Dear Family and Friends, December 2024
As the calendar year winds down, we find ourselves reflecting on a year full of growth, adventure, and milestones. It seems only yesterday we were ushering in the New Year on Easter Island, surrounded by the expanse of the Pacific Ocean and a chorus of penguin dreams from our recent trip to Antarctica.
As always, our family calendar featured stamps in passports and miles on the odometer. Following last year’s early letter in October, we embarked on a Southern Hemisphere adventure to New Zealand, Antarctica, Patagonia (Chile), and Easter Island. Antarctica stood out as a family favorite where we met countless penguins, icebergs and one very special whale who breached over 80 times non-stop, something the onboard marine biologist had never seen or heard of. The trip was truly inspiring to us all, kindling Bardez’s passion for photography and inspiring KariBella to dream of returning as either a guide or a marine biologist. We highly recommend Quark Expeditions as a Seattle based company to travel to Antarctica – if you are considering such an adventure.
The year included February trips to ski in Mont-Tremblant, Canada and Snowbird, Utah. A spring jaunt to Chamonix, France (also for some very light skiing given the very light snow…), and then down to Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Rome, and Florence with the deBlois family for Easter. Favorite highlights included everything history inside and outside of Rome as well as gluten-free pasta making which inspired a short-lived entrepreneurial dream of bringing European gluten-free goodness to the states. Summer brought us back to our RV, where we racked up 10,000 miles across the U.S., exploring Pennsylvania, Illinois, Minneapolis, North Dakota (the best kept secret as an amazing state), Montana, Washington, Oregon, Utah and then New Mexico for the beloved International Folk Art Market. With our teens plus three friends and two dogs, it was another memorable adventure criss-crossing the continent.
Charlotte and the kids wrapped up summer with a moms/kids trip to London with friends the Lowndes and Pickles to experience Shakespeare as only the British can deliver. In September, Charlotte ventured to Turkey on a ladies-only trip with friends Nancy Berg, Allison Parc and new friend Gabby Frackman where they explored Istanbul, Cappadocia and Bodrum. Turkey is Charlotte’s new favorite country with highlights such as hot air ballooning and a once in a lifetime horse photography opportunity. In October she ventured to Maine for a poetry writing retreat and discovered she deeply loves the beauty of New England’s coast. Charlotte is also back in the foster care world as a Guardian-ad-Litem and loves working with foster youth again.
Charlotte began a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program at Yale this year, setting the stage for a future PhD in Psychology or Doctorate of Nursing. Caleb continued his journey at Duke Divinity School and spent a transformative summer interning at Cannon Beach Community Church. He can often be overheard discussing the nuances of church fathers such as Augustine, Athanasius and Cyril with KariBella (who had an 8th grade class covering basically the same material). Our mid-life return to school is deeply rewarding, even as we try to keep pace with our ever-growing kids.
Caleb traveled fewer miles but journeyed farther this year than any before. What began with the step into grad school has continued in much emotional, spiritual and physical growth and healing. From personal and business coaching, productive therapy work, a life and marriage-transforming book and program called Bulletproof Husband (highly recommended), to expelling emotional energy through chopping wood, and adventuring further into woodcraft (including epoxy work which has, thus far, only resulted in permanently affixing a tree trunk to the basement slab floor with epoxy that is 3x stronger than concrete!). Caleb is embracing his 40’s and the mid-life metamorphosis it brings!
This year marked a new era in our family: the teenage takeover. With KariBella turning 13 last November and Bardez following suit this December, our house is now officially brimming with teenagers. They remind us regularly of their impending departure from the nest as they take test flights of independence. We couldn’t be more excited for them (with only a few adult breakdowns about “Wait! It’s too soon! These kids are amazing!”).
EthnieMay turned 16 and earned her driver’s license, transforming our daily logistics (another driver is such a blessing!). She’s also one year into dating Jacob, a wonderful young man who has quickly become part of our extended tribe (whose family are our dear adventure friends and therefore they have gone on dates in 4 countries this year). EthnieMay took an amazing adventure last summer going to the Berklee School of Music Aspire program, a Five-Week Music Summer Intensive and was very generously hosted by Eric and Mariya Achtmann in Boston (fulfilling her dreams of independent living in a fancy condo in the sky – thank you Eric and Mariya!). She attended university level music classes in both theory and the business of music, cementing her love of the music industry and desire to pursue music at the University level. EthnieMay is teaching violin this year, working at Raleigh Tamales on the weekends and impressing many families with her babysitting plus house cleaning skills. This year, she also starred in musical productions: Lion King as Pumba last spring and Anastasia this fall playing Anastasia’s Mother (the dowager empress) and is 1st Chair Violin for her Orchestra with Triangle Youth Music.
Zebaniah, now 15, and 6’1” secured his learner’s permit and continues to spread his wings—literally, flying solo to Europe last summer for a whirlwind of youth choir performances in Berlin and Prague, horse rescue volunteering in Spain, and a Shakespearean finale in London. Zeb learned how to communicate with horses using only positive rewards and body language. When arriving back home he had high hopes of using the same training on both siblings and dogs alike. Zeb continues his love of Mathematics and will finish maths available to high schoolers at an AP level this year, but his true new love is theater! Zeb has always been amazing as a boychoir singer but he has put this skill to good use in the musical Anastasia in a lead role as Vlad. Zeb continues his love of writing music and is currently writing a musical with some friends based on the Greek Myth of Eros and Psyche.
KariBella, 14, threatens to fly the coop on the regular. She has found a love for solo travel visiting friends several times in Texas, California and Washington State! She is also pursuing a desire to study abroad next year in the Czech Republic or Poland. KariBella continues her deep love of music in singing ventures (although we all still love Violin). In the spring, she participated in a singing contest hosted by Raleigh Youth Choir and won first place with a cash prize singing “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell (available for viewing, www.youtube.com/@KariBellaWhitmore). This fall, she continues her singing journey in an Ukrainian Folk choir and is auditioning for The Voice! A newfound passion for KariBella is cooking- to kick-off the summer, she flew solo to GrandKari’s house in Oregon to learn about cooking, and now she regularly makes her own fancy lunches at home. KariBella attended the Spies, Lies and Nuke’s Conference (an amazing conference – www.spiesliesnukes.com) with Charlotte, Caleb and Zeb which inspired a new love for International Relations and she is subsequently pursuing The Congressional Award as a way to enrich her ability to follow her newfound dreams.
Bardez, 13, is the mother to our 4 chickens (literally, we have 4 chickens and they LOVE him) and the favorite and only identified cousin of Aurora (age almost 3). He is a lover of all things art, and an architect/builder. Bardez erected a pretty fancy treehouse this year complete with railings, roof and some fake plants from Target to really give it a homey look and feel amidst the forest. He has a swinging chair and extension cord for electricity so he can live there part-time while keeping his laptop charged for school. Bardez is finishing the last option for high school art at Veritas (if you know of another high level online option we need this!?!) and has really fallen in love with pastels and charcoal this year. His love of photography continues and he sells his photography online at www.BW.photos where he recommends printing his art on metal. He joins his siblings in his love of theater and singing, starring as Mufasa in the Lion King last spring and Dimitri in Anastasia as well as singing with the high school boys at Raleigh Youth Choir. Bardez’ newest favorite pastime is airsoft with best friend Sam and big brother Zeb. He had a birthday party this year where he invited his buddies but also their dads for an epic and very memorable battle. The dads won but the memory is held in a priceless picture of the dads looking as if they had all perished.
For Thanksgiving we treasured a visit from friends the Wiens’ and Charlotte’s sister Gwen, Reg and beloved cousin Aurora. For the first time, the Christmas holiday will be spent at home with just the six of us. As our time with all the kids under one roof becomes increasingly precious, we’re treasuring these quiet moments together. With hearts full of gratitude for the year behind us and hope for the year ahead, we wish you all a season of joy, peace, and love.
Caleb & Charlotte
EthnieMay, Zebaniah, KariBella & Bardez (and doggies Winnie and Watson!)