Greetings, loved ones!
What a beautiful, eventful, wonderful, and overall full year it has been for the Greer family. Our hearts are overflowing with thankfulness and joy this holiday season, and I wanted to share a little of that with you–especially those of you who don’t follow me on Facebook.
May 5th, a new addition to our family joined us! My Dad, Andy Stoeppler, retired from his 40 year long career in PG&E and arrived here from California, and we all moved together into a lovely townhome in the Cragmor neighborhood of Colorado Springs. It has been wonderful having him with us in so many ways! And our children love getting lots of Grandpa time in. Dad loves taking long bike rides on the many trails here in the Springs, and he can’t get enough of the fresh mountain air and blue skies. His health has improved greatly in the six months he’s been here, and I enjoy making sure he gets three square meals a day.
May was an eventful month. That was also the time TJ started his maintenance and construction company, Greer Innovations, which has skyrocketed into success beyond our wildest dreams. The first day we decided to start the business our first client found us, and it has snowballed since then to the point that TJ is hiring help and I am pulling back from my own business to help him with his (ours). We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the wonderful people here in Colorado, who love and appreciate us! TJ is so good at troubleshooting issues for homeowners and making them feel comfortable and taken care of. He’s also become an essential part of the worship team at our church, the International Anglican Church, and will be helping run a workshop on parts singing.
May was a life changing month for me as well. My health had been deteriorating for some time, and I was finally at the breaking point. I made a number of significant life and diet changes, and lost 40 lbs in about three months’ time. I feel 90% better and all my lab numbers came back normal! I could hardly believe it. Now I’m working on the next 40 lbs and hope to fit into my wedding dress again soon. I had a very eventful and busy year. I had the best year yet with my cinnamon roll business, Palo Duro Bakery, hitting at least two farmers’ markets per week. I joined my girls’ karate school and love the training and workouts–I have wonderful teachers and fantastic fellow students who challenge me to new levels of strength and endurance! I also began teaching the 2-3 year old class at church, which is so fun and rewarding. Lately I’ve broken out my neglected sewing machine and crochet hooks, and have enjoyed making homemade gifts for my children and friends in my spare time.
Our oldest, Isabella, turned 8 this year. She has matured so much and is such a great help to me! She mothers her little brother and he loves spending time with her. She’s in 3rd grade at the Rocky Mountain Homeschool Academy, and a blue stripe purple belt in karate. She’s killing it on the trails and at the skate rink with her favorite pair of black and orange inline skates, and is helping her old mama go faster and not fall over. She has developed an interest in video games and spends as much time as I’ll let her on the Nintendo Switch, playing Mario Brothers or Legend of Zelda. She’s also become a fluent reader over the summer and enjoys books of all kinds. Bella is a thinker and asks deep questions, and takes her family and faith seriously. She was baptized in November at our church, which was an incredibly special moment for all of us!
Lizzy Sunshine, our firecracker, is seven years old now and taller and heavier than her older sister. She’s pure muscle and fierce as a bobcat, with a heart as big as the world. She will literally make friends with anyone and everyone, of any age, and loves with all her heart and soul. Lizzy is in first grade at RMCA, and a green belt purple stripe at karate. Sparring helps her punch out her feelings, and she enjoyed terrorizing the younger class until she was promoted and now she has to hold her own with the big kids. She’s gotten into cooking lately, and this summer she started her own business with her sister, Song & Sunshine Sweets. They made over a thousand dollars together, selling homemade lollipops at the local farmers markets. Lizzy was also baptized this November, and when pastor Mady and pastor Peter asked her the questions in front of the congregation, she jumped up and down and shouted the answers with joyful enthusiasm.
Our youngest, Oliver, is 2.5 years old and full of spunk. He talks fluently and potty trained this year in record time. We happened upon a firefighting training exercise while on a hike in Monument, where a helicopter was scooping buckets of water from a pond, and they let us watch up close. Ever since then he’s been obsessed with helicopters and airplanes! Some of Oliver’s favorite things are: snuggles with mommy and daddy, hot tea, chasing his sisters while they scream and run in mock terror, and taking off his pants. He also loves to sing!
Other fun little adventures this year: camping with dear friends in Muller State Park, where it rained all night. Haunting the local creeks and rivers and finding swimming holes to cool off in. Climbing rocks and trees in all the local parks. Going up to Bailey to visit my sister Katie and enjoying a gorgeous hike in the Rockies. Trick or treating on a bitterly cold Halloween night, dressed up as characters from Legend of Zelda. Driving to Texas for Thanksgiving and returning home to a snowstorm. Hosting pizza and fellowship night every 2-3 weeks year round.
We hope that your year was as filled with blessings as ours, and we love it whenever friends and family from distant places visit! Remember, Colorado Springs is a vacation destination and we are right here in the thick of it.
Peace and Love,
The Greer Family
TJ, Jenna, Bella, Lizzy, Oliver, and Andy
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
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