For Our Dearest Friends and Family:
Happy Holidays!!!!
Hope you all feel as blessed as we do watching the close of the year 2004. We're all a year older, have new members in our family, less horses, more cats, and yet another wrecked car. Anyone who knows me, knows that God has blessed me with many good traits, but driving is definitely not one of them. If you haven't heard about my outstanding driving record, U won't volunteer to spread the gossip, but if you have, you understand. Let's just say if I never get married, I'll chalk it up to no one being able to afford my car insurance. :)
Probably the biggest news of the year is we have a new brother and sister!! We're all very excited. The adoption was finalized on November 3, so Mom and Allie brought them back from Taiwan on November 11, to our newly sided home. (Mom was excited about that) It's been quite the trip trying to communicate, but because Dad can speak Chinese well, its taken stress off of all of us, well, except for Dad. Mom is home schooling them as well, and they seem to like it and are learning quickly.
Austin is 12 and adjusting well. He is not shy by any stretch of the imagination and soaks up every bit of attention and love that you give him. He loves hug and kisses and being told he's loved, and with that smile, it's very easy to do. However, we've found that no matter where God decided you would be born, all little brothers are the same...they find unusual joy in making their sisters scream.
Amber is 11 and also seems to be adjusting well, but isn't quite as willing to let new people in. With that being said, even though when you give her a hug, she shies away, she'll give you a little smile anyway now, letting you know she loves you too. She's amazing at the Chinese yo-yo, but unlike her brother, doesn't want a lot of people watching her. She also is great organizer - mom's kitchen towel drawers have never looked better.
They are both very smart and loving and we feel so happy and blessed to have them in our family.
Daddy is still an independent computer consultant and has a contract with Farm Bureau and also the Blood Center of Iowa right now. We've had many new projects on our house this year, and so if he did have any spare time, he's kept busy with that also. He bought a new truck to pull the horses, but it's much bigger than me, so I stay away. He also finally bought a new pair of tennis shoes and retired the ones from High School, so we're all proud of him for that. All jokes aside though, I'm now able to step back and say that I have an incredible dad, and I can't wait for my brothers and sisters to be able to say the same.
Mom's over 40 now, so in theory, she's all grown up and mature. We all know that's not the case, but also so glad about it. She makes our home happy and full of laughter and I love going home to be around it. Beside that, she can cook, it's free, and tastes better than a Nutri-grain bar :) I will never take advantage of the pancakes we had for breakfast again. She home schools my five siblings left at home and because of her diligence, it's guaranteed they will come out all right.
As I'm writing, Mandy, who is almost 17, is in Taiwan helping my Grandparents at the orphanage. By the time you get this though, she should be back safe and sound, going about her normal life. Still love horses but she's gonna love it even more when she comes home and gets to feed the horses in a blizzard and 20 feet of snow. So glad I wasn't born an animal lover. She's fun to be around and always makes us smile with her infectious laugh. We don't look alike, but for some reason...our driving...well, let's say that the tree dent in the back of her truck prove we are sisters.
Drew is growing up to be quite the young man. He's 15 now and has his school permit to take a shop class at the high school. He's fun to be around, and all in all, a pretty cool guy. He's popular with the girls and with good reason: Drew's cute, muscular, smart funny, gets tan in the summer, and still wants to open up the door for any woman no matter what age; that's what makes him cool, he's respectful. He ran Track and Cross Country and enjoyed both, he's growing up and I can't wait to see how God uses him. He also has his life long dream, he finally has a brother!
Allisyn is 13 and I honestly can't believe it. That's our baby! She still absolutely loves little kids and is a big help to many moms in our church. She's in Junior High choir and likes it, except for the occasional stage fright. She has such a sweet heart and I honestly love being around her. Lucky for her I haven't grown in a long time so she has a big wardrobe left from her sister. It was fun to share, until I realized her feet are bigger than mine and I have to buy my own shoes.:) Poor Daddy, she inherited my addiction to shopping and I'm convinced that's something that can never be cured.
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