Merry Christmas 2014!!

Merry Christmas from the Shirley family!  As we look back on 2014, it is amazing to note all that happened in our family.

We had two fun trips.  One to the mountains for skiing

The boys were a little loopy after a day on the slopes!

and one to Disney World.

The Magic Kingdom

Hollywood Studios

Dave was an extra in the Indiana Jones stunt show!  (He is in the turban)

Amy was a little scared on the Tower of Terror!

We all had fun on the Rockin Roller Coaster!

Nathan also had a first by taking a solo trip to California to visit family.

We also were involved in two seasons and two teams of travel baseball for Nathan.  

And in between these trips and baseball seasons, we had too many house projects!!  Dave started renovating our upstairs room and Amy tackled painting Nathan's room.  But before either project could be completed, a water line burst under our kitchen floor resulting in total demolition and rebuilding of our kitchen!  The result is a beautiful new kitchen, however, the process was long.  We ate out so much this past summer that we should probably write a guide for West Ashley restaurants!

By the end of August, we were finished with all projects.  Just in time for fall travel ball!  And our trip to Disney in November!  And now we have moved quickly to Christmas and the end of 2014.

Dave continues to work hard providing for our family by working at Plantation Pharmacy.  When he has time off, and he is not working on home improvement projects, he enjoys hunting and fishing, but mainly hunting.  

His big home improvement was the upstairs room.  He got rid of the golf wallpaper; laid down a new floor; and put up a new ceiling.  It looks great!

Amy continues working as a Speech Language Pathologist.  This year she was able to go to her association's national convention in Orlando.  This led to our Disney trip.  She finished her first marathon along with two half marathons in 2014.  Although she planned on her marathon being her first and last, she is now training for her 2nd and last marathon in LA in March.

Nathan has started high school this year.  He is attending the Academic Magnet High School and has been very challenged with lots of school work.

He also started playing for the Charleston Braves travel ball team.  And for his high school's JV baseball team.  Baseball is a way of life at our house!  In between baseball, he was also able to go to youth camp and the youth mission trip to Alabama.

8th grade graduation

Camden, however, has started a different sport.

He ran crosscountry in the Fall and plans on running track in the spring.  He is a fast little runner! He is doing well in 2nd grade and is enjoying learning.

He also continues to participate in AWANA at church and in the children's choir at church and school. He had a part in his school play as the Big Bell and did a great job!

All in all we have had a very busy year!  As it comes to an end, we have been able to sit back and take a breath.  So thankful for all the activities our boys are able to participate in, but happy to take time out and relax.

This Advent season we have been reading devotions from The Greatest Gift. We have been learning about the people God used in the line of Jesus to bring about the birth of our Lord. As you pause to take time with family and friends this special time of year, remember that God became flesh and tabernacled among us in order that we might have a relationship with Him. May the light of His truth shine in your life during 2015!

Dave, Amy, Nathan, and Camden Shirley  

Merry Christmas 2013!!!

Merry Christmas!!  I have the lights up in front of our house and in our house and I am feeling very Christmasy!  So it is now time to sit and relax and think of what happened in our family in 2013.

The biggest thing we did this year was to take a vacation to Virginia and DC during the 4th of July week.  It was an awesome vacation.  Lots of walking and lots of memories.  Even though it was very busy during the week of the 4th, watching fireworks in DC made the trip totally worth it!  During the trip we even were able to make a stop in Lynchburg to check out our old stomping grounds at Liberty University.

Another big thing that happened this year was that Dave and Amy celebrated their 20 year wedding anniversary.  Twenty years of growing together and building a life and family together.  We are now starting on 20 more!

The rest of the year has been fairly normal.  Dave continues to work as a pharmacist in a community pharmacy.  He also continues to enjoy his hobbies of hunting and fishing.  He shot a personal record number of deer this year...2 doe and a 9 point deer.  (Amy has agreed to letting him hang it in the upstairs room.)  He also broke down and ran a race with Amy.  He made it despite the pain in his knee.  

Amy also continues with her same job as a pediatric Speech Language Pathologist.  In addition to her volunteer activities, she is also training for a marathon.  She has lost her mind!!  But by January 18th, that will be marked off of her bucket list.  In addition to training for a marathon, she also participated in her first mud run.  It was a lot of fun and she has plans for more.

  

  

Nathan is in the 8th grade this year and is doing great.  And he is now a teenager!  He participated in travel baseball for the first time this Fall.  He had a good season and enjoyed playing lots of baseball!!  He also is active in his youth group at church.  He was able to go to youth camp and on a mission trip this summer.  He also was able to help at the distribution center for Operation Christmas Child.   

Camden is in first grade and is learning so much this year.  He really enjoys reading and is asking for chapter books.  He also enjoys flying through his AWANA books by learning all his verses.  He played baseball this year and moved up to coach pitch.  Although it may not be his favorite sport like it is Nathan's, it was exciting to see him start hitting the ball during the game.  He continues to be a happy boy full of energy and curiosity.  He was very excited when his sunflower seeds grew into flowers this year!     

So that is our year in a nutshell.  Our boys are growing up into young men that we are proud of.  As we move forward into 2014, let us remember why we celebrate Christmas.  It was the birth of a young baby boy who grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.  That is our prayer for our boys.  To end this synopsis of our year, the best thing that happened this year was that Camden accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized.  We now have two sons growing up as Christian young men who love Christ.  For this we are truly thankful and blessed.

To you and yours, have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Dave, Amy, Nathan, and Camden  

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!!