2021 Recap

It's always fun to reflect on the previous year and remember all the special times and great moments God has given us. Below are some of our highlights.

Team Pete’s Top 10 from 2021

#1 Dad Beats COVID. (January) Daneen's Dad (who lives in PA) recovered from being close to death with COVID. He still has some "long hauler" effects along with his advanced COPD. Yet, we are so grateful for God's mercy to save his life and give us more time with him! Jesus 1 - COVID (Satan) 0.

#2 JoJo turned 3. (February) JoJo turned 3 years old and started preschool. He loves all sports but has a strong passion for basketball. He plays daily in our house and wants us to play with him so that he can try to block our shot, get a rebound or call a foul or goaltending! The boy knows his basketball! He is very observant and bright. He has a kind and generous heart. A common phrase of his is "I let others go first."💙

It was an unseasonably WARM winter so we were able to go hiking a lot!!! 

We love Makoshika State Park!!

#3 Basketball March Madness. {Let me, Daneen, brag about my incredible husband and how God has blessed his work!} Joe's basketball team had a phenomenal 2020-21 season (23-3.) After finishing the Mon-Dak Conference season UNDEFEATED and were the Region XIII Tournament Champions, they went on to beat the #11-ranked team and win the North Central District Champions. 

That win gave them a slot to the National Conference. This was Dawson Community College's FIRST TIME EVER to attend the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. (Read more.) Daneen, JoJo and Aria joined Joe and the team on the 16 hour bus trip to Hutch so that we could all be together for this incredible opportunity. So special!

#4 Summer. Our summer months were packed with fun travels and some special visitors. Time in Longmont always feels like "coming home" yet this time we got to stay on the lake with our Colorado family!

JoJo learned to ride a pedal bike!!!

We spent the 4th of July in western Montana and stayed in a little cabin on a working ranch (complete with horses, chickens and bison) and surrounded by tall, Evergreen trees! We celebrated a wedding in Kalispell, went swimming in the cool and crystal clear water of Flathead Lake and soaked up the gorgeous mountains of Whitefish.

We had another cabin adventure in the Granite Range mountains of Nye with the Christ's Gift Academy Board of Trustees! It was fun to spend time with others who are passionate about the people and ministry in Mbita, Kenya. We all enjoyed a special time 'floating' down the Stillwater River.

Daneen's parents came to visit us and we enjoyed some fun fair festivities. The kids liked cooking with Nonna and played some baseball outside with Grandpa.

Finally, we couldn't pass up crazy cheap flights on Allegiant Air so we squeezed in a trip to San Diego to visit Joe's family! This was the kids' first time seeing and playing in the ocean!!! Sea World was an extra special treat. 

Whooo-- it was a packed summer, but full of fun and great family memories!!

#5 Pow Wow. (September) We attended our first Pow Wow at Poplar Indian Days. We gained some insight into JoJo's Sioux and Assiniboine heritage while enjoying the colorful, hand-crafted regalia, and soul-filled dancing! Aria especially loved the jingle dancers, while JoJo loved the frybread!

 

#6 Foster Care Journey. (October) We jumped back into foster care. We have remained licensed the past few years, yet we haven't accepted any new placements as we had our hands full with two little ones. (We still have our hands full with two toddlers!!) We welcomed a 13-year old girl into our home... our Butterfly. She was with us for 7 weeks before she moved onto a therapeutic placement to receive focused care. Trauma is ugly, folks. And sadly, most children don't have the tools to deal with the intense trauma they've experienced in their lives. JoJo and Aria loved playing hide-n-seek with her and still refer to the Middle School as "G's school".  

#7 Aria turned 3. (October) Our little pumpkin Aria turned 3 years old. She likes wearing her unicorn backpack to preschool. She loves wearing dresses that twirl and having pigtails or “ponies” in her hair! She is mesmerized by the cheerleaders at the basketball games and practices her own cheerleading moves at home! She is tenacious and determined… Creative and funny. 

#8 New Job for Daneen. (November) After serving with Christ's Gift Academy for the past 5 years (working from home), Daneen is now working at the college again. She oversees a program called Dawson Promise which provides opportunities for youth who age-out of foster care or are homeless to be able to receive a 2-year college degree debt free.

#9 Basketball. (Nov-Dec) Basketball season is in full swing. At half way through the season, the DCC Buc's are currently 14-2 and have received votes to be in the top 25 (for all NJCAA Div I teams; read more). They are a fun and talented group of guys to watch.

#10 Christmas. We spent Christmas in Phoenix with Joe's family; everyone except his brother Dave. We enjoyed some warmer weather and seeing family; Papa and Nana, Uncle Steve & Aunt Cari and cousins Amanda and her family and Macee and her family, Uncle Sam & Aunt Sally and cousins Zach & Kylie! 

Joe and JoJo were able to go to a Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors game and see the infamous Stephen Curry play in person!!! 

After Christmas, Joe's basketball team played in a 3-day tournament, Pima CC Holiday Tournament, where they finished 2-1.

# BONUS. Jesus. He gets His very own category.

All. Year. Long.... Jesus sustained us and blessed us!!! Without His LOVE and GRACE this life would be bitterly hard. It's challenging enough as it is. Jesus is our HOPE for a brighter future... a better tomorrow!

I love this T-shirt 👇

It's funny!!! And true.

Life after these "COVID times" will never be like it was before. But... Jesus is our unchanging and firm foundation!!!! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

No matter what 2022 brings.... God is good, faithful and oh so gracious! 💗

A Christmas 2021 Update

  "Do not fear, I bring you good news of great joy, that will be for all the people." Luke 2:10

JoJo is 3.5 yrs old and loves all sports; with an extreme fondness for basketball. He has a kind heart, is naturally athletic and very observant.

 

Aria is a 3 yr old cheerleader in the making! She loves playing with her dolls, wearing twirl dresses and helping in the kitchen. She is tenacious, funny and full of creativity.

 

Joe's 2020-21 basketball team made history for DCC when they qualified for the NJCAA Div I National Tournament for the first time ever!! (Read more!!)It was an exciting time for our college and our town. We are amazed and grateful for God's blessings on Joe's work. He continues to "raise the bar" with his players challenging them to a higher standard in basketball, school and life.

 

Daneen made a big transition back into the workplace. After serving with Christ's Gift Academy (CGA) for the past 5 years (working from home), she is now working at the college again. She oversees a program called Dawson Promise which provides opportunities for youth who age-out of foster care or are homeless to be able to receive a 2-year college degree debt free.

 

Our Christmas prayer is that you may each experience the wonder of God's love and find HOPE in Jesus, our Savior.

A New Year

Happy New Year!! 

May the Lord go before you in this new year and bring you great blessings as you seek to bring Him glory!!! He is with us!!! He is Emmanuel!!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." Num 6:24-26

2020 was a crazy year with the COVID-19 pandemic. Crazy in every sense.

Yet, God is still sitting on the throne... He is still King of the Universe. Our future is not uncertain because we are HIS and He is in control.

We have many things to celebrate and be thankful for from this past year.

 

In 2020, we are grateful for...

• JoJo’s adoption and celebration 
• Living in eastern Montana during the pandemic where things were much more open and more normal than the rest of the world and just the benefits of small-town life.
  
• A special group of basketball players last year.
  
• DCC Men's Basketball team had great success; undefeated Conference season and Region XIII Champions.
  
• Players all moved on to play at 4-yr programs.
  
• Joe excelling at work and getting a new positions in place.
  
• Daneen started to thrive again in life, parenthood and work.
  
• Able to go to PA earlier than planned to see Daneen's parents and help around the house and with her dad's COVID issues (in/out of hospital).
• Daneen's dad survived COVID (with advanced COPD)!
  
• Daneen's friendship with Julie and Laurie and us being able to stay connected and spend time together.
  
• Family trip to Rapid City with Hollands and Margret.
  
• Kiddie College Pre-School and Day Care and how they care for our kids
• Joe has a good assistant basketball coach this year.
  

 

 

 

 

Christmas Card 2020

"Do not fear. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." Luke 2:10

Greetings from Montana! We have so much to be grateful for this year. This past July we rejoiced that we were able to officially welcome Joshua Joanthony (JoJo) into our family through adoption. He brings joy and laughter into our lives. At 2.5 years old, he loves trains and basketball! Aria turned 2 years old in October and is full of life and a lot of will! She enjoys books, Minnie Mouse and playing with her big brother. Two toddlers is quite the handful (and exhausting!), but they are such a blessing! Joe is hopeful to have their college basketball season which is scheduled to start in mid-January. He's thankful they were able to practice some-what uninterrupted and have a number of scrimmages this past Fall. Daneen continues to work for Christ's Gift Academy in between loads of laundry and cooking meals.

This Christmas, we pray you find HOPE in the One who is full of grace and truth... our Savior, Jesus! He is our thrill of Hope. Weary world... REJOICE!

Alicent Graduates College

This girls is an OVERCOMER!

Optimistic. Persistent. Determined.

On December 5, 2020 our Kenyan daughter graduated college!! We are incredibly proud of all that she has overcome in life to reach this milestone!

She has not let the circumstances she was born into define her. Growing up in a rural village on Rusinga Island, she lost both of her parents by the time she was 8 years old. She was wise beyond her years. At age 11, she realized that if she remained attending her local village school (where the teachers rarely showed up and there was little learning), she would not receive a quality education and would not have opportunities to attend secondary school. She wanted HOPE for a BETTER LIFE!

...

She was determined to create a better future for her life. Paul Onundo  and his wife took her in so that she could attend a better school in Mbita. That gave her a second chance at her education. Which is a second chance at life. Wow- thank you Paul and Mama Omondi... you have truly made a lasting impact in Alicent's life!!!

...

Focused. Determined. Persistent

That's just who she is in life.

...

Then... you put her on a football pitch and she is fierce! She might be the smallest player on the field, but she is mighty!

Her talent stood out to Joe and she was invited to be one of the first Suba Lakers! 

When she was just 13 years old, she received the Best Player award at a national Under 15 tournament. She was recruited to join Jera Secondary School; known as one of the top girls football schools in the country! We are so thankful for the coaching and mentoring of Coach Jacob Oganga. We always knew Alicent was in good hands with Coach Oganga! Thanks coach!

 

...

In 2013 she tore her ACL in the Lake Region Football Championships. But before she went out of the game, she scored a critical goal which helped her team win the Championship and move on to the National Tournament. She worked hard at her physical therapy to regain full strength and be competitive on the football pitch again. She helped her team reach the National Tournament again in 2014 as Team Captain. She overcame!

 

...

She has a passion for football. During her gap year between high school and college, she coached the team for the local secondary school near her home and led the team to the finals at the sub-county tournament.

Once she joined college, she quickly joined the women's football team. She scored the goals to lead the team to win a championship in 2019.

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But it's not all about football.

She knew she needed a quality education in order to reach her goals and contribute to her community. She wanted to pursue a career in the medical industry.

With the financial support of a number of people, she was able to attend Kenya Medical Training Institute to get a Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics.

This past January, while on her internship, she became gravely sick of dysentery. She ended up in the hospital for 2 weeks, in critical condition. By God's grace and mercy, He saw her through and helped her recover. She overcame.

She had just barely recovered from her illness, and even while she was still very weak, she had to take her final exams and practicum. She passed. She overcame.

 

...

Then COVID hit. She should have been able to graduate in March and start a paid job. But COVID! After sitting idle with all the unknowns for a few months, she was able to secure an unpaid internship at a private hospital. Since she couldn't get her final graduation and degree documents, she couldn't be paid for her work. She overcame. She continued to volunteer. She overcame.

She is currently waiting (and studying) to take her national board exam while also volunteering at the Mbita Public Hosptial. We are praying and trusting the Lord for her to obtain a paid job.

We are confident that whatever challenges come her way throughout her life, she will continue to overcome with God's help.  She will be successful in whatever she takes on! 

 

 

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More of Alicent's biography:

After Alicent’s father died when she was 4 years old, she lived for three years in Uganda with her maternal grandparents. In 2006 she returned to her paternal grandparents’ home on Rusinga Island to be with her sick mother.  Not long after her return, her mother died.  Alicent remained in Rusinga and was raised by one of her father’s other wives who has three children of her own that she is also caring for.  The step-mother makes and sells charcoal to provide for the family needs. Alicent has a strong bond with her step-mother and her 80+ year old grandparents.  She also has an older step-sister whom she is close with.

JoJo's Adoption

Every life is a gift.

Every child is a gift.

Adoption... is a gift.

We are thrilled to celebrate the adoption of our son!

Meet JoJo.

Joshua Joanthony Peterson

All photos by Codi Smith

Joshua is Hebrew for "Jehovah is generous" or "Jehovah is salvation." In the Old Testament, Joshua led the Israelites with courageous leadership, charging into battle upon bloody battle, leading hundreds of thousands into the Promised Land. He was a great leader for God's people and for his nation.

Our prayer for our son is that he will be a great leader for God's people and a great example for his native tribes, the Sioux and Assiniboine Tribal Nations. We also pray that he will accept that Jesus (Jehovah) is his salvation!

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Joanthony was his birth name given by his birth mother. (Originally spelled JoAnnthony.) It honors his heritage and his great-grandmother Joann.

We recognize that adoption is created through great loss. Our sweet boy lost the gift of knowing and growing up with his birth family, with his half-siblings and with his tribe. It's a heartbreaking story filled with great sadness, addiction and trauma.

Yet, at the same time... the Lord offers new life. And hope. And redemption.

"Behold, I am making all things new!" Rev 21:5

We are committed to learning about his tribe and culture and being able to share it with him. We are grateful to be in touch with his half-sister and their family who already know much more than us about the Native American culture. We recognize we will not always understand his challenges both as an adopted child and also as a brown boy growing up in a white family; yet, we are committed to loving him and providing him a safe, nurturing home filled with God's love and grace.

We are so grateful God chose JoJo to be in our family!

We can still recall the phone call in early April 2018. "Would you take-in a newborn baby boy? It could be long term, yet we want him in a home closer to his biological mother for possible visits if she can turn her life around."

Daneen was two months pregnant with Aria at the time. We did the math. If this baby boy remained with us long term, the two babies would be just 8.5 months apart in age. Wow! Could we do that? At 42 years old? Well, we actually used to pray for twins. Since we got married and started a family later in life, we thought it would "make sense" to have two at once! Well... we got our twins... Irish twins. Two infants and now two toddlers so close in age are quite the challenge at times. But they're also double the fun! We truly (and frequently!) cling to the scripture in the Gospels... "with God all things are possible." Matt 19:26.

JoJo has been in our home and a part of our family since he was 2 months old. 

 

JoJo has been in our family for 819 days, and in foster care for 882 days.

He was adopted on July 13, 2020.

Now, he is forever in our family.

God writes the best stories. Jehovah is generous!

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the laws my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9

A Special Update - Nov 2018

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will hope in him.” Lam 3:22-24

INTRODUCING OUR DAUGHTER

It is with grateful hearts that we share with you the arrival of our daughter, Aria Hope. Her life is a testimony of God's faithfulness and an answer to many prayers. Prayers from many of you and many others, all over the world. Thank you for your steadfast prayers for the Lord to grow our family.

Last February, when we first found out we were pregnant, the lyrics of the song "The Lord is Gracious and Compassionate" repeatedly came to Daneen's mind. God has been so gracious to us. Our journey of infertility for four years helped remind us that we are not entitled or guaranteed to be able to have children. We have always desired for adoption to be a part of our family, yet hoped we might also be able to experience having biological children as well. We knew that whatever the Lord had planned for our family, it would be perfect. God has such great compassion toward us. We praise Him for this gift of life in our daughter.

BABY J

This past April a special little baby boy came to us through foster care. Baby "J" arrived to us when he was 2 months old and is now an active and very mobile 9 month old. He brings so much joy into our home and to everyone he meets. Having a 9 month old and a newborn (our "irish twins") certainly makes life very full and challenging, but we know that both of these babies are a gift from God.

As with most children in foster care, his long-term situation is unknown. What we do know is that he is with us for now and a part of our family. We love him as if he were our own and will continue to do so as long as the Lord entrusts us to care for him.

The heart over baby J's face is for his protection and privacy; a requirement for children in foster care. We wish we could show you his cute, chubby cheeks and precious smile!  

GOD IS FAITHFUL

Last January, we sent an email update to summarize 2017 and it ended with this....

As we start a new year, we literally have no idea what this year might look like. We currently do not have any children in our home, yet anticipate that will change at any moment. We are hopeful that this year might be the year our "forever" children enter our home, yet we have no idea and no control over it. Our peace rests in the fact that we know the Lord has great plans and His timing is always perfect!

Wow! Our prayer and hope was that this year our forever children would enter our home. We had no idea and in many ways had given up on that happening biologically through a pregnancy...

But God!!!

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We wish you a special and purpose-filled Christmas season. We pray that your hope is in Jesus our Lord!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Much love from Montana,
Joe, Daneen, Baby J, Aria (and Pendo)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, 

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13