Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! Our family hopes y’all are able to have a wonderful, joyous season of celebrating the birth of Jesus. Us Murphys had a 2018 not too different from previous years. Despite being separated by miles, we were able to get together several times throughout the year to celebrate various occasions.

 

Though we weren’t able to a big family vacation to Myrtle Beach this July, instead four of us zipped down to Destin instead, enjoying a week on the beach and the surrounding area.

 

Will graduated from Physician’s Assistant’s school in May. The next month he and Mary-Clayton moved back to Atlanta. MC started work at a Smyrna financial office, while also auditioning for roles in musical theater. In August Will passed his medical exam. He and MC traveled west in September to hike and camp in several national parks, including Zion and the Grand Canyon. Back in January Will joined a school mission trip to Peru, and also hiked sixty miles to Machu Picchu.

 

Anna continues to love life in Athens. She’s on track to graduate this spring. Anna still interns at Grace Athens church, works part time at High Country Outfitters, took a Christmas job at the Avalon Madewell in Alpharetta, stayed active in her sorority, and remained on the Dean’s List. For Spring Break she road tripped with roommates to snowy New York City, spending the night on the way back on the Albemarle Sound. Anna spent the summer in Athens working and taking classes, and took in a few Bulldog games in the fall.

 

Matthew has applied to attend Georgia State University and hopes to start class in January. His face is well known at our local Whole Foods, where management wants to promote him. Matthew is a regular on the Atlanta concert scene, and has become quite the chef, coming home from work most days with a bag of groceries under his arm, filled with exotic foods to cook. He also reads in his spare time. This summer Matthew took a road trip to Savannah with a friend.

 

Ceil continues to teach art at Legacy, and works at Veritas Classical School as well. She loves the art projects, but not so much the grading part of it. She works out at the YMCA, joined a small group at church, and makes frequent trips to South Carolina to visit family. Ceil also flew up to visit her friend on the Albemarle Sound.

 

Dave’s routines remained the same. More Braves games with various friends and family (Ceil even tagged along – once). Read several books. Ran another Peachtree Road Race, this year with both Will and Anna. With an expended team, work has been more enjoyable and less hectic. Several day trips to Macon to visit parents.

 

Barney had a good year as well. He loves it when Will & MC come to visit – as long as they bring Okie for a play date. One year soon we’ll get him back in the Christmas photo.

 

Again, best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and most happy new year!