Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Dan & Lani's December Letter

I always like to write a "Christmas Letter", but this year it just didn't get done by then. So here I am on New Year's Eve with a letter finally written and just getting ready to mail it out. I thought if I posted it here, some friends would get a chance to hear what we've been up to. So here it is:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Friends and Family,

What a busy year we’ve had! And then this last few weeks were especially crazy with record wintery weather, lots of days off of school, relatives staying with us, and concerns about Dan’s dad’s health.

This year we have five different school schedules to keep track of! Hannah is a freshman at Chapman University in Orange, CA, Micah is a junior at Gresham H.S., Caleb is a sixth grader at Clear Creek M.S., Levi is a fourth grader at Hollydale Elementary (where Dan teaches music), and Lani still teaches TAG students in the David Douglas Schools.

Here’s a bit about each of us: Hannah graduated from Gresham H.S. and is now a music major at Chapman. She’s doing well there, but we miss her since she’s far from home. She’ll be going on choir tour with their University Choir in early January.

Lani & I drove her down to school in August in a combined trip with our good friends, Paul & Linda McDonald, who were taking their son, Ian, to Pepperdine. We also got to stay with Troy & Shauna Wagner for a couple of days in San Diego where they had just moved as Troy began preaching for the La Mesa Church of Christ. On the same trip we stayed with good friends Rex & Jennifer Hamilton in Huson, CA and Keith & Kimberly Cox in Campbell, CA. It was a fun trip with friends, even if it was hard for both families to drop their child off at college.

Micah is enjoying a very busy junior year. He’s in Concert Choir and the Overtones vocal ensemble, the Symphonic Band, and was also a part of the school musical and is doing other theatre productions. He has made some good friends and they can often be found in our family room playing their favorite video games. If you haven’t seen Micah in awhile, you might be surprised to know that he is about 6’5”!

Caleb, who is now over 5’8”, is doing very well in academics and activities as a middle schooler. He is playing baritone horn in band and was recently honored for receiving all A’s on his report card! He also loves playing video games and is quite an avid reader too!

Levi is now in a 4th-5th looping classroom at Hollydale Elementary. He and Dan walk over to school each day. Levi is singing in choir and is also a “Nature Habitat Leader” (helping care for the school gardens and animals). Like his older brothers, he also (surprise!) likes playing video games and he enjoys the Cartoon Network.

Lani is teaching 2nd-5th grade TAG students again and enjoys the special projects and activities she gets to plan. She has been involved in a ladies’ Bible study and some special singing activities at church. It seems like she ends up doing a lot of extra things to keep up with all of our kids and their activities (like sewing costumes, going to practices, etc.).

Dan is in his third year of teaching elementary music and is taking classes for his Administrator’s License. He’s also still singing in the Portland Symphonic Choir and in a small group called “Offering”.

Dan’s dad, Dick, is struggling right now with cancer and pneumonia, so please keep him in your prayers. We hope this letter finds all of you blessed by God. May you enjoy His peace and joy this new year!

Dan & Lani, Hannah, Micah, Caleb, & Levi Dalzell


503-492-6405 home - 503-927-2210 Dan’s cell - 503-927-2211 Lani’s cell
And you can find Dan, Lani, Hannah, & Micah on Facebook!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are a few recent pictures too:


No comments: