It's been awhile

Wow, it's amazing how quickly life passes you by. So much has happened in the last few months, it's hard to believe it's only been a "short" while since we blogged. Here are a few highlights...

• We bought our first SUV ! A beautiful black 2012 KIA Sorento. It is a great SUV that is safe, and we have already started building memories with it. We love to travel and it is a perfect vehicle for that.
• Amanda-Kate is loving her job. She enjoys the challenge of working with teenage boys and learning how to teach academics, social skills, and behavior to children with Autism. This job is teaching her patience, firmness, flexibility, and how to see people through "God's Eyes".
  
• In November we both traveled to Alaska. It is a beautiful state with bald eagles, mountains, rivers, trees, snow, and MORE SNOW. Virginia (Steve's mom) went with us. It was so nice to have Amanda-Kate and Virginia have lots of one on one time. We had fun shopping, sight seeing, and eating. Virginia and Amanda-Kate got stuck in the snow only once. We were there for two weeks! Our hotel was right next to a gorgeous river. During the time we were there we were able to watch it start to freeze over. Alaska is the prettiest state in which we have traveled to.
  
• Thanksgiving was spent with both sides of the family, eating turkey, watching football, playing games, eating some more, and LAUGHING. No matter which side of the family we visit we always leave with sore abs from laughing so much. We LOVE our family so much and are glad we are close to most of them. We get together often just to spend time, and of course laugh.
• This December was a month which made us think about Christmas in a whole new light. In our journey of trying to add to our family with children, we became more aware of Christ as a baby and not just as an adult. We have been praying for a baby to enter our lives for many years now, but during this special time of year we both realized that we were 'given' a baby already. Heavenly Father gave his only begotten Son. He entered into the world as a baby and is a part of everyone's lives who lets him in. What an amazing gift the Savior is! Through him we are able to repent and have our sorrows healed. This was a beautiful Christmas in which we tried to stay focused on the Savior and the fullness that He brings, instead of the emptiness of not having a child of our own.
• January (awesome we are almost up to date). Steve moved to a different Target store (still in the Denver area) which is right next to the Temple. He is helping out in the store until one of the leaders in the building returns from training. Then he will be placed in a new permanent store in a new position. He is doing so well in his job and he loves his new boss and co-workers already. In this day in age we feel truly blessed to not only have GREAT jobs but also LOVE our jobs. It blows us away to see how blessed we are.
  
• We made an offer on a house and it was accepted! We are going through all the inspections and paperwork now, but it is exciting to think we will be moving into a home soon. We are tired of apartment living and are ready to start this new chapter in our lives. The house has a huge backyard and great views of both down town Denver and the mountains. We looked at many homes and this was the only one where when we walked in we could see our children running around and playing. In the backyard we pictured our kids playing hide-and-go-seek, swinging on the swings, and playing in the dirt.

Sorry that it has been so long since we blogged last. Now that we are back from Alaska, Christmas is over, and we are under contract with a house (yeah we are going to be home owners!!!) we will have more time to blog.