Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Family pictures for our yearly Christmas card have never been so fun!
Seriously, we usually end up in a family feud, and we left smiling this year.
{this is what we're gonna call growth}

~2011 Year In Review~
Lydia turned 4 years old and we celebrated with dinner and a movie with her friends.
We started selling our family rules signs!
My parents took my family and my brother's family on a 7 night Disney Cruise.
Luke turned 11 and celebrated with pizza and a pool party.
Busch Gardens for a day!
We completed our 4th year of homeschool, and there were less days of crying. :)
Andy took our college students to India for two weeks to see some of our favorite people ever.
Andy accepted a new position at Athens Church in Athens, Georgia!!
We said goodbye to our sweet college students and our wonderful friends in Orlando.

Moved into the home of some friends while they were away in Africa and lived for our first 6 weeks.

We celebrated 15 years of marriage the week that we moved.
Seth turned 9 years old our first Sunday at the church, and we celebrated with my family.
We moved into our rental house where we'll be living for at least a couple of years.
...and we painted and painted and painted.
Our house  FINALLY SOLD!!!
{the one in my hometown that had been for sell for three years while we lived in Orlando}
Family day at Six Flags over Georgia with my brother and his family...season passes for next year!
Enjoyed the change of weather and the beautiful fall leaves!!
Max, our little yorkie, turned 2 years old, and we celebrated with a long walk & a bone.
Our family celebrated Gotcha Day with Lydia...4 years ago they put her in our arms to stay forever.
We are ending this year of making our family rules signs having sold around 175 of them!

It has been a wonderful year for our family....
Transition isn't ever easy, but this has been the easiest go at it that we've ever experienced.

{thankful for}
 201. Athens Church.
202. The phenomenal people we work with at the church, who are gifted, strong and humble leaders.
203. This opportunity we have to help lead others into a growing, personal relationship with Jesus.
204. My kids' small group leaders, who are faithfully serving & loving them each and every week.
205. My kids love for our church!!
 206. Our small group on Tuesday nights.
 207. The power of God at work in our family and in the lives of these families.
208. My kids' friendships here.
209. Living about 8 minutes from one of my dearest friends and her family.
{we cheered all through school together, were college roomies and in each other's weddings}
 210. The chance to live an hour from my family.
211. The blessing of watching my kids run & play on my parents land.
212. The smiles on my parents' faces every time we walk through their front door.
213. The sweet relationship between my parents and Andy.

Merry, Merry Christmas to you and your families!
We pray peace, love & joy for each of you in the new year.