Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS To our Dear Family & Friends 

         It is at this time of year that we especially miss being able to jump in the car and visit with our dearest family and friends! 

It has been such a full year of sorrows, joys, growth and big change. While we do love being here in many aspects it is also not the plans we had made in many ways. It is hard to believe that Dad & Mikey have been together for a year now. I think of Dad often as I drive around town. I do more driving now than I ever have and He loved to drive ( need a good book recommendation just let me know, Audible and I are good friends). I am sure however Dad had been on more back roads and eateries within a few hundred miles than I will in the next few years. Just the other day I was wondering about a BBQ place and smiled to myself as I was nearly 100% sure that dad has been there and would be able to give i while the church plant is going well it seems there were other plans for us and that was to focus in on our family and rather than assist in a plant at this time. We have instead recently settled into a new church home, Grace Life, after quite some time and its been good for us all. 

      It's been a year of firsts and big changes, record high summer, new schools, new church, the 1000 year flood, what's next in SC?

     Owen,'s 3 and he's a tank. He is just a fun happy kid who loves being in the mix! There isn't much he doesn't like, he loves Cars & trains like his brother Micah, Spiderman, sports, Lightsaber duals, Ninja Turtles, you name it he's game!   

      Mikelle, is at the Bethal Hanberry and has been blessed with fabulous teachers, Mrs Burns & Mrs Stoney! She loves the songs & crafts, library time and she is most excited about learning to read. She is for sure a little leader aka: boss, so sweet and always knows just what she wants. 

    Cianne is on a scholarship Cutler Jewish Day school and it is the perfect fit for her. We couldn't be happier than to have her there. She brought home her first set of straight A's it is awesome to see, since academics were rough for both us last year. But her hardwork for years is coming together  beautifully and it is a joy to see. She plays in the woods each day and has the best teachers ever ( Mrs Val & Mr Brent!), this season is def a gift. Their slogan is, "Where Hearts and Minds can Soar," and it couldn't be more true. She lives outdoors, is in a cast for Christmas- with a small fracture but it will be off in time for her first soccer season =) which starts early here!

    Braet just finished up soccer season and his first semester. Great grades, making friends in a new area and enjoying youth group. It is hard to believe he is going to be 14 soon, he is a great kid. I love watching him with Owey. I think he is going to pass up Luke in height this year. Leaving MD was tough for him so getting more connected this year has been huge. Its time to think high school apps and plans and I'm not quite ready for that- its kinda hard to believe!  Here we grow!

     Luke & I celebrated 15 years in September, where has the time gone! Grateful!! Mom watched the kiddos and we were able to slip away to Savannah. Luke is working hard as always and travels monthly but it is great to have him working from home! We have a lil cottage and that's his Mission Control. He and Braet have been to the driving range a couple of times and hopefully, 2016 there will be more golf in his future. He is also working out at 5am with F3, Not me =) But I am hoping train for my first run this year (even if it is a short mud run!) We are both looking forward to forming new and deeper ties here . This is a new season all around, and while I am not quite sure what the next venture will be,in this time of much transition -  I am so grateful to be able to hit the resit button in a way and seek to re focus, renew and re-launch. I  love being able to begin pursuing things that are dear to my heart in new ways; volunteering at school, the fam, community, church, growing with a company I love in health & nutrition, Zija  and Ameo (essential oils). This is just a super big transitional time for us and the best is yet to come!!!

     Mom & I were able to get away to the Biltmore for Dad's one year Anniversary (Thanks to Luke, Brandon, Cam & Ally) and it was a special treat. I am often asked how mom is doing, the truth is she is a quielty strong, steady, faithful,amazing, wonderful, unselfish, caring lady (she might not feel that way but is it so true).  Even through intense grief,  she is not without hope she knows times of joy and no doubt will know it greater still.  Her heart has always been to make her home a haven for her family, it is that and I know it will continue to be a haven for many of her new & old friends alike.Their lives were marked with faithfulness , generosity and care- it continues.....

     Well that is our year in the shortest version possible, it has been quite a Year!! You are missed you are loved! If you are ever up for a road trip, stop in, we loving having company!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!

With Love

Krisicnda & Luke, Cindy, Braeton, Cianne, Mikelle & Owen

Loving Reading!

She climbed up in my bed with a good book :) Not quite asleep but falling asleep after reading for the last 30 min. At the beginning of June I only hoped she would read well let alone develop a love for reading! Brent you rock, I have no idea how you helped connect all those dots but you did! Thank you for teaching her to read real books! 
Val, she loves the read aloud time you have in class and all the stories, tonight she sat outside around the campfire with her daddy and read to him! Thank you for fostering a love for reading in her. You guys are so greatly impacting our girlies lil life and heart- we are so grateful and thankful!!! 
CC you have worked hard my sweet, sweet girl, we are so pround of you!!!

End of Summer Review

  As our second summer in South Carolina is coming to a close it's been an unusually hot a record breaker.... Thankfully that hasn't been such a big deal, we have amazing friends that just happen to be neighbors with pools! We have a course that much there over the last few months! Our summer has pretty much much consisted of short trips, visitors the pool, camps, Core, the pool, zoo, the pool =) you get the picture

It has been an eventful summer with big change us. Of course I think that's how life tends to roll out- change is constant. Probably one of the biggest changes for us is that come the 19th all of our kiddos will be in public & private school for the first time. For who know me you, this is a big! Long and short of it is that the timing has come together and we're all excited about new ventures.

~Braeton has grown like crazy, enjoyed lazy summer days, slinging and summer camps.
~Cianne has been hard at work. She has working with Brent Peterson, Core Possibilities- HUGE shout out! Straight up amazing that she has accomplished so much, particularly in the area of reading. Brent has been an advocate and in many ways our own guidance counselor for education. She has done plenty of swimming, horse back riding and hanging out with good friends, always on the Go!
~Mikelle has lost her first tooth I have a feeling she will be trying to break the tooth fairy's bank this coming year. She is super excited about school and can't wait to learn read!  Kelz is always up before everyone, dressed and ready to go she loves her doggies and pretend. I am looking forward to seeing this little ones sweet personality emerge even more.
~Owen is truly a fun kid who loves his brother and sisters, he is his Daddy's little shadow. Just 2 pounds shy of Mikelle he is a little tank and happy to be in the mix. CC class this summer is near Trader Joes and Owey truly loves to shop there, I think I may a foodie in this one. 

~Luke stays busy between work and all of us!  I am sure he is hoping to get a bit of golf in this year. He will be 37 in just a few days =)
As for me this will be a different year and I am not only at peace but super excited as this will give each of us unique opportunities to Bloom, the best is yet to come! Speaking of we are coming up on 15 years this September, its hard to believe! I am so very grateful, cheers to many more baby!


All the best for the rest of the summer!

8 Months~ 8 Years

July 25- 8 months & 8 years. ~ so normally these days are lil holidays in our family but this weekend half of us were sick so rather than an eventful day it was a chill, chill day. However my dad would have said the day matters not so in honor a few days late. Two fabulous people who brought joy, life and laughter wherever they went and possibly a bit of crazy- we love you for all that u taught us and what we are still learning from you. May we live- giving life, loving, laughing, singing loudly for all to hear ;), joy and crazy -for you each lived so well and your lives are still giving now! We love and miss you dearly!

Happy Easter