The Z Fam.

There was no way we weren't having a white Christmas this year. We spent Christmas with the Woolley's and the Zylstra's and we went down to Chicago for a couple of days also. I don't really have that much to write about. It has been very cold here. I keep telling Jason that our digital thermometer is broken because it is stuck in the single digits. Anyway we are getting new doors put on our kitchen cabinets and we are still looking for a church home. That is all the news from the Zylstra clan. Also, if you care to read it, our Christmas letter.

Merry Christmas from the Zylstra’s
19 December 2008
Dear Friends and Family:
With nearly 12 inches of fresh snow today (finally sending this 2 days later but since have had 6” more snow) and the kids
busy watching Prince Caspian it is only fitting that we write our 2008 Christmas update, our first one from Rolling Hill Dr.
After 12 years in Gallup and Rehoboth, New Mexico we now find ourselves living once again in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Three days after we decided to move to Grand Rapids, Jason took a job working for a group of family foundations, we left for
a week at Club Med in Ixtapa Mexico with Siân’s family in celebration of her parent’s 40th anniversary. The week was filled
with perfect weather, warm water, too much food and many new and relaxing adventures, a definite treat.
Leaving Gallup/Rehoboth at the end of June was not easy for any of us our entire married life was spent there; all three kids
were born at Rehoboth McKinley Hospital; it was home for our family. Before we left we packed in as many weekend trips
as we could to cross some items off our long list of I wish we could have visited… We are grateful for many good times,
many good friends, and countless blessings from our time in New Mexico. By the end of July our house was under contract
and bought by our friends the Haveman’s, who signed the closing papers at the hospital just after the birth of their second
child.
Grand Rapids provided hundreds of housing options and we are pleased to be settling on a quiet cul de sac loaded with kids
and perched on a ravine. Although our house isn’t perfect, it is adequate and we are in the process of starting a few
projects, it’s fair to say we all love our neighborhood, complete with turkeys and deer.
Dayna (10), Dirk (8), and Kiera (5) are all attending Millbrook Christian School. The elder stateswoman Dayna is in 5th grade
and now can locate all 50 states on a map and name their corresponding capitals. Her math homework has already been
delegated to dad after it stretched mom’s math prowess. To contribute to the auditory chaos of our house Dayna has
decided to play the saxophone in the school band. The first two weeks of practice sounded a lot like a sick cow but she has
learned quickly and will be playing a couple Christmas carols at a party tomorrow.
After claiming he is the smartest person he knows, Dirk has advanced to 2nd grade and after a few weeks of tough
adjustments is doing very well. He and his friends terrorize the playground each day but Dirk’s compassionate side has
really shown in how he cares for one of his classmates with special needs, Jake. For the first time this fall Dirk was able to
play soccer on green grass and rain instead of brown grass in blue skies. His biggest joy has been spending countless
hours with the two other 2nd grade boys on our block and his biggest disappointment is that neither of them care much for
riding bikes.
Kindergarten Kiera is trying to get used to going to school for 3 full days
a week and is most proud that she knows how to spell cookie. She is
pleased to have her own room and has a best friend Evie down the
street. Kiera too, joined a soccer team this fall but to say she played
would be inaccurate. She and teammate Meghan spent the bulk of
practice and games chasing each other, doing somersaults, picking
flowers and grass, and doing just about anything but concentrating on
the game. Her stint as goalie really put her parent’s ability to bite their
tongues on the line. Two months later, Jason’s tongue is still sore.
God has blessed us beyond our imagination this year. Our children’s
teachers have all commented on how well adjusted our kids are and
what a contribution they have made to their classes. We have tried to
open our eyes and those of our children to those around us who are less
fortunate and how we can help them. As our family anticipates Christmas
we have talked much about our call to help those that don’t have as
much as we do. In an effort to put our faith in action we have decided to
help an immigrant family who recently had their second child and found out that the husband lost his job with their Christian
School tuition hence we are sending a digital Christmas card instead of a printed one.
To our family and friends around the world we say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We welcome visitors to our home
and invitations to yours.
Love, Jason, Siân, Dayna, Dirk & Kiera
Tel: 616.977.3914 E-mail: sjzlstra@msn.com or jasonz@rdvcorp.com blog: http://thezfam.blogspot.com/
2308 Rolling Hills Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Face book: Siân is addicted, Jason is an occasional user