Christmas Picture & Letter

Merry Christmas to our family and friends! It’s hard to believe a new year is almost here. Time seems to go faster every year.
As I reflect back over the past year, it seems like it was a year of adjustments and changes. Mom Pfaffmann went home to heaven, which she had longed for, on Jan. 3. She still had a good mind at 94, and was granted her desire to stay in her own home. Her calm and peaceful presence is missed so much.
In February, Heidi’s engagement to Luke Knapp was announced. It was an adjustment for us to have our first child leave the nest, but feel confident that God brought them together. They were married May 27. They are doing well, living in Morton (only about 10 min. away!). Heidi is enjoying married life, and especially likes cooking. She makes frequent calls home about recipes, pink dyed laundry, etc. She is in her junior year of nurse’s training, and Luke is an architectural engineer, working in Morton.
Adam turned 16 in June and got his license! It has been wonderful having another eager driver again. He worked for Uncle Tom a lot this summer, and helped him all through harvest driving the auger wagon. He still loves hunting and trapping, and so far this year has gotten a buck, a coyote, and several coons. I just love it when I open my freezer and there’s a coonskin lying on top of the food!
Wendi turned 15 in August and was thrilled to get her permit. She says she thinks we should be over being nervous since we’ve been through this twice before – I don’t think it ever gets easy! She really enjoyed helping my niece Jill with her 4 children for 2 weeks this summer. She likes babysitting, talking, being with friends, and playing her violin with the Central Ill Orchestra. Her biggest love, though, is the piano, and I’m her biggest fan. I simply love hearing her music throughout the day.
Luke continues to farm our entire house, and begs to have friends over because he can’t harvest everything alone. He collects untold treasures (junk) every Saturday at the shop, and hauls it all home. His 4-H project was a workbench, and he’s spent hours making and inventing things on it. He loves our new puppy, and their energy levels are about equal. At 10, he still loves snuggling and being read to, and we treasure those times, knowing how soon it will be gone.
In June we spent our usual week in Wisconsin with some of the Pfaffmann’s, and had our best fishing ever. In September we spent 5 days in Mexico with my brother Bill & Joan. We thoroughly enjoyed touring the town, eating fish tacos, and especially being with the kids at the orphanage. We would have loved to smuggle a few of them home with us. We left there and then spent 5 days in Scottsdale, AZ. We were able to go to the Grand Canyon and zoo, but mostly just relaxed by the pool.
If you’ve read the above, you can probably tell what Max and I do – just trying to keep everything together and taking time to appreciate each one of our children and treasure each day. We pray that each one of you can also take time this season to appreciate God’s gift to man. Our prayers are with many of you throughout the year!

Our love,
Max & Mary, Adam, Wendi, & Luke