Three is a Magic Number

In our Christmas letter, I mentioned that I would post my vocational statement for seminary on the blog.  Then those interested in knowing a bit more about the "why" and "how" of the decisions can read up here.  So, here that is: Career Path and Calling My career path is not one that I ever would have predicted. After earning a Masters in Education degree and an Educational Specialist degree, I have been blessed with opportunities to work in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school settings as a school counselor/school psychologist and to work in higher education training future educators. I have thoroughly enjoyed serving at-risk children, teens, and families. I have been enthusiastic about training future educators who will make positive impacts in the lives of children. Through advising graduate students’ research, I have gained insight, been challenged, and found great interest in using data to inform educational practice. My career has been very fulfilling...

As always, we send our Christmas letter out during Valentine's Day.  I really am not into the hustle and bustle of Christmas, so I find it better to do our Christmas letter a month (or more) later.  I am doing an e-mail version for most people this year, and sending it snail mail to others.  Thought I would post a link here too in case anyone enters the blog through facebook.  It appears as a google doc and takes a bit to come into focus. https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B4fkTv_h1SGWMDVkMTYzZGQtYWZhNy00ZGQxLTkzOGMtZjQ3MmI0NWY1NTU4&hl=en

Christmas season around our house ran from December 17th, when we celebrated with the Christensens, to January 23rd, when we celebrated with the Lamons.  Technically, we also celebrate the Souhrada Christmas over Presidents Day weekend, so it is not quite over.  Because of Faith's December sickness/hospitalization, we were totally behind on buying Christmas presents and putting up our tree.  So, once school let out for us all on December 23rd, it was a bit of a mad-dash to get Christmas things done.  On Christmas Eve, I called our local hardware store inquiring whether they had any trees left.  They had 2!  We purchased the $15 Charlie Brown left-over.  It nearly fell off the van on the way home.  Because it was 8 feet, Paul was thilled--he likes tall trees.  The kids decorated it and it was "beautiful."  I actually am thinking this might be the way to do things again next year.  I posted an extra picture of Fait...