The Big Eights of '08

As the end of the year comes to a close, everyone reminisces about the last 365.
We've had a great year, we are very thankful for God's blessings and provisions, and the journey He has taken (& is taking!) us on.

Instead of sending a paragraphed Christmas letter with our pics this year, I tried to think of a different format to share the highlights from our year with you. Hope you enjoy it 1/8th as much as I did thinking it up.

8 places we went this year, in chronological order
1. Snowshoe, West Virginia - Feb, for a young adult ski retreat. Fun, fun. Beautiful! WAY too far of a drive to do it again!

2. Nashville, TN in May for Matt's college buddies golf weekend

3. St. Simons Island, Georgia --family vacation weekend with the Hawkins

4. Melba, ID, July, with Mel's college friends and kids.

5. Republic of Dominica (island)--July, Matt, for Work and Witness trip w/church

6. Nashville, TN for Thanksgiving with the Hays family

7. South Carolina--for Christmas with the Hawkins family, with the return of the now Kenyans- Duranceaus (Matt's sister and bro-in-law who were there for 6 months)

8. Houston, TX--we just moved! JUST NOW!

The 8 newest words Noah is saying: (pretty much new THIS WEEK)

1. "Jon!" (Uncle Jonathon) --#3 favorite family member now (after mom and dad, we hope!)

2. "CAKE!" -- no explanation needed.

3. "Pleeee!" (please) SOOOO happy about this. He's only done invented sign language till now.

4. "Mooo!" (Move) I accidentally taught him this/Not a word I wish he'd learned so early!

5. "Two" --he never wants just one of something, always TWO!

6. "Cole" (cold) --he holds a capri sun to his bare belly and keeps it there until he can't handle it anymore, then says, "Cole!" Also, stands on top of the air vent.

7. "Kime" (climb) the ladder, the couch, up your body to the ceiling, etc.

8. "Preh" (present) Every present was his present this year. He totally "got" opening gifts this year.
(There are more than just 8....home, go, nana (banana), slurp-slurp=icecream, mo(re), bubbles, balloon, play, etc.)

8 NEW events in our lives this year

1. Noah learned to walk, (followed quickly by run), jump, climb, eat real food, fingerpaint, scream, do sign language, and now is speaking real words!

2. We went to a cool Polenesian Luau at Sea World for our 6th Anniversary, July

3. Matt hit the big 3-0! (Mel has another 5 celebratory months of being in her 20s).

4. Celebrated the "10 year anniversary" of our first meeting/August 14th.

5. Became a one-car family after selling the green Saturn for a whoppin $500.

6. Thursday night Girls Night/Guys night: Mel discovered the Beth Moore bible studies thu a wonderful Ladies Bible study this fall and Matt enjoyed a weekly card night with some fellas.

7. Joined the addictive world of Facebook.

8. We moved! Just now! Out West! Texans! Wow, that sounds a bit strange.

8 Blessings that can't go unmentioned
1. Noah's health concerns seem to have resolved on their own without treatment or further testing!

2. Financial--so many to mention, but resolved medical insurance/bills, part time job, and various random discounts/refunds/checks have allowed me to stay home another year with Noah.

3. Reconnecting with college friends this summer

4. Safe travels and ministry for Jessica and Jonathon Duranceau to Africa

5. Enjoyable visits with family during summer and holidays

6. A great church family at Vero who has loved and supported us through 6 1/2 great years.

7. Finding a home for our cat Moseley

8. A new opportunity and ministry on the horizon--Houston First Church of the Nazarene.

So, I'll just leave you with those 4 lists instead of coming up with 8! I'm sure that's enough to update you on our lives and this past year! Hope you will check in on us again and see what God has in store for us in 2009!