Christmas Letter

Well, we keep a pretty good update of the year on the blog, so there is no good excuse for not knowing what is going on in our lives. But for those of you new to blogging or new to our blog, here is a quick year in pictures... Aaron's brother Christopher taught Maddie the hulk pose on our trip to Boise.
Maddie is learning essential life skills such as rolling over, eating solids, and levitating objects. We also moved to a new apartment.
Although Maddie lost most of her hair, she found her toes.
and it is a good thing she did just before we took her to see my family in Seattle. We, of course, stopped by the market.
Maddie started to sit up on her own.
My first attempt at a garden.
Holiday's like the fourth are such a great excuse to get together with friends and eat delicious food... but ho needs a Holiday?
Maddie got her first tooth.
We took a trip to Yellowstone with some friends.
Maddie took her first steps.
Maddie turns one!!

Last Christmas, Maddie's arrival caused me to reflect on the birth of another child, the birth of Christ. For many months I carried Maddie and felt life within me, as Mary did Christ; and than I had her in my arms: a new life. On that precious day when the Savior was born, came new life- for all of mankind. What a marvelous moment. The same creator who established the means for which life enters this world, came into the world in just that way. As I look into Maddie's face, I couldn't help but think of the miracle of life and its central role in God's plan. Not only did Christ come with a message of new life, but he also made it possible for all of humanity to receive new life in the Garden of Gethsemane, on the cross at Calvary and through his resurrection.

And as we have past another Christmas, and I have seen our little Maddie girl grow and our family change, I have become more and more aware of what's really important in life. Every Christmas I see more clearly and know more surely that pure love of Christ is the greatest gift of all, a perfect gift not just from our older brother but also from our loving Heavenly Father. The love a family shares is more than just memories that belong to them, more than laughter and tears, more than partings and reunions, but about the promise of eternal life for the entire family unit through the gift and power of Christ's Atonement.

As we enter into a new year I pray we can remember throughout this year, Christ's message of new life and the hope of eternal life with our Heavenly Father because of the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I testify that the good news of Christmas is true. Jesus Christ was born, and is the Redeemer of the world. What a wonderful thing to celebrate and ponder as we start another new year.

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas!