2011: Year in Review Multimedia Extravaganza

It seems cliche to say, but this was a very busy year for the Krosts, full of changes big and small.

In January 2011, we lost Grandma Josie. Her passing came 32 days after the sudden death of my Uncle John, Grandma Josie's youngest son. Both losses were sad and painful in their own way, and the entire family is still adjusting. But as always, God had a plan.

We learned that we would need to leave our home in Sterling Heights in late winter. We were unsure of where to go and how to preserve some sense of normalcy for Madeline and Ava. Our family approached us about occupying Grandma Josie's house. We humbly and gratefully accepted and began preparing the house. We shared some special memories with my aunts, uncles, and cousins going through Grandma and Grandpa's personal items. It was a bittersweet time.

We officially moved in during Easter break. The backdrop of Christ's death and resurrection was a comfort and encouragement to us as we closed one chapter of our lives and began to write a new one.  But we also said goodbye to another family member: our dog, Gatsby.  We found him a new family through A New Leash on Life pet rescue.  He is missed daily, but we know he's with a family better suited to handle his health demands.

We settled in to the new house and began to weave together old and new memories. Madeline and Ava met some neighborhood kids and spent many pleasant hours in the backyard, playing in the warm springtime weather. We all remarked that Grandma and Grandpa would have loved to hear children's laughter in their home again.

We had Ava's 2nd birthday party and Maddie's 6th birthday party here at the house. Friends and family from far and near joined us to celebrate another blessed year of "firsts" for the girls. Ava's first include potty training and moving to a "big-girl bed"; Madeline's firsts include graduating to first-grade, learning how to ride a two-wheeler, and getting to perform in the school's spring concert.  That's her at 1:50 reciting Psalm 139:14 in front of several hundred people!

On Madeline's actual birthday, June 14, we were in Illinois visiting Oma and Opa.  Auntie Tasha, Todd's sister, gave birth to her third child, Abigail Esther, on Maddie's birthday!  Both girls were overjoyed to hold their precious new cousin.

Maddie played t-ball for Roseville parks and rec in July. She enjoyed it, and her little sister enjoyed watching and cheering, "Go, dee dee!".

We had a bit of a scare in August when Ava had a suspected allergic reaction to eating nuts.  After a trip to our pediatrician and a pediatric allergist we were given a tree nut allergy diagnosis. She is allergic to walnuts and pecans, but we're cautious about all other tree nuts, which include almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, and pistachios. We're all adjusting to learning how to read food ingredient labels and use an EpiPen.

Maddie is currently in first-grade.  She is doing very well and makes progress every day.  She has gifts in writing and art.  She most enjoys recess, music, and computer class.  More on that later....

Ava is at home with her daddy during the day.  The two are quite a pair and enjoy going on "missions" together.  She is definitely daddy's girl.  She most enjoys playing with her babies and Barbies.  She is also a fan of dressing up.

Todd is continuing his seminary classes at Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit. He is able to do this through an agreement with Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, where he is officially enrolled. He is seeking his Masters in Divinity on the path to becoming a full ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church.  He continues to serve as the Intergenerational Minister at our church, Warren First United Methodist, creating programs and events such as First Friday Film Festival, a beginner computer class, and confirmation preparation. He had the opportunity to preach several times this summer.  His class schedule fluctuates between day and evening classes, so sometimes we're "like ships passing in the night" when I'm just getting home from work and he is leaving for class. But we're excited to see where God will send our family and we invite you to keep us in your prayers.

Christina began a new position at St. Paul this year. After four years of being a third-grade home room teacher, she moved to teaching K-8 computer classes.  Click here to see her class blog.  She enjoys seeing all 500 St. Paul students, including Madeline! She mostly enjoys sharing her love of technology with her students and teaching what it means to be a good digital citizen.


One final picture...the annual Krost-Corace Family Christmas picture in front of Nana and Papa's tree, taken in early December when we celebrated Nana's birthday.

And that brings us to the present.  Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement...but keep 'em coming! We'd love to keep in touch with our friends and family near and far.  You can subscribe to this blog and get new posts through email, or you can follow Christina on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest by clicking the buttons on the left in the sidebar.  Hope to talk to you soon!  Have a blessed Christmas season and a happy, healthy New Year!