Tracht Family Christmas Letter 2010

The Tracht Family Christmas 2010

I feel like I begin every Christmas letter with some kind of phrase identifying the past year as one filled with change. Once again, The Tracht Family has experienced great change…. Preparation for this change began more than a year ago, and change continues to this day. In a sentence, we moved from Mount Vernon, Ohio to Nampa, Idaho. Everything is new and different!

Tyler is 10 years old, and in 5th grade at Sunny Ridge Elementary. He plays soccer – both traditional and indoors. He’s become obsessed with the National Football League, and fantasy football. Heaven help us! Tyler’s sense of humor keeps us on our toes – his one-liners are hilarious. He enjoys school, and has his first male teacher this year. Mr. Bright has certainly brightened our transition; he is an answer to prayer. Tyler came home from school one day with a concern: “I think I may be the teacher’s pet." Mr. B moved several times as a child, and he’s taken a very active role in helping Tyler adjust to Nampa!

Tanner will be 13 in December – oh my! He is in 7th grade at South Middle School. He loves soccer in both the fall and the spring. The transition to Idaho was tough, and it weighed heavily on our hearts. To ease the pain, we bribed Tanner to join a soccer team within days of our arrival. Steve and I did not realize that Grandpa Gordon had also bribed him…. Needless to say, Tanner was the highest paid player on his U14 team! In addition, he recently completed a career assessment at school. The assessment advised Tanner to consider business management. So far, he’s proven himself able as his own sport’s agent.

My job led us to Idaho. I am the Director of Academic Advising & Testing/Assistant Professor at Northwest Nazarene University. Overall, it has been a wonderful transition. I consistently remind myself that I enjoy challenges, as this change is definitely stretching me in every way. I see the hand of God making the way for me to walk forward. Sometimes I long for the safety of the familiar, but mostly I look to the future with excitement. I lost my Grandpa Keller this year, and I miss his earthly presence. In January ‘10, the day after I returned to Ohio from his funeral is the day that the tangible steps towards Idaho began….

Steve left his job in Ohio without a secure position in Idaho. This was a step of faith for our family. We relied on the statistics that accountants are needed everywhere. After submitting many applications with no responses, we began to worry a bit. Then, the floodgates opened. In one week’s time, Steve had 3 viable options on the table, with a 4th option opening up soon thereafter. In the end, Steve accepted a position at the College of Western Idaho – the fastest growing community college in the U.S. He is developing their scholarship program working with both advancement and enrollment. I am very humbled by his willingness to move for my career development, and I am very proud of his accomplishments.

As we start over this Christmas, we are reminded of our dependence on God, of His loving provision, and of His sacrifices for us. Advent is a time of waiting; waiting for the second coming of our Savior. For us, change has put us in the position of waiting in many ways: waiting for employment, waiting to sell our house, waiting for the boys to make friends, waiting to find a church home, waiting to develop community, waiting to feel confident in new positions, waiting for new ministries and purposes to be revealed, waiting to feel “at home.” In the midst of this, we believe that serving God is worth the wait as we look forward to His Second Coming someday!

I am happy to share our house address with you – please email (tracht4@yahoo.com) or Facebook me.

Merry Christmas!!

The Trachts