As I sit down and write about our year, I am reminded of God's goodness in our lives. It has been a year of change...some bad and some good.
In May, Amy's dad got very sick with pneumonia and had a 3 month hospital stay. After returning home and thinking he was getting better, he finally did not, and passed away on November 1. This has been the biggest change and the worst. I wrote about this on my other blog in case you have not read about him. http://shirleygoodness.blogspot.com/2015/11/dennis-ray-powell.html He was a great man and an awesome dad. This Christmas will have change and Dad will be greatly missed. The good in this is that he is healed now and spending Christmas with the first gift of Christmas...his Savior Jesus Christ!
Other changes in our family life involve Dave and his job. He has started teaching at the College of Pharmacy at MUSC. He is very excited about this job change and is enjoying his new position. Right now he is only part time at MUSC, so he still works part time at Plantation Pharmacy. The new job is right up his alley and the way it played out was truly a God thing. He continues to enjoy hunting and fishing. He took up running for a few weeks, but gave that hobby back to Amy! He also has started growing a beard! He was asked to do so when he played Joseph in the church Christmas play and has decided to keep it!
The Christmas play was a family affair this year!
Dave remodeled my parents' bathroom this past year. If the pharmacy thing doesn't work out...
Amy and Dave
The real Dave and Amy
Amy continues to work for herself as a Speech Language Pathologist. One of her fun memories this year was running the LA Marathon with her friend Tara. It was a great experience and she would love to do it again!! No runs in the works for her now, but she is anxious to start a training plan for another half marathon...since she can't get out to LA in 2016!
Before....
After!! We did it!! In the hottest on record LA marathon day!
Her other fun adventure was with two other friends, Joey and Becky, at an outdoor women's retreat. They were involved in many fun activities (and some weird ones!), but the most fun was learning to shoot a long bow.
Being a right handed and left eyed person proved to be a challenge!!
Nathan finished his Freshman year of high school and is in the middle of his Sophomore year. Lots of studying! In the midst of the studying he was able to go on a ski trip in January, run a very cold mud obstacle course with two friends, play baseball for high school and for his travel team, and participate with his church youth group for camp and a mission trip. He also broke his arm at school while playing soccer! And since he turned 15, he now has his learner's permit! Stay off the roads!
Rugged Maniac!
Lego Discovery Place in Atlanta
Charleston Braves
Hanging with friends at his fantasy football party
His biggest adventure this year was his birthday trip to LSU to see them play the Gamecocks. His birthday present was to go to Columbia to see LSU play South Carolina there, but after the flooding in Columbia, the game was moved to Baton Rouge; so he and Amy made a road trip to Louisiana!! And the Tigers won!
Camden finished second grade and is now in third. He has turned 9 and is enjoying school and all his activities. He has had roles in three church choir productions and has done great! He also landed the role of Michael in his school's 2016 spring performance of Peter Pan. He played soccer in the Spring and ran cross country again in the Fall. He finished Sparks in the AWANA program at church and has started T&T. He also continues to play the piano and is doing well. He is full of life and brings entertainment and fun to our family!!
Soccer!
Sparky awards!!
Music Camp production at church
Cross country
Christmas piano recital
As a family we took two trips..one to Atlanta to see the Braves play and to visit the College Football Hall of Fame; and the other was a day trip to the mountains to pick apples and go to sliding rock.
College Football Hall of Fame
Apple Picking!
NC mountains
Our family has grown this year..especially in height! As we look back on our year as a family, our prayer is that we will take all that has happened into the new year with a better understanding of suffering and how God can help you through it. Our prayer for you is that you will look to the Christ this Christmas season and know that He will be with you throughout your life; all you have to do is allow Him in your life!
