January 5th - Allie's Big 13th Birthday

We just finished celebrating Allie's 13th Birthday which is so hard to believe! Nana is here visiting from Texas so it was a very special day for Allie. We were also reminiscing about how Nana was also in the delivery room 13 years ago when she was born. Too fun!

We started back into our school routine today (except for Allie - it's a school holiday if it's your birthday around here!). It actually went pretty smoothly. Spencer finished up around 2:00 and Tyler, around 4:00 which is his usual time.

Chris is gearing up for the Spring Semester which starts on Thursday. He will only have two classes this semester which will hopefully provide more time for research and publishing.

I am gearing up to teach a Bible study starting in February called "Rending the Curtain" which is a study on Yom Kippur. It is written by a completed Jew and I am VERY excited about being able to co-lead this study with my friend, Shoan! I've been pooling all my resources (which are many!) and trying to pull in other things I can share about our Jewish roots.

We are still slowly getting things the way we like it here in our new house. It will be an ongoing work in progress. There is SO much to be done. Every room has wall paper or wood paneling in it. Neither of which I like so it's all coming down or being painted. But it is comfortable and it feels so good to have all our "stuff" around us again. Especially my mom's things. Chris just about has his garage and little room off the garage set up. Tyler spray painted a HUGE "Texas A&M" on the peg board in maroon after he painted the whole thing white. It looks so sharp!

I've also taken on a hobby of sorts. Actually, to be honest, it is more like therapy for me! Our friends own a restaurant down the road from us called "Bretts" (you MUST go there if you are ever in Athens!) and I've been going there and working on Saturdays during the lunch hours. It has been so fun to work with my friend, Leslie and with all the crew up there (mostly college students). They are wonderful and we have such a great time.

God is good and we continue to see Him work in so many ways around us. What a privilege it is to be able to join Him and watch Him move!