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