Happy New Year

At the beginning of 2009, I was still very much on staff at Vanguard, praising God that Jingle Jam went so well (and was over :)), and gearing up for my finale as associate children's pastor, aka Caspian's Castle. We didn't yet know that the baby inside would be named Ashton Kate and we certainly didn't know how blessed we would be by her ready smile.




With the birth of Ashton came the closing of a very precious chapter at Vanguard and the beginning of a new one as a full-time-stay-at-home-momma.


Caspian's Castle was an unbelievable week ending with a very surreal moment on stage with Ellen as she publicly said "goodbye" to me. Wow.




2009 brought David an opportunity to become an owner of his firm, HTE. This whole business deal landed us in Walla Walla for a few days and from there we headed down to Bend, OR to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa Wiemer. We are very thankful for the precious days we were able to spend with them.




Avery and Ashton are beginning their precious relationship as sisters. It's beautiful to watch. avery will play peek-a-boo, bring her toys, and be sure to let me know when she's not happy. Ashton lights up when her sister talks to her and to this day, no one can get her to laugh quite like the Aves.

Right now, all we really see in Ash is pure joy, with maybe a hint of stubbornness and mischieveousness. :) But Avery is becoming more complicated, more beautiful and more relational with each passing month, really. When we look at her we see a boundary tester, we see humor, we see a friend, we see a great memory, we see a deep thinker, an analyzer and a negotiator. She is full. Yep, full, of pretty much everything. Of joy, of frustration, of spunk, of wit, of memories....(seriously, this kid remembers EVERYTHING). And we couldn't be more in love with her, in all of her Avery glory.

Ok, God, we give 2010 to You. Oh, that we would learn to hear Your voice more clearly this year.

Merry Christmas. Happy New Year.

-the houles