Christmas Treasure

There is no question for either Tiff or I that this is where our treasure lies (our bank account can certainly attest to this as well). We have had a very enjoyable holiday season- amidst the ice storms and the snow. After a mild Fall, Winter has blazed in with fury. If it isn't raining ice, or blowing snow, the sun will be shining, and the temperature will be in the single digits (as James's red nose attests). But this year has been very different than past years in Iowa, and we have begun to spend more time together, enjoying each other, and less time worrying about how we're going to make a go of it here. Sad that it has taken us two-and-a-half years to get to this point, but hopefully the next two-and-a-half years will be as smooth as the last few months have been. Some days, Iowa feels a little like home in this regard... One of the most enjoyable things we have experienced lately has been seeing Noah become more active in his willingness to take care of his younger siblings. He is a special boy - very pure in heart - and we probably push him a little more than we should. I have to constantly remind myself to let him know how wonderful of an example he is to our family. The other kids really love him, and so he plays an interesting leadership role in our family - with the other kids taking their cues from him regarding how they will treat each other. As you can see, his example is closely watched, and emulated. What an awesome kid!!!!