tough Mudder.

i was about to do Tough Mudder!

walking toward registration,  and seeing the START, i was definitely feeling as though i really did just get off the couch to come.

watching the first heat begin the ascent up the first ski hill..

crap, of course they start us off on a hill.

while waiting to begin i was looking around at the others waiting with me.

some appeared hard core: lots of muscle, face paint, scary.

others were scrawny, small, i felt i could blow them over.

there were many dressed up in costumes or themes, there to have fun.

some were looking as fearful as i was feeling, but trying to hide it.

after a speech, some cheers, O Canada, showing appreciation for our military, past and present, and a few more Hoo Rahs! 

we were off.

up hill.

i was doing it.

i ran for a bit, then walked, then ran again.

but i wasn't the only one.

that in itself was encouraging.

many walked, some ran, most did a little of both.

throughout the whole event.

Tough Mudder is not a race.

it is a challenge.

we were not racing the other people on the course.

although some others looked like they were determined to win.

and the event felt as though the five of us were just a small team within a larger team.  

a sweet feeling.

i was tougher than i thought.

the obstacles didn't appear as scary as i approached them.. or as i attempted them.

there was no shame in going around one you truly felt you couldn't do.

my personal goal was to attempt them all.

and i did.

i did hear some say they would never do it again.

but they appeared to be a minority.

i had so much fun i was already excited to plan for next year.

and i hadn't even completed it yet.

my fear hit me when we were running through the trees and i suddenly heard one of my teammates say "Michelle, Walk the Plank"

i remembering it not registering right away and as soon as it did i stopped in my tracks.  

i jogged slowly toward the rest of my team as they waited at the entrance to it.

there was a sign beside it pointing the direction to go if skipping the obstacle.

i did hesitate and look at that.

dan put his arm around me and spoke quietly.

he said i could skip it if i wanted but he knew i could do it.

he climbed right up behind me.

12' up i stared down into the water, and then at Jon, Ben & Nick who had already jumped by this time.

in the end i did it.

it wasn't that bad, but i'm glad dan was behind me.

many other obstacles, 

watching others do them or struggles with them.

none were so completely out of reach as a possibility.

i gained confidence as i went, and having a team was a huge part of that.

we assisted eachother.

when i didn't have the ability to scale a 9' wall i had teammates to hoist me up.

when i didn't know if i could make it up part of a ski hill i had a husband who piggy-backed me.

when we saw some gals struggling at the Berlin Wall, we were the ones who could help them.

running through the finish line, and receiving the Tough Mudder headband, was such a great feeling.

i hadn't died.

i hadn't even hurt myself.

i had done it.

i think back to the many times i questioned why i was doing it.

and i am so glad i committed to it.

the whole event was so much fun.

it was challenging.

it was, at times, painful.

but it was also encouraging.

the other participants, the volunteers, the staff.

it was a day of pushing ones self. 

of determination.

but you were never alone.

i loved my team.

each of us had strengths, fears, pain, encouragement for each other, jokes, sarcasm.

we chatted with others, helped others, were aided by others.

if we knew there was an event one of us was scared of then we got behind that person and encouraged.

thank you to my team.

(i was The Ancient One.  the eldest.)

Jon was our Beauty. haha.  and our constant sarcasm.  

but even when his knee hurt he kept pushing on.

Ben was Goliath...our giant.  our encouraging giant.

Nick the Young One.  full of energy and always had a smile.

Dan was.. dan.  he was our leader- although i know he would never say that.  it wasn't intentional.  

he just seemed to be the one everyone looked to at the events.

he was right up there with Nick with energy and smiles.  

he pushed us when we hesitated before the Electric Eel.

he pulled Goliath out of the Boa Constrictor as he struggled up the hill.

he did somersaults down part of one of the hills, just because.

he pushed me off Walk the Plank because i was scared 

(i asked him to push me)

C2TM.. you guys rocked! 

thank you for such a great day!

Thank you...

to the guy at the beginning, for pumping us up.

to the volunteers who encouraged & gave explanations of the best way to do an event.

to the volunteers who gave us water and bananas.

to the medics - i'm glad i didn't have to meet you.

to the guy who pulled me over the first hill in the mud mile.

to the lady who looked like she wanted to cry as we counted down to start - i wasn't alone.

to the guy who did the warrior carry with Nick, you were just cool.

to the Arctic Enema volunteers, your advice was great.

to the Walk the plank volunteer for not making me feel rushed.

to the 2 volunteers at Everest for the advice, i didn't smash my face.

to the girl i met at the mystery event, for applauding my attempt

to theresa for encouraging me to sign up in the first place... next year you're doing it with us! 

(but thanks for watching the kids and praying for us) 

The weather was beautiful.

the colors of the leaves were spectacular, and something to look at as you hiked up a ski hill.

Tough Mudder 2014!

More Mud!  

HOO RAH!

**Hey C2TM.. we completed the impossible!**

(this is from the website)

Play-by-play: The last 2 minutes of a Tough Mudder course

You just conquered 10-12 miles of Tough Mudder’s wrath – the only obstacle between you and the finish line is Electroshock Therapy®. You pause to gather your cojones, then try to run through the live wires without getting shocked (impossible). You get repeatedly zapped with 10,000 volts of electricity, and it does NOT tickle. After dropping your fair share of f-bombs, you cross the finish line. 

  

i feel fine

by reading the def'n of Acrophobia i don't have it exactly...

but i am afraid of heights.

that's right.

oh, 

i can sit on a cliff edge with my feet dangling over and be at peace.

i can admire the height and view.

however...

i'm not so good at scaling something (rock face...wall) that takes my feet higher than my own height.

i can do it if need be.. i have done it..

but most times at some point (even if tied in) i will freeze.

i will cling with all my strength.

i may cry as i rest my forehead against the wall.

i will need to slow my breathing.

i will need to know i have a good grip.

i will sometimes come down and give up.

i will sometimes calm enough.. pray enough.. and finish the task.

i will sometimes come down, regroup and do it again.

Then there's coming down from a height.

i have rappelled.  

highest is about 30ft.

i am completely freaked out stepping over the edge, 

and good once i get going.

i have cliff jumped 

largest being about 10ft.

don't care for it.

usually i stand there staring at the water wondering why this is fun for people.

that brings me to how i'm feeling about sunday.

on sunday i'm doing Tough Mudder.

THIS. SUNDAY!

**insert scream mixed of fear and excitement**

the route was posted for us to see.

dan and i went through the event with the kids.

checking out each obstacle.

some of them consist of: 

mud. 

(mud mile).

tunnels. 

(boa constrictor)

barbed wire.

(kiss of mud)

electrical shock.

(electric eel)

hay bales.

(bale bonds)

log carry.

(hold your wood)

teammate carry.

(warrior carry)

some of them are crazy, and i wonder why i signed up for this..as do many other people.

however...

the ones that make me nauseous..

the ones that make me wonder why i'm doing this are:

Balls to the Wall  

This is definitely not the rope climb that you remember from elementary school gym class. This monster of an obstacle will have you scaling 15’ up in the air, using only a muddy rope and a slick muddy wall to kick off of. Once you reach the top you must turn around and work up the courage to descend the rope on the other side. Mudders that don’t have a rope, like to train by alternating between pull ups and chin ups.

see pictures here

Walk the Plank

Test your fear of heights and cold all in one with our 15+ foot high jump into freezing water. Mudders℠ like to display their fancy diving skills (or belly-flops) at this obstacle. Don’t spend too much time pondering your leap – Marines at the top of the platform will chew you out, or worse, push you into the freezing depths below.

see pictures here

i'm afraid of heights.

these will be the biggest challenge for me.

that's why i have a team though.

the five of us will get each other through.

i'll be praying a lot..

a lot!

how am i when i think about Tough Mudder on Sunday?

i'm FINE

freaked out, insecure, neurotic and emotional

(thank you Italian Job for the definition)

bittersweet

i lay in bed listening to my in-laws saying bye to their son, my husband, as he left for work.

and i cried.

***

my in-laws have been living with us since the end of August.

when we arrived home from our trip to British Columbia we were greeted by them.

the kids have been sharing a room while their grandparents stayed in the girl's room.

why?

well, because they took a step.

a big step.

they put their house up for sale and it sold in a few days.

they were moving to BC.

Dan's sisters and their families live in BC.

after years of talking about it they took the plunge and are moving there.

but first they had to finish work.

so, they moved in with us after their closing date.

the kids have loved having grandpa and 'crazy ol' grandma around.

last week grandpa drove their moving truck...their house contents & motorcycle... out to BC.

then he hopped on a plane and arrived here last night.

this morning they were leaving.

road trip to visit some family on this side of the continent and then they'll be making their way to BC.

but for us and them it was time for our goodbyes.

so, this morning, 

i lay in bed listening to my in-laws saying bye to their son, my husband, as he left for work.

and i cried.

i got the kids up and ready for school.

before we went out to meet the bus they got their hugs from grandpa and grandma.

and i cried.

i got ready to go into town.

I was volunteering in the library at the kids' school.

before i headed to my car it was my turn to say bye.

i hate goodbyes.

my in-laws have lived about 5-10 minutes away since i married my husband almost 11 years ago.

they have been a go-to when we needed help with a car.

they have been a support when we had our boy... and then our girl.

they have helped with each of our moves.

they have been a second home.

they have had us over for supper, lunch, games, just to spend time together.

they have been our support when we have gone through some very personal and extreme situations as a young family.

grandma has taken the kids when i've been sick or needed to run out to get something. 

grandma has been available to go for a walk with the kids and i, to enjoy the beautiful day.

we have gone over to watch Nascar, or the Super Bowl, or Grey Cup.  

if we had a medical question we called up mom.  she always had the answer for us, or we could stop by and show her the problem.

i will miss my in-laws.

they are family, and i know that we will all miss them.

a whole lot.

they have been a huge part of our lives.

our loss is the Dan's sisters' gain.

their families will now have grandma and grandpa nearby - they don't have a house yet, but it will still be closer than it has been.

the six grandkids in BC will have them near to get to know more than just a Skype conversation or a short visit here and there.

it doesn't make their move any easier though.

i am thankful for the years i have had them here.

We love you Grandpa and Crazy ol' Grandma.

we will miss you so much!