Reel Christmas Letter 2010

December 25, 2010

GC on the final night during flag ceremony

Dear Family & Friends,

In Wyoming with the Peckhams

The Peckhams during the campout

Real waves in HI -- in Guam we're surrounded by reef

This is the 2^nd installment. The first letter (in May, written about 2009) was never sent. So I will add the 2010 update. In June we flew back home to see Dad Peck in GA. This worked out great as Charles was attending our world church General Conference gathering in Atlanta and Karla was able to be at home with family. During GC it was such a treat to see many friends, some of whom we hadn’t seen in eons. After GA, we camped in Wyoming with Karla’s sister Karen and her family. We then flew on to WA to see Charles’ parents. It was relaxing to shop and sightsee. We even took a road trip over to Spokane and Cameron went to Camp Mivoden. From WA, we flew to Hawaii for student missionary orientation and principal training. We assisted with facilitating the meetings and were blessed to have Charles’ parents there as well. 

Honolulu

Returning to Guam in August was enlightening. Our cars had grown mold and the batteries were dead. (Welcome to a humid climate!) Once we got our feet on the ground and tires on the road, school started. This is a big year for Kasondra as she skipped 8^th and started high school. This involved doing Algebra I in preparation for starting Geometry in 9^th grade. She has been concurrently doing both subjects and has almost finished Algebra, THANKFULLY! We will all be celebrating that!!! She has juggled her schedule well which includes bell choir, violin and caring for her new kitten Micia, which she found in a bush at the bus stop.

"Micia" our little olive

Cameron is in 6^th and has Mr. Prindle again this year. He participates in the school Academic Challenge Bowl. After school he spends his time playing legos, reading comics, shooting hoops, biking, and doing lots of dishes while Kasondra is studying. Sometimes he helps one of our teacher neighbors with grading. Both Kasondra and Cam have had lots of opportunities for swimming and playing with their friends here. There is always something to do. They also helped with island wide evangelistic meetings in November at the University of Guam.

Did I mention we fostered "Storm" for 7 weeks?

Keeping up with Charles has been almost impossible at times. He is fulfilling a dream of his – completing his MBA! He started in the fall of ’09 through a Loma Linda program which sends teachers to HI and GU. He is a dedicated and faithful student and is halfway through, just having completed the dreadful epidemiology course very successfully. He and Kasondra spend much of their time side by side with their studies.

Beverly and Kasondra walked/ran together

Cameron after doing 4.2 miles uphill

After the Turkey Trot in Saipan -- Mt. Tapotchau

Work and travel absorbs much of the rest of Charles’ time. Since summer he has been in Chuuk, Palau, Philippines, and Saipan. Actually, we all went to Saipan for Thanksgiving, participating in the Turkey Trot and seeing the war memorials. We met many friends there who made our trip worthwhile and relaxing. As for December, we just finished up principal’s meetings and Triennial Session in which many islanders were here.

Getting your letters and cards is always a highlight and all pics are scrap-booked, so keep ‘em coming! We are thankful for Jesus’ ultimate gift to us – salvation! We pray for you and wish we could see you more. But that’s one of the reasons we’ll enjoy heaven so much, right? I have entered the blog world and will try to update it periodically so enjoy the site. The address is http://2unreel.blogspot.com

Blessings to each of you in 2011!

Charles, Karla, Kasondra and Cameron

GAA Christmas Banquet

Kasondra's 14th Birthday -- Sabbath, October 16, 2010

What a beautiful day Kasondra's birthday was. It started with her breakfast of choice -- pop tarts. We had gotten her flowers and a balloon and decorated the dining room with purple and pink streamers. She woke up and put on her school uniform as the bell choir was playing at the tent church. She picked some of the gifts she'd like to open. I think her favorites were a new volleyball and makeup bags and mascara from Aunt Karen. (Thank you Auntie!) She was excited for the day to proceed!

We went to church and lots of her friends were there from GAA (Guam Adventist Academy). After a lovely service in which the bells played 3 songs, it was potluck time. One of her friends gave her a gift at church -- a bag and a shirt (which she promptly put on when she got home.) Thank you Caressa. After potluck, we drove home. Jasmine came over for the afternoon. It was a relaxing but hot day. It was 101 degrees!

The real excitement started when 6:15 p.m. rolled around. Her classmates started arriving for her party. We had a small worship, then the girls gathered around pictures of her past birthdays and tried to guess how old Kasondra was in each picture. I stumped them with a picture of me (Karla) when I was around 13 or 14. Nobody even suspected it wasn't Kasondra. Funny! I think the most any of her friends got was 5! Even Kasondra missed one. But they had a great time.

So, while I went down to pick up pizza, Kasondra and the gals then played Taboo. If you've ever played that, you know how fun it is -- especially if you're playing with girls or women (we're all good at talking, which comes in real handy in that game!) I came home with pizza and we had that and rootbeer and carrots.

The girls gathered around the table and we prayed a special blessing on Kasondra, thanking God for another year of life! And let me tell you, those girls can talk and laugh! It was so fun to see them interacting. Although we've lived on Guam for 1.5 years, I still don't know some of her friends very well. What a pleasure to see them and become acquainted. What a great group of girls they were. So pleasant and sweet and funny. They laughed and giggled and joked and made the peace sign (big here in Guam). They even sang to her in Korean. It was a joy to host them. I was so happy. You know it does a Mom's heart good when things go as planned!!!

Then it was cake time! I had labored over a triple-layer raspberry cake that I wanted to try. It turned out SCRUMPTIOUS! The girls exclaimed over it. You'd think they'd never had cake before. It was a real hit. We sang to her in English then they dug in. Then Kasondra opened her gifts.....a purse, gift cards to favorite places....    Then it was time to go bowling. We went over to Leo Palace, a resort on Guam a few miles from here. We took the truck and car. Several rode in the back of the truck. They had a blast.

 

When we got set up for bowling, we split into 2 teams of 6 and went for it. It was a great way to end the perfect evening. They cheered each other on and basicly did a lot more laughing. Then we piled back into the vehicles and headed home so the girls could be picked up by their parents. What a special time we had. We're so blessed. We are thanking God for our firstborn today!

JoAnn, Jasmine, Annie, Brittany, JiHyun, Kasondra, Joelle, Jana, YeJin

Sigh, what a happy day!