This is REALLY from Rachel Johns (not Ben)

Merry Christmas Everyone! This year I mean it more than ever before! On Decemnber 18, Randy had a heart attack. He's fine now but it was definitely a concerned couple of days. We went to the E.R. as soon as we realized that he was having symptoms. The next day he had a Cardiac Cath. and the Doctors found 2 blocked arteries around his heart. During the same procedure they inserted 2 Stents. (expandable coils of metal that force the block, open) and pretty much told us that he's good to go. He has to take some medications for a while. It's been a little over a week now and they don't seem to be having any negative effects. He also started Cardiac Rehab yesterday (Friday, Dec. 26) and is a happier man because he was told he may use the snow blower now, within reason. He is not to do any shovelling, but that's fine. One of our neighbors, Kevin Bock, has graciously volunteered to do the stuff that Randy isn't allowed to, for the rest of the season.

Ben & Kari came from Waukee right after the Cath was done. They stayed for the weekend and helped us get some things set up and really helped during a very trying time. Dan was there for moral support via telephone. "We love you" just doesn't cover it.

Today is Floyd's , what??? 51rst Birthday? I'd really like to hear about your family's Mission trip. Details please...If I'm interested, I'm sure everyone else is too. Happy Birthday, Floyd-baby.

We spent Christmas day at Mark and Glenda's place. This was the first time I got to meet Cohen, Micah's son. Sweet baby...but that's no surprise. Also, newly engaged Aleisa and and Jordon were there, and the beautifully pregnant Megan with her husband peter. Another "new" person was introduced: (and I know I'm going to spell it wrong so I'm just doing it phonetically) K-C, Marcus's brave girlfriend, came and met the whole fam damily at one time. I don't really need to say the the food was delicious, but it was.

Okay. Let's get some of your news. Happy New Year. With love, Rachel

You guys should ask Ben and Kari "what's new?"

Helloooooooooooooo Everybody! It's been so long since I've seen a new Post that I forgot that I could post, too. Well...here I am. Here are things that are new to us. (Me and Randy.) We've been working on a 1974, 914 Porsche for the last several years. This summer and last summer were the first times it's been drive-able. A couple of weeks ago, I took it out just for fun, and something in the engine blew. Now, the shell and separated transmission are in our garage. The engine is in our friend's garage. THEN a week later, I was driving my regular car (2003 Pontiac Sunfire) and got T-boned. I wasn't hurt at all, but the car is totaled. It was 100% the other guys fault and his insurance company is providing me with a rental car until next Monday. We've found another car. (2008 Ford Focus...2 door with more bells and whistles on it than I'll live long enough to learn.) We hope to pick it ups by Monday. It's red. The gas mileage is amazing. (34 to 39 mpg) The down side...the Pontiac was paid for...car payments...here we come!

Chris: I like your idea about the page for important dates. I'll be watching for it.

Okay everybody else...lets start talking again. Love, Rachel

Family Address book

Hi all,

I was just adding all the Birthdays and Anniversaries to my PDA. I thought it would be so nice to send cards, now that I actually know the events. I emailed Dan, and he said he could put together an address book page, if everyone would submit whatever information they have.

What do you all think?

Chris Van Der Stoep
411 Gardner St.
El Cajon, CA, 92020
(619)441-0582

Kari, Gramma, Laura, Dan, Bob/Robben,Dan/Ben

Daniel Johns was home in Iowa for 2 weeks

After way too long, Dan came home for a while. We hadn't seen him for almost 3 years. While he was here, he made himself useful by power washing our deck and doing a "Merry Maids" number on our house and "other duties as assigned". (Randy had his 54th birthday on June 1. Dan cleaned the house for me while I was at work in Omaha, in preparation for a Birthday cookout.) We LOVED having him here. Instead of talking some more...I'm going to try to publish some pictures. The first one is just a good picture of Dan. (Thank you for not pulling a face for this shot Chrome...