Christmas Letter 2010

David teased me that our letter would have to be a New Year's Card this year because it wasn't going to get out before Christmas! I told him that if I posted it today I could still call it a Christmas Card!
The year has been full of blessings! In August we moved to my old stomping grounds of Aurora Center. We are happy to be a family again, as last year when David took a new job we were apart during the weeks. I am happy to be a two parent household again! We still have boxes to unpack and some modeling projects to finish, but it is home.

It is such a blessing to watch our children grow and change. This fall Gage graduated from Preschool and now is a Kindergartner who loves to learn! Gage's favorites include animals especially whales, trains, and running fast! Grandpa VZ decided that Gage was going to be a great sports player and bought him a baseball, football, and basketball. When the basketball bounces over and over on the kitchen floor, Grandpa hears the sounds of a great basketball player in the making, I on the other hand am ready to hide the ball!

Memphis still is enjoying preschool. His teacher tells me that I have the most quiet, well behaved little boy...I asked if I was sending the right boy! At home, Memphis's favorites included bugging his sister, being sneaky, cutting things up that are not paper, animals, and cars. We love our little adventurous 4 year old!

Julia turned 2 this June, but at times I think I have a 16 year old on my hand. She is VERY independent and likes the phrase "ME DO IT" She dresses herself and I must say, I never thought I would let my child out of the house looking like that(flowers with stripes, backwards, inside out)! She spends her days with Papa and the two are best friends. She has papa wrapped around her little finger! Julia's favorite's include playing baby, fixing hair, and anything her brothers are doing!

Baby Baker is expected to arrive in May. Currently she/he is 18 weeks old and enjoys doing flips, jumping on Mommies bladder and sleeping. Her/His favorite foods include subway, apples and bananas. Dislikes include garlic, mommy not sleeping, and being hungry.

David is still working as an Emergency Manager of Aurora County doing what he loves best--watching weather! He loves playing with the kids and has Daddy date night with them every Monday night when I go to bible study. He has been busy organizing the garage and of course keeping up with his honey do list! He is anxiously awaiting the arrival of Baby Baker so his wife will return to "normal"!

I am still working at Marty, but added to 1/2 days of a toddler group in Wagner. This year I have had the opportunity to work with a student who has a hearing loss. I have learned SO much! This December I had an opportunity to travel to Phoenix for a Birth-Three conference. The kids keep me hopping! This next summer we are planning on spending all our time outside as the kids got a trampoline, swimming pool, swing set, scooters, and sand box for birthdays and Christmas. On Wednesday night we are off to AWANA at church to work on learning more about Jesus! I enjoy my Bible Study on Monday night. As I look at my family, I am reminded of something I learned from Anointed, Transformed and Redeemed...

"Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?"
~2 Sam 7:18

Waiting

My Mom is sick and healing is not coming as we anticipated it to come...quickly...so as today my mom is feeling weak and drained I become anxious...anxious about leaving for a school conference for 4 days, anxious that I am going to loose my mom...anxious about what is to come....
Awhile back I was listening to K-Love and heard about Bowen's Heart...Bowen is the son of Matt and Sarah...Matt is a member of the christian band Santus Real. I have started following their blog (bowensheart.com) about their family journey with Bowen having a heart condition. This was his post for today...isn't it awesome how God works!!
"I’m writing this on a long flight home from Phoenix. I don’t especially care for travel days, mostly because I feel like I’m away from home for no good reason. I guess it takes time to get where you’re going. I think the modern philosopher, Tom Petty, may have been right when he said, “The waiting is the hardest part.” Waiting is hard, but what’s so hard about waiting? For me, it’s finding purpose and contentment where I am at every moment, even when I have a better time and place in mind.
Sarah and I have a better time and place in mind almost everyday. It’s when Bowen gets better. When we can take his feeding tube out for good, when he stops throwing up all the time, when his surgeries are completed, and when he’s throwing balls and running bases like other little boys. We pray and trust that the day Bowen gets better will come, and whether it’s in this life or the next, we believe there will be healing. I think most of us live in anticipation, and with the hope, that something better will come. Those of us who trust in Christ put our faith in a glorious end. We believe we’ll get there, but how we get there, how we wait in the meantime, is crucial.
I’m tempted to take my seat on this plane with a sigh, fold my arms, and grumble about how long it will take me to get home. However, my heart tells me there’s something more for me in this moment. If you’re reading this, I’m glad you’re a part of it.
“I am waiting for the Lord, my soul is waiting for Him, and my hope is in His Word.” Psalms 130:5
“Now may the God who gives comfort and strength in waiting make you of the same mind with one another in harmony with Christ Jesus…” Romans 15:5
“Love is never tired of waiting.” 1 Corinthians 13:4"

So today as I am axious as to what is to come, I know that I can trust in Christ in a glorious end...whatever that may look like.