Our E-Christmas Letter 2008. (By Isaiah & Rachel)

Merry Christmas everyone! We hope that you are all doing well and have had an enjoyable time with your families this season. As is characteristic of all Christmas letters here's our annual recap, Facebook style.

Rachel...
... is enjoying teaching and loves her students. They are a great joy to her and she misses them over school breaks.
... has sold her first artwork for Studio Eighty Twenty!!!
... is taking piano lessons on Monday nights and loves it!
... has started making jewelry and loves making homemade cards.
... has enjoyed co-leading Artful Worship at Compass church with Isaiah. It's been a blast meeting every Thursday night with friends to do art together.
... ran the Portland Marathon
... purchased a "Buddy" scooter to relive her European memories and for cheap gas. It only costs us $1.65 to go 70+ miles.
... loves Mama Mia and is constantly singing Abba now and dancing at home.
... loves the church they are plugged into in Vancouver.
... falls more in love with her husband every day.

Isaiah...
... has been enjoying painting and is looking into going back to school to focus on art and teaching.
... has enjoyed spending time painting and discussing art with his Dad in his art studio.
... also loves the church he's been plugged into and has enjoyed getting to know the people there
... is the other co-leader of Artful Worship and loves it. It's been great producing art together on a common theme and seeing what each person comes up with.
... is thankful to be married to such a wonderful woman.
... enjoyed training for and running the Portland Marathon with Rachel and his brother Casey.
... also really enjoyed traveling to Bigfork, Montana this last summer, going out to dinner at Showtime and Invite with Rachel, spending time with family and going to the Bigfork Summer Playhouse.
... loves that Rachel is an awesome chef and believes she can make a great meal out of anything.
{Rachel thinks Isaiah trying to suck up to her for that last comment}

We love you all and wish everyone a great new year!

Isaiah and Rachel

Check out my first video!

Anybody have some fun snow adventures to share??

Back to school...
Isaiah is planning on going back to school. He wants to be an art teacher, which is cool. We figured he can get his Masters in Education first, and use that to sub while he gets his BA in the arts. I'm pretty excited for him... I want him to be happy with his career choice when we decide to start a family. However, this plan will require a lifestyle change for us... For starters, I'm going to get a second job. This kind of stresses me out, but I know that it is only for a season. Also, it means that our potential plans to buy a house or land is temporarily postponed. We really like where we are living, and since our cousin is living with us rent isn't so bad. I'm actually really grateful that he is pursuing this. He has been so frustrated with his current job, not feeling like he's making much difference in the world, and I think he will go into school with a new fire burning in his belly. How are you supposed to know what you want to do with your life at 19? The system is so backwards!

Anyway, I've dropped off six different applications... not too many people are hiring these days for obvious reasons. So say a little prayer for me : ) Love you all!