Merry Christmas

Please accept my warmest wishes for the merriest and most meaningful Christmases. We pray that you are doing well, and have had a good year despite these trying times. Us Murphy’s have had a very good year.

Anna married to Caleb in late March. The service and ceremony could not have gone better. A great time for both families and friends. Matthew made the wedding cake, little flower girl Shivonne was precious, and we all had a great time. The newlyweds honeymooned in Italy, returning in time for Anna to attend two of Taylor Swift’s concerts in Atlanta. Later Anna & Caleb adopted a puppy they named Goose, who loves to play with Winnie and Okie. Goose became an immediate social media sensation on High Country Instagram and the TikTok.

In June Mary-Clayton gave birth to baby Millie. Big sister Shivonne spent time with Dave and Ceil (Bobble & Sissy) before we all got to meet the little one. Watching Shivvy meet and love on her little sister was a memory we’ll all never forget. Later that month Dave & Ceil traveled to Concord NC to help with Shiv and Millie, while Will & MC participated in a friend’s sweet wedding. Shivonne had a ball out on the dance floor. Also in June: Anna & Caleb and Matthew joined Dave & Ceil in Jefferson SC for a family wedding.

Matthew moved out in July, to a house in Home Park not far from Will & MC. He started work as head baker at Bellwood Coffee, creating delicious treats.

that sell out every day. In September Matthew vacationed in Mexico City, sightseeing and sampling various foods in the capital city. At the same time.

Anna was hiking in Colorado with friends, Will & MC had their girls in upstate New York for a wedding, Dave & Ceil were in South Carolina visiting family, while Caleb was holding down the fort in Atlanta.

Will & Mary-Clayton threw a big pajama party for Shivonne’s second birthday in late October, making pancakes and other breakfast delectables. Ceil had a big birthday in early November – and promptly got covid. She recovered in time for her real present – a family weekend in a mountain cabin in north Georgia. Will and Caleb cooked, we played games, toured Blue Ridge, watched the Dawgs throttle the Vols, and hiked six miles through the woods with Shivonne and three pups in tow.

Ceil continued to teach art in Roswell at Veritas, and loves the two days she spends with Shivonne and Millie each week. Dave had a busy year at work, but found time to spend time with friends, golf, work out, read, and write. Will is at the Northside Hospital ER, Mary-Clayton at 4-H, Anna at High Country’s home office, Caleb managing his company’s construction equipment office, and Matthew baking at Bellwood.

We’re already planning for a great new year, and hope you can do the same. We celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – Merry Christmas!