Its hard to believe another year has passed. Our end of the year letter didn't happen this year due to the crazy few months we have just experienced with the purchase of our first HOME!! So what's a blog for but to help you catch up...quickly...here is our recap of 2011 :)
WINTER 2011:
Our H. Our last blog was dedicated to our precious friend Heather Lynn Parman. 2011 was certainly marked by the devastating loss we experienced on January 12th. The 1st anniversary is fast approaching. Each day is difficult but we especially ask for your prayers over these next few weeks for her family, her many friends and our family as we remember our unforgettable H.
SPRING 2011:
Our year in Hampton Bays was coming to a close. Through much prayer we knew God was directing us to take a huge step in fulfilling a life long dream of purchasing our own home. Dan was loving ministry with TrueNorth and my continued treatment made it pretty easy to see Gods direction to stay and purchase a home here on Long Island. The house hunt began!!
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| Kai & I with our "Owee" arms :( |
Home Treatment...In May I came to the end of 6 months of IV antibiotic and vitamin therapy I was undergoing daily in our home. My pic line (that had become a part of my left arm) was removed and we waited to see if all the pain, difficult infusions, debilitating side effects and daily care had paid off!!
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| Kai Kai's last day at his little Hampton Bays Pre-School |
Hampton Bays...Our 3 boys completed their year of school in Hamptons Bays. Tyler's first year of middle school was marked by his performance in the local talent show and the school play of "The Wizard of Oz" with rave reviews!! Toby got to play his first sport...SOCCER...he loved every minute and was loved by his teacher and classmates in 1st grade. Kai had his first year of pre-school with a fabulous teacher and wonderful friends. The small town feel allowed us to meet and get to know many wonderful neighbors and class mates...our small town life is greatly missed!!
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| My Uncle David...my HERO |
Hero...My Uncle David who had been fighting cancer for many years while he continued to travel the world as an evangelist, went home to be with his Savior. Our family was split across the world during this difficult time as my Uncle and his family live in New Zealand. Not being there to support my Mom and my Uncles family was terrible. I will forever cherish my Uncle, my
Hero and pray I can walk in his footsteps honoring his tremendous legacy of faith!
SUMMER 2011:
Packing, moving, storing, unpacking, house hunting and sheer exhaustion...this describes our summer!!! We said goodbye to our quiet house by the bay and our year of just being "US" on July 31st. We moved into 2 bedrooms in my parents home as they graciously took on our family of 5, our puppy and alll our "STUFF". The first week of August we finally found our HOME. This began the long process of getting a signed contract and trying to close. We did not take a vacation to save Dan's weeks off for the upcoming renovation. Tyler and Toby got to spend a week in Florida with their grandparents...lucky boys :)
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| Last look at our Hampton Bays Kitchen before we said Goodbye!! |
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| Our Beach...miss it everyday!! |
Honor God, Love Others, Serve All...Dan continues to bring so much to his ministry with True North as Media and Production Director. This summer he was able to preach again as True North partnered with a church on Fire Island. Dan preached two different Sundays and received wonderful feedback. It was great to see Dan share his gift of teaching again. This was just the beginning of much more preaching come!!
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| Dan Preaching...or just giving me a good picture! |
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| Fire Island Church...True North Style |
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| Tyler (4yrs old) and his Great Mommom |
Heroess...The summer brought another tearful goodbye as Dan's wonderful Grandmother went home to be with her Jesus. She was a phenomenal woman of God, a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and will be deeply missed.
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| Lan Yi Han...our newest boy :) |
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| Lan Yi & his Mom with our Family |
Han's...On Labor day weekend we welcomed Lan Yi Han (who goes by "Ron") an exchange student from China into our family for the year. He settled into our temporary home at my parents while beginning his first year as an 11th grader at Smithtown Christian School of which Dan and I are both Alumni. It has been wonderful to have Ron in our home as he shares his culture with our children. We love taking care of him and helping to nurture his new relationship with God. We love him...and yes...we now have 4 BOYS!!
FALL 2011:
The kids were enrolled temporary in my parents school district as we had not closed in time to get them settled in our new district. They all made the best of it and Tyler had the moment of his life because of it. He auditioned and made it to compete in his school's vocal competition. He competed against 46 middle school students in front of an audience of over 400 people, twice...and he WON!!! He became East Islip Idol!! We could not have been more proud!!
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| East Islip Idol...the winner is TYLER BURD!!! |
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| Me & my beautiful Beck's...the BRIDE! |
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| He put a RING on it... |
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| Liam...best Santa ever!!! |
Happiness...There was some new life and wonderful celebration in the Fall as well. One of my best friends got married and I was honored to stand with her as Matron of Honor and Kai as her Ring Bearer. My amazing sister Melissa walked down the isle as well that day 9 months pregnant and 1 week from the delivery of our precious new nephew Liam Erik Schindler...she's AMAZING...we are obsessed with our new little boy!!!
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| Our beautiful nephew...Liam Erik Schindler |
Health...I began a new treatment for Lyme in October and have experienced a more full and active daily life since. This was a welcome change after a rough few months since completing my home antibiotic treatment. I continue to do IV treatment in NYC with my specialist along with many other daily treatments. I walk 85-90% of the time but still have my extreme episodes and fight daily to keep my body stable. The struggle feels normal now after 4 years. But its not a normal life. So I continue to believe God for a complete healing while I thank Him for every good hour He gives me!! Thank you for your continued prayers...they mean everything to us!!
Home...What we thought would take 3 weeks took 9 long weeks till we sat at that closing table on October 18th and became 1st time HOME OWNERS!! Within 24 hours Dan had the house gutted in order to make it livable for his sick and highly sensitive wife. Out went the 30 year old kitchen, pink and yellow moldy carpets, Hawaiian sunset wallpaper in the dinning room, many walls (some brick), 80's wallpaper and mirror's and drafty windows. Yes, we picked a GEM!!! Dan took his 2 weeks of vacation and every evening and weekend following for a total of a 6 week renovation that transformed the house into a healthy and beautiful home!!! More AFTER pictures to come as we are still unpacking...but here are some before's :)
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| Before |
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| Demolition Day |
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| Our New HOME...before we got our hands on it!! |
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1st Time HOME OWNERS!!
Holidays...We moved into a home overflowing with boxes the weekend of Thanksgiving, the kids began their new schools and thus began a slow unpack as Christmas crept up on us daily. Thanks to an amazing Mom and Dad and the help of wonderful friends Santa did come this year to an almost unpacked and completed house. Dan had off for the holiday week and we had plans to finish unpacking, finish renovations and take the kids to some fun places...instead we pretty much slept...this year and especially the last few months have been EXHAUSTING!!! |
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| Best Gingerbread house...Best BOYS! |
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| OUR NEW HOME |
As we say goodbye to 2011 we are thankful...THANKFUL for God's grace as we experienced so much profound loss, another major move, buying a home, renovating a home, the kids transferring between 3 schools, my ongoing treatment and a growing ministry with True North and All Access. It was a challenging year but we have grown more dependent on our faithful God who carry's us through every circumstance and allows joy even amidst the trial and the heart ache. We are excited to share the great things God is already beginning for this next year...
2012...here we goooooo!!!
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| Lantern's for H on her Birthday...sending our love to Heaven! |
THANK YOU for your love, prayers and support during this year! All Our LOVE!
The BURDS
