Christmas 2012!! Merry Christmas!!

As I sit down to write our 2012 Christmas blog, I am saddened by the recent events in CT.  Having a 6 year old, it is hard to imagine losing him and then trying to celebrate Christmas.  I pray, as I know many of you are doing, that God will be real in the lives of the families affected.  That they will know true peace on earth this year.  It also makes me realize how important it is to tell our children about why Jesus came to earth to begin with.  Children need to understand Him and that He loves them and wants to be their Savior. 

Having said that, the best thing that has happened in our family this year is that on December 11, Camden made the decision to become a Christian!!!  He has been asking lots of questions this past year about God and heaven, and then he finally asked how he could become a Christian.  He did so to Nathan while they were taking a shower!!  Funny timing, but Nathan was so excited to be involved in the conversation of how to become a Christian.  Camden tends to be silly, but he was serious about this.

Camden is 6 and has been learning a lot in K-5 this year.  He loves to read, and likes to color and draw.  He also is enjoying Sparks at church.  He learns his Bible verses each week and is eager to move on in his book!  Although he still is silly, he is starting to mature.  His Sunday School teacher is disappointed that he is not doing all the crazy things that his teacher last year reported!  He is starting to play basketball at church and has finally learned to ride his bike without training wheels.  He is a joy!

 

 

Nathan is 12 and started the 7th grade this year.  He skipped the 6th and has found it very challenging to do 7th grade work...still making good grades, just more B's than A's.  He is getting the hang of 7th grade literature, and learning Algebra 1.  Whoo!  He continues to be very interested in sports.  Baseball is the sport of choice, but he also has played basketball in two different church leagues.

In baseball he made the All Stars team this summer!  He was very excited, and although the team didn't go far, he did a good job pitching and playing short stop.  This summer, he was able to participate in the youth mission trip.  Actually, it was a church wide mission trip to Charleston and we all participated.  Nathan had a great time with all the youth, but more importantly, his eyes were opened as to the need of others.  Nathan is a great big brother and continues to grow with his tender heart.

Amy continues to be a full time mom and part time Speech Language Pathologist and overall busy lady!  Dave sold her van this year with her 13.1 sticker, so to get a new one, she signed up for a half marathon in January.  Lots of running for her this fall, but she enjoys it.  And she even got new running shoes as an early February birthday present!!  Fun colors help when you are on mile 9!

Dave is still working at Plantation Pharmacy.  He is the favorite pharmacist for many of our friends!  He also has kept up hunting and fishing.  He shot his second deer this year, but his first buck.  He was excited.  If you want to see his deer, go to http://cordrays.blogspot.com/2012/09/david-shirley-got-nice-8-point.html.  It didn't seem appropriate to put in a Christmas letter, what with reindeer being used by Santa and all!

The other big thing that has happened this year is that we got a dog!  He is a beautiful black lab, however, he is a menace at times!!  He was 10 months when we got him, and has actually started to calm down a little.  He just wants to be with you all of the time and climb on you and jump on you and chew things!!  The one thing good I can say about chewing, though, is that he has left the Christmas tree and presents alone!  He is sweet and the boys love him and Camden is no longer afraid of dogs!

We were able to make a trip to visit Dave's family this year, and that was very enjoyable!  We toured San Francisco and were able to catch up with loved ones we had not seen for several years.  We also are making a quick trip to Myrtle Beach before Christmas to play in the indoor water park and visit the Bass Pro Shop.  We try to have fun when we can!

 

 

So that is what is happening in our life.  Our prayer for your family his year is that you trust in the gift of Christmas, Jesus Christ, as you enter into the new year.  He is the reason for the season!!