If I’m remembering correctly, I haven’t written a Christmas letter since our now six year old, was barely walking. It seemed time.
We’re celebrating our 3rd Christmas back in Idaho since Andy finished his physical therapy education. Our few short years in South Dakota were so memorable, everything from finding the perfect old house to rent, the awe-inspiring summer thunder storms, the mountains of snow in our driveway, to the amazing friendships we made there. The Lord had his hand on all of it. We really cherish those memories and hope to take the kids back there this summer. Liam needs a picture in front of the hospital he was born in….the house he first peed on his momma in, the school his Daddy worked so hard at, even through the very week of his birth.
Emma Grace, is now 8 and in 3rd grade, Emma loves math, reading, basketball, performing online surgeries and science club. She spends a day at work with Andy every once in a while and makes rounds with all the elderly patients. Everyone at the facility knows Emma by name, and she delights in escorting people to the in-house beauty parlor, to a game of Bingo or just sitting and talking….for hours. Emma began learning piano this year and has braces in her near future.
Livy Renae just turned 6 and is our 1st grade ballerina. She and Emma are both dancing with the Eugene Ballet Company in The Nutcracker next week in Ontario. Livy is always smiling, always ready for fun and has the heart of a young mother to anyone smaller than herself. She took off on her bike this summer and I can usually find her up in one of our apple trees chatting away with Emma.
Liam James is 2. His world is short and simple. There are trucks, dogs, Frosty the Snowman, football and food. If there’s more to life, he has yet to find it. We are thoroughly enjoying the world of boyhood. Poor little man truly has 4 parents in our home. His naughty acts will be few and far between that go undetected.
Andy’s been working as a PRN PTA (private contractor) for the past 7 months and has really come to enjoy it. He has facilities that book him on a weekly basis, but overall he’s been able to work at about 21 different facilities, clinics and hospitals in the valley. Andy has been Mr. Fixit and Mr. Landscaper for me since we bought our house in 2011. Slowly we’re seeing it become the home we knew it could be. Definitely our favorite project to
As for me, I am deep in the trenches of our 5th year of homeschooling and learning to find a lot of joy in teaching my kids. They each are so unique and I delight in zeroing in on their passions and bringing those to life. This year felt like a turning point for me in recognizing that I can either focus on all that I have to put aside personally in order to homeschool, or see it as all I accomplish in homeschooling by giving it my full attention for this season! During Christmas break, I hope to paint 4 different rooms in the house. I know, slightly crazy. Come next Summer, I will be able to turn my eyes back outside to our landscaping plans and dreams….We’re quickly becoming huge garden fans!
I think I made six cake projects this year, including my first wedding cake for my little sister who got hitched in June. Cake making and piano playing….therapies for me. Speaking of piano….Andy found an old upright for me this summer, after a tuning, it sounded like a grand! I am still in awe and thankful every day when I sit down and get lost in the pages of Pride and Prejudice music.
We celebrated 10 years of marriage in August and tried out jet skiing on our weekend away together up in the mountains.
Last but not least, we added to our family in July of this year when Buddy, a four year old Malamute joined our family. This was a first for both Andy and I, and our family thought we were a bit crazy by jumping into the world of dogs overnight with a 93 pound northern breed, older dog. Well, he’s turned out to be the world’s greatest dog. We love him dearly and although he’s exceptionally trained already, he will soon be starting classes to become a therapy dog and work with Andy in a clinic setting.
All told, we feel extremely blessed. God is and has been our help in time of need, our stronghold, redeemer, giver of every good and perfect gift, and has called us by name to walk with Him. We have been humbled to share stories of his compassion and mercy with our children and know that there is more goodness yet to come.
Our door is always open here on Claire Ct….Just look for the tree swing, the giggling girls in the apple trees, the little boy hiding in the playhouse, plotting his next move, and pull up a chair on our back patio….We’ll be ready with coffee and a stunning Idaho sunset.
Love to all of you dear friends and family,
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