Christmas Letter 2009

Greetings and Merry Christmas!  Two thousand nine has been quite a year for the Swenders. 

Dennis continues to teach at Indianapolis Metropolitan High School and is thriving there.  The school has moved towards having an on-line curriculum, and Dennis has been integral in getting that up and running.  He has a great group of students this year as well.  They are not without their challenges, but Dennis has connected well with them is enjoying helping them through this time in their lives. As his students will be graduating in 2011, we are thinking ahead and musing as to what type of job change that may bring for Dennis.

Heidi continues to run a daycare out of her home.  One of her moms had a baby this past October, and he will be starting January 4.  She is excited to get to know him and to see how Edmund adjusts to not being the youngest anymore.  We would like to add a couple more kids to the mix and are praying that God would bring the right kiddos to us. 

Edmund is doing absolutely brilliantly.  He has been discharged from all therapy.  He has been walking for at least 2 months and is now practically running.  Edmund enjoys getting into everything he shouldn't, eating paper, and has even begun the climbing phase.  This should be interesting:)  His laugh, as with all kids, is absolutely infectious, and we thank God daily for giving him to us for yet another day.

One of the things we continue to remember in awe concerning Edmund's birth is the vast number of you who prayed for us during that time.  It seems everyone we knew told everyone they knew and church after church and person after person were lifting up our situation to God.  It was wonderfully overwhelming, humbling, and encouraging.  Thank you all!

This year we rehomed our cat Clemens as it seemed he would do better in a home where he was the only cat.  Last we heard he is enjoying life very much.  In an attempt to become a home of fewer cats, we also open to rehoming Gus if anyone is interested.......

We also lost our yellow lab Joe this year due to a tumor near his heart.  We miss him.  Cleo, however, enjoys being the only dog, and it is nice to be able to enjoy whatever time she has left.

We have learned a lot this year and, as always, are looking forward to what new things we may encounter in the coming year.  Thank you to so many of you who helped us through this year in various ways.  It would have been much harder without all of your prayers, love, and support.  Thank you and have a Merry, Merry Christmas!