Merry Christmas!!!

We hope this letter finds you celebrating the One who saves.
What an honor to celebrate His birth, life, and resurrection.
Recently I was thinking about technology and chuckled at the list of new words that this new technology has
introduced into our lives. Words like icons, megabytes, and pixels. I thought about how we can be MSNing
with others while we download a zip file. At the very moment that we feel that weve caught up with these
new terms, we find that we are already in need of an upgrade. So, as we attempt to incorporate these words
into our daily lives, let me share our Nelson update for 2005

All-Inclusive Hardware Package

Bethany doing outreach in Mexico.

Bethanys hardware package includes what is now her second apparatus and will
move into braces early next year. Our 10th grader has her drivers permit; a new
reality for us to deal with. Bethany was part of the Track team this past spring and the
Cross Country team this fall. She worked very hard and put in many miles (over a
thousand since the beginning of the year). Because of this, she was an All
Conference CC Runner taking 7th in that meet. With well over 100 runners at the
Section meet, Bethany came in 14th, achieving All Section and just missed going to
State (top 10 advance). Bethany continues to play piano and clarinet. A highlight of her year was a missions
trip with her Youth Group to Reynosa, Mexico where she worked primarily with young children. Because of
the team effort between the Youth Group and the Alliance church in Reynosa, 588 individuals gave their hearts
to Jesus during the week! Praise the Lord!

Extensive Software Suite

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Petra is now a teenager and in 8 grade. As most of you know, she is our softy. She
has a heart of compassion and it took some doing to convince her that its OK to pass
other runners during Cross Country races. She hated to hurt their feelings. Setting
those feelings aside, she was determined to do her best. She was stride for stride with
her sister, and finished 8th and 15th, making her All Conference and All Section as
well. At the Section meet, the entire girls team placed 3rd (top 2 go to State). Petra
also had a successful Track season last spring and is trying her hand at Basketball this
winter. Along with becoming an accomplished athlete, she continues playing the piano,
saxophone, and guitar, and this fall has been part of the Knowledge Bowl team.

Petra with our dog, Dash.

Disabled Virus Protection

Caution - without your virus protection enabled, your system is at risk of Ashtons infectious
humor! As a closet comedian, only those that spend plenty of time with Ashton will have the
opportunity to witness her humor. Known as our queen of one-liners, she keeps us laughing.
Ashton is now finalizing her elementary years as a 6th grader. She continues to play piano
and trumpet and is in her last year of AWANA. She has now found a new love of
photography. She is thankful for digital cameras and the delete button because she has taken
thousands of pictures. She enjoys working with those pictures on the computer and making
cards, posters, etc.
Ashton bowling at a birthday party.

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And just to keep life interesting, God gave us Daniel. He puts a twist on the expected and
routine. Daniel is now in 3rd grade and doing well in school. He impressed us with his ability to
keep a pretty good pace with the CC team during some practices and has fun with those his age
playing a bit of basketball on Saturday mornings. He is continuing with AWANA and has
aspirations of playing drums or guitar so he can play with the worship team at church someday.
Daniel loves to be outside doing all those boy things like biking, skateboarding, and more
recently, building forts in the snow.

Daniel at a Twins game.

Control Panel
Mike and Kelly in the Bahamas.

Sub-headings to a control panel are things like security center, performance, and
maintenance. These are some of the duties of our familys control panel; Mike and
Kelly. Currently enjoying the easier years of parenting, we find great joy in
providing for, taking care of, and nurturing our children. We have both been
blessed to be able to work from home with Melaleuca, the Wellness Company for a
number of years. What a pleasure it has been to mentor others in various areas of
wellness. Besides doing some family camping and a trip to Wisconsin Dells, Mike
and I had the opportunity to visit Las Vegas and
the Bahamas this year. To say that I love to scrapbook may be just in theory; I
tend to find too many other things to do before I get around to my favorite
hobby. Mike continues to enjoy running and is able to share his passion with
our kids as they run many road races together, and as he coaches the CC team.
Earlier this year, Mike joined a few from our church and from across the U.S.,
to work in Ethiopia, Africa. For more than 2 weeks, they did construction on a
building for Wycliffe Bible Translators. What a privilege and an
eye-opening experience to serve the Lord in this way.
Mike trading with a Maasai tribe in Kenya.

Operating System
Just as an Operating Systems is the foundation of a computer, Jesus is the foundation of our lives. Were
excited to be able to celebrate His birth! What an awesome God; to leave His throne to meet us where we are at
and then take our sins with Him to the cross. The Christmas season does not simply celebrate this story as
knowledge in our heads but it is very much alive in our hearts. Our Savior is as alive today as He was as a child
in the manger. We are humbled to call Him a personal friend. He is one Operating System that will never alter
or crash!

Apply
We wish to you all the joy of Christmas. As you open your presents, take a moment to reflect on the greatest
gift of all. Jesus has offered the gift of salvation. Accept the gift. That is why He came; that is why we
celebrate.
Merry Christmas from the Nelsons:
Mike, Kelly, Bethany, Petra, Ashton, Daniel
(along with Dash and Oreo)

Mike: ole87@iglide.net
Kelly: lookingup4@iglide.net

Christmas 2005
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11