Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! December 2015
I am running late this year (big surprise), but wanted to take a minute and reach out to our family and friends.
This has been a big year for us. We moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in August of 2014, and planned to be there for 2 years, but ended up moving in August of 2015 to Seoul, South Korea! We are so grateful to be here, living just a mile from Kristina and Curt (my sister and brother-in-law). We count it a huge blessing that we get to live by family for 2 years and are enjoying fun cousin times.
Ty (14) is a Freshman, and navigating High School and early-morning seminary well. He has enjoyed running cross-country and had the opportunity to race in Guam in monsoon-conditions. Definitely a memorable experience. He is now playing basketball. He had a music composition class that he thought might do him in, but he survived it and now knows more music theory than I do. He has had a good attitude with all of our moving adventures for which Tyler and I are grateful.
Shayla (12) is in 7th grade, and loving middle school. She also ran cross-country and did great. She has been very diligent in keeping up her training, and is looking forward to running again next year. Shayla also enjoys playing the piano and is my one child who practices without being forced. I love hearing her play! She is missing gymnastics so has taken up cheer to keep up her tumbling skills. I’m supposed to find her a gym here in Seoul over the Christmas break.
Garrett (10) is in 5th grade and enjoying his last year of elementary school. He is doing great at school and especially enjoys playing football after school with some buddies. He played soccer in the fall and really enjoyed that too. We are also trying to start up with piano again after the big move, and he enjoys playing once he gets going.
Grant (8) had a big year with getting baptized out in Utah on his birthday. It was so fun to have family and friends there to share in the special day. He is enjoying scouting now, and played flag-football in the fall. He got to be the quarterback and really enjoyed that. He is in 3rd grade and loves reading Harry Potter and Percy Jackson and all things adventure.
Miya (6) started kindergarten this fall and after adjusting to the long day has really enjoyed it. She loves to make us laugh and smile, and is great at cheering us all on. She really enjoyed taking a ballet/jazz dance class with her cousin Eva.
Kalia (3) is such sweet company during the day. She attends a Korean class with me twice a week and is very patient, even though she doesn’t like it. Her reward is her dance class which she takes with her cousin Kiku. She loves to dance her heart out, and we recently took her to do Korean Karaoke (Noraebang) and found out that she is a diva at heart. She danced and sang her heart out and can’t wait to go back for more.
Tyler is really enjoying his job as a Foreign Service Officer for the Dept. of Commerce. He works at the Embassy and gets to help U.S. businesses here in Korea. He really enjoys the people he works with and helping U.S. companies expand their business abroad.
I am enjoying working with the young women at church ( I get to work with Shayla’s age) and do my best to keep up with our busy family. We just rang in the new year by running a midnight 5K and I realized I’m getting older when my 8 year old left me in the dust. It was a great way to start the New Year, and I’m grateful for all of the new experiences we are having here in Korea.
In addition to our new adventures here in Korea we enjoyed our time in Florida including camping in the Florida Keys, alligator adventures, exploring the Everglades, cruising the Caribbean, spending a week in the Dominican Republic, and lots of fun family and friend visits and reunions. We are especially grateful for our Savior and this wonderful time of year that turns our hearts to Him, and to the things that matter most.
We love you and wish you all the best in 2016!
Love,
Tyler, Leilani, Ty, Shayla, Garrett, Grant, Miya and Kalia Hacking
Unit 9600 Box 106
DPO, AP 96209
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