Peace to all our family and friends.  This has been an eventful 2010 for all of us. Brent is in his last term of classes at Bethel Seminary and will graduate with a masters of divinity in June.  Kari is in her 12th year of teaching and is back with the kindergarten kids again, where there is never a dull moment.  The kids have had fabulous starts to their school years. Kristyn is in 5th grade with a very “cool” teacher and she plays piano, flute,  and dances and plays bball, Brady is enjoying 2nd grade and does Taekwondo and will start b-ball in January, and Emersyn is loving every minute of Kindergarten.  She also dances like big sis.  Last spring, we took the trip of a lifetime to Disney World.  We drove the 22 hours (stopping in Nashville) and loved every minute of it.  It was truly magical!  We did all the parks and will someday return. (Kari finally got to see Mickey!!)We were also able to stay with friends and go to the ocean for a day before heading back.  Ashley, Kari’s sister, got engaged to a wonderful man named Matt Sanders.  We are so excited for their upcoming nuptials this summer, and are thrilled that Brent will officiate their wedding.  We took an amazing family trip to Colorado this summer as well. We did lots of  and relaxing in the mountains.  After many months of praying and wondering what to do, we decided to move to a new home.  Needing more space, we listed and sold our old house in 16 days and moved into the new one within 1 month.  We moved over Thanksgiving and are so enjoying being in our warm and cozy place for Christmas. We also made it more exciting and got a new chocolate lab puppy, Evangeline Joy(Evie), so she could help liven up Bria.  The craziness continues... We hope you all have a wonderful and safe 2011. We have been truly blessed this year. 

Dog!!!!

So we have this dog.  Evie.  I have spoken about her before.  I had no idea the wealth of material this brown animal would give me.  Today -- come home; in her crate for 4 hours.  She had dumped; smelled up the WHOLE basement.  Un-freakin-real.  She is such a good dog; she also does crazy stuff like this out of the blue.  Today, I honestly was thinking about how we would give her away.  I love her, but this dog has been more work and stress than I can begin to explain.  She has been the source of a much needed butt kick prayer-wise, but I did not anticipate she'd be the REASON I am praying so much.  Ugh.

New House, New Beginnings

So much has happened since we last spoke!  New dog, new school year, new house, new van, new beginnings!  I really ought to update more...here are a few highlights!

- new dog -- Evangeline Joy (Evie, Miss Eve, E, Skeevers, Damn Dog, Little S**t...) has joined the team.  At moments the best thing going, sometimes a mistake...this little brown (now at 26 lbs and counting) dog has blessed our family, including Bria.  5:30 am walks, chewing, and lots of cuddling.  She really likes her people, though.

- school -- kids are well!  Emy in kindergarten, BW in 2nd, Kristyn in 5th.  Might be their best year ever!  Kari has some challenging kids, and she goes in each day loving them and seeing them like Jesus.  Pretty amazing.

- house -- we moved!  Last week.  Great new place, feels like home.  Pics will come sometime...

More to come; just have to get to work.  Here are some assorted highlights: