Welcome to 2014!!

Hi everyone--

To everyone who has followed our blog over the past four and a half years, thank you so much for caring about our family! We truly appreciate your prayers, kind thoughts, and support!

Well, 2013 was an adventure... We enjoyed so many blessings that we really can't complain, but it wasn't without challenges. As our loyal blog followers likely noticed, I wasn't always the best about updating as much as in previous years, and I have to attribute that fact to a simple lack of time. This past year FLEW by, and I truly do think that it was perhaps our most hectic year yet-- and that's saying something!

I'm not much one for new year's resolutions. Instead, I believe that we should constantly strive to reflect, adjust, and grow. We should pray for God's will in our lives and do our very best to follow His lead. As I have been reflecting on 2013 and preparing for 2014, I feel His guidance about restoring better balance and perspective. Especially during the holidays, I found myself being such a "Martha" in that I got caught up in more minute tasks rather than taking time to stop, pray, play, and celebrate moments. I never want to be too busy to play Barbies with Ellie-Kate or ping-pong with Emmy. Dishes can wait; opportunities for laughter and memories shouldn't be put on hold.

God willing, this year, 2014, is going to be so special-- ripe with potential for incredible memories. If God mercifully permits our plans to unfold as expected, here's what we're looking forward to experiencing in the coming year:

January, 2014: We're excited about watching lots of basketball as Emmy plays point guard for the 8th grade team and Ellie-Kate plays with Upward basketball.

February, 2014: Christie is thrilled to officially join the NCA Executive Committee as NCA Second Vice President at her first meeting in February, and Christie and Emmy are VERY excited about going to Anaheim for WSCA with a side trip to Disneyland!

March, 2014: On March 23, we will celebrate our five year anniversary with Ellie-Kate... Wow, could it really be five years since we first held our precious little girl in our arms? What an incredible blessing that she has been in our lives!! Praise God for our Ellie-Kate!!

April, 2014: Christie is excited about traveling to Minneapolis for CSCA, New Orleans for SSCA, and Providence for ECA and then heading back to Athens just in time for Emmy and Ellie-Kate's dance recital at the end of the month.

May, 2014: We are overjoyed that Brittany and Ramon plan to wed on May 2, and all of their plans seem to be falling right into place. Praise God that these two have found each other, and we really look forward to celebrating their love and lifelong commitment!

June, 2014: We're excited about sleeping a lot in June after the frenzy of wedding (Britti) and graduation (Ramon-- OU, Emmy-- AMS) activity :)

July, 2014: Roger and Christie will celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary on July 24. Again, wow, time has certainly flown by! We're not planning a big celebration, but we will definitely carve time for a trip to Burr Oak and quiet time together.

August, 2014: We always look forward to fun times at the Athens County Fair and the Ohio State Fair!

September, 2014: We're eager to see how the fall unfolds in terms of Emmy and fall sports at AHS and her adjustment to high school. She is such a good student, and we are confident that she'll find her place, and, with so many new opportunities, we're excited to learn where she'll get involved.

October, 2014: Halloween and football season!

November, 2014: NCA will be very special, given that it's the 100th year anniversary celebration in Chicago! On a personal note, everyone in the family is already counting the days until we get to be in the most magical place on Earth again-- Disney, here we come over Thanksgiving!

December, 2014: Britti's looking forward to her honeymoon (yes, going back to Disney as well as Universal), and we are always eager for special moments at Christmas.

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Yes, 2014 is shaping up to be one filled with precious memories... As I start to mark up the calendar with athletic practices, music lessons, dance rehearsals, and conferences, though, I pray to renew my commitment to those special times that never make their way on a schedule... impromptu playtime with our Disney Princess Barbies... quick games of Connect Four... time for stops at the indoor Burger King playground or Richland Avenue Park... conversations over hot chocolate. Please God-- allow me to keep a good balance and a healthy perspective on priorities... May this year be one that is pleasing to You and Your will.

To all of our blog followers, again, thank you for caring! From our family to your's, we wish you a very happy and healthy New Year!

Christie