2018 Thankfuls—- Our Family and Friends,
Well, by the time this letter is in final draft, the photos are printed, and the letters are in your mailbox, it is likely 2019 and the start a New Year! We have focused this year, intentionally and unintentionally, on living in the present. Which means the goal of the Thankful update being mailed maybe even before Thanksgiving, but definitely shortly after, never happened. But, here we are reflecting on the year that is closing and the New Year we are entering into. We hope you find these updates encouraging as you think of the big and small things that we all have to be thankful for, and that they give you a glimpse into our lives over this past year.
Gracie: Two trips to Canada! Running through the Chicago airport to catch our connecting flight with Uncle Gabe while trying to beat the snow storm headed to Tennessee. Ellie and Silas (and Aunt Kat too) moving back to Tennessee after their short (but way too long) Canada stay! Miss Alyssa (summer nanny) who watched us swim and made summer fun! Family Monopoly games! Halfway through middle school! The Cleveland Church Youth Group! Learning new card games. Improving my personal swim times in every stroke.
Maggie: Canada! Pallet expander is out! Soccer teams both indoor and outdoor with some of my besties (Mommy jokes it’s the matching hair bows we like). Summer theater camp at CCS. Learning to ride my bike with no training wheels! Imagination Station Park. The show “Family Matters”. Being brave through so many doctors’ appointments and medical tests that confirmed that I am just small in size! Mommy side note: This year based on the wisdom of doctors we pursued ruling out any medical issue with Maggie’s short stature. While we know she is created perfectly by God as she got older we felt that we needed to confirm there was not a medical issue involved. Praise God she is cleared, but it took several specialist appointments, no less than 12 vials of blood work, and a bone age study to get to where we are today. From birth this quote has hung in her room, “Small in size but destined for big things”. Our God is so good in how he orchestrates our lives down to the small reminders like this for us and Maggie!
Rachael: Jimmy!! This year like no other (and he always is great) he supported my crazy travel work schedule and big deliverables while managing the needs of the girls and his own crazy work year! A husband that loves us and others so well. House projects that are complete and Becca’s perfect eye to pull it all together! Survived and saw personal and team growth in the SunTrust strategy initiatives rolled out this year. The beach and palm trees (I am fairly certain this is always on my thankful list). 4th of July in Ohio with my family. Embracing my final year in my 30’s. Niagara Falls! Podcasts. The family values art we have hanging in our house! A brother and his crew that live close enough that we get to hang out with. Family and friends that love us well and surround us sometimes even picking up the slack when we need it the most around the house and date nights. Always having our home with my loves in it to come home to. Pictures! My husband is a rock star! Thanksgiving with a house full of family and friends. My parent’s trips down to visit!
Jimmy: Curling lessons in Canada and time on the ice. Family bike rides on the greenways around Chattanooga, and at the Beach. Another year of memorable hikes; especially hammock time at Bald River Falls. Annual Camping trip with Gracie, Maggie, and the Boring’s. Fall break at the beach! A casino get away with mom and dad; and for their move to Ringgold. Bella’s excitement every time we enter the house. Summer Pool Time. Playing Nerf Guns and the Wii with Gracie and Maggie. Coming out the other side of difficult, but good, changes at work and church.
May you have a blessed new year!
Jimmy, Rachael, Ruth Grace, Margaret Faith, and Bella
