Our Christmas Letter

Dear Family and Friends,

We wish you all the merriest of Christmases and the happiest of new years ... late!

We spent half of the year here.

And the other half here.

Since we moved back to Pittsburgh we have been living with Colin's parents and the transition was amazingly smooth - though perhaps we should not be so amazed, given all of the prayers that were prayed in that direction.  The new year has us moving closer to the city, a little town called Greenfield, where we will live in our first house (rented) and have our first dishwasher.  Here's a quick update on what's going on in our lives.  If you read this blog regularly, this will likely be boring for you.  If you don't, then it will catch you up!

Colin spent the first half of the year writing and defending his thesis in Cambridge, MA and the second half continuing on the same project, second phase, here in Pittsburgh., PA  He's working on developing software for freshman/sophomore engineering and science courses, to help students better visualize and ultimately better comprehend complex concepts like thermodynamics.  It's a lovely blend of his scientific and programing knowledge with his desire to teach well - we give God the credit for bringing this to pass.

Heather keeps herself busy with the husband, the kids, and the home.  She's homeschooling Elizabeth and maintains this blog better than her house.  Hm....  I don't feel like I have anything interesting more to say.  You can putz around on here to learn more about what I do and what I think about.  Most of the time I feel super scattered.

Elizabeth is six (and a half, she'll remind you!), in first grade, and just learned to read.  She's energetic and bounces (literally) all over the place.  She loves being with her friends, writing letters to her friends who are now far away, and has hit an age where she also enjoys being alone sometimes.  If you let her, she will talk your ear off.

Brian is two (and a half, though he's not caught on yet to how important those halves are!) and is just plain funny.  He's got a great sense of humor and loves to make us laugh.  He likes to see how things work, play with trucks and cars, snuggle up for good books, and run around like a maniac.  He's hit an age where he knows his friends' names and looks forward to seeing them.  He also LOVES his grandfathers.

We pray that 2011 is full of blessing for you and yours.  We never know what life will bring our way, but we know God is faithful and cling to His promises.

Love,

Colin, Heather, Elizabeth, & Brian