Our Christmas family pic

Since we've been stuck in a deep freeze for some time now, It's pretty awesome to get to look at this pic and remember that it won't always stay cold!  Here is this year's winner of our family pictures taken this fall.  As we look back on the year and toward the next, we have so much to be thankful for.  We have transitioned a lot this year and that has not always been easy.  We have had to go through growing pains, but it has also brought unexpected joys.  Brian has enjoyed not slinging hammers in -30 temps and Emora has enjoyed learning to be a film maker.  I've gotten to meet lots of amazing kids and teachers in our schools.  We have watched Ivan surprise us with a flair for drawing and amaze us with his presentation speaking skills.  Dominique still loves to dance and draw and study.  At ages 4, 7 and 9, the kids have chosen some career paths already.  Emora wants to make movies and has found her first co-director (ie. dad).  She pays well- in happy days and little armed hugs.  Ivan has decided he wants to be a lego designer.  To that end, he tries to spend as much time playing legos and on the lego web site as possible.  We tried to convince him that math, science, some English skills... may help him to that end.  Dominique doesn't have a firm plan as yet.  At times she wants to dance, or be a teacher, then it was being a synchronized gymnast or swimmer.  She likes pretty much anything with flair.  Brian has dreams of doing more music.  We are really thankful that he has an employer that lets him take off tons of days as I get sub days, so that one of us can still be with Emora while the other is out making a paycheck.  We could mention a myriad of big and little things we are thankful for.  Although we are still finding our little niches in our community, we are no longer newbies either and that's nice too.  There have been days when it's been less than clear why we are here, but at times we get a little confirmation or clarity and know that we have been lead here for reasons not always known, and many hidden, but true and lasting.  Our days are great gifts for us lent to us by the Creator, the Divine Lover and we are thankful for this journey and most of all for his presence with us as we dwell in the valley and on the mountain tops of our lives.  May your journey and new year be graced with beauty and love, purpose and fulfillment.