You faithful readers, may already know of most of the happenings of my year, but just in case you missed something, here is our Christmas letter for your reading pleasure.....
Rejoice Friends and Family!
It’s that time of the year again – time to reflect on all the blessings we have received this past year and celebrate our greatest blessing, Christ Jesus our Lord!
This year has certainly been an eventful one for us. Last Christmas we did a “tour-o-Missouri” and were able to visit most of Nick’s side of the family. We stopped in Higginsville, Tipton, Kansas City, and, of course, Springfield.
Nick continues to stay busy at St. Paul, and with various youth activities. For the second year in a row, he had the opportunity to co-chair the Florida/Georgia District Middle School Gathering. He had a great time spending one weekend with over 800 participants! He also spent many hours preparing for the National LCMS Youth Gathering that took place in Orlando, FL in July. Candace, two additional adults, and 22 high-school students had a great time during the five day event.
Candace is still enjoying her financial analyst position with Marriott and is looking forward to finishing her MBA at the University of South Florida in Tampa this coming summer. After many years of crocheting, she took on a new challenge and learned to knit this summer. She spends any free time she can manage to find between work, school, housework, and helping out with the youth, honing her new skills. Candace continues to enjoy cooking and trying out new recipes on Nick.
We were fortunate enough to do some traveling this year. In May, we took a trip to Texas to visit Candace’s family and attend the wedding of Kim Pfluger (now Miller), a life-long friend. Also in May, we traveled to Missouri for a long weekend to help Nick’s parents move into their new home. It is beautiful, and we look forward to many happy memories that will be made there.
June brought us to Indiana for Candace’s family reunion to celebrate her grandparents’ 70 years of marriage. In August, we were fortunate enough to be able to travel to Illinois to attend a friend’s wedding, as well as visit with a lot of our college friends we don’t get to see very often. As you can expect, we had a great time.
Remodeling phase 2 took place at the end of August. We removed (in both bathrooms) our old cabinets, countertops, and faucets and replaced them with new ones, including a medicine cabinet/mirror/light fixture. It was hard work, but it looks great! Nick is by no means a handy-man, but is slowly picking up on things (except for the plumbing…..Nick tried to put on a new valve which did not work and sent water spraying from the wall into the bathroom!)
The fall saw some difficult times as we had to say good bye (for a little while) to Candace’s grandpa Harold. It was a beautiful service and celebration of the 90 years of earthly life Christ blessed him with.
Thanksgiving was again spent with our good friends Dave and Sonya Timmerman who now live in Coco Beach. We are excited they are so close now!
In early December, we celebrated our 5th anniversary (a little bit early) by going to Discovery Cove in Orlando to swim with the dolphins! We also got to pet a two toed sloth, a small anteater, and stingray, as well as feed many different kinds of birds. It was an amazing experience, one that we won’t soon forget.
This Christmas will be spent in Texas with Candace’s family, and in January, we will travel to Missouri to have a “late” Christmas with Nick’s family and celebrate Murray’s (Nick’s brother) 21st birthday. We are eagerly awaiting the vacation, relaxation, and the time together with the ones we love.
As we look back over the past year we give thanks to the One who gives us all that we need and even more, and we look forward to the promise He has given to all of us – fulfilled in His birth, death, and resurrection. May your family also find peace and joy in this assurance.
Blessings this season and throughout 2008! ~Nicklaus and Candace Moss
