Well, it's past Christmas so we thought we'd make this our "New Year Letter"!   I enjoy hearing from my family and friends any time of the year so I hope you will enjoy reading this, even though it is after Christmas!  
   It's hard to believe another year has gone by so quickly.  We have been in Emily  three years already.  We love living here and serving the Emily Wesleyan Church.  Life in this small northern, Minnesota town is full and active.   We enjoy living in this beautiful area surrounded by lakes and trees.  You never know what you might see.  One morning last winter,  I looked out my living room window to see this:

There was a sled dog race nearby and this team had stopped for a break in our church parking lot!  Linda's mom thinks we live near Alaska and a sight like this may make it seem true!

   Ben turned 18 this year and decided it was time to attend school.  He is a senior at Crosby-Ironton Secondary School.  He is also studying British Literature through his homeschool curriculum during a study hour at school.  He is enjoying being a part of the A Capella choir, too.  He was part of Boy Scouts until he turned 18.  He is also very active with the youth group, as well as running the sound for services.  He was a great help at Vacation Bible School this year.  He directed, taped, and edited the skit for each day's opening. The skits were so good and got a little more goofy each day.  The kids loved it!

He is still writing music that you can check out here.   He also has a lot of fun making the Ben and Paul Show which you can view here.   Ben has applied to Indiana Wesleyan University but, hasn't made a final decision about where he will attend school next fall.

   Jesse is almost 15 and a freshman.  He is still homeschooling and still yo-yo obsessed.  He competed this year in both the Indiana State Yo-Yo contest as well as the Minnesota contest.  He also competed in the Midwest Regionals at the Mall of America this summer.  A big highlight for him was being asked to entertain on one of the stages at the Spirit Valley Days festival in Duluth in July.  He did two performances, as well as some teaching time with the children.  It was a great experience and he even got paid for yo-yoing.  It doesn't get much better for that for Jesse!  He was also interviewed by the local TV station.

When he's not yo-yoing, he is busy with the Boy Scouts, the youth group, or playing drums for worship services.  He also loves to play the ukulele and got a new tenor model for Christmas!  Jesse did a great job playing the "Ranger McPhearless" character for vacation bible school this year.  
   Nathan is 13 now and in 7th grade at our local secondary school.  He and Ben attend the same school which has grades 7-12.   He graduated from 6th grade at our local charter school last spring.  The school is very small so each 6th grader made a speech at graduation, including Nathan!

Nathan had the adventure of doing therapeutic horse riding last year, although we haven't been able to convince him to go back this year.  It was a challenging experience for him.  He also took place in Special Olympics track last spring and Special Olympics bowling this fall.

Nathan has also been participating in Boy Scouts with his dad and brothers.  He hasn't been able to do everything they do yet (like a four day trip to the Boundary Waters) but, he is working his way toward full participation.  We've kept him in the Pioneer Club for kids one more year before moving him on to youth group.  He was very happy to play one of the two angels in the kid's Christmas program!  He's still trying to adjust to the very different world of junior high and has had some challenges with that.  The teachers have been very patient working with him.  He is in the special ed room three periods a day and out for classes the other three periods.  He enjoys playing in the junior high band!  

   Linda has been busy keeping up with three teenagers and a lot more.  She directed the Easter choir cantata last spring.   In the summer she directed Vacation Bible school.  It was a awesome week with a great staff and group of kids!

 

She also enjoyed regular bike rides for exercise, taking in the beautiful scenery along the way.  She is still serving on the school board of the Emily Charter school, as well as working part-time for the church doing the bulletin, newsletter, and website.  This year has also brought the opportunity to explore working in photography, a long time interest.  She photographed three seniors as well as doing over 40 portrait sessions while working on our new church directory.  You can see some of her photography at www.lindadrakephotography.com

     Jeff is in his fourth year as pastor of the Emily Wesleyan Church.   He is enjoying his ministry here, especially his work with the worship music and men's ministry.   He has a passion for helping people discover their gifts and quipping them to serve others.  He doesn't fish as much as you might think since we live near so many lakes but, he does enjoy going on the yearly men's fishing trip to Red Lake way up north.   He also went deer hunting this year but, didn't get anything.  (unfortunately, Ben got one for us with the van on New Year's Eve)  Jeff is one of the  leaders for the Emily Boy Scouts.  They are a really active group with camping, skiing, fishing, and much more. 

 

    Our family went to Indiana at the end of May to visit family there.  It was wonderful to see Linda's mom and other family that we don't see often enough.  Jesse was thrilled that the timing of our visit allowed him to compete in the Indiana State Yo-Yo contest.   Grandma Morris was so please to see him compete in person for the first time.  One the way home from this trip we stopped in Madison to attend Miranda's graduation.  (Miranda is the daughter of Jeff's sister).  It was good to get together with Jeff's side of the family for this happy occasion.

 

The family also enjoyed a little getaway at the end of August.  We drove up the shore of Lake Superior to Gooseberry Falls. 

 

Then we spent the night in Superior, Wisconsin and attended church and a picnic at Darrow Road Wesleyan where Jeff pastored for nine years.  It was a great time to visit dear friends!

   Another highlight of the year was Linda's first trip, alone, to visit her mom!  (Well, the first one in since she had children)  She flew to Indiana in October for five days.  Jeff and the boys held down the fort at home.   She thought she picked the month with perfect weather but, she still drove through a brief but, blinding snowstorm on the way to the airport!  Ah, Minnesota weather!

   We have been blessed in 2009.  We thank God for His goodness and faithfulness to us.  

May God bless you in the year to come!

The Drakes

Jeff & Linda

Ben, Jesse, & Nathan