It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Well it's safe to say the holiday season is in full effect. We have spent most our holiday time...shopping, putting up Christmas decor, driving around to enjoy other's lights and watching Christmas movies with hot chocolate and popcorn. Now...we are down to the final wire. Only four days to go....

This has felt like one of the busiest Christmas seasons to date. I'm sure every year feels the same but this season came quick and caught me off guard. Needless to say with the help of Zac and Cheyenne we are ready or getting close just in time. We will be squeezing in 6 parties this year so lots of family and friends to stay busy with. No complaining here though...I just love this time of year.

A quick year in review..

ME

I made the decision to grow deeper in my faith and was baptized in front of my Gracepoint family this last spring. I'm very proud of this decision and look forward to the path and plans God has set up for me.

It's been a stressful year after losing my job last spring I was blessed to be offered a job as a production assistant at a company here in town. My job is to place the orders for siding and windows. I absolutely love the company and seems as though I've come in at just the right time because we are moving to a much larger office within the next couple weeks and it will be so beautiful. Being a part of a big exciting move with a company like this is wonderful...that kind of grown is very reassuring that the company is doing very well!! Since starting there in June I have been busy working, taking care of Cheyenne and getting settled into the new house.

THE HOUSE

We were able to move into our new home the beginning of July. With the help of family and friends moving in was not nearly as stressful as I was worried it would be. Zac's parents let us stay with them for a month and a half while we had renters moving into our old home so most of our stuff was boxed up at that point. We feel so at home and love the neighborhood, neighbors and location of our new home. Bruce (Zac's dad) and Zac did SO much hard work to get this house built and ready and I couldn't have asked for anything more....they did such a wonderful job.

ZAC

Shortly after we moved in Zac left for 2 months for a training in Baltimore for work. We missed him tons while he was gone and I'm sure he had moments he was home-sick also but he stayed very busy. Tons of sight-seeing and he was lucky enough to be there the same weekend as tons of events. From the night life to museums there was lots to see and do. 

Since moving into the house and getting back from Baltimore Zac has kept himself very busy around the house. He organized and put together his garage and man cave/safety room downstairs. I've been working on a Honey Do List for him just in case he gets done with his projects and needs something else to work on. However, Zac is very good at keeping himself busy and has not had a problem with that working full time at the VA, part-time still fulfilling his Army Reserves duties and working to complete his Bachelors degree this spring. Sometimes I don't know how he does it all and does it all so well. We are very proud of him!!

CHEYENNE

Well Cheyenne has had a very busy year herself. She took a ballet/tap class with her friend Kamry this fall and loved it so much.

Other than that she was getting ready to start preschool this fall including getting a new pair of glasses (my little mini-me). She has had so much fun and learned so much from her school. She comes home with all kinds of adorable crafts, fun songs and bible stories and has even learned to write her name (although the credit to this one goes to Nana working on it so much at daycare). It's crazy how fast she is growing and learning things. She is so quick to pick things up and her Aunt Abby even has her learning basic addition problems...she loves to learn and is good at learning quickly. She had made Zac and me so proud and not a day goes by that she doesn't surprise us with something new. She really is turning into quite the little person...

Well guess I should get going and get ready for the holiday events ahead...

To all our family and friends we wish you all a very merry and safe holiday season.

Take time to slow down and remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from

The Riddles