Christmas Card and Letter

Christmas Cards and Letters went out today...



Greetings to you, friends and family! What an eventful year 2006 has been… the theme for the year has been CHANGE. In the spring of 2006, I graduated from Eastern Oregon University. While I pushed through the final capstone of my degree, we began building a new home and enduring the stress of selling our first home. After graduation we took a short family vacation to the Oregon Coast with the kids. It was so very much needed, and a fabulous time for the kids. Upon our return home, we spent endless hours working on our new house. We moved into the house on August 1st (our 8th anniversary). It took some time to finally feel like home, but we have settled in.

Amidst the hustle and stress of moving I was offered a job working full time as the school counselor in the school that Judah is attending this year. So, Judah (6 years old) and I started school together this fall. He is in Kindergarten and doing remarkable! We are so proud of his accomplishments thus far. When his teacher speaks of him to us, she will most often get choked up with a tear in her eye. (What parent doesn’t love that?!) Judah is now a full-blown reader… the change from day one to Christmas Vacation is outstanding… I get butterflies in my stomach when I think about it. I am beyond proud of him! Judah is also involved in Karate Classes (as is Hannah).

Hannah (4 years old) is in her second year of preschool. She is our outgoing child. She has made the transition so smoothly this year with the many changes inflicted in her life. She loves school, and is excited already for kindergarten next year. We attend a program for preschool aged kids in the elementary school, and she LOVES to dream about next year. Hannah is most certainly our girly girl in the family; she is growing her hair out, loves dresses/fashion, adores her friends, and loves her God and church family. Hannah has developed into quite a pray’er’… she fights to pray at dinnertime.

Zeke… our “chunky monkey”… our baby is already 2!! Yikes, when did that time fly by? Zeke is developing into our tough kid. He loves to wrestle with us, and is not afraid to take even his 220lb. Dad on! Zeke loves his trucks, guns, musical toys, and books. Judah has started reading to Zeke at bedtime… and it has developed into a time they BOTH love!

Jason has an unending thirst for learning… but is (for the time being) cut off from college courses! J He continues to run his mowing business while listening to books on tape. This school year is Jason’s 10th year with Hermiston High School. Jason has been such a support person this past year during transition of our family structure!

I have been on an amazing learning curve over the last 4 months in my new career, in addition to two night a week at Washington State University working on my masters degree. I continue to have a growing love for my guitar and worship. Outside of family, work, school, and worship, most things have fallen to the wayside (I AM HANGING ON TO BLOGGING, though!). I am learning how to prioritize.

By the time you read this, we will be on our wild winter trek to see all the grandparents and aunts and uncle. We are first driving to West Yellowstone, then on to Salt Lake City, and finally to La Grande before returning home. The kids are beside themselves excited to see their family. Hopefully Jason and I will survive the road-trip… thank God for DVD players in the car!! J

To keep up to date on our family please stay connected via our family blog. I usually update at least once a week. http://michelleblitz.blogspot.com/
Blessings on you in 2007!