Christmas

I am not able to upload pictures yet, but, I thought I'd give an update anyway. Pictures will follow soon:o)

The biggest news this year is that my youngest sister, Candy, got engaged to Scott, her boyfriend of 2 years:o)! We all got to be in on the surprise, which was special, especially since Candy had no clue - an achievement never before accomplished in her lifetime!!

We spent the weekend before Christmas with the Paulson clan. This was our first Christmas without Nancy. It was bitter sweet, and ended up being a very peaceful happy time. We celebrated at Scott and Lisa's house (Bryce's brother and sister-in-law), and it was beautiful. The time the three of us wives were able to spend together helping get dinner was very special. And after all was said and done, the six of us (Bryce's two brothers and wives) had the chance to reminisce and process together. This was especially good for Bryce and I, just to feel reconnected and to hear what's been going on in the others' hearts and minds. It's been a long year, and this time together was refreshing and encouraging. Change is never easy, and this change has been painful, it was good to be reminded that we aren't going through it alone.

Christmas eve we moved to the Butler family's festivities. We picked our friend Frauke up from the airport and headed to Christmas eve service with my parents and sister, Ali, and brother-in-law, Jared. Candy and Scott met us at my parents house later for our traditional cookies, eggnog and Christmas story with the traditional opening of our Christmas PJ's:o). Christmas morning was also very traditional, only with Scott joining us this year:o). We spent the day lounging and with almost everyone pitching in to make an exceptional Christmas dinner.

Oh, and it snowed on Christmas day!!! I felt like it was just for us, Bryce and I, who have been missing home and the white Christmas Michigan is experiencing. It was very cool:o)!

This weekend we're heading north to Bellingham, Wa. for an engagement party for my sister and a cousin who also recently got engaged. We'll get to ski:o) yay! and we're looking forward to meeting up with Elie's god family along the way. We plan on spending New Year's Eve and Day back in Tigard, Or. And Bryce and I will fly to Arizona on the 2nd for 5 days.

Hope you are enjoying this last week of 2007:o)!!