This is now our 2nd year updating our friends about our life via blog! I hope you enjoy a walk through our year as much as I enjoy remembering it!
This year has been a year of trips and I have loved it! We started out the year saving money for our Disney trip in September, but couldn't wait for a getaway until then! Dave and I took an anniverary trip (17 yrs) to the NC coast; and then the boys and I took a roadtrip to the same area to see the sites. It was a lot of fun to just get away. We also took a trip to the mountains on Labor Day weekend. Dave was going fishing with his friend, so his friend's wife and I took our kids and tagged along! We did sort of the same in December when Dave was sent away on a fishing weekend. The guys went to NC to fish and the wives and kids went to Myrtle Beach to have fun at an indoor waterpark! And of course we can't forget our trip to Disney. It was truly a magical week for us and my side of the family when we met and spent a week with Mickey and friends!
But enough with our trips! What is happening with the Shirley's?
To begin with, Dave. He turned 40! Wow! Big change in his age! Thus the December fishing trip. Amy surprised him with that gift! In addition to getting older, Dave continues to work at Plantation Pharmacy in Charleston. Which brings up another trip...a business trip for Dave. He went to medicine compounding training in Houston for a week. And guess what he got to do down there? Fish of course! He drove to Gavelston, TX on his last evening for this activity. He also is involved in a Christian Fishing Association in Charleston. Lots of fishing this year, and lots of hunting too. He is enjoying being an outdoorsman.
Amy has had some changes this year as well. She continues to be a pediatric SLP; but in addition to working for herself, she now works one day a week at a school for severely handicapped children. The name of the school is Pattison's Academy and she has been involved in their summer camp for five years now. This is the first year they have had a school and it has been exciting to be involved in such an awesome undertaking. She also continues to keep busy with volunteering at Nathan's school in the fundraising area; helping with class parties at Camden's preschool; and being the AWANA Cubbies director at her church. All this and planning more trips for our future! She loves to travel!
Nathan continues to grow up into a young man full of potential. He has entered double digits! He still takes piano lessons (sometimes grudgingly!) and is doing well with improving his skills. He continues to play baseball and basketball, but baseball is his main sport. He moved up into kid pitch in the spring, and in the fall was one of the pitchers on his team. And even I , who does not know much about the sport, could tell that he is a really good pitcher! The best news for him, however, is that he no longer needs to wear glasses. We are not too sure that he ever needed them to begin with! That is another story!!!
Camden, our baby, has turned 4! And what a 4 year old he is! He is, as one girl in his class called him, very silly! And he continues to come out of his shell. If you visit our house, he will give you a tour of everything he owns! This year he saw his first movie in a theatre, Toy Story 3, and has been into Toy Story ever since. He likes to play act and in general be a kid. It is great to see! He continues to attend a preschool, has started AWANA Cubbies this year, and loves to sing! It is fun watching him grow.
Well, that is our year in a nutshell. We have been very blessed this year and are grateful to God. But as I count our blessings, I am reminded of our friends and family who have had struggles this year. I also know that as we go through life, we have and we will encounter our own struggles. But as we set aside time this year to focus on the birth of our Messiah, let us all remember that the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord. -Job 1:21
Merry Christmas! And a Happy New Year!
The Shirleys; Dave, Amy, Nathan, and Camden
