Christmas Letter

Our family wishes you a very Merry Christmas and hopes you had a great year. Not too much has changed with us, except for our children’s activities.

This fall Matthew turned 15 and was quite excited to get his Learner’s Permit. He even wore a bowtie to get his license picture taken. Over the summer Matthew blossomed from a young into a more confident teenager, making a point to dress and groom nicely in public. He towers over his mother and sister and is about the same height as his older brother. In June at Camp Highland Matthew was voted the Most Courageous Camper, an award presented to him by Will. Matthew is active in the youth ministry at church, and continues to improve as a student. His guitar skills are also improving. Interestingly, he is practicing more often. Matthew is a freshman at the Veritas School in Alpharetta.

I cannot believe Anna is 17, and a junior in high school. The advanced placement classes at Veritas keep Anna busy, though she enjoys spending time with friends as well. Concerts Anna attended included Ed Sheeran, Phillip Phillips, and Hillsong United. Every Sunday Anna teaches young children in Sunday School, and she serves on a select youth leadership committee as well. She and Matthew attended church camps in Daytona Beach and north Georgia. Her art teacher promoted Anna from taking lessons to teaching them. This year Anna relieved Ceil of some of the day-to-day driving. Prom was the highlight of her spring.

Will (20) is now a junior at Georgia. Majoring in Biology, he continues to make great grades. This year Will is working as a Resident Assistant in brand new Rutherford Dormitory. During the summer Will returned to Camp Highland to serve as a counselor and later gained experience as an apprentice in medical clinics near home. In the spring Will helped coach a local high school baseball team in Athens and in the fall flew out to Oklahoma to visit Mary-Clayton. His intramural football team advanced deep into the playoffs.

Ceil flew out to Jackson Hole to attend a wedding. She increased her workload at Veritas while continuing to shuttle the kids to their various appointments. She loves working with little children in Sunday School. Ceil took Matthew to three concerts (Switchfoot twice and Fiction Family once) and enjoys visiting Will in Athens. She even went to a game between the hedges. At night she enjoys having our 70 pound dog Barney leap up into her lap.

Dave read more, wrote more, attended more Braves games, sold more on eBay, ate more yogurt and air-popped popcorn, and drank less Diet Coke (and more water). And still gained weight. He continues to hoard shoes and bobbleheads.

It is our wish that your family has a blessed Christmas season. Perhaps next year we’ll finally add a family picture.

Merry Christmas!