A New Year

 2013 came quietly for Matt and I this year. Mainly because there were 2 little girls sleeping upstairs (our nieces, Mikayla and Madisyn), and we didn't want to wake them with any loud outbursting of "Happy New Year," and such like. We were able to spend the week before Christmas with my family in Minnesota, and thoroughly enjoyed the white Christmastime there and time with our family. We kids got Dad and Mom an iPad-- so we spent a lot of time trying to figure out Siri and Words with Friends! :)

Silly Olivia

Dad opening his gift from his grandkids :) 

Little man Logan

We made the trek back to Watertown to split up our trip a bit, and a big shoveling job welcomed us back. Matt and Christopher shoveled, while Erin and I unloaded the car and got Jimmy John's. Erin and Christopher left to go to Maryland that afternoon, while Matt and I celebrated our own Christmas. :) We exchanged our gifts and then watched a movie and ate waffles (made by my waffle-maker from Matt!).

Then we packed up Lanta and made the drive out to Pennsylvania. We had a great time at the Christmas Eve Candlelight service and having our own George family Christmas. And apparently, PA didn't want to be left out of the White Christmas, and it snowed on Christmas. :) 

After our hike up the big hill

Matt and Lanta

The farm

We got to go sledding (or as the Pennsylvanians call it "sled riding") with Mikayla and Madisyn, although Madisyn REFUSED to even get near the sled!

After New Year's, Matt and I went back home. It was about 9:00pm when we got home, and I went up to the door to let Lanta in, before we started unloading all our stuff. I thought something was wrong with the door because it looked like it had frosted over! "Did the heat go out?" I wondered to myself. Then I looked closer and it was obvious that the whole window was shattered, and the window had been broken in around the doorknob. I turned the doorknob, just because I thought, "No way, this couldn't have happened..." and it was UNLOCKED! Then my heart started pounding and I squeaked, "Matt? You might want to come look at this." 

Anyways, we got acquainted with some of the nice local police officers (after they went in to our house with their guns and flashlights drawn), and it looks like the only items that were stolen were our 2 coffee tins that were filled with mostly pennies, nickles, and dimes. :/ 

So after that unnerving welcome back to our home, the new year has begun! :) With the new year, comes new resolutions-- I will write later about those.

Matt has started his third semester of his master's program and I am continuing to work in the admissions office at MBBC. We are grateful for God's continued leading in our lives and we are striving to please Him in  every aspect of our lives. Happy New Year! :)