2011

We started 2011 traveling between Oklahoma and Arkansas, seeing Angela's grandparents, old friends, and celebrating Bill's dad's 80th birthday with the entire Gifford and Couch families.

Jim and Sue Gifford, December 2010

Compared to our usual habits, we stuck close to home more in 2011. We only made one trip to Oregon this year to visit Angela's parents at Thanksgiving. Dan and Connie had a tree come through their home in March, that put them in temporary living situations for a good part of the year. We thank God for his protection on their lives. You can watch a little of their story here:

The boys at the Puget Sound

Our family with Jack and Susie Hurley (and Judy!)

Bill and Angela at the original Starbucks at Pike's Public Market

In June, we took a long weekend trip to Seattle, exposing our kiddos to big city life a bit. We enjoyed the Seattle Zoo, the Space Needle, Pike's Market, the original Starbucks, the gum wall, and a few precious hours with some of Angela's old friends from high school, who were passing through Seattle after an Alaskan cruise.

Bill and Angela on their 15th Anniversary

Bill is still active on our church worship team and a part of our church's golf ministry. His team raised over $9,000 for the needy through their tournament this year. Bill was recently promoted from training assistant to trainer, so now trains new employees for Capital One. He and a co-worker were sent to Colorado earlier this year to prepare their company for the new small business campaign that Capital One has begun. His experience as a small business owner has proven valuable to the company during this campaign. He continues to operate Coeur d'Alene Golf Club Repair, building and repairing golf clubs, and dreaming of how to grow the business. Bill is also anticipating surgery number four next month on his left leg to remove another large cyst. We may also be looking at a partial knee replacement to put a permanent end to that frustration.

Angela has had a fruitful year just watching God work when she took her hands off of things. Angela is now on the core team for women's ministry at our church and coaching the leaders for the new mom's ministry launching in January. This summer, Angela felt God impressing on her to prepare her book to give it away until she found a way to do something different with it. Never Go Hungry Again: A Spiritual Nutrition Guide for Moms launched on November 15, 2011 as a free e-book. She continues to pray about what to do next, and what plans God has. But Angela will tell you that this has truly been the most fulfilling year of her life so far. The economy hit the company she works for pretty hard this year, and she is now only working part time....which she considers to be a bit bittersweet as the loss of income translates into more hours for family and ministry. She continues to blog, and you can find all of her blog links from her personal website at angelacgifford.com.

Clayton's 14th Birthday

Clayton started high school this year! He is a freshman at Lake City High School and learning not to get trampled in crowded hallways during class changes. His area of expertise still tends to be all things computer and video related. He enjoys serving on our church's tech team and hanging with his techie friends at church. Last spring he took first place for radio commercials and third place for television commercials in a contest sponsored by the Spokane Ad Council. He recently found a way to trade all of his video game equipment and games for an Mac desktop, so he can more avidly pursue his video-making talents.

Riley juggling torches at Lake Coeur d'Alene

Riley is in 6th grade at Sorensen Magnet School for the Arts and Humanities. He has become quite proficient at juggling. This summer he learned to juggle flaming torches. He has also mastered the unicycle. He continues to be a part of the juggling performance team, and his team has been invited to participate at halftime shows this coming spring for Gonzaga, Washington State University, Whitworth, North Idaho College, and a couple of smaller venues. Riley loves kids and loves to serve. He serves in our kindergarten discipleship group at church and always wants to be at events early to help with set-up.

Ian as Thor, his favorite action hero.

Ian (4th grade) has also become a proficient juggler this year, mastering feats no one at his school has ever performed before, like throwing juggling passes under his leg while balancing on a globe. He is also on Sorensen's juggling performance team. Ian has discovered a love for fishing this year. There is honestly nothing he'd rather be doing. We are fortunate to have neighbors nearby with a private fishing pond that allows kids to catch and release. He asks almost daily when he'll be old enough to go by himself.

Hayden with our latest family addition, Pedro the bearded dragon

Hayden is in 2nd grade at Sorensen. He has also joined the juggling performance team and is perfecting his three ball skills. Hayden outgrew big brother Ian this year, and can still take Clayton down when given the challenge.  Hayden is our best eater and best snuggler. He is a great friend and has totally bonded with 2 year old cousin Audrey. Hayden gave his heart to Jesus and was baptized this year, and we are enjoying the process of encouraging his faith.

We have been a part of the Post Falls Campus (original campus) of Real Life Ministries since we moved back to Idaho in 2005 and are praying about our family's involvement in the downtown Coeur d'Alene campus that will launch this spring. We thank God daily that the church we prayed we could be a part of for years, actually does exist. We have enjoyed going on a number of church-wide spiritual journeys this year. Probably the most impactful on us was journeying through Crazy Love with Francis Chan, and having him come speak to our church. We have struggled internally over the last few years and tried to settle in as the normal American family, always striving for the better house, the better car, the better job, the better future. But all of those things leave a person hollow and frustrated.  With the economy struggling and friends hurting, it has been a perfect time to have our faith jump-started and think again about how we can pass God's lavish love on to others. Our question now is simply, "How can we live so that we have more to give?

We are in awe of the God Who did that for us....gave everything, so we could have life abundant and full...and not just for now, but forever. If you have questions about that, we'd love to help you answer them.

Much love from the Giffords!!
Bill, Angela, Clayton, Riley, Ian and Hayden


Angela - angelacgifford (at) gmail (dot) com
Bill - cdagolfclubrepair (at) yahoo (dot) com

P.S. I apologize if you desire to scan the previous years' news. All of the pictures are missing. Apparently asking Google + to delete your albums means deleting them from every Google application. So Angela has a lot of work to do updating her blogs. :(

2010

Merry Christmas!

Its time once again for that annual "brag" letter!....and I have some bragging to do on God this year!

He does stuff like this:

and this

and this

and this

....and everything else I write about here.....He did.

We have had an amazing year of watching God work and move among His people....and at this time of year when we celebrate Him first coming to earth, I can't help but long for His second coming. I'm sometimes amazed each year as I sit down to write, that we're still here another year!

Then I'd like to brag on how God is growing

Hayden, age 7

Hayden is enjoying first grade and making great progress with reading.

He totally loves to worship God with his "guitar" and his voice.

Hayden never lacks for friends. I'm pretty sure he has the busiest social calendar in the house, full of play dates and birthday parties. He's a good friend to all, and super concerned about not hurting anyone's feelings.

...and I'd like to brag on how God is growing 

Ian, age 8

Our little "old soul" .... completely dramatic....always keeping us in stitches...

...getting really good on the skateboard.

....and always the first to volunteer to help dad work.

....and God is growing 

Riley, age 11

....who can turn anything into a musical instrument and has dance moves like you've never seen.

....who's agility and skill continually amazes us.

...who was a top seller in his school's coupon book sales this year, and earned himself a Netbook! 

...who is mom's top kitchen helper.

....and God is growing 

Clayton, age 13

....who is almost eye to eye with his mom.

...who has found his place of service at church 

and lots of ways to use his gifts through media (see his youtube channel here).

and learning new ways to use his energy.

...and then there is Bill, and I can't brag on him enough!

This is the man who faced yet another lay off last year and took a job that wasn't his favorite, just to pay the bills. This is the man that was faithful in that job and stuck with it. This is the man that God promoted to the Leadership and Development department his company. This is the man who now outwizzes me when it comes to most things financial. That is God!

This is the man who is constantly brain storming how he can grow and prosper his small, debt-free golf club building and repair business.

This is the man God gave me almost 15 years ago, who is still patiently trying to figure me out.

This is the man that I love.

....and wow!  What work God has been doing in me.

I don't have a lot to share about me this year, because I've given up...in a good way....and am kind of just taking some time to let God reprogram me to only hear Him and only do what He asks and quit coming up with my own agendas all the time (you can read more about that journey here).....and of course I'm still wife, mom, and full time employee.

So what has God been doing in your lives this year? I love to hear people brag on Him!

Merry Christmas!

Love, 

The Gifford Family

www.angelacgifford.blogspot.com

www.letstalkaboutboys.com

2009

Chalk us up to the one of those families that is breaking tradition and not buying boxes and boxes of Christmas cards to put in the mail. One day I will. I promise. I actually love doing Christmas cards. But it isn't in the Dave Ramsey plan....at least this year. :)

Some of you read my blog and may not want to rehash through our whole year. But for those of you who we haven't kept up with as well, this is a good review of what is up in our lives. The good news is that with a blog newsletter, there is no need to limit my writing to the front and back of a page. The bad news is that with a blog newsletter, there is no need to limit my writing to the front and back of a page....so I'm afraid this is a bit long.

We have continued our annual enrollment in God's Character Building Program. We know He is preparing us for something, though we may not know what until heaven. But we are at peace with what He is doing and grateful for the continual stirring in our hearts. We're learning to embrace the joy of the journey instead of always looking for the end results.

So let's start with Clayton. Clayton is now in 7th grade at Lakes Magnet Middle School, a magnet school for science, health, and the arts. He is really enjoying school this year. He has rotated through magnet classes of Stomp and golf/tennis/bowling and will start beginning guitar soon.



Clayton has also gotten very creative and business minded this year. A friend gave him a pile of nylon string to make bracelets with. Friends at school started asking about them. He saved up his money and bought and arsenal of string in all colors and set up shop. He comes home almost everyday with new orders and a pocket of money.



We host a CDY (Christ Driven Youth), 7th grade boys, small group in our home every Monday. We've loved meeting Clayton's friends and being a part of their discipleship process. Clayton is also involved in leadership for CDY. Last year, we were planning on he (and possibly I) heading to Mexico with his discipleship group. But drug cartel activity in the area they were headed, caused the church to feel it necessary to cancel the trip. However, he headed to the Silver Valley instead with about 50 other kids. They spent their days serving hurting people in the community: chopping wood, painting houses, hauling trash, repairing porches, mowing, etc. They spent their evenings in Bible study and fellowship while camping out in one of the local High Schools. They also helped our church plant in Pinehurst host a block party for the community by manning game booths for the kids.



Clayton is definitely our music and technology dude. He has developed a growth that attaches his ear to his palm, called an I-touch. Hesaved up for with his own money and has figured out how to text, chat, and even i-Call people from it as long as he has an internet connection. He made the leap this year and cut off his long curls - 7 inches worth! He reminds us occasionally, that he can get his driver's permit in two years - and a job at Papa Murphy's.



Riley just turned 10! He is in fourth grade at Sorensen Magnet School for the Arts and Humanities. His teacher, Mr. Vaughn, is the father of three boys and has served in Iraq. You couldn't have given Riley a more perfect teacher for this year (unless you moved Mrs. Marshall to fourth grade). In fourth grade, at Sorensen, students are encouraged to pick a magnet course to focus on. Riley has chosen African drumming. He bangs on everything everywhere all the time. We have a small djembe, but he was thrilled to check out a large one from school for Christmas break.



Drumming with Uncle Anthony was a highlight of Christmas. He also got a snare for Christmas. Riley loves to play the piano by ear, though he still refuses lessons. He amazes us with the tunes and chord progressions he comes up with. Riley is in a Breakout Discipleship group with fourth grade boys at our church. He continues to be our passionate child. He puts his whole heart and body into everything he does. We see a future in worship leading in him.




Ian (age 7) belongs in Hollywood - though I don't really want him there. He is our super comic. We can see him doing the next Dennis the Menace movie or something of that sort. Ian also puts his whole heart and body into whatever he chooses to do. He is an avid skateboarder, knows all the terms, and several tricks. He's a tiny guy for his age, so always turns heads at the skate park with his "skill." Ian is in second grade at Sorensen and loves Mrs. V. Ian is perfecting his skills of juggling while globing, memorizing vast amounts of useless Marvel trivia, and learning some piano. He is also finally learning to love to read -thanks to Flat Stanley!



Ian is in a Kid's Quest Discipleship group. He asked Jesus into his heart this summer and was baptized in the Cascade Reservoir by his Papa Dan!


Ian and Hayden - peas in a pod!




Hayden helping with yard work.

Hayden (age 6) is in afternoon kindergarten at Sorensen. He loves spending his mornings at home with mom by himself and then going to the big brothers' school. He is definitely our most sensitive child, and has probably doubled the amount of freckles on his cute little face this year. Hayden isn't afraid to try much of what his brothers can do and will challenge any of them to a wrestling match. Much to his Uncle Taylor and brother Ian's horror. He has developed a love for Imaginext Batman toys. (DC and Marvel are not friends.)Hayden is also in Kid's Quest. Hayden loves to love people. He brings smiles to my face daily with his question, "Who's my favorite girl?" Which of course is his mom. :)

Well, to tell about Bill's year, we may have to back up a bit and fill a few people in. In the summer of 2008, Bill woke up one morning, without any feeling in his left leg from the middle of his calf down. This meant no movement or lift in his foot. After being bounced from chiropractor to neurologist to MD to plastic surgeon to orthopedic surgeon, a large cyst was finally discovered in his leg. The cyst had split his peroneal nerve, was growing in and around the nerve and had severely damaged the nerve. The doctor was afraid it was cancer, but Praise God - it was not! The nerve slowly healed, and Bill slowly regained the use of his foot. Since he was seasonally laid off last winter, we shipped Bill off to Phoenix for a month to golf and pass some playing tests that he needed for PGA certifications. He came home with another large cyst in his leg. So in March, he had a six inch long cyst removed. This one was not as fingered and had not caused any further nerve damage. Less than two months later, he had another one. Since golf season had already started, Bill tried to put off surgery as long as he could. He finally had it removed at the end of September. This time, he went into surgery with good function in his leg and came out with again, no feeling in his lower leg or function in his foot. The surgeon removed part of his joint this time, really hoping that will stop any further fluid leakage that is causing the cyst. As of now, he still doesn't have any movement of feeling in his lower left leg or foot.


Shock Therapy

Scar x 3

We are grateful that he is able to walk. However, he cannot golf - or run or hike or lots of other things he is used to doing. That has left this season's layoff a bit more challenging, but Bill has stepped up to the challenge and is learning to sit at a desk for 40 hours a week. Bill has been prayed over and prayed for over and over again, and God has chosen not to heal at this time. We really sense God is using it as a way to direct, and we are waiting on that direction. We don't know if he will be able to continue anything in golf, so have suspended any efforts towards his PGA certification.

Bill spent last season at The Club at Black Rock, about 30 minutes south of Coeur d'Alene. It was a new experience for him. One of the highlights was reconnecting with a pro that Bill spent some time with last winter in Phoenix, Craig Hocknull. Our families became fast friends.





Bill and Craig started a business together: Coeur d'Alene Golf Club Repair. If they weren't at the course, they were in our barn working on clubs.


4th of July Fireworks with the Hocknulls



Twins? Hayden and Hugh Hocknull

Laura and the boys came up for a few weeks, and we thoroughly enjoyed being golf widows together and hitting the town with our troop of seven boys. It was the first time, I really had the chance to sit down with another golf pro wife and really hash through the issues of...well, being a golf pro's wife. :) We are very grateful for the Hocknulls and their friendship!



Angela - that's me! :) Because of all the layoffs and surgeries around here, I went back to work full time in September of 2008. God provided a job that was a perfect fit for me at Mom 4 Life, a boutique of exclusively mom invented items geared toward that maternity, baby, and toddler years. I've been able to work from the house for the last year and am able to be home with Hayden in the morning. Bill and I are thoroughly enjoying our current season of working the same days and the same hours! We have so much more time together and as a family.

Of course, working full time, has meant going from volunteering countless hours in MOPs, to not even being able to participate in any daytime womens' ministries. It has been a tough transition for me. Everyday, I breathe my heartfelt prayers to the Lord to know what He has in mind. In the meantime, I'm spending time with moms one on one over coffee when I can and praying with others over the phone. I have begun a simple website to encourage moms with young children in their pursuit of Christ. It is based on Isaiah 40:11, where the Lord says He gently leads those who have young. You can check it out here and tell your mom friends! Adding a job to my other jobs of wife and mom have meant that I haven't made any progress at all in my desire to write, and again, I give that to God everyday and am learning to trust Him with my hopes.

We are more in love with our church every week. Our hearts are continually being challenged to see things God's way. Real Life has begun the efforts to start church plant number five. Adding North Spokane to Newport, WA; Pinehurst, ID; Boise, ID; and Spokane Valley. We are a part of the main campus in Post Falls, ID.


Singing in a men's quartet

Bill has recently begun serving on the Executive Music Team, and is loving using his gifts to help plan worship and lead choir once again...and I must admit, that I love watching him in action. I help with our Fast Pass security system, registering new families, which combines my love for welcoming people to a new church with my love for being a bit techie and administrative. :) We are also in a home group a block away and love our little family of prayer support and accountability.


Almost all 18 Gifford Grandkids

Other family highlights from the year would be renting a mini-van last year (right at this time) and driving to Arkansas for a Gifford family Christmas.


Bill's sister Jana, married her long-time love, Jackie.



We enjoyed a short camping trip with our dear friends, the Prescotts.





I was also able to take the kids to the Oregon coast for an afternoon while spending time with my parents in Springfield. Ian and Hayden had never been to the ocean, and none of the kids had ever been to the Pacific.



My brother Taylor surprised us this year by falling in love. He and Ashley will be getting married in July. They are a perfect match, and we are thrilled to have her join the family.





My brother Jonathan and his wife, Michelle, surprised us this year by having a baby! Audrey is the first little girl in our family since me!! We are all enjoying buying lots of pink and having a princess to oogle over.

All in all, this has been a year reflective of Daniel 3 and Habakkuk 3. We know Who our God is. We know what He is able to do. He can heal Bill's leg today. He could open up a better job for him or restore his ability to golf. He could remove my obstacles to writing and make it possible for me to invest my time there - but even if He doesn't, we will keep serving, keep trusting, keep following. When we run out of resources, we will still praise Him. He is still in charge, and His plan is still best!

We love to keep in touch with our friends. You can find us both on Facebook (Bill Gifford and Angela Brandel Gifford). You can find Those With Young on Twitter and keep up with our family a bit at Angela's Musings.

Thanks to all of you, who still patiently send us Christmas cards! We love hearing from you, and hope to hear from the rest of you soon!

Love,

Bill, Angela, Clayton, Riley, Ian and Hayden Gifford

idahogiffords@roadrunner.com
Bill - 208-755-9157
Angela - 208-755-9153
P.O. Box 1084, Hayden, ID 83835