This year has been full of great blessings and great challenges!

This year started while we were in the middle of trying to find a new home church.  We were looking for a new church partly because we had moved and were now a lot further from church, and partly because there were not many people to connect with that were our age group at our church.  After months of trying several churches closer to home, we realized that we were really missing our old church.  The first Sunday we went back we were invited to a small group study that was just starting, full of other people our age.  That pretty much sealed the deal for us to want to start coming back to our church, we were thrilled to be more involved with people again.

This year Jesse decided to get even more serious about kicking CF’s butt.  After needing IV’s in February, he was determined to do everything he could to not have IV’s again as long as possible… and so far he hasn’t needed them again!  He ordered a new, better Vest and tried extra hard to never skip his aerosols.  But the expense was totally worth it.  His work has been paying off big time!!

This year Jesse achieved his long time goal of graduating.  It took a lot of work and sacrifice, from both of us.  But it was all worth it to see him walk across that stage and get his diploma.  It was so exciting to see how happy he was with himself.  We celebrated with a small surprise party, and he loved every minute of it.

This year we had one of our best family vacations ever.  With all three of us kids going our separate ways, living our lives, we aren’t sure how many more chances we will have to do all together family vacations like that.  Dad rented an awesome cabin in the Smokey Mountains for a week.  Jesse and I thoroughly enjoying every minute of it.

This year I experienced how hard it is to be a patient.  I had never had any medical issues before, and all of a sudden my allergies were causing me a lot of troubles.  Just as we recovered from all of Jesse’s medical expenses at the beginning of the year, I started adding my own bills to the mix.  I saw several doctors trying to find the source of my stomach pain and nausea.  Finally, I was diagnosed with food, and many other, allergies.  It has been a real challenge to have to change almost everything in our diet.

This year has ended wonderfully.  It has been the first year we were able to celebrate Christmas with both of our parents.  We had one big Christmas morning with everyone together.  We have very much enjoyed our relaxing Christmas vacation.  We haven’t done all that much… which is perfect.  We are always so busy, that sometimes it’s nice to know that we don’t have anything planned.

This year has gone by very quickly and is now over.  I can’t wait to see what 2011 has in store for us.  Happy New Year!!

Since Jesse’s parents have been staying with us during the holidays, Jesse wanted to take advantage of having his dad’s help with a couple of projects we have been wanting to get done around the house.

The first one was quick and easy. They relocated a hose that is part of our air conditioner. For some reason our builder positioned it in a way that made it impossible to clean or change the filter. Now it’s all better.

The next project was a little more involved. Again our builder decided to cut a corner a put the water heater right in the middle of the garage. It took up so much space this way because nothing ever fit in the leftover space. Now it’s in the corner where it makes more sense. It leaves a lot more room to walk out the door with my arms full too.

The best part is that the girls were out shopping while this was going on. 🙂

Luke 2:1-20

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.