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January 5, 2005
2004 Christmas Letter
Here is the Christmas letter that I just sent out yesterday -- 10 days AFTER Christmas!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Veermans!
2004 has been an eventful year. We moved (again), I've learned two new tricks to save one's marriage, and I've had three different jobs. As I'm writing this missive, Courtney is driving our mini-van to Orlando for Christmas, rigged with a 13" TV/DVD player. Who needs those tiny, flip-down, flat-screen DVD's in the "fancy" mini-vans when you can have THIRTEEN inches of high-quality video.
Courtney driving is the first marriage saving tip. As a passenger, I'm much more flexible. I can sleep, read, work on my computer, and talk to the kids. When I'm driving, Courtney only knows how to do one thing: tell ME how to drive. The obvious solution: let HER drive. The second marriage saving tip relates to our new home purchase. Almost every square inch of wall was covered in wallpaper, some dating back to 1967 when the home was built. For $1,000 we paid to have it all removed. That was the best money I ever spent. Only eight more good ideas and I should probably write a book.
As I alluded to in my opening, I've had three jobs. I started the year still working for James Madison University. In April I was hired by a good friend, Andy Harbick, to start a software development company named Eudokia. After a few months of technical research and prototyping for a potential product, Andy's employer, Amazon, offered him something he couldn't refuse. Andy is now the director of the newest Amazon Remote Development Center in Harrisonburg, VA. Thankfully, I'm the first employee. Our team will continue the work that Andy was previously working on; developing tools to help facilitate better organization, better management and faster innovation.
Back when I left to work for Eudokia, Courtney and I both agreed that country living, coupled with home-restoration and child rearing was not exactly a match made in heaven, so we moved. We're now living in Harrisonburg, VA, 25 minutes from our old house. For the most part, the house only needs some aesthetic improvements - a task at which Courtney excels. We're now living in a neighborhood, and have great neighbors with children. Just prior to moving, we found a great church that we recently joined, and look forward to getting involved now that the kids' schedules are a bit more flexible. In looking back over the events that led to the starting of Eudokia, the move to our new home, and the eventual hiring by Amazon, it's easy to see God's providence in the outcome.
James will turn four this February, and goes to pre-school two days a week. He's extremely bright, and makes us laugh every day. The other day while getting a slice of pizza, a woman in line asked James what he was drinking. In his rapid fire speech James replied, "Cranberry juice." Not understanding, she asked him to repeat it. In a sardonic tone, James said, "CRAN" ... "BERRY" ... "JUICE" -- as if saying, didn't you hear me the first time. It was pretty funny. Of course, he still loves to play with trains and never tires of having books read to him. James is now completely potty trained. If I had a nickel for every diaper James ISN'T using -- oh wait, I do, he's saving us a ton of money.
Emma just turned two and is all girl in that she loves to put her baby dolls to sleep and give them milk to drink. She absolutely loves shoes (a troubling sign), and prefers to wear dresses over everything else. However, despite these innate girlish instincts, she is also quite precocious and stubborn. In that respect she is all woman -- I'm probably going to get in trouble for that. Emma is showing Houdini-like talents. More than once we've come into her room to find her clothes and diaper completely removed. Also, when she wants, she can escape from both a pack-n-play and her crib in seconds. Like me, she just loves to climb, our only wish is that she would develop a bit of discretion in what she chooses to climb and how high.
Courtney continues to be a great mom. I'm still amazed at the persistence of her sanity day after day of caring for two children who don't ever stop moving or talking. Channeling their energy is a full-time task. She's striving to enjoy these times and to stay focused on their development, despite the daily challenges and exhausting routine. Courtney truly finds satisfaction in her role as a mother, and wouldn't want to do anything else. There are a lot of mothers in the area that she is good friends with and she is involved with a supportive playgroup.
Between Santa Claus and all the presents, it's been fun to teach Emma and James the true meaning of Christmas. We plan to continue the holiday tradition of making a birthday cake and singing happy birthday to Jesus. That is, if we can find Him -- Emma enjoys our nativity set, and likes to keep him in her pocket.
If you're ever in the Virginia/Washington DC area, we'd love to see you and have a spare bedroom if you need a place to stay. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Love,
Mark, Courtney, James and Emma
Posted by mark at January 5, 2005 3:11 PM Subscribe (FeedBurner)