While it may be a seemingly outdated and dying
tradition I can’t help but love Christmas letters. Last year we received less
than a handful so we debated whether or not to continue the tradition
ourselves. We decided we had to as it’s one of our favorite ways to look back
on the year as well, but this year we at least opted to save a little on paper and
printing, so here it is (thanks largely in part to my wonderful husband for writing
this year)…
In our first full year back in the U.S. since
living abroad, we managed to stay on the move in several different ways (especially
the youngest member of the family!) as 2014 was a year with many changes for
all of us. While we never knew or know what change or challenge might be in
store for us next we know God has truly blessed us with a wonderful life.
Steve continues to work at Ernst & Young,
receiving a promotion this year and also changing some of his client
assignments, which will result in less travel so Abby will be stuck spending
more time with him. In June, Abby began working for SSM Health Care Foundations,
where she jumped right in planning several amazing events including a polo
match, a Willy Wonka themed gala, and a fundraiser at her old stomping grounds –
the Peabody Opera House. She’s really happy to work in such a rewarding
environment where she knows she is touching lives through these
fundraising events and meeting so many incredible people. Of course, when Abby
went back to work, Emma also began a new adventure – pre-school. Although it
took a few weeks for her to get used to the idea, she has fallen in love with
her school, teachers and classmates (not to mention the deer that live in the
woods behind the playground).
Emma grows bigger every day and it’s becoming
hard to remember a time when she wasn’t always into mischief, even though it
really wasn’t that long ago. In the past year, she’s gone from walking to
running, hopping, and dancing. Her vocabulary has grown by leaps and bounds as
she uses full sentences, constantly asks questions, and spontaneous springs
into singing her ABC’s (or Old MacDonald, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Jingle Bells—you
name it). After she turned two and made a few daring escapes, we turned
her crib into a toddler bed…which means nap time is often just—playing quietly
so that Mommy and Daddy don’t catch you—time. A few months later we spent a
weekend working on potty training, which she thankfully took to pretty quickly.
Although it’s not as easy to travel these days,
we still made it to a few amazing places this year. After Steve survived
another busy season at work, we took two extended weekend trips for Abby to do
some running. First, was a trip to North Carolina in mid-March, where Abby ran the
Tobacco Trail Marathon with some extra company for 10+miles from her good friend
from college. The second trip in late April was to Louisville, where Abby ran
the Kentucky Derby Marathon, which marked her 15th full marathon! Our
next trip was a little more challenging – a two week trip to South America
where we spent several days exploring Cusco and Machu Picchu in Peru, took in
the most impressive waterfalls we have seen yet at the Iguazu Falls on the
border of Brazil and Argentina, and then took in the beautiful sights of Rio de
Janeiro including the Sugar Loaf mountain and Christ the Redeemer (although
Emma was much more interested in the pools and beaches!). In September, we took
our first trip without our little girl, five days in Curacao to truly relax
while Grandma and Grandpa Souders came down to spend some quality time with
their granddaughter. We ended the year with a few short trips of our own. Abby
went to Minneapolis for a weekend of shopping and fun with her parents and
Steve went to Brisbane, Australia for a few days of work and a short weekend to
see the city, an Australian zoo, and Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. As we
have often found, everywhere we went, people were warm and welcoming and Emma
made lots of new friends. You can read more about our adventures on the blog
although we apologize for falling (a little?) behind.
Most of all we are thankful to God for being
home in the U.S. and able to spend time with our wonderful friends and family
here again. We are truly blessed to have so many supportive people in our
lives and pray that this letter finds all of you well.
Merry Christmas!
Abby,
Emma & Steve
Dakota,
Hope & Faith
