Holly Toney

Christmas 2001

Greetings from Iowa City.  We hope that you are doing well.  God has continued to bless our family in so many ways.   In the midst of all of the chaos and hatred in the world it is good to know that we have a God of order and love.  Here is a little glimpse of each person in our family: Olivia will be 3 on January 20th.   She keeps us on our toes.  Basically, she talks from the time she wakes up until the time she goes to sleep.  She tests our patience sometimes, but she keeps us laughing as well.  She also has a way of getting what she wants from her daddy.  Here is a recent example from when we were going to go to the mall where they have a big carousel.

Olivia: Daddy can I mease (please) ride the carousel when we go to the mall?
Dan: No, you don't need to ride the carousel every time we go.
Olivia: Can I really mease ride the carousel?
Dan: I don't think I have any money.
Olivia: But daddy it only costs one dollar.
Dan: I don't know, we'll see.
Olivia: (Now on my lap right by my face) It can be my special thing daddy.
Dan: Ok, but only once.

I think I'm in trouble when she's a teenager.  Olivia goes to dance class once a week.  She loves it.  She is pretty adorable in her little dance outfit.  She loves dollies, music, and bubble gum. Caleb is 5 and he started kindergarten this year.  He really enjoys it. He is a super reader.  He has started reading his first chapter books.  The school he goes to is all day on Mon., Wed., and Fri., which works out well because mom wasn't quite ready for him to be gone all the time yet.  Caleb played soccer for the first time this fall.  He seemed to really enjoy it. At the end of the season when each player got an award, Caleb got the "best passer" award.  Caleb loves rescue heroes, playing with his friends, and playing computer games.  He already can beat me at most of them.  In general he is an all around sweet boy.

Holly keeps very busy.   Caleb's school is a Christian school and they need a lot of volunteers so Holly serves lunch once a week and helps in Caleb's classroom on Friday afternoons.   She also helped start a youth group at our church for kids up to 5th grade called "The Lord's army."   The focus is on scripture memorization.  It has gone great.  She also directed the church Christmas program for the second year in a row.  She said that she won't do it again next year, but I'm pretty sure I heard that last year  too.   And she still works part-time in home health care.
 

I (Dan) am in the middle of my 10th year in campus ministry, which is hard for me to believe.  I don't feel that old, but I must look old as people occasionally ask me if one of the college students is my kid.   This has been an exciting year for the ministry as we have seen our largest numbers ever.  God has been doing some great things.  I feel honored to be a part of it.  I am planning on taking a group to Taiwan this summer for a missions trip.  Our whole family is going to go, Lord willing, so Holly is excited about that.  I mentioned that Caleb played soccer.  I made an attempt at being his coach.  I know nothing about soccer, but I think I faked it pretty well.  My biggest challenge was keeping enough kids on the field,  but we had a good time.  I am excited because I am going to the Independence bowl Dec. 27th to see Iowa State play.  We are going to be in Texas for Christmas this year and Shreveport, LA, where the bowl is being played, is only about 3 hours away from Dallas, so I couldn't pass up that opportunity.  Actually, 20 of us from my mom's side of the family will be there.  Go Cyclones!

Have a Merry Christmas and a great year. In Christ,

Dan, Holly (Skiles), Caleb,  & Olivia Toney

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