2/20/09 van Beek Family Update

    Thanks to all of you who keep on checking this blog and asking for updates. I feel very blessed and happy to report that we are all doing well and enjoying life in North Carolina. I continue to have MRIs about 2 times per year and everything continues to appear stable. I am trying to stay on a consistent exercise schedule, which is not always easy with 3 young children and all of their activities. I have been attending an excellent Beth Moore bible study on the book of Esther at my church.  I started a book group a couple of years ago with friends and neighbors and it is still going strong.

  Fortunately, Willem’s job at Bank of America appears to be stable. He is working as hard as ever but still manages to coach Luke’s soccer team. When he can, he also enjoys taking the boys on mountain hikes. With the demands of  his job these days he has not had a lot of time for extra activities. We are looking forward to a little less intensity in his job this spring.

  Luke is now in 5th grade. He will turn 11 in a few weeks. How can it possibly be? He is doing well in school. He loves to read, play soccer, spend time with friends and is our video game expert.

  Andrew is in 2nd grade and is age 8. He is also good student. This past summer he began playing baseball and seems to be “a natural.” He is looking forward to playing again this spring.  His biggest desire is for us to get a dog. In fact, he wants one so much he has been saving his own money for months. Let me tell you, it’s going to take much more then money to convince me that our family needs a dog right now!! He really does have a tender heart toward all kinds of animals. I wonder if becoming a vetrinarian might be in his future?

   Jakob keeps us laughing and amazes us with his determination most days. He has a great little power wheelchair for the last two years.  He uses at school and in the neighborhood. He really is a good and cautious driver.  He is able to walk with tall leg braces and a walker but it takes a lot of energy for him to go just a short distance. We are pleased to see that he continues to progress in therapy. I am trying to be creative about keeping him active. Recently he expressed an interest in karate. We found a school that was experienced in working with special needs children and he started lessons with a class of  typical children this past January. In fact, tonight he earns his very first belt. The first belt level will be green. He is very excited. Next week he will begin swim lessons and he is very excited about this also. He is not afraid to try anything! He is doing well in a christian transitional kindergarten program and will begin kindergarten all day at public school in the fall.  I am praying that it will be a positive experience for all involved.

  We are planning a 3-week trip to Europe to see family and friends in July. We will be celebrating Willem’s mother’s 80th birthday. His sister has put us into contact with a Dutch family who is interested in traveling to America during  that time. We have arranged a house swap with them and are very excited about how well everything is coming together.  Now if our boys will travel well… we should be all set.

  I hope that all of you reading this are well. In the case of my blog entries, no news typically means that we are just going about the ordinary busyness of our lives without much new to report.  Thanks for your interest and support!

    Still Cherishing Every God-Given Day,

       Janelle and the boys