Dear fRamily***

It seems a little strange to be wishing you a Merry Christmas already ... weren't we just putting the tree away a few days ago?  Wow!  It seems to go faster the older I get.

**ahem**

Not that I'm old or anything ... of COURSE not!

And what a crazy year this has been!  Every year, as we begin, I wonder how I am every going to come up with enough material to write this little letter. And then life happens and I end up having to sift through all the stuff that happened to figure out what I THINK you might be interested in ...

And this year, there was a LOT of material!

Right around Christmas last year we found the house that we just KNEW was meant for us.  It was more than we thought we could afford but, as He always does, God worked things out for us and we were able to make a deal. And then He REALLY knocked our socks of when He knocked ANOTHER big chunk-o-change off the price for us!!  By February it was all ours (and the bank's)!  So, THIS year we can honestly say we are

HOME for Christmas!!!!

Thank You Lord!

Hattie turned eight in February and is doing SO well in school!  She is even making big enough strides in her mainstreaming program that she does most of her time in there without her shadow helper.  THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is a miracle!  She is a superstar in her AI program - her teachers are always telling us she is the funniest kid they know. She keeps everyone in stitches and is becoming SO outgoing - which is flat out amazing for a child on the autistic spectrum. We could not possibly be more proud of her.  She got braces in May and started 2nd grade in September - she even rides the general education bus with all the neighborhood kids!!!  She pretty much ROCKS!

Sophie graduated from preschool in June and spent the summer counting down the days until she could ride that big ol bus to Kindergarten.  I've never seen a kid who was happier to leave their mama behind. And I have never been more proud!  She lost her first tooth in July and turned 5 in September - the day AFTER she started kindergarten.  She loves school and is doing so well. As I write this, she is at the table, in a princess dress and tiara, writing a letter to Santa.  He may need a translator to figure out some of the spelling, but she is sounding out the words and insists on doing it all herself.  WOW.  She still loves to cook - even helped me make the pumpkin pies for our Thanksgiving meal, loves to dance - girlfriend can bust a mean move, she makes us giggle and Blesses our socks off.  She is amazing and we are SO proud!!!

Steven & Chris came to visit us in the Spring for turkey season. We LOVE when they come here. We missed sweet Mindy a whole bunch though. We hope we can see her soon too!!!

Steve and I are doing well - This December we will celebrate 10 years as couple. WOW!  So much life has happened in those ten years.  I am so thankful that this sweet, amazing, strong, wonderful, Godly man chose me to walk this life with. I am so in love with him I can hardly see straight.  TEN years baby ... let's go for another 10 or 50 more!!!

We pray that this finds you all well and happy and Blessed. We pray that you know ... really KNOW ... every wonderful thing that this season really means. Oh, He is so good. SO faithful. So loving.

He could have come to a palace, but He came to a stable.  He could have come in power, but He came in humility. He could have come to change the world, but He came to change our HEARTS.  Please, if you have not already, let Him have yours today.  He loves you so.

And, as my great Grandma Hattie Straight used to say ...

Take Time To Hear The Angels Sing!!!

It is a BEAUTIFUL song ... a song written just for you!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Love,
Steve, Becky Jo, Hattie Grace & Sophie Lee

***fRamily - Friends you love like family. Family you would choose as friends.