Happy New Year

We spent New Years Eve at the Schulz's house with an intimate night of dinner, drinks, and board games....NOT! Haha, that was the plan anyway. We had the delicious BBQ made by Bretton and then things got crazy! Instead of board games we ventured out to Riverside, TX and purchased some fireworks...some serious fireworks! We then found a place along the river and shot fireworks off into the night sky....and at Bretton and Stewart, haha. We then ended the night at the house watching the NY ball drop at midnight- Happy New Year friends!

As the year ends, it is only natural to think back through the happenings of the year and reminisce.

Last January Drew started his internship at the Houston Texans. He loved the opportunity to work briefly for the NFL as an intern, he was like a kid in a candy store.

We spent February celebrating our love at a gourmet restaurant in the Woodlands called, Americas. Drew and I love food, fine dining, and new experiences so this was the perfect way to go out and celebrate our love for one another.

March is always fun because that is when my spring break is (pays to be a teacher)! I spent my spring break in Houston but had lots of fun. Drew got us (Haley, Bretton, him, and myself) tickets in the President's Suite at Reliant Stadium to see Lady Antebellum. It was awesome. Mal Pal came and visited as well.

March also brought opportunity for Drew. While out shopping in Houston we decided to go to a Houston Dynamo game. At the game Drew met his future boss and opened the door to his internship and ultimately full time job at Greenstar Recycling...score!

April was full of allergies, Dynamo games, and of course an celebration of Christ- Easter!

May brought the most epic birthday present ever- the twin trip to Vegas!

June and July was spent traveling to Santa Fe, Florida, Splashtown, and Galveston!

August I started my third year teaching and my masters program at Lamar University. This was a big adjustment but of course has built a lot of character.

September we traveled to Rocky Mountain National Park and was again reminded of why we love Colorado so much....one day we will eave Houston and move there!

October was spent going to Dynamo games, celebrating Linda's graduation, and fun with friends!

November and December was spent with countless encounters celebrating food and family.

It was a Happy Last Year and I'm sure it will be an even better Happy New Year!

An Eakins' Christmas

Merry Christmas

For Christmas Drew and I traveled to Georgia and spent Christmas with the Eakins' clan. I don't use the word clan lightly either. There were eight people with the last name Eakins and the largest group of Ms. Eakins around with- Mary Eakins, Rosemary Eakins, Sonia Eakins, and Holly Eakins...we thought that was funny.

Drew and I arrived in Georgia at 2 AM after an hour drive to Houston Hobby, 2 hour

s fighting airport craziness at Christmas time, a 2 hour flight, and

a 3 hour drive from Birmingham to Ellerslie, GA and we then finally arrived home at the Eakins' house! Sonia, Rob, and Abbie all stayed up to greet us and then we all promptly went to bed.

The first thing on the list was to wake up and catch lunch at Drew's favorite Japanese Cusine restaurant, Fuji! It was of course delicious and everyone enjoyed the hibachi grill experience! We then retreated home and I learned a new board game...which has recently become my new obsession, Ticket to Ride! If you haven't played it, you should! Beware though, we found out last night that it's a bit pricy to buy.

The next day Nana, Pa, and Rosemary arrived and the family Christmas began! It was Christmas Eve and the family was together. Sonia constructed a delicious Christmas Eve/Christmas meal that included turkey, ham, squash dressing, regular dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole,

green beens, and much more! We all ate until we couldn't eat any more. We got ready for the Candle Light Christmas Eve serv

ice and went as a family. It was beautiful and we sang praises to God for sending the best Christmas gift of all, Christ the king! I love it when you can feel the spirit of Christmas when a group of believers gather together to worship our glorious God. We went home in good spirits and reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.

The next morning we woke up and headed to church. It was evident that all the children had been visited by Santa Claus

the night before. They were all dressed in their new gifts and goodies, including one child who wore his dirt bike outfit to church. It was quite the sight to see, but soon everyone was seated and again we were reminded of the blessing of baby Jesus and this priceless gift that was given to the world. We then headed home to open and

exchange presents and a family.

As we opened presents we had a lot of fun showing all the goodies we received- our family is very blessed! We of course then spent the rest of the day snacking on left overs and playing with all our new gifts.

The highlight of the trip for me was visiting Callaway Garden's Fantasy In Lights. This is an indescribable display of Christmas lights nestled in the wooded landscape of Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA. It is the largest light display in the southeast and has over 8,000,000 twinkling lights that have themed music and displays while you observe from a trolly. My personal favorite Snow Flake Valley display.

Overall we had an incredible trip and was once again reminded how blessed we are when it comes to having an aw

esome family!

The angel said to them,

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

(Luke 2:10-11 ESV)