merry christmas...

hopefully within a few days you all will be receiving our christmas/new year card. i took the "easy way out" and did just cards and photos, with a brief signature. nothing creative this year. but i wanted to take a moment and tell you all that even though this seems impersonal, i hope you know it is not. as i typed each of your addresses i was given the opportunity to think of each of you. some of you we haven't seen for years. others we see every day. some we only see every once in a while. but all of you must know that you were included on our list because you are dear friends or family members that we have had the good fortune of knowing and being a part of each others lives. we feel so very blessed, at this time of year, along with the rest of the year. the things that i feel most grateful for are - a warm home, food, clothing, freedom, medical care, relationships, responsibilities (at church and at home), and life in general. we are so blessed and although life throws us challenges now and again, we know that on the other side of those challenges is growth. thank goodness for our growth, in the gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as growth in our own personal selves. may this new year bring even more growth, more opportunities, more joy, and most important- more love! our love for you grows. thank you for helping us be better people. oh, and if you don't receive a card, it's due to the fact that i don't have your address. (i've gotten lazy with keeping up on addresses!) so i guess i'll just wait 'til i get your card with your address on it!