Christmas Letter 2012

Merry Christmas, Everyone!  I hope that all of you have enjoyed your holiday season.  Ours has been busy, busy, busy, but we have enjoyed the time with family and friends.

Emma and Taylor started kindergarten this year.  That seems impossible to me, but its true.  We put them in different classes and that has proven to be a great choice.  They have both blossomed as individuals and learned how to make friends on their own.  Their teachers are perfect for them and they both love school.  Taylor's favorite school activities are math and PE.  Emma's is art. 

Now that I have more free time I've started substitute teaching two days a week.  I have enjoyed getting back in the classroom and experiencing the different grade levels and subject areas.  I have also spent some time volunteering at the girls' school.  On my days off, I continue to do laundry, grocery shop, and sweep floors.  I truly admire those women who work full-time and have spotless homes.

Will finished his second year working for Lighthouse Properties.  He is now embarking on a new work adventure.  We are starting our own business!  This is something Will has been interested in for several years.  After much prayer and council, we have decided that now is the time.  He will be doing custom woodwork and remodeling.  I will be doing bookkeeping and marketing.  Please remember us in your prayers as we start this new chapter of our lives.

We love hearing from each of you.  Thank you for continuing to be part of our lives.  We hope that God blesses you richly during the next year!

December

December has been a whirlwind of activity.  Strangely, I think January is going to be busier.  This month has brought a lot more volunteer opportunities at the girls' school, which I've enjoyed, and of course, all sorts of holiday festivities.

The first weekend of the month my parents and sister went looking at Christmas lights with us.  I've decided that we just went too early.  Not very many lights were out yet.  We went to the parade on the river, but because of the recent drought, there was no river.  We found a few houses to look at, but overall, it didn't meet my high expectations.  We did enjoy spending time with family, though.  I wish I would have taken a picture of my mom, sister, and me crammed in the backseat.

Last weekend we took the girls to visit Santa Claus.  They were not impressed by the first Santa we saw.  In fact, Emma wouldn't even sit on his lap.  They were convinced he wasn't really Santa and questioned how he got is suit.  We finally decided that Santa needed some helpers and lent some suits to a few guys to help out.  We then headed way across town to find the "real" Santa.  We drove so long that one of the girls asked if we were driving to the North Pole.  Relieved, we found the real thing.

I was happy to find that this year, the girls were actually very helpful in the cooking baking department.  Past years have proven to be more work than fun for me.