Happy 2009!

For New Year's Eve, Lisa picked up all the kids at 8:00 a.m. and took them to Enumclaw for a day with cousins. Collins and I got to stay behind and get as much work done as we could plus enjoy a couple hours playing and going out to dinner at Olive Garden (a gift from friends James Quigley and Alicia...thanks a ton!)The Christmas break had flown by but we must acknowledge how wonderfully blessed we feel by all the things that keep us tired, busy and poor. Collins and I are grateful for each other and the privilege of being a forever family with Tristan, Jonah, Gideon, Isaac and Felicity. What greater joy can we have? We are blessed with talents and abilities and opportunities to work for our home and the necessities of life. We are blessed with phenomenal extended family whom we love and greatly enjoy being with. We have wonderful friends at church, in work and as neighbors who are so generous to us and also give us opportunities to serve them. We have a "house of learning" and a family desire to seek knowledge. We value ending each day knowing more than we knew at the beginning and striving to use that gift for good. Collins and I have goals that we are excited about and feel are worthwhile to work for, as well as a relationship that seems to thrive even or especially in difficult conditions. Life is good and we thank our Father in Heaven for the tremendous gifts he bestows upon us continually. We are looking forward to a great 2009 and wish everyone the same!