Merry Christmas Letter

As we purpose to celebrate the birth of our Savior...may this season  be filled with the joy and peace that only the Holy Spirit can bring.

Andy has penned a synopsis of our year.  For those who are interested in more, feel free to scroll down and read through my blog... We always appreciate your comments and would love to hear from you if you stop by.

Columbia Bible Church Harvest Party 2014 
Photo taken by Bethany Kircher

 
Dear Friends and Family,

The Cooses send our greetings to you from Idaho and the Mountain West. It has been another GREAT year for Dyana, Andy, Sarah (15) and Thomas (11). Christmas marks almost 2 years that Dyana has been cancer-free and we are so thankful, giving God all the glory. 

Looking back on the past 12 months, I think we can safely say that we've fully settled and rediscovered our previous life in Idaho. The 2 year detour to Australia, California and Seattle is becoming a more distant memory. Boise is likely to remain the kids' “hometown” now that we are back again. 

Sarah is back with her violin teacher Jenny. She is playing well and involved in church orchestra, some chamber music and is looking forward to Suzuki Institute next year. She still rides horses occasionally and still loves all things equestrian. She would really like to have her own horse one day. In the mean time, she is taking driver's education and will soon be on the public roadways (so watch out!). 

Thomas is still the same bundle of energy he has always been, active and imaginative (I can hear him now having a loud session of make believe). Legos and bike riding are still his two favorite activities (school is his least favorite). He also likes to sing in church and swim in the community pool in the summer when daddy comes home. 

Andy is back at the Boise Airport in his previous job as the TSA's Director for Idaho. Airport security, 200 TSA employees in Idaho and all the normal government issues keep him busy most of the time. During his down time, he is likely to be playing with the kids, reading or spending some quiet time with his bride. 

Dyana is a miracle, as most who know us are aware by now. She is also quite possibly a saint for living with Andy almost 25 years (this coming June). She has had a big year. She still goes to have her anti-cancer “miracle juice” infusions every 3 weeks. This year, however, she was also invited to participate in a study at the University of Washington where she received a research Vaccine for her type of cancer (HER-2 positive). In order to take part, she was required to stop one of her miracle drugs for the duration of the study (one year). After much prayer for God's guidance, she decided to do it. It required us to travel to Seattle every month for 4 months for her to get the vaccine shots. She also had to drink some kind of tea made from a mushroom extract every 12 hours over the whole period. She actually had her last drink of “tea” this morning (yuk). Anyway, the study is over and we are praying for the vaccine to be another weapon that will help her body to fight any attempt by the cancer to return. 

Over the last year we have been living our lives to the fullest. We went to Hawaii with Pop-pop Jake and Grandma Linda last December. Then we went on a cruise with Grandma Joan and Aunt Sherri in January to see Dane get married on Grand Cayman. We took the kids to Italy for 3 weeks in May to see Uncle Andreas and visit some amazing places (Rome, Venice, Tuscany and the Alps). 

We began attending a really special family integrated church in the spring called Columbia Bible Church that meets right in our neighborhood. It has been great for all of us! We do miss our all of our friends at Heritage, but enjoy the opportunity to get together when we can.

This summer Uncle David and BJ visited from Philly. It was GREAT to show them around Idaho a bit. Andy's mom took them to the Idaho Shakespeare Festival to see Les Mis. I already mentioned all the visits to Seattle in the fall. Each time we got to see Chris and Suzanne for a short time. Sarah and Thomas got to play with Josh and Abby during a couple of visits, so that was really nice. The cousins got to be close when we lived in Renton in 2013. 

Now that 2014 is coming to a close, it is fun to look back and see all that God has done and how wonderfully well he has done it. We are blessed beyond our expectations or what we deserve. Looking ahead, we leave for Palm Springs in a few days to spend Christmas with the Thomas Family and Grandma Joan. Next summer we plan to visit more family, Coose and Wire branches when we go to Oklahoma for the family reunion. We haven't been in years! What a blessing family is. 

In closing, we want to wish each and every one of you a Blessed and Holy Christmas and a very special 2015. 

Andy, Dyana, Sarah and Thomas

Happy Fall

The seasons of life seem to pass ever so quickly.  As the world continues to spin by God's will, we enjoy yet another autumn in all of it's glory!

The skies in Idaho are brilliant blue this time of year.  As the sun circles lower on the horizon, we experience lovely light throughout the day.

Pumpkin patches have always been a fun treat for our family...this year, we headed to a local patch for some harvest fun!

 Thomas taking a turn on the "Dangle Hopper"

 

Zipping across the field... 

I think this little boy had a very good time!

That is a big ol' pumpkin!

Sarah trying out the Pumpkin Sling Shot

This year we found ourselves forever lost in a corn maze.  We usually try to avoid these type of attractions as we value our time.   The hay fever must have gone to our heads, for we felt the need to journey through together.  It was a learning experience.  One of building team work and listening skills.  Two and half hours later... we made our way out!

"Does anyone know where we are?"

Linder Farms

God is ever faithful to provide for our family... we are so thankful for good health, abundant life and another autumn to enjoy together!

^"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. " Romans 12:12

A Wild Ride on the Payette!

It all started with Grandma....she invited our family to take a ride on the rapids of the Payette River here in our wilds of Idaho.   

My husband's mother is a thrill seeker... she loves the wind through her hair and excitement of the river.  She has passed on her zeal for life to her boys... especially my husband. 



After a summer of convalescing and recovery from neck surgery, he seemed to feel it was the "appropriate" way to celebrate healing and restoration.  Are you all with me???  This seemed a crazy thing to do! :)  But the fun they had...

  My sweet Thomas... a thrill seeker from birth...enjoyed every moment of the experience!

Sarah giving me the "I'm not sure I want to do this look..."

 

Grandma, Aunt Ruth and Great Aunt Teddy who was visiting from Oklahoma...

 She decided to keep me company and help me take pictures!

I decided to take a bit more of a conservative approach.  Dry land seemed the "appropriate" place for me to stay... Call me chicken?  Oh no...  Just level headed and responsible.  Someone had to drive the car down to pick them up ... someone had to take pictures to document the experience... and I figured... that someone should be me.  It just seemed the right thing to do. 
 

" It's not too late to get out, Sarah!"

 A quick lesson in rafting rules and etiquette...

 The last photo before they left...

 Let the rapids begin!

 They made it!

Grandma and the kids ended up swimming anyway... but they had a lot of fun!

Aunt Ruth and Uncle Jonathan...

 

They are already talking about next year...

Summer Days

Summer is quickly passing by and I had to capture a bit of the happenings!

Upon our return from Italy, my husband learned that he needed to have surgery to repair a degenerated disk in his neck... he spent the better part of June recovering from surgery...

A little grumpy having to wear a cervical collar for a month!  

But all went well with his recovery... 

Sarah was able to attend Suzuki Institute... A very inspiring week!

Sarah in the midst of her repertoire class

We also celebrated Grandpa Coose turning 70!

And Thomas celebrated 11 years and counting!

Great Grandma, Grandpa and Grandma came up from California to help us celebrate!  We had a fun filled visit... and not enough pictures! 

Four generations in the kitchen!

The garden has been growing without much attention...

We also had a wonderful visit with dear friends and family, David and Brenda...

Life has been full and and very good...

I never knew Dahlias to be so lovely...

Happy Memories of Italy

Today we woke up in Idaho!  It's hard to believe that our trip has come and gone and that we are home again... only with the sweet memories of our time.

 Andreas and the kids in front of the Basilica in Ferrara

The Castle in Ferrara

 An interesting oval building in Ferrara

Our last day we spent in Ferrara, Andreas' home town.  He is a German expatriate working and living in Italy... He is also one of our dear friends and we consider him a part of the family.

We had a fabulous trip mostly because of his effort to drive us around and show us the real Italy. We were able to escape the tourist areas and get a real feel for the culture of Italy... we also had an interpreter who guided us through conversations and most imortantly, the Menu :)

 The famous Mille Miglia car race was in progress and 

Andy was thrilled it came right through Ferrara

 Our last meal together...at Andreas' favorite restaurant in Ferrara

 Walking the streets of Ferrara near Andreas home...

 Our roof top terrace in our Hotel in Bologna, our final night in Italy

We leave Italy with warm memories we have made as a family... Blessed we are.

Thank you Uncle Andreas!