Christmas 2008!

Merry Christmas and Happy 2009 to everyone! We have been so blessed with a wonderful Christmas break and can not believe we have school again on Monday! We started off the break going to a Shane Barnard/Shane Everett Christmas concert at our church in Houston (look them up on itunes if you don't have any of their music). We loved the way the concert was completely centered around glorifying God and not the artists. It was a great way to start the break as it focused our hearts and minds towards Christ and why He came. I was especially hit by the way the Lord completely humbled himself to become a man...for me and for us. God sent Jesus as the perfect mix of justice and grace so that we might be saved and spend eternity with Him. I'm so thankful for this salvation and that we don't have to try to do it on our own. 

Anyway, after that we headed to Boerne to spend Christmas with the Williams' and the Benac's. All the Williams' family was home this Christmas along with Grandma Shack and the DeZonia family. 

We absolutely loved catching up with everyone, playing games, celebrating Emily's birthday, and exchanging gifts with one another. We also had some great times of reflection as a family about the true meaning of Christmas and we were overwhelmed with thankfulness of the Lord's goodness and of the faithfulness to walk with him that our family's possess and have passed on to us.  

Next we headed to the Benac's to have Christmas and then head off to Colorado. 

We met some family friends up there and stayed in their cabin in southern Colorado. Colorado had just been hit with snow and our timing couldn't have been more perfect as snow was still on the ground but the weather was sunny and 30's. We had a blast playing in the snow: sledding, cross country skiing, snow ball fights, and one day downhill skiing in Telluride. 

We also enjoyed our time in the cabin reading and playing games. Once again we were overwhelmed with gratefulness for the time spent with family and the fun had by all. 

Now we are back and taking down Christmas and preparing for another semester! Hope all is well, we love you!