CHRISTMAS 2023

MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Garland 6! 

Thanks so much for checking in to see how the Garland family is doing, as it has been quite an adventurous year with new things and some continued old things. We've fought through health challenges in what has felt to be an uphill battle, but we serve a faithful God who has been walking with us through it all, and we are so thankful. We've also had many of you support us in such loving and generous ways over this past year, and we are so grateful! Our year has brought us a lot of laughter and smiles, as well as some tears, and everything in between... It's been one good 2023, and we look forward to new adventures into 2024!

The BIGGEST change in our house over this past year was the addition of our 6th family member last Christmas when we surprised the girls with a FUN and ADORABLE Teddy Poo they decided to name Cocoa Gracelynn! This first year has brought about some new challenges and responsibilities, as well as a lot of potty spots on the carpet, but it's been oh so much fun!

Cayla with Cocoa in the beginning - not so sure...

And Cayla now:)

Klompen Classic (May)

So much fun with family in Branson with Jerod's dad and family! (June)

Eliana's 1st Mission Trip to Omaha (June)

Cayla's 1st Mission Trip (with Mom) to Holland, MI (July)

Adventureland (August)

1st Day of School - Freshman, 7th Grader, & 4th Grader - new schools for all 3!

Lauren Daigle Kaleidoscope Tour for Cayla's birthday in September! She declared that this was the BEST NIGHT EVER:)

Halloween - ninja, witch, PJ princess, & bee

Cayla Joy (15 years old - 9th grade at Pella High School)

Cayla's baptism on 12/10/23 - SO awesome! Her testimony is below, & we hope you get to watch it, as we are so proud of this amazing girl!

Eliana Lynn (12 years old - 7th grade at Pella Middle School)

Eliana's continued to enjoy soccer, and her fall and spring RUSH soccer seasons went well with such incredible coaches, fabulous teammates, and a hard worker on the field! But we were completely surprised when Eliana told us the night before basketball practice was to start that she wanted to go out for it, as she has done one camp in the past and never enjoyed it (much to Jerod's dismay), but she is now nearly done with the season and really enjoyed it, though it helped she had friends doing this with her! Such a FUN new adventure for our family!

Zoey Grace (9 years old - 4th Grade at Jefferson Intermediate)

This is how we find Zoey much of the time at home these days - doing all kinds of gymnastics and dances! She has loved jumping into tumbling this year, along with continuing to enjoy soccer and track club!

Cayla's testimony at Third Church

My name is Cayla Joy Garland, and I am 15 years old.

Jesus is my Shepherd, and I am His sheep.  He is always helping me.

He has been helping me through high school.  I love singing at church. 

Since Grandma Doris just passed away, that’s kind of hard in my life.

My papa died, and my Grandma Tina also died, and Benson, too – that’s a lot of deaths – a lot of darkness was in my life.

I’m sad at times, and I think about them a lot.  

I’m also sad for the people that miss them. 

I’m also kind of different.  It makes me feel uncomfortable.  I kind of want to be like everyone else.

But God made me perfect.

I think getting baptized will make me happy, and it makes me think of God.

He makes me feel happy.

He healed me in my hearing.

Jesus died for my sins, so I can go to Heaven.

The Holy Spirit moves through me and helps me.

I want to show others that I want to follow Jesus.  

I’m trying every day to be a light in the high school.

As I walk in school, I walk in light.

I want everybody to know about Jesus.

We love these girls SO very much, and we are so proud of the PERFECT ways God created each one of them!

 

For the 2 of us, we get to enjoy a little date night every once in a great while, which is always good to reconnect in the midst of our busy lives! We celebrated 16 years of marriage in July, and our jobs continue to go well. Jerod's now jumping back into high school basketball with the 9th grade boys, and he continues to enjoy the Middle School staff while teaching 8th grade history. Leah's been enjoying her job at Hospice as the bereavement coordinator, and this November marked 3 years. We are SO thankful for the support and love from so many in our little circle! We hope our paths cross in 2024! Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! 

Blessings to each of you from the Garland family of 6:) We love you! 

CHRISTMAS 2022

MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Garlands!

Thanks for dropping by to see how the Garland family is doing! We're going with more pictures and less writing this year. Here we go!

CAYLA (14): This girl... The school photographer must have been very patient, as this gem of a school picture came after 10+ tries, and we LOVE it! Almost every picture she's taken at school has her eyes crossed, so we were excited to get this one. She's in her final year at Pella Middle School as an 8th grader, and she continues to have such incredible friends and peers and teachers (especially Miss Hilary)! Cayla has been challenged and encouraged so well in school! Dad gets to teach her in his 2nd Period History class, and he is loving it. He often hears her whisper, "Wow." during a video. Every period ends with a hug and kiss.

She has loved doing Special Olympics this year! Mrs. Parton is AMAZING! 

 Cayla had SO MUCH FUN with her first Night of Stars put on by Launching Arrows in May! Much to her delight, she was pampered very well leading up to the dance as people did her hair and helped her get ready. It was a fun night.

We have been so blessed to get involved in some hippotherapy for Cayla and therapeutic horsemanship for Eliana with Grace Therapeutic Riding (https://www.facebook.com/gracetherapeuticriding) and Kinetic Edge! What an incredible opportunity for both Cayla and Eliana, and Zoey's hoping she's next!

 

ELIANA (11): She's been rocking her final year in 6th grade at Jefferson Elementary, and just recently she began sporting these braces! She continues to love playing soccer and singing. She even wrote a sang her own song at our church's Original Works Night! She is a great sister and great friend.

Jerod began doing dates with each of the girls earlier this year, and they have all so enjoyed their special time with Daddy! Wendy's, Culver's, and Applebee's were popular picks from the girls.

ZOEY (8): She kicked off the Garland's final year at Madison Elementary in August! She got to try her hand at some basketball last January! She has a passionate spirit and loves helping Mom bake and cook in the kitchen. She also loves playing games (UNO, Ticket to Ride, and Azul are her favorites) and is starting to get a little better at losing. A little. :)

Zoey and Eliana had fun playing soccer again this fall! Cayla was a great support from the sidelines, although her favorite thing to shout was, "Come on, push 'em down!" 

We SO enjoyed a special trip to Texas in July to see Grandpa Pat and Grandma Nancy, as well as to finally meet our niece/cousin Maryn and see the wonderful Mangan clan!!! Although it was far too short, we loved spending time with them! 

Cayla enjoyed celebrating her 14th birthday at Cantarito's with our lovely Grandma Jill! And we all 6 got to see an Iowa Cubs game in honor of Tim's birthday on August 14!

All 3 girls did so well with the Klompen Classic 5K in May! And now already reaching December, the girls are having so much fun decorating and preparing for Christmas!

We were blessed with a special trip as the two of us to Arizona in February! We celebrated 15 years of marriage in July, and we are grateful for the many blessings we have continued receiving over the course of these years! The Lord is good! Merry Christmas!