Merry Christmas to All of our Dear Friends, Family, and Customers!

I just wanted to take this time (before I forget!!!) to wish each and every one of you a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year! This year has definitely had its ups and downs, and the scale has proven that to be all too true!

We have been so blessed by God this year!

He allowed us to take a wonderful week long trip to Hawaii with our 14 year old son, and my hubby's brother and his wife.

We were able to attend one of my husband's best friend's wedding, where my husband actually officiated the wedding. I was a pastor's wife for a day!

We went to Scott's Flat Lake in northern California for a wonderful 5 day "vacation" with my inlaws. Is camping ever truly a vacation??? I think NOT!

We became licensed foster parents and are still waiting for our precious little one to come into our home.

We celebrated our first Etsy sale (Ambrosia Delights Shop) in April, after waiting 6 months and forgetting that we even had an Etsy shop!

We opened our second Etsy shop, Rio Oso Designs in late May, selling banners, business card design, and other digital design products, and have FAR exceeded our first shop in sales!

My husband and his dad got to go on not just one, but THREE hunting trips this year. They didn't bring anything back, but some of the other guys they always hunt with, got bucks, so we got some yummy deer meat!

Our son was promoted in his jujitsu class and should be getting his third belt any time now.

My husband and I were both able to go to our church's Men's retreat and Women's retreat (in that order of course), on God. He totally paid the way for both of us to attend our retreats!!

Our church ordained a brand new worship pastor, who we are really excited about. He and his family have such a passion for God, and I am thrilled to be able to be a part of our worship team.

My brother-in-law and his wife had a precious baby girl in August!! Yay! Finally a girl in the family!

God has really worked in our hearts and taught us so many things about Himself, and about ourselves. He has given us a stronger love for one another, even though we had to go through some rocky spots to get there. I am learning that God really wants to shape me and mold me, but I have to be willing. I have fought that process, and He has gently and lovingly carried me through, once I was willing to allow Him to work.

I just am so thankful for God's love, for the love of my husband, and the love of my son.

I am thankful for the once a month Friday Night Girls' Night Out with some of the most wonderful friends in the world. I can be myself and you still love me!!

I am thankful for the wonderful relationship I have with my inlaws and with my own family. I miss my family in New Mexico, but I thank God for the wonderful mom and dad I have here!!

I thank God for my CUSTOMERS! You have helped our family make it through some tough financial times after we dropped down to only babysitting one child, from having been watching 2-3 kiddos! Without God, and my fantastic customers, we would've had some REALLY lean months!!

Speaking of kiddos, I am grateful for the family whose little boy I watch. He turns two tomorrow, and he is SUCH a bundle of energy and of joy right now. He so fun and has this hilarious little personality. We are so grateful to have you as friends, Donna and Andrew. Thank you for entrusting us with your precious cargo!!

I guess I had better end this soon. Thank you to all of my readers. It's been a lot of fun. I am really looking forward to all that next year will bring.

GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF YOU!

If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his command I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:

You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock--the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

Deuteronomy 28:1-6