Dear Friends and Family,
As the second week of advent begins our preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth intensifies each day. It has now become an annual tradition that part of that preparation involves the writing of our family letter. It seems that each year I have written this letter there has been major change in our life and this year is no different.
We began the year in Hickory, NC with friends and family. Last Christmas was the first Christmas since we have been married that both our families were in one place on Christmas morning. Everyone came to Hickory to celebrate the holiday and we had a blast. It was the first Christmas that Josh was excited for the holiday, as he prepared his list for Santa including a guitar, the movie CARS, and a belt. The time with everyone was fabulous and went by way to fast. We rang in the New Year in Hickory with games, food, and friends. We had a great baby sitter in the fall, and with a need for more help, and Joe needing a place to live, a couple of weeks into the new year, Joe moved in with us after graduating from Lenoir-Rhyne College. Joe spent a semester living with us and watching the children. Josh and Ellie truly loved their time with Joe. Joe and Josh spent a lot of time playing their guitars while Ellie would sit and take it all in. We believe this is where her love of dancing stems from! They loved to watch Noggin (the television channel) and spent countless hours playing with cars. Joe was a blessing to our family in many ways, but most of all in the times of fellowship that we were able to have with he and his fiancé, Lauren.
Josh had an adventurous year to say the least. He did not miss a step going from 2 to 3 years old. In fact we believe he only gained more energy and less fear this past year. I once read a book that said young boys see furniture as a tool to practice climbing, jumping, and diving. There is definitely truth to this, whether Josh used his toy box as step stool to the window sill, or the couch as a diving board to see how far he could fly, he never stops moving! The gym class he took this fall was a great outlet for some of this energy! In the same breath we can say that it has been a joy watching him learn to color between the lines, count (in English and Spanish) different items, read books, and sing the ABC’s. He loves going to school two mornings a week (mom loves her time with Ellie) and is making many new friends. He has a servant’s heart as he is always mommy’s big helper. As we have been spending more time at construction sites this fall, Josh loves the dirt as he drives his “front back” loader outside and uses his construction toys on his toy rug! After a few Pirate baseball games, his love for baseball only intensified when Nana and Papa surprised him with a baseball tee. Josh enjoys having dad or papa be the “fielder” because then he has a target! This fall, Joe married Ms. Lauren and Josh was so brave as he walked down the aisle, stood on the altar, and walked back up the aisle. We were so proud of him and blessed to join Joe and Lauren for the beautiful day!
Ellie has grown so much over this past year. She is now doing her best to keep up with Josh. She runs around the house chasing him (or sometimes trying to run away!). To say that Ellie loves to dance is an understatement and she will bop her head up and down anytime music comes on. Her favorite pastime is eating; the girl eats everything and anything! We had the chance to celebrate her 1st birthday with everyone in PA and then again in NC with friends. It was a blast to watch her stuff the cupcakes in her mouth and smile as everyone laughed at her. She has begun talking a little bit and knows many signs (such as please, milk, finished and dirty), but her favorite thing to do is imitate Jeep and Willy (Nana and Papa’s dogs) running to the door when they bark to greet someone home. With her long hair and a beautiful dress she can twirl in, she is definitely all girl and growing more beautiful everyday!
Not only have Jen and I watched a lot of change happen with our children, but we also have experienced significant change in our own life. We started the year with Jen working as a youth minister and myself working as teacher in North Carolina. After much prayer and very clear answers we have moved back to Pennsylvania. We miss our friends and the beautiful NC weather everyday. However, we continue to see why God has brought us back closer to our family for this season of our lives. We have been back home for five months now and have been blessed by Jen’s parent’s willingness to let us live with them as we search for a new home. With Ben at home too, the seven of us have settled into a nice routine and love the crowded dinner table! Jeep and Willy, on the other hand, are still adjusting to the added energy.
Jen had a chance over this last year to leave a lasting fingerprint for God on many teenagers at St. Aloysius in Hickory. The way that she let God use her, to minister to those teens, was truly humbling for me. She had the opportunity be the light for Christ to many in the parish. She enjoyed her monthly scrapbooking evenings with the women of the church and her times out with Lee and Amanda. This past summer she had a chance to travel to Florida with her mom and Ellie to visit Great Papa and Great Gram. It was a great time for “the girls” to bond. Jen also had a chance to travel to Atlanta with me to celebrate our anniversary, Maryland with the youth group for a mission trip and then New York City to help her Aunt Diane at the art show. She is adjusting to being a stay at home mom again with outings to the library, Ci-ci’s pizza, and the moms group at church. It has been exciting to see her leave her fingerprint of God on Josh and Ellie over these last months. Their lives have been truly enriched by the time they have had with their mom.
I took a job with the family business and am working as an operations/site/finance manger for Primrose Homes. It has been like going back to college without the books. Each day has been full of learning! The company is doing wonderful and we are thanking the Lord for the blessing of fruit for the business. I love my new job, but at times, have missed the classroom. It is the people I worked with, and the students I taught that I miss the most; they were supportive and encouraging in all that I tried to do. I hope to be an advocate for quality education for the remainder of my life. I love that my new job allows me to go on field trips with Josh and have lunch with the kids! It was fun to help him build a gingerbread house at school this year. Moving back to PA has provided me the opportunity to pursue my favorite pastime, going to Pittsburgh Pirate games. It was an amazing feeling to take Josh to games and teach him more about the game. It has been wonderful visiting my family in Edinboro almost every weekend! The kids love their time with “Big Willy” (the dog), their grandparents, and great grandma and they think it is very cool they have their own room there. One of the most humbling moments of this past year for me was having the opportunity to be a sponsor for Sam Winsor at his confirmation. I am honored to be his sponsor and would ask you to pray for him as he continues his spiritual journey.
As we look forward to 2008, adding more change and excitement, we anxiously await the birth of our 3rd child. Jen will be 4 months pregnant at the New Year, landing her due date in early June. Josh has been asking some great questions about the baby and mommies visits to the doctor. Just like her pregnancy with Ellie, Josh loves to give the baby kisses and has named the baby “Sally,” even though we do not know if we are having a boy or girl yet! We are so happy to be closer to family as we welcome another baby into our family. We will be sure to let you know when we find out what we are having and when we have a new address. We hope that your family is taking the time to enjoy the light of Christ in your life during this advent season. May he bless you and yours with hope, joy, and peace!
In Christ’s Light,
Jen, Adam, Josh, Ellie, and baby
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They sat here most of the morning!
She loves the water dispenser on her fridge...
I think she loves her new kitchen!!
This is them with the christmas tree. We put our tree up at Nana and Papa's house this year. They were so generous to share their space with us! The kids got their nativity on St. Nick day to help in teaching moments all season long! They loved it!!
Lunch with Santa in Albion with grandma
Josh loved it more than I can explain!
The kids could have one piece of candy...
Ellie was trying so hard to pick up this pumpkin. It was precious to see her working so hard!
Lauren and the other girls looked so beautiful! 
They were so brave! So, they were suppose to go past the communion rail, up three steps and to the left standing next to the maid of honor. Well, they got past the communion rail, and rather than going up the three steps, headed to the left, along the communion rail. They were just hanging out on it, but no one seemed to notice as the bride started her walk down the aisle! I was crying watching Joe watch Lauren, his bride approach him.
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