Merry Christmas,

This has been a very exciting year for Chris and I. Chris started into his 3rd year of his Master’s Degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. We are hoping he will have his Master of Divinity by this time next year! It’s very exciting and helps keep us motivated knowing there will be an end, someday! I’ve enjoyed not having classes this year, although I did attempt to take some at the Seminary I just wasn’t motivated and there was so much going on. I started a new job at the Seminary in March working in the Financial Aid department; it’s been an experience but is much better than working at Dillard’s! We celebrated our 3rd anniversary this past May. We can’t believe how fast the time has gone. We went to this very nice restaurant in downtown Fort Worth called Texas de Brazil; we’ve gone there all 3 years! Chris Dad got married this May as well and we got to spend some time with them in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, it was great! Theirs was one of the many weddings we got to go to (including my sisters!
We also got to go visit Nikki and Dave in Oklahoma a few times. Over the fourth of July weekend Mom and Dad even got to come stay for a few days. We had so much fun and it is a weekend I will never forget. Mom and Dad had a long drive home the following Monday as they started back to California. Chris had to go back home early Sunday to be at church and so I rode the Amtrak back early Monday so I could stay a little longer!
We had many fun trips with our Church over the year but in July Chris and I felt that it was time for us to leave the Youth Pastor position at our church. It was probably one of the very hardest things that we have ever had to do. We genuinely loved our youth there and our church body but we knew it was time. We’ve been enjoying just being part of the congregation again. We have a great Sunday school class and are enjoying the events we get to do with them.
That same month Chris got to go to Indianapolis (GO COLTS!) to the Southern Baptist Convention. He had a great time and even got to meet Tony Dungy! When he got back he joined a different department on Campus called Institutional Advancement. However, his time there was short lived. This month Chris, (as well as my boss) was laid off because of economic downsizing. He was one of the newest members of that division and got the short end of the stick. God provide for our needs and that following Sunday he started a new job! He’s working security and so far it’s been working out well. The hours are hard on our schedules but we are making it work. He has to work on Christmas Day and so for the first time we are not going to see the Family in Hot Springs, Arkansas. This has been very hard on us because we look forward to seeing our families all year long. We were fortunate to get to go to California for Thanksgiving and that is helping us get through this holiday as well. We had wonderful time with my side of the family. We got to see little Alyssa and all the nieces and nephews on my side and it was so good for my heart! We have learned that maybe it’s time to start some of our own traditions as well. We made a gingerbread house and had so much fun doing it. Although I think we frosted each other’s faces more than the gingerbread house! He has Christmas Eve off and so we plan to go out and do something new and fun that day and then go to our traditional Candlelight service at our church. We miss you all very much, especially around this time of the year. I do wish that more people remembered it’s more than just getting the right presents. I love more than anything to spend time playing games, and spending time with family, watching old videos of Christmas’ past, and just remembering how very blessed we are!
I got a great surprise for my Birthday this year from Chris. We went to SEA WORLD in San Antonio for my birthday! It was so much fun! We left on the Friday before my birthday and ate at this great little BBQ place on the way. The next morning we ate breakfast and headed to the park. It was sooo much fun! We rode rides and saw shows and just really enjoyed our time together. We went out to a nice Mexican Restaurant afterwards and they sang to me and put a funny hat on me. The next day we went down to the RiverWalk and see The Alamo in San Antonio and enjoyed a nice afternoon before heading home.


We’ll I’m sure there are many highlights I’ve forgotten and I’ve probably included more details than you need! I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Love Chris and Becky

Thanksgiving in California

I love my family, and I am so thankfull that Chris and I were able to go out to California this year. It has renewed my spirit, my family always does that. But it's good to be in my own house with "my family" again too.

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite Holiday. I suppose that's because it's the Holiday with the biggest family traditons. Like going to Apple Hill, eating leftover turkey sandwhices and watching the little ones ride the Pony's and the older ones (like me) spin around on the Gyro (see below!) and playing Shaghi (family game) after Turkey Dinner. It's become so different now with all my little nieces and nephews running around. I'm not the baby anymore for once! I'm not so sure if I like that yet or not. But it sure was fun chasing them around!

And then of course there is In-N-Out, where the best Hamburgers and fries every made are served. I only ate there twice with all the Turkey and other things going on but I made each visit worth while with 2 cheeseburgers and fries!

I also got to see a few friends from High School which is always fun. We ate at get this Texas Roadhouse! HAHA I thought it was funny. But everyone has changed so much and it's fun to see them with Careers, but none the less they are the same people I knew in High School! All in all it was a great trip. Of course there were a few stories we won't soon forget. Like that my keys were stolen along with a bunch of my sisters things when her house was broken into or that most of us were sick all week! And because of those keys being stolen we couldn't get into our house for 3 hours after we got home from the airport! But memories with family are always worth the trip!

Change

I fully have faith that Lord is in control of all situations. Although I don't believe He causes things to happen I do think that he allows things to happen in order to build our character. I've always believed that when things seem to be going wrong that that means we are following God and that "someone" wants to discourage us. I also know that we, I am human and I struggle when it seems like everything that can go wrong, does. I have to find strength in the Lord and in the fact that ultimately He is in control not me, not my husband. I must look to Him in times of trials and seek understanding and hope. I guess that's what faith is. It's trusting Him when you have no idea what the future holds. I know that we will be ok because I have faith in the one who made me will provide for my needs. It may not be in the way "I" want it but it will be done.