Merry Christmas!!

This year I think I'm more excited for Christmas than I've been since childhood. The kids are at a perfect age that traveling should be less hectic and they will really enjoy everything. Not to mention I know the kids will be getting an obscene amount of gifts which will make playtime very fun for me!! This is the first year since we've been married (as far as I recall...) that we've not done Christmas cards, letters or photos. We ran out of time for photos and cards and as far as a letter- well, this is the first year no one has graduated, we've not changed jobs, moved, bought a house, gotten pregnant or had a baby! This has been a quiet year so to speak! :) We've enjoyed receiving cards, photos and letters and greatly appreciate them! We're doing well here in the Bush Household. Heather plugs away at homeschooling Tyler and finding a good balance between play, school, friends, family, and housework. Gary's still loving his job working with technology for the Marlington School district. It has it's challenges but he's thriving there and we're so proud of him. He also ventured into the position of Adjunct Professor at Stark State this year. He loved teaching but the nights away from home were very tough. We're very thankful that our house we own in Mansfield is still rented out to a wonderful couple who care for it. Economic struggles have affected them greatly and we believe the house has been a great blessing to them. However, those struggles make for late and later rent payments. We continue to (try to) trust in the Lord and thank Him for each month the payments do come. Currently they are caught up and we are thrilled and thankful! We are also thankful this year to be so close to my brother who moved back to Ohio last December. It's been so wonderful having the "whole" family together more often! Gary's brother graduated from Law School and passed the Bar Exam and we are so proud of him! He's got a wonderful job and we're prayerful and excited about what the future has for him. Gary's grandmother has been struggling with health problems and has been moved to a nursing home, but she is strong and is doing increasingly well. We really enjoy getting to go visit her since we live so close. Our parents are all doing well and love every minute they can get with the grandkids. Gary and I look forward to our kids having great relationships with all their grand and great-grand parents through their lives. This year we made trips for a Kandray Family reunion, our annual Outer Banks week, took the kids to Cedar Point with Uncle Joshua and Grandma Sandra, spent some time at "Papa's Beach", aka Lake Erie, traveled a couple times to Mansfield and Pittsburgh areas to see friends. We continue to be active at Grace Community Church and became members this year We celebrated Grace's first birthday in May and Tyler's fourth birthday in November. Our Congratulations to all our friends and family members for all the amazing things 2008 has brought you. Know that we constantly lift you all up in prayer for the challenges of the past, present and future. We ask you to do the same for us. We wish all of our family and friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. In His Grace, Gary, Heather, Tyler, and Armandina (Grace) Bush Luke 2:1-20