June started with a trip to Miller, SD to attend their friend Michelle (Dr. Mush) Danburg’s father’s memorial service. Their college friend Sue Haglin was also there. It was a very touching tribute.
Next up was a trip to Knoxville, IA for Curtis & Kaylee’s wedding. Curtis is Dawn’s cousin Lyn Heggestad’s son. Their wedding was very special and they were so glad they were able to share the joy with so many family members. From there, they headed to the Cities for Jeff’s nephew Chase’s high school graduation celebration. Next, they drove over near Watertown, SD for Kayla’s sister Kara’s wedding to Trevor. It should be noted that they attended 6 weddings this year… perhaps a record!
They did not do their annual 4-wheeling trip, but rather hosted family at Boxelder Buff in the Hills. Everyone chipped in and much work got completed. For the 4th, Dawn’s cousins, brother, sister’s family and folks all came for the day, making nearly 30 people celebrating our nation’s birthday!
This fall, their friends Bruce and Juanita Bot, cousin Lyn and friends Sue and Jeff Haglin and Michelle Turner AKA Mush, all joined them at The Bluff at various times. We were thrilled to be able to see and photograph the Northern Lights from the Bluff with Sue, Jeff and Mush!
In September, they met their West Coast Crew the “VanJulMans” for a week in Colorado Springs. Dawn and Jeff drove and got to see country neither had traveled through.
The last event of the month was traveling to Cedar Rapids to be on hand for Lee Bot’s marriage to CJ. These two make the cutest couple and it was so great to see Lee so happy.
In October, we were blessed to gather for Dawn’s parents’ 65th wedding anniversary celebration and Connie’s 85th birthday! Dawn’s sister, Cindy, hosted the whole family and friends at her beautiful Black Hills Home, White Gate Lodge. It is such a milestone and it was fabulous that everyone could make it and spend the time together.
Justin surprised Dawn with hard-to-get tickets to the SDSU/USD football game at SDSU. The Jacks won of course, and it was special to have that mother-son time together.
The family was blessed by the long-awaited arrival of Addison. Dawn’s niece Ashlen and husband Travis are proud parents of this perfect little girl.
Christmas will gather the family in Minneota… In addition, someone just may be celebrating a milestone birthday right around Christmas!
Reflecting on the year, the Van Keulens have so many things to celebrate starting of course with our Lord and Savior and the many blessings our family has experienced this year.
This year brought many exciting changes to the family. Aubree and Joseph started building a new home located on the edge of Minneota - just over the river and through the woods from the VK farm site. Justin, Kayla and Stella moved to the Brookings, SD area and are now less than an hour away.
Dawn and Jeff purchased a fixer-upper in the Black Hills which they have named “Boxelder Bluff” because Boxelder Creek surrounds it and it sits on a bluff. They have spent a great deal of their time working on projects and renovations out there. The goal for the place is make it a VRBO it when the renovations are complete. Family and friends have had a blast hiking Creek Caves Trail which is conveniently located across the road from their driveway.
Dawn and Jeff are still active on the Boxelder Bug Days committee. Bug Days is held in September and is a great family weekend event. The setup, tear down and planning takes a lot of time, but they enjoy the fellowship that goes along with it. They also are once again bowling on a couple’s league in Ivanhoe with Jeff’s brother Mark and SIL Janet.
Dawn keeps busy with PEO, a book club, playing trumpet in the Route 68 Big Band, being on the Lyon County, Farm Bureau Board, playing Bunco, singing in the church choir, chairing the church’s call committee and helping with their scholarship program.
Jeff went to Duluth once again for the First Robotics competition. He kept very busy this fall putting field tile in for some neighbors. Dawn drove the stringer cart to help out. He has been helping figure out a plan for the church’s sound and video system and of course projects around the farm never seem to come to an end. He has also been helping Aubree and Joseph with their house project along the way.
They made several trips to Fairmont, MN to help Justin and Kayla get their house ready to sell in the spring. They also got to go with the kids to Mount Kato in Mankato to ski. Dawn and Kayla kept Stella occupied while Justin and Jeff helped Will learn to ski.
Dawn got to attend the Minnesota Farm Bureau Council of Presidents in the Cities. It was an exciting day to learn more about farm issues and how Farm Bureau engages legislatively.
April was busy. Dawn’s folks came to Minneota for Easter week which was a great time together. Jeff took Dawn to see her teen heartthrob, Rick Springfield in concert. They also represented their county at their congressional district convention. Somewhere, they squeezed in a 10-day trip to Portugal in April as well!
For Will’s 7th birthday, Uncle Justin had the idea that they should do a boys’ camping trip. So, Justin, Papa, Joseph and Will spent a weekend in May at Blue Mounds State Park – tent camping. Justin noted that this was also the first time he’d camped with his dad! Better late than never.