Let's Go 2006!!!!

It’s official – we are adults now. John turned 30 this year and Wendy got a minivan, so a Christmas newsletter seemed like the next “adult” thing to do. We have talked for a couple of years now about doing one of these yearly letters to tell everyone about what has been going on in our lives. We also thought that since we are children of the computer age, we should have a blog. So here's what's been going on with us. . .

2005 began with John searching for a new job. After praying and talking things over with Wendy, John sent in several applications for employment with local police departments. By early spring, he had heard from one of the local agencies and began working for the department prior to the police academy starting. The academy started in June and was to last for 20 weeks. Unfortunately, John had some trouble with the firearms portion of the training. He was recycled to the next academy that began in October. It is with great joy that we can tell you that John passed all the firearms training the second time and is scheduled to graduate in March!

Wendy has been enjoying life as the mother of a wonderful toddler. There is truly little else that brings as much delight for her as taking care of her boys. Wendy entered her 4th year teaching preschool and is having a great time doing something that most of the time doesn’t seem like work. The end of this school year will be a little different from past years as she is expecting our second child at the end of March. After the ultrasound, it is apparent that we are having another boy! She is very excited about being the mother of boys. Whenever we tell Colman about the “little brother” that is coming, he is very clear to say, “No, baby.”

Colman is 2 now and talking all the time. Just this week he began counting to ten. We hadn’t been working on this, but he has a toy that counts and apparently he’s spent a lot of time with Tad the Leap Frog. Colman is all boy! Balls and cars are his favorite toys. When you see him, he has one or the other under his arms and in both hands. Football is his favorite thing to play with daddy. They throw, catch and tackle each other everyday when daddy comes home from work. During the football season this year Colman learned to say “Go Dawgs!!! Sic ‘em!!! Woof, woof, woof, woof!!!” This brought great joy to mommy and daddy!!! Now, every time he sees what looks like a bulldog, we get the whole declaration. Colman has a loving heart that blesses us and everyone we meet anywhere we go. He’ll hug and kiss ANYONE—loves to tell you he loves you and is quick to say thank you. He is working on “gentle hands” at school because he is so big and he runs up to all of his friends to hug them, but oftentimes knocks them over with all of that love. Christmas is fun this year as every time he sees our Christmas tree he says “WOW” and then runs to find his Daddy to say “Coo! Coo!” (thank you). He’s truly a joy!

I was trying to keep this brief, but that didn't work. To end this installment, please keep John in your prayers as he finishes the academy and hits the streets in the spring. Pray that Wendy’s pregnancy will continue without a hitch and the John will not be working when she goes into labor.