2018 Christmas Card and Year Highlights!!

2018 Christmas Card!! 2018 Highlights!

He did it! No he didn’t! North Korea has turned a new page. Or not. The Russians meddled. The Russians don’t care. You can always trust CNN. Or FOX -- depending on what you want to believe. Basically this year has been a lot like one of those Choose Your Adventure games… but more like “choose your own truth.” If you haven’t already made up you mind before looking at an issue, it’s confusing, isn’t it? Some are calling this a “post-truth” era. In spite of that dim assessment of our times, some things are true, even if the waters are muddied. Family matters. Health matters. Friendships matter. Spirituality matters. What we invest into each of those has an impact on us, those around us, and in turn, shapes the world.

This year, we’ve chosen to invest heavily in family, health, friendships, and spirituality. Though that journey has not always been smooth, we believe it’s worthwhile.

Christmas is called the Advent Season in many circles. We believe that story of the first advent: Immanuel (God with us). We believe the Bible hope/warning that there will be another advent, the second one being no small affair in a manger. In a world filled with post-truth sentiment, we hold the promise of second advent as just that: a promise. We find great hope and direction in that. We want the same for you.

The 2018 summary:

Gelerie is still working for her group in the Fort Collins doing 2/3 time. There will be a new hospital opening in 2019 just down the road from us, so she will spend some time there is our guess. Erik continues working in commercial photography and video. We’re both still heavily involved in managing both short- and long-term rentals.

Aubrey is a sophomore at Dayspring Christian Academy here in Greeley and enjoying it. She’s in honor choir, a NASA project class and was inducted into National Honor Society this fall. Aubrey got her braces off this year. Driving is the next milestone. She’s confident. Parents are nervous.

Finn is enjoying fourth grade at the local Adventist elementary school. He’s constantly busy with either Legos, duct tape, hot glue, popsicle sticks and rubber bands. Sometimes a combination of all those. Yes. Bare feet beware. He got braces on this year. He continues in piano lessons and is doing well.

Aubrey and Finn with Erik also participated in audio drama program Discovery Mountain Season 5 by Voice of Prophecy. It is similar to Adventures in Odyssey. Finn and Aubrey played two of the main characters and they really enjoyed it. You can listen here. 

In March Erik and Gelerie took their 25^th anniversary trip (one year late) and went to New Zealand for two weeks. Kids stayed with Grandpa and Grandma Stenbakken. We had a great time. Fantastic sights. Delicious food. Lots of adventure. Tasty chocolate. Good weather. And lots of driving. The left-hand driving (aka “the wrong way”) was a challenge at first, but Erik got pretty good at it and had to adjust once we got home.

We spent a week on Sanibel Island, Fla., with Erik’s folks, his sister, and her whole family. Lots of beach walking, biking, and generally relaxing with family. It was a true vacation.

Erik finished a major 2 year+ (anti)pornography project this summer. It's called New Freedom to Love. You can see the work at newfreedomtolove.org.

We also spent a few weekends in the mountains in Grand Lake, Colorado. Although there were no fireworks due to fires this year, we still enjoyed 4th of July there with family and friends.

May you have a great new year filled with many blessings. Thank you for being a part of our lives. 2018 Photo Highlights below. Not pictured: about 300 days of boring, hard work. But you don't want to see that. So here's the fun stuff! 

Kayaking in the world's largest sea cave, Rikoriko Cave in Poor Knights Islands
Tutakaka Coast, North Island, New Zealand

Waipu Caves, North Island, New Zealand
Glow worms can be seen deeper in the cave with self-guided tour

A Room with A View
Sandstone House, Ruby Bay, South Island, New Zealand

Tutea Falls, the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall, 7 meter drop.
We are underneath the boat, breathing in the air pocket after flipped over

We Survived!!

Split Apple Rock, Abel-Tasman National Park

Abel-Tasman National Park

Inner tube adventure, Greymouth

Basket of Dreams, Queenstown Hill over looking Queenstown

We did an overnight cruise in Doubtful Sound, South Island, New Zealand 

Sanibel Island, Florida

Stenbakken/Welch Family

Cousins!

Recording for Discovery Mountain, Voice of Prophecy

July 4th in Grand Lake

New Freedom to Love Speakers

2017 Christmas Card and Past Year Highlights!

2017 was a busy year! After cutting our Country Christmas album, it was all work and play. The work part is mostly boring to tell, although we do both enjoy our jobs. Erik's still doing commercial photography and video. Gelerie is an anesthesiologist working in Fort Collins/Loveland area. Finn is in the middle of 3rd grade and Aubrey has transitioned into high school. Photos tell the story of the fun stuff we did. 

This is also the place for our annual reflection. I (Erik) am finishing a year-long experiment with a group of friends: we're reading the Bible across the span of the year. The whole Bible, a few chapters at a time, day by day, then we get together once a week and discuss what we've found. I've read through it several times in the past on my own, journaling my way through it. But discussing it week by week has been a great experience. And you know what we found? We've found the story of a gracious, wildly generous Creator God who wants us to be in relationship with Him. If you'd like to read the story for yourself, you can. Find an easy-to-read Bible, and start. Here is a link to the day-by-day reading plan I used, and Here is the intro/how-to. 

It's our prayer that you find the peace and hope in a God of love who is returning some day to set this mess of a world right. If you know things are not as they should be and we as humans have done a poor job of fixing things ourselves, I invite you to come and see for yourself. Peace and hope await. 

  

2017 Highlights

Snow tubes for Christmas 2016

Rocky Mountain National Park - Building a Snow Cave

Tubing down the Grand Lake Nordic Center Sled Run

In May, Aubrey's Eighth Grade Graduation from Adventist Christian School.
Both grandmothers were able to attend.

Aubrey turned 14 this year in August. She is a couple inches taller than Gelerie now.

Erik is the BIG 50!

In June, we soaked up the sun in Maui with Gelerie's mom.

Napili Beach

Nakalele Blowhole

Enjoyed spending time in San Diego celebrating Gelerie's cousin Diane and Kevin Montondo's wedding

Kids enjoyed spending time with their cousins who were in Colorado for the summer

First backpacking trip for Finn. Went with our friends, the Aakkos.

After a brutal hike of approximately 1 mile we arrived at our destination.

Pathfinder Camporee in Custer, South Dakota with lots of rain in August

Erik receives Master Guide, the highest Pathfinder rank at Camporee

Erik and Gelerie celebrated their 25th Anniversary in August, always the day after Aubrey's birthday.
Erik decided to recycle Aubrey's cake. 

Aubrey's first Homecoming at her new school, Dayspring Christian Academy in Greeley

Lonetree Reservoir trying out the new kayak. Hurray for Craigslist!

Late summer in Grand Lake, Colorado

In October, Erik and his dad were fishing in Grand Lake, Colorado

We do enjoy hearing from you so please feel free to comment and we will be in touch! Visit when you can! If you give us a heads up, we could spend time in the mountains together.

2016 Year in Review and Christmas Card!

2016 has turned out to be quite a year! 

November alone brought us the Cubs winning the World Series, President (elect) Trump, and Gelerie getting her car totaled in a crazy accident. Many of our friends are genuinely concerned about their lives, the future of our country and our planet. And rightly so. "Unpredictable" would be a safe word to use about the future. So what's the glue that keeps our sanity together? Our faith. 

I lack the faith that we exist because random chemistry, biology, and physics played in perfect harmony over billions and billions of sequential miraculous accidents driven by chance. I believe that we were made. Created. Gifted the life we have. I believe that God gave us freedom of choice. In that freedom, our ancestors chose poorly and and began millennia of devolution from our intended purpose. But CHRISTMAS IS THE PROMISE that the story doesn't end in self-destruction. Christmas commemorates the first Advent. Not many were ready for that kind of Savior or that kind of Kingdom. Then, as now, most were jockeying for power, influence, and money (both the religious and the secular). The Kingdom Jesus preached wasn't that kind of kingdom, and He didn't want to be that kind of king (nor His followers to be that kind of citizen). That kind of radical, anti-establishment talk got Him killed. But that wasn't the end. There was the resurrection and the promise: "I will come again." A second Advent. A new Kingdom. One that He sets up (not us). 

It's in discovery of the character of that King that we find hope, peace, and centeredness. Yes. I believe chaos will increase in nature, in politics, and in personal lives. But in the midst of those storms, there is the possibility of peace. If you are tired of the kingdoms of this world, the burden of selfishness, shame, anger, and fear… I invite you to investigate a better Kingdom. I've nothing to push (I too value freedom of choice). But if you're interested, I'd be glad to tell you about the hope I have in Jesus. Just ask. 

Erik & Gelerie

-------------------------

It's time again for our yearly highlights recap of what we have been doing this year.

Presidents Day Weekend Winter Retreat in Wyoming. This group slept in a snow cave.

Maui summer vacation with Grandpa and Grandma Stenbakken

For Erik's Birthday, Erik and Gelerie dove the shark tank at the Maui Ocean Center

Aubrey was certain that we would be eaten and that she and Finn would be left orphans. 

And yet, we survived. 

Later in June Erik summited Grays Peak via a 1200' couloir then over to Torreys Peak.
Grays elevation is 14,278 ft., Torreys elevation 14, 275 ft. 

Hanging out with the Welch cousins

Erik did the Colorado Back Country Discovery Route traversing state from south to north on dirt roads.
Below is a single (long) exposure of one of the campsites. 

Aubrey is 13 and in 8th grade and Finn is 7 and in 2nd grade. Both doing well and continue to be
above average in our biased opinion. They keep life interesting. 

Erik is an instructor for our local church Pathfinder club and Aubrey is a Pathfinder Ranger.
Have enjoyed camping and other activities with Pathfinders.

Canoeing in Grand Lake, Colorado. We saw a moose in the water. It is the largest natural lake in Colorado

Hiking to Cascade Falls in Grand Lake area.

The group that made the 7 mile round trip to Cascade Falls before Erik fell in the water.

California cousins in October.

Pumpkin Carving with Friends and Family

Disney Land and California Adventure! 

California Adventure

Mid-November, Gelerie was unhurt after her car was rear ended and totaled by a Toyota Tacoma.
She was at a complete stop behind another stopped vehicle and the driver did not notice.
She replaced it with another Volvo XC70 (2004).