Merry Christmas, friends! We hope this letter finds you in good spirits as we close out 2023 and look forward into the new year. We love the opportunity to reflect and reminisce on everything we share and experience each year, and we’d love to hear from you as well in your journeys!

In 2023, we had the joy of both visiting and hosting friends and family many times. We also were able to take part in some super fun activities, including (but not limited to!) several concerts for Ryan and Tiffany (Beyonce and Odesza for Tiffany – um WHAT!), Jude and Jake’s first show ever (Galactic Empire), the 20th anniversary theater viewing of The Lord of the Rings (Return of the King), Planet Con with extended family, plays at a local children’s theater, and The Nutcracker in Houston!

Perhaps the hardest transition of 2023 for our family is when my brother, Jonathan, sister-in-law, Christina, and our niece and nephew, Fayna and Basil moved to New York. Jonathan is in seminary at St. Vladimir’s as he studies to become a priest. We are very happy and proud, and also very sad that they are so far away after being so close for 2 years. One unexpected benefit to the move is that they stayed with us over the summer as they prepared their home to rent. We enjoyed lots of quality time with them, and tag teamed juggling 4 kids all summer long! Between countless visits to the zoo, library, lunch and play at Ikea (free childcare!), the pool, and playgrounds, we managed to keep the kids busy and help each other out with caring for 4 wild kiddos. We cherish the time we were able to spend together, and the closeness of the cousin relationships our kids share!

We love that our brother Christian is still here, and we often spend Chiefs game days together with him and his partner, AJ. We enjoyed a quieter Thanksgiving this year where I did my best to cook only half the amount of food we usually do, and spent some great time together. That evening after dinner we trekked to the Plaza for the Christmas lighting ceremony, which was such a fun thing for Jude and Jake to experience.

Ryan and Christian are rounding out a full year of a comic-con event they created called Tower-Con. Their comic book company, Beskar Books has been a really great way for them to meet more people within the comic book community. I can’t believe everything they’ve accomplished this year! From starting small with just assisting another vendor at a local comic-con, to owning their own business and running their own comic-con, their growth is astounding. In March, they were vendors for the first time at the largest comic-con in Kansas City: Planet-Con. It was a dream come true for them, and something that usually takes people years to work towards. My sister, Lynette and her family were able to visit for spring break over the same dates and attend the comic-con as well, which was an extra special treat.

Ryan is in his second year as Manager of IT Support at Living Water International (LWI). We just returned from a visit to Houston where he worked for the week in the office and got to have lots of face-time with his team and other staff members. He is staying very busy between work and Beskar Books. He’s always coming up with new ideas for the social media and connection side of Beskar Books, and both he and Christian are really great at creating connection within the local comic book community.

This year has been one of immense personal growth and healing for me. I had the privilege of continuing in therapy, as well as doing EMDR for the first time. I highly recommend putting in the work to finding a therapist that fits well for you. You truly never really know how helpful and healing therapy can be until you are consistent for a period of time, and commit to working through the challenging stuff with a professional. I’m so grateful for everything this year entailed on that end, and this is just the beginning!
A huge update for me: after nearly 8 years, I am back to working full time! I have been working at Woodside teaching classes for what was 2 years at the end of August. In October I accepted the position of Group Fitness Coordinator, which perfectly combines my love of fitness and administration/organization. I feel so lucky to be working in a space that brings me so much joy and is so rewarding every day. I’m working directly with my amazing boss, the Group Fitness Director, and assisting in administrative tasks and creating systems to improve the quality and efficiency of our department. What a dream!

Far right photo by Angelique Humcke

Jude will be 8 in January, and is in the second grade. This year he’s discovered a new love of audio books! He loves renting books through the Libby app on his tablet and listens to more books than we can count! Jude also loves music, and recently started playing around on Garage Band on Ryan’s computer, writing melodies and adding beats here and there. He is always excited about Lego and puzzles, and his favorite is to sit and listen to a book while building. Much to our bewilderment, he has developed quite a snarky whit and a good amount of sarcasm. It’s fun most of the time (help).

Photos by Angelique Humcke

Jake turned 5 in September, and is in preschool this year. He is at a Montessori school and is absolutely thriving. He is learning how to write in cursive, and is even reading short words! He loves writing his name and coming up with funny ways to write rhyming words. In June he had both his tonsils and adenoids removed, which was a difficult recovery, but has had amazing results with his breathing and sleeping. Poor kid had blocked air passageways all this time! He is a trooper. Jake likes to give lots of hugs and kisses almost as much as he likes to wrestle. His favorite activities include almost anything outside, and he is the first to volunteer to help with any work that needs to be done!

Photos by Angelique Humcke

This year we experienced many joys, and also some loss. My paternal grandfather passed away in September. Although I did not grow up spending much time with him, processing loss and death of friends and family over the last few years, and specifically with someone who shares your blood, is at the least, complicated and sorrowful. Life is so sacred and valuable, and as I reflect on my grandfather’s I am so thankful for him and the life he had here on earth. Time is precious, and we are blessed to spend it with so many people we love.

We are yet again blessed with the most amazing family photo experience with my dear friend, Angelique. How incredible it is to have a friend who simply plays with the kids and ends up with photos like these. Truly a gift (thank you!). Enjoy the flood of photos I am wholly unashamed to bombard you with.

We wish you the very warmest of wishes, and pray you are filled with love, peace, and have a space where you feel welcome and safe. Merry Christmas to you, and Happy New Year!

– Tiffany, Ryan, Jude, and Jake