Christmas Letter 2014

What’s Cookin’ in the Baker’s Oven?     

Christmas 2014

By looking at the dates in my Google Docs, it seems that we have not sent a Christmas letter in four years.  It’s just Don and I at home, so I have photos of just Don and I, and birds and dogs, of course. It feels just too weird to fill up a Christmas letter with photos of ourselves and birds and dogs!  And nothing major has changed in our lives.

Don still works for Quest Aircraft.  I’m still a teacher.   Josh is working as an engineer for an oil company in Texas.  Zack is the music director of The Modern Theater in Coeur d’Alene and Spokane.

We still live in Sandpoint, in the same house, for 20 years now.  It’s the longest either one of us have lived in one place.  It’s nice.  That’s one of the things I am thankful for this Christmas.

I’m also grateful for my immediate family and my extended family.  Toni, Linnie, Miller and I and some spouses and kids got together in Los Angeles in February.  Don and I spent time with his family in Morro Bay this summer, and I just returned from a most enjoyable weekend in Bellingham with the Wegeners celebrating Heidi and Stephen’s wedding.  It was wonderful to visit with my Aunt Janet and Uncle Phil, too.  We truly have a wonderful family.

Thank you, family, for being so awesome!

“Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, 

doesn't come from a store,” Dr. Seuss.

I asked myself, “What, exactly, makes our family so awesome?” and this was the answer: the love I feel in their presence is almost palpable.  Aunt Janet is the matriarch of her family now.  Mom, of course, was ours.  Grandma Black connects us all together.

Grandma Baker still presides over the Bakers, surviving the loss of her son (Don’s dad) this summer. The memories of those who have passed bless those of us who still remain.

And I’m thankful for the friends we have shared, both silver and gold.  Your friendships add vibrant colors to our life.  If our life were a rainbow, our friends and family would have been what made it beautiful.

It has been a beautiful year.  Don and I have so enjoyed God’s creation through His birds and His wilderness.  We are most thankful for this chance He has given us to love Him and experience His love through his creation.   May you, too, experience his love this Christmas, and always!

With much love,

Don and Missi Baker
dtbaker64@gmail.com
baker.missi@gmail.com

Rusty Blackbird

Rusty Blackbird, Luby Bay, Priest Lake, ID, 11/16/2014

Can't Use For School

My principal says I can't have students looking at my blog for extra credit assignments any more...

Our Sandhill Crane Experience

This spring, we were able to see Sandhill Cranes in Washington and Oregon, the end of March in Washington and the beginning of April in Oregon.  What a great experience.  Here is a brief photo re-cap.

The 100 Words - Story or Essay

The editors of the American Heritage Dictionary recently published a book entitled 100 Words Every  Middle Schooler Should Know.  Whether you're in middle school or high school, here's an extra credit assignment, worth 20 points, you can complete.

Here are 20 of the 100 words.  Use these in a short story or an essay (can be very short) using all of these words (please underline them).  In your story or essay, show how these words relate to middle schoolers or high schoolers.

adversary, attentive, commotion, debris, exasperation, exhilarate, furtive, grueling, illuminate, impending, malleable, monotonous, ominous, exhilarate, potential, specimen, translucent, vulnerable, waver, zeal

Local Veterinarian Heads Iditarod Vet Team

Iditarod Vet

Hi Everyone,

Here is a link to a video clip about one of our local veterinarians who volunteers at the Iditarod every year, Dr. Stu Nelson. He is the head veterinarian. It's 23 minutes long, and full of information about taking care of the dogs of the Iditarod! It's pretty interesting, especially if you're a dog lover, or are interested in veterinary science!

http://iditarod.com/race/?vid=46704

Check it out!

For 10 points extra credit, write me a summary (three paragraphs minimum).

Mrs. Baker 

Honoring our Hometown Hero

 The Sandpoint community will be gathering along the Pedestrian Long Bridge, First Avenue and Cedar Street between 4 pm and 4:30 pm Saturday, January 11, to honor Captain David Lyon and family.  His family will be returning to Sandpoint from Colorado, where David was buried January 8 at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs.  Everyone is welcome to attend, and residents are encouraged to wear, red, and blue.  Bring lanterns, signs, flashlights, candles, etc.