Spring/Summer Edition 2026

Dear family and friends,

It’s hard for us to believe that it has been almost a year since we packed up, sold our Ruby Cottage, and moved back to KS. The 23 years that we spent in NC were good and we will never regret following the Lord’s leading to be there for a season. But being back home with family and life-long friends has been amazing. 

Christmas spent with both sides of the family was such a BLESSING! Christmas Eve with Den’s brother Brad and his wife, was one of those old traditions that we renewed. Christmas Day was a new tradition sharing lunch with the McPhail side at his stepmom’s assisted living facility. The celebration didn’t end until a couple days later with Jeannie’s family. Having so many kids around for the Aadalen Christmas was an absolute joy for both of us. 

Great-Aunt Jeanne Ann with her namesake Jolie Jeanne. They both are Clifford fans!

Dennis has enjoyed regularly scheduled “Brother Days” with Brad, cooking at home and going to favorite places together. We’ve enjoyed many meals with both the McPhail and Brewer sides of his family. Time with family and friends was our main priority in moving back home and it has been so wonderful and fun! God is good. ​

Aunt JA (and Uncle Den) have loved being a part of Jeannie’s family celebrations with her brother Dave’s family and all twelve of Jeannie’s great-nieces and nephews. We’ve attended several holiday get-togethers birthday parties, dance recitals, and theatrical presentations. The great-nephews (who are also on JA’s Youth Advisory Board) had leading roles.
One played Tiny Tim, and another Scrooge, in variations of “A Christmas Carol.” A third played Kurt in “Sound of Music” which was a role his dad played twenty years earlier! We know there is more theater to come! ​

Dennis enjoyed his first year of officiating back in our home state. Throughout the volleyball and basketball seasons, he reconnected with other refs, coaches, former players, and students who knew him from his years at Shawnee Heights. A few even remembered him as a high school basketball player! When the assignment for sub-state play-off game came, Dennis was delighted. And the game was in Topeka, so he didn’t even have to travel far. He reffed as many games here as in NC, but the miles he drove in KS were about half, and instead of mountain roads, the straight “country miles” were a welcome change! (Though he missed the waterfalls and layered mountain views along the road.) He looks forward to another year now that he is “officially” established in KS.

Macs Music Recording Studio has made the transition to KS also, and Dennis is in the process of recording a local duo. They agreed to let Dennis practice his recording engineer skills on them. Amber and Martin sing together in local churches, but have never recorded, so this is a first for them as well. They are all enjoying the learning process and look forward to the final result. ​

Along with the above activities, Dennis is now playing piano for Sunday morning services at Family of God, our new church home. This was an answer to prayer on both sides! He is honored to be part of a bunch of guys (including our pastor) who love to use their music to praise the Lord. ​

Jeannie has finally gotten down to about a dozen bins left to unpack and put away. Once we had all the necessities, she decided that the rest of our “stuff” could wait a while. She has kept busy all winter working on Book IV in her Trinity Tales of Tresia series, connecting with Kansas authors, and enjoying a new home library and her Kingdom Corner where she reads and writes. 

Jeannie is sharing a new experience this year with several of her friends. “Dandelions and Daisies” is an antique/craft booth at Craftee Crafters in North Topeka. This is something that has been on Jeannie’s visiona board for many years. Antiquing was a favorite pastime for Jeannie and Stacie, so it holds a special place in her heart. The last gift that Stacie bought her in the Spring of 2012 came from a favorite antique mall in Hickory, NC. The lamp now sits on Jeannie’s writing desk and lights up her Kingdom Corner (and her heart!) every time it’s switched on. Stacie’s words the day she found it were “Mom, you need this. Happy Mother’s Day.” 

Jeannie is thrilled to have her Webmaster Carol and her daughter, Emalee who is illustrating Jeannie’s next Tresia series book, contribute their crochet and crafty creations. Also contributing are twins Amber (yes, the musician) and Ashley. Jeannie has known them most of their lives as their mom Cindy is a dear friend of many years. Amber and Ashley’s beaded jewelry, crocheted items, and scented soaps make great gifts! Jeannie adds antiques and household items she’s been collecting for years for an antique booth! They recently updated and moved the booth to a much more prominent location in the mall. So if you are in the Topeka area, come in and check out booth #7 and see what we have to offer. (There is a link on Jeannie’s website page that shows some items.) 

We consider all these activities as using our God-given gifts to accomplish His assignments for this season. “Kingdom Purpose” is our 2026 focus and the scripture that the Lord gave Jeannie for 2026 is found in Acts 26:18. (Voice) 

“It will be your mission to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light…to the KINGDOM of God. This is so that they may receive forgiveness…and have a place among those who are set apart for a holy PURPOSE through having faith in Me.”

Those are our orders from the Throne. What we do each day is for God’s Glory, and the benefit of family, friends, and the household of faith. We pray this newsletter has brought you joy today. 
We’d love to hear from you! 

BLESSINGS! 

Dennis and Jeannie