Christmas 2008

The DeRuyter Family Top events from 2008
*Hunting - The boys continue to enjoy fishing and hunting. They plan on hunting deer with their muzzleloaders this year. They have not had as much time to go pheasant hunting this year but Dylan did get a couple pheasants one afternoon on his way home from the farm.
* Sports - The boys all played basketball last winter in Tracy and enjoyed the experience. Isaiah had the honor of receiving a MVP trophy at a tournament in Lynd. Levi played football this year at RTR and enjoyed it very much and stayed injury FREE. The boys are starting basketball at the end of November and are excited to get back on the court.
* First airplane ride - Dylan had the experience of riding in an airplane for the first time this spring. Dylan and I traveled to Texas and spent four days there ….we enjoyed our time there and loved the warm weather (it was 94 degrees there) 
*Isaiah Jeremiah Crayton - Isaiah lived with us for 2 months this summer. He was able to experience a family and grow in so many ways. We had hoped to adopt him but his needs proved to be a lot more than we were prepared to handle. Isaiah is in a home in Texas and we pray he can receive the services he so desperately needs to grow into the man God created him to be.
* Music - Music continues to be an important part of our lives. Sierra started piano this fall and loves it. Isaiah and Dylan still take piano lessons from one of our neighbors. Isaiah continues to play the violin ….he enjoys the fiddling music over the classical. He performed numerous times in the last year and won several awards. He also purchased a mandolin and enjoys playing that on occasion.
* Teaching - we are in our seventh year of home educating the children. Some days are challenging to find the time to fit everything in but at the end of the day we know we are doing the best thing for our children. Levi is a 9th grader , Dylan is an 8 th grader , Isaiah is a 6 th grader , Sierra is a 1 st grader and Clay is a Preschooler ….so our house is busy .
* House project - our house addition for the most part is completed (just need to finish the siding and a few odds and ends inside) We LOVE our new addition especially the fireplace and the schoolroom, The increased space is so nice and the new room is very relaxing.
*4- H - the kids were very busy this year in 4- H and had many accomplishments. Sierra showed her pony and rabbit at the local fair. Isaiah showed his horse, rabbit, poultry and his fall calf …so he was a very busy young man at the fair.  The boys added the dairy project this year and thoroughly enjoyed it. Levi attended the MN State Fair with his crossbred heifer and did very well. Dylan and Levi attended the state horse again this year and did a nice job. Dylan purchased a new horse this fall and is excited to see how “Ace “will do for him next year at the fair. The boys and Sierra also are going to try the rabbit project this year with their new rabbits.
* So as you can tell…. we have had a fun -filled busy year. Add
all those activities to the workload on our dairy farm…you can
see that we are very busy. We have experienced good times and
we have had our struggles but through it all we have seen the
Lord’s hand in the plan for our family. Stop in and say
“Hello “if you are in the area …..The DeRuyter’s